Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-01

COS. from false s,emises--luors of ths lowsr oil
giving panshility TO error, which will make the
'worSc appear the better cause" than of vigor of
though, and energy in pursuing truth through tho
most int Ic0tc rIG:cs, until ie find it, and take
hold on 1t so hry that il will MT cudc his grasp
There ID in his address moro OF sub;!cty, than OF
sound and wholesome political dvctria2--morc of
enpyricIsIn, than Of pro!ound knowledge of tho
science OF government. #, throughout, exhibits
more of genius, than understanding; and, am
sorry 10 say, OF the zeal of the partizan than
the nrdour of tio patriot
1t is very much 10 no regretted, that such o
az ar. Calhoun, should have boon 80 strangely
deludcd, us 10 have thought 1t necessary 10 pro-
claim to the world, and 10 defend by such sophstry,
herctical doctrines, SO ulorstrous, odiuus, SO
damnsblo. Alas, Has Providence ordained. that
We shall be ruled by mon, such Mr. c.; and, in
truth, of whom nc is 10 be tho ublcSt
and bcstl--ncn, who arc ever Watching the indi-
cations of public opinion, and striving to lead or
follow it--who cannot throw Off the shackics of
party prejudice and iceling-who care not, what
miscellaneous doctrines they scatter among the peo-
plot Aye, will cast among thcn ''6rebra nds, ar
rows, I'D toath"-wi,l do IN thing to effect party
purposes. promote their personal .ggr.ndize-
meHt.
Mr.. Madison's letter to tho Editor OF the Nsrta
American Reuictr, published sometime in Scptcrn-
Der, October last, i'm length, about onethird of
Mr.. Cclhoun's Addrcss,) ought to DO ropu bslicd
and to he attcntively read by all who n ay road Mr.
C's opinions. This lotter has anticipated mr.
Cnlhoun's reascnngs, end given 20 thsm most
satisfactory and conclusive answer. / might well
content myself with referring to it, and relying
upon it, as having given dcath,blow to nuilifca-
tion in all its torma, modes, and degrees; if Mr.
Cs peculiar manner Of treating this subject did not
require, or socm TO require moro particular notice
No man can expect TO throw light political
or constitutional question. afler Mr.. Madison has
spoken on it. But, when MIR. N. gave his opinion.
to- the public, he had not seen Mr.. Calhouns c1-
pose; and therefore could have said oil that he
would say, in reply to Mr.. Calhoun.
Hr. Madison has been accused Of having changed
sone of his political opinions; whether Justly or
not, tho public judge. l do not agree with
him, in some of his opinions-ttose, for example
on tho Tariff. But, Tie opinions expressed, and
we'll sustained by argument in the letter above
forred to, are believed 20 10 correct: and arc thc
same, with those advanced IN the 39th number o.
the "FederGlisi," and in other numbers, published
before the adoption CT the Federal Constitution
the same which he advanced, in argument in the
Convention Of Nirgina-thc same which he OK
pressed in NaGis0n's Report, and which acted
on by Virginia in '9S and 99-and such as he has
arowcd from that time 10 this.
Mr. Calhoun shews, at tho very threshold OF his
expose, that he he'd no: confidence in tho sound
ness of his doGtrino that h9 w'shed 10 draw of
tho mind of his roador from the real sub sct dis
eussion He does this, in stating the question. II
is (says hc) the ''qucstion OF the relation which
the States and General Government bear 10 each
other This is too general. II dncs not direct
tho attention to any particular point of relation
ship between tho States and General Govern
mcnt. Nothing is moro necessary to the fairness
and integrity OF an argument than clcarncss and
precision in stating the question: subject of dis
cussion The mind is relieved by it OF many diff
cultics; and aided in MI lis operations, from tho
first thought which chances the subject, 10 the
last conclusions of ratiocination.
1t would have been more candid, and fair, to
have stated tho question thus-Itas, or has not q
single STATE i'll the Union, q right to decide that
an act OF the General Government is contrary to-
unauthorized by, The constitution, null and VOID;
TO compel the General Government, to submit its
act and the contest thus arising from it. to the ar
btrament of tho States who arc tho parties to tho
constitutional compact; and to nulify by its decs-
ion the said act Of the General Government unless
or until, tins decision shall be reversed by three
fourths of the States? This would have been sats
factory. Bat Mr.. Calhouns mode Of stating the
question is very unsatisfactory. The want of fair.
ness and candour, precision ana accuracy, in the
statement of a case, always evnccs either 4 confu
zion of ideas in tho writer speaker; (Which can
not be charged on Mr.. g. wish 10 misoad the
nearer or reader; want Of confidence in the
opinion and argument submitted.
The advantage which Mr.. Calhoun expected to
gain by this too general statement of the question,
clearly appeared immediately after the statement is
made. He says-'''fhe question of The relation
ukieh the States and General Government bear 10
s6eh other az NOT one Of recent origia"-that il
wss agitated in the Convention which formed
the Constituton-That It's agitations did not cease
with The lqbours Of the Convention-that the
struggle which brought Ifr. Jefferson into pow
or, "turncd essentially on t'-and that the Lee
gislative proceedings OF Virgini. and Kentucky
In '9S and '99, with tho decisions of the Su-
Prcmo Court of Pennsylvania, about the same
tme Especially in Co5beiPs case contain the true
doctrine this subject.
Tho respective powers and duties of the States
and the General Government under the Constitu-
ton, and their relations were, in TRUTH subjects of
discussion in the Convention which formed the Con-
stituton--in tho State Conventions which rat.
flied it-aftcr its adoption, during the struggle
which preceded the political revolution of I5OI-
since that time-and will lie as long as tho States
and General Government shall exist. Mr.. Calhoun
seems then, ut first view, to have SAID no more
than was strictly correct and proper But his
remark was made in reference to the right, or SUD-
posed right, of State to nulify IN let of the Gen
crGl Government which right has been claimed by
some OF tho distinguished citizens of SCEth Caro-
lima. 1t is to be remembered that he has been
charged with holding this doctrine: and, according
TO his own showing, hi, having been thus char
ged, caused him to mako public declaration of
his creed. He does, there fore, i'll effect say-lhat
the question Of notification has been discussed
and the right of State to nulljfy an ect of The
Seneral Government, has been claimed b., one
class of politicians, from the foundation Of The
Government, and even from an earlier period down
to the present timc-thnt the contest respecting
the alien and scditiou laws "turncd essentially on
and hentusky, 1fadisons Report, md the decisions
of the Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania ipartic,lar
ly III tho case Of Cuhbett) contain the doctrine of
which he believes to be the tf75s
doctrine on this subject. We arc 10 understand
him, M having made these declarations. He had
no warrant, or authority, 30 make them The
right of n State 10 uuii5y en- act of the General
Government, was tho particular point of relation.
ship between the States and tho Federal Govern.
Tnent, which was the Fui,icct oc Dir. Cs rrm,rls