Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-07
Friends and Fellop Citizens,

Twelve months have elapsed since, deeply im-
pressed with the disastrous consequences that might
result to the nation from the strong excitement pre-
Valent IN your state, and anxious to contribute my
humble efforts towards alyng it, took the liberty
ut addressing you few essays, intended to prove,
and hope proving, the utter desttuton of foun-
datlon, OF the various allegations by which your
passions ~ prejudices had been so violently nfam-
ed, and so many of your citizens prepared for the
most desperate and fatal courses. / endeavoured to
place an strong light the imminent danger in
winch you stood, while that excitement continued,
OF being precPitated into measures which might and
almost certainly would, ultimately destroy form of
OF government, which, whatever may be it's defects
real OF supposed (and no man is extrayagant enough
to believe 1t wholly free from impertection) is adj
NIT to be the fairest fabric of civil poty ever
devised by mana Pohty approaching the beau
ideal of political philosophers, and which has gain
ed the universal appreciation, throughout chisten-
dom, OF the good and the greatthe lovers of their
species, and of liberty and human happiness.
use the word "destroy" with due deliberation.
Fori the course SO steadily and ardently urged
on you for three four years pnst must, if adop-
ted, lead to violent collision between your state
and the United States; and the inevitable result of
such collision, in the prevailing temper of the
mass OF your citizens could not possibly be other
than dissolution of the union, and the establish
ment OF separate confederacies, viewing each other
with jealousy, and liable to 'be excited, from time
to time to deadly hostilities, by the Vaccinations
OF foreign rivals, the intrigues of domestic de-
magogues. l feel persuaded there is not a citizen
OF sound mind ofthe vortex of the angry passions
|
the union TO continue for n single year. after for
chile resistance of the operation of the Tariff by
your state authorities to be ever revived, after
a dissolution has taken place, should heaven in
its vengeance permit such awful catastrophe.
IT is very true you gravey assured, that the
| qualifications by single state of solemn law of
the United States, passed in proper form, by both
Houses OF the Legislature, and duly signed by tho
President, does not necessarily imply dissolution
of the Union and even fit imply that result, that
dissolution of the union does not involve dam
ger ofwari!
This is drawing largely on your creduty and
as largely on your ignorance of history, in whose
admonitory pages are recorded the appalling
of the intcrminable and sanguinary fcuds of con-.
terminous states, destitute of umpire to which
| to refer their complaints of aggression or their
grievances, Need refer to the Cirocian republics
! to the petty princes of Ireland--to the Saxon
] heptarchy--to the border wars of England and
Scotland-to the Italian repubics-or to the moro,
recent example Of the horrible scenes in Mckee
and South America? Nothing but faulty of the
first order, could hope that we should escape dis
play OF such scenes, IN the event ofa dissolution Of
| the union
The excitement, and of course the danger of a
resistance OF the obnoxious laws, continuing and
tne name beng scd by the unceasng industry Of
orators essaysts, paragraphists, and toast makers,
am induced once more to solicit your attention to
some new views of the subject, together with re-
petition OF some of the old ones rendered necessary
by the reitcration ofarguments which have been
iuted times without number.
10 this course am impellcd by a thorough and
immutablC conviction, that the union is ndispen-
sable TO the peace happiness, and prosperity of the
uaon-ihat its dissolution would DO the harbinger
OF civil war with all it's horrors-that there arc
strong appearances that some Of the leading advo-
Gates Of notification determined at every haz.
ard to procure dissolution Of the union-that,
even supposing they not, CONTRARY to their
distinct ayowals) the union is not safe while the
present excitement continues-fhaf in sucb state
Of things the peace Of the country hangs by sin
gle thread-that the grounds Of complaint are Ell
ther wholly destitute Of Foundations or all events,
most immodcrately exaCgcratcd-that should
governmental experiment fail, it will go far to
prove, that man is not made for selEgovernment;
and, finally, that dissolution of the union and
resolving Of its members into its original elements,
TO use the words Of the Charleston Mercury, would