Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-07-16

regard "lnterna improvements" es they have long
been acted upon, to be attended with wasciu and ru
inous expenditure OF the public treasure tor private pur
poses and to bc at variance with the spirit of the eder
al compact shall now enter into discussion OF
these subjects, but conine myself TO brief examna-
ton OF the consequences which have flowed from them.
An excitement growing out of these subjects
pecay out OF the first of them, has pervaded all parts
oil our State, aud has made profound impression
upon the public mind almost absorb every other
political consideration Our citizens, suffering under an
Act, which great majority OF them believe be un
constitutional, have naturally been led deliberate up
on the steps which ought TO be taken, under circum-
stances critical and momentous OF the ns
proposed that which seems most generally to be relied
upon Is, through the medium OF the Legislature,
or OF convention chosen by the people, nufy the
obnoxious law, or in other words declare TO be I'M
constitutional and to absolve citizen. from obedience
TO IT, unless contrary decision should be by
5hs oil the Legislatures of the several States, by
ventono the people, in the number of the States
Those who recommend this sanguine i'm their
expectations of its efficacy: They assert sovereign
Sate under lis reserved rights, c0nsttutonoIly,
resort TO it, and that by no other the Union
pe preserved II by any process OF reasoning of which
I am capable if by any lights which could derive
from intcllects far superior 10 mine could accord in
these views and nfcrences should rejoice do so;
no one condemns more than myself the principle of the
existing Tariff, or more deprecaes its baeiu Effects
Nevertheless, after anxious and painful meditation, d.
rected by every motive which ought TO influence a
lover oil his country, and of his countrys reputation
and prosperity, L cannot perceive any substantial
distinction between the abrogation of a law of Con-
gress by State, and the separation of that State, from
the Union. When Act of Congress has been passed
in its customary forms, until repealed by the body
ing it, or decided TO be invalid by the Federal Judiciary
II becomes the law of the land. The President of the
United States is compelled, by his oath of office
force it, unless, perhaps he should be satisfied of its I'M
consitutionay, which is not the opinion of President
jackson, TO the Tariff 1928 Should then the Pre-
sden the mandate of the Federal Court direct II 10
be carried into execution it could not be resisted nv us
excepting upon the ground that State had withdrawn
rom the federation, by the exercise of force The
hrst alternative would be- ipso facto of this
State from the Union The second, would be appeal
to arms, the ultima ratio reipublice.
| Let not be mi. conc eived. I am not the advo-
cate of passive obe de and non r sstance In IN,
ordinary administration OF affairs, the assertion of the
right OF the majority to bind the people, IL tru.
Ism; but majority az well az minority msy b. fac
on and where the legislature is accused Of usurpson
or corruption or oppression, 10 contend that the will
prevailing majority should alone be evidence of the
legality OF their proceedings would render hopeless all
possibility OF re iet crisis might arise. when the
bonds OF the union ought :" he broken The right Of
the Stae to sccede from he Union l. unqualedly con-
cede hut so cng she btl0ngs TO sh. be not bound
by lis laws, the monstrous anomalies would exist of
government whose acts were not obligatory upsn its
citZ II and eli State 'titutng the me M
6ers OF the Union, whilst denying the authority of its
laws.
| am not unaware Of The conviction &C many, tina.
the consequences anticipated ny me- would rot follow
rom qualification of the tariff i'm the mode which
has been menioned-that the contrary, the rene al
OF the law would he insured by so vigorous esou-
ton. To those who under this convictions | would
submit, that il is founded upon the supposed SO
oil M opponents position as false AMI dangerous in
ponlics as IL IL IN war, and utterly unworthy of the
high minded freemen Of South c. rolina Unless ma
jory OF the people of the Uni'ed State, were per-
suaded, hat their interests advanced by the mis-
called "Ameican SYSTEM" il would never have been
imposed upon us by successive Congresses from 1916
10 1880 Is it probable, that This majority stimula-
ted by the lust OF avarice, and sustained by the
Of a single State?
1t might be asked Of me, whether 1 would recon.
mend silence ard inactivity emidst the wrongs with
4 which we afflicted. My answer s-No. VIVA,
can consi;utionally be done by the leeslaure
to he done by it. Through Congress, and the Press
and communications with those States whose cause
common with ours, every possible exer;ion should be
made TO dspe the delusion, under which the pc ope
abour' as TO the true character of unconstitutional
law, which letters our industry, crppes commerce
and taxes the many for the benefit of the fey. All
are jured by it, excepting the manufacturers and al
| though they, when combined, can carry the majority
with Them yet recent events strongly Indicate the by
attacking the Tariff, la detail, may bring il back 10
those principles from which it ought never TO have de
: parted.
Should the efforts which have suggested fail ofsuc
cess-shoud the law we complain OF. remain unre-
peaied upon our statute book-we should Il enquire
i whether recurrence TO the remedy which have all
veried TO, would not be worse than the malady which il
processes to cure-whether lis ain conse o,ience
), would not be dis. union-wheher dis-unon would no
be fraught with disastrous results than the provis
ions Of the ac-whether it would not create division
in State, producing that direst of national ca
amities-cvil war Alter rendering dispas sionateIy
and profoundly upon these questions, bound by
every social and moral duty TO select the least of the
evils presented to For my part, feel no hest
ta'ioD in avowing, that should regard the separation
of South Car DINA from the Union as jncaicuIably
more to be deplored, than the existence of the law
which we condemn.
have thus, fellow citizens, communicated to you
my sentiments upon aeng rossing subject. When
look around me and zee many 10 whom am unit ed
by the ties OF biood-many who my valued person.
al riends-and some, with whom have acted, harmo-
niCualy, in political struggles, unable 10 convey
an adequate idea, in words, of the pain which feel in
expressing opinions which, believe TO he at variance
with theirs. have, nevertheless, done this violence 10
myself, from the conviction that in times of public ex =
element the opinions of citizen should be conceal
ed; and because my constituents have the right know
my thoughts, in order that they may determine whe Ii
er am worthy to represent them. most wilIin gly
submit myself 10 their verdict confident and trust MOI
vaiDy that they will give credit for having fully
candidy and fearessy spoken from the dictates Of my
heart.
| Mr.. President, the colours floating around thes
walls, have suggested to toast, which beg leave
TO offer, instead OF the which had prepared for
this meeting.
-"May our star.spangled banner, so often, trium.
phanuy, uniurled upon the and the land ever
waive, with undminsh,d lus're, over free, sovereign
| and united States
/ Z Robert Y. Hoyne.-A vigilant and gallant sen.
Del on Watch Tower.-His brilliant and powerful
defence OF the Constitution against lcentous constrc
| ton, and the South from uDounded SANDER, entities
him 10 our warmest gratitude and applause.
This Toast also drank with enthusiastic and long
continued che erng-afier which Gen Hayne address.
i ed the meeting TO the following Effect
/ know not, fellow .ci'izens, how adequately TO ex.
press my deep OF the honor which YOU have this
| day conferred upon When look around and be.
bold this vast assembage, composed OF native and a.
d0ptsd sons Ut CdTOiind--of whom our common mo.
ther may we'll be poudand reflect, that this good