Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-12

our Fathers offered to- the oppressive laws OF
Great Britain. You were told that this opposi-
ton might be peaceably-might be constitution.
ally made-thst you might enjoy all the advan.
tages of the Union aud bear none of its burthens.
Eloquent appeals to your passions, to your State
pride, to your native courage, to yosr sense Of
real injury, were used to prepare you for the
period when the mask which concealed the hide
Gus features Of DrsusIos, should be taken or -
1t fell, and you were made to look with eompia.
cency on objects which not long since you would
have regarded with horror. Look back to the
arts which have brought you to this state look
forward to the consequences to which it must
inevitably lead! Look back to what was first
told you as an inducement to enter into this dan
serous course. The great political truth was
repeated to you. that you had the revolutionary
right of resisting all laws that were palpabIy
Unconstitutional and ,ntolerably oppressiye-it
was added that the right to nullify Law rested
on The same principle, but that il was peacea-
BILE remedy! This character which was given
to it, made you receive with too much confidence
the assertions that were made Of the unconstitu.
tionality Of the law and its oppressive effects.
Mark. my fellow citizens, that by the admis-
sion Of your leaders the unconstitutionality must
be paabfe. il will not justify either resistance
or notification. What is the meaning Of the
word palpa6fc in the sense in which it is here
useda-that which is apparent to every one, that
which no man of ordinary intellect will fail to
perceive. Is the unconstiutionaity Of these
laws Of that descriptions Let those among your
leaders who once approved and advocated the
principle Of protective duties, answer the ques.
ton; and let them choose whether they will be
considered as incapable, then, Of perceiving that
which must have been apparent to every man Of
common understanding, Or as imposing upon
your confidence aud endeavorins to mislead you
now. In either case, they are unsafe guides in
I'll. perilous path they urge you to tread. Pom
der we'll on this circumstance, and you will know
how to appreciate the exaggerated language they
address to you. They are not champions OF Ii.
berty emulaiing the fame Of our Revolutionary
Fathers. nor are you an oppressed people con-
tending, as they sepeat to you, against worse than
colonial vassaiase You are free members Of a
foarishing ard happy Union. There is no set.
tied design 70 cypress you. You have indeed
felt the unequal operation OF laws which may
have been unwisely, not unconstitutionaliy pass
ed: bot that inequality must necessarily be re-
moved At the very moment when you were
na,lly urged on to the unfortunate course you
have begun, change in public opinion had com.
mcncsd. The nearly approaching payment OF
a dimiuu;ion of duties. had already produced a
considerable reduction, and that too on some ar
ticcs OF general consumption in your State.
The Importance Of this change was moderated,
and you were authoritativei. told that no further
alienation OF YOUR burthens was to be expected,
at the verv time when the condition OF the coun.
try imperioasly demanded such modification Of
the duties az should reduce them to a just and
equitable scale. But, as If apprehensive OF the
effect of this change in allsying your dscontents,
YOU were precipitated into the fearful state in
which you now lind yourselves.
have urged you to louk back 10 the means
that were used 70 hurry you on to the position ua
have now assumed, and forward to the conse-
uueuces it will produce. Something more is ne
cessary. Contemplate the condition OF that cOun-
try Of which you still form an important part
consider its government, uniting, in one bond Of
common interest aud general protection. 50 ma
nv different Staies.-giving to all their inhabit-
ants the proud title Of AMERICAN cirIzEN-pro-
tectny their cOmmerce-securingt their literature
and their misunderstanding their intercommunl-
misunderstanding their frontiers-and making
their name respected IN the remotest parts OF the
earth! Consider the extent of its territory; its
increasing aad happy population' its advance in
arts which render life agreeable, and the sciences
ing the lights Of religion, morality, and general
information, into every cottage in this wide ex-
tent of our Territories aud States! Behold It as
the asylum where the wretched and the Oppress-
ell fnd refuge and support! Look on this pic
ture Of happiness and honor, and say, WE, TOO,
ARE CITIZENS OF AMEnIcA-Carolina is one OF
these proud States, her arms have defended-her
best blood has cemented this happy Union! And
then add. il you can, without horror and remorse,
this happy Union we will dissnlve--this picture
Of peace and prosperity we will dcface-tnis free
intercourse we will in'errupt-these fertile fields
we will deluge with blood the Protection OF that
glorious flag we renounce-the very name Of
American we discard.
Aud for what, mistaken men for what do
you throw away these inestimable blessings -
for what would you exch ause yonr share in the
advantages and honor Of the Union? For the
dream Of separate Independence dream in.
terruped by bloody conflicts with your neigh
bors, and a vile dependence on foreign power.
If your leaders could succeed in establishing
separation, what would be your situation? Are
YOU united at home-are you free from the ap
prehension of civil discord, with all its fearful