Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-21

/ The Inevitable tendency OF Nullihcation 10
drive oursister States into such dilemma, re.
yeals the most odious feature in this scheme OF
political sopbistry and imposture. BY the use
| of cabais,ic tern.by the employment ot words
without any distinct meaning. the State is 10 De
engaged in a controversy, involving the late OF
our nestimabe institutions, against the Will not
onlv of all who oppose the measure, but OF all
who support it, believing it to be peaceful; and
the people of the neighboring States are to be
forced into position, SO far as they are conc ern'
ed, confessediy revolutionary. without so much
| as being consulted. Not only as Patriots, but
! as honest men, we can agree to no unuerhaha
| measures that sap the foundations of our Tree and
constitutional government, under cover OF peace
full professions. In the separation OF the states
we foresee evils to which nothing but stern neces-
sity could reconcile us-a necessity OF which we
| can only be convinced by the deliberate Judge
| ment and concurrence Of our fellow citizens, VINO
are united with US, BY common suiferinss anu ny
common interests.
We have waited for the extinguishment OF the
public debt, as the natural period OF the existing
tarltf-we have seen with satisfaction the lndi.
cations of spirit of moderation in the ranks OF
the manufacturing interests-yet the apprehen-
sion that our hopes may be disappointed, leads
tus to the consideration of what measures 1t Will
become us as citizens of the South, and as
friends of the Union, to adopt, it Congress
should suffer the occasion for adjusting the IeVe-
nue. on fair and equal terms to pass away
what course so NATURAL so proper and SO JUST, as
to refer to Southern Convention the considera-
| ton of all that is due to Southern interest. In
such Convention the question will not be set
tied by club acting under the dlctation OF
few leaders; it will not be discussed exclusively
| by men heated by controversy and blinded ny
pride of opinion-and the most devoted TREND OF
the Union cannot object to an appeal from the
Free Trade and State Rights Association to the
collective wisdom Of the South. The delegates
would be elected by the people in their primary
assemblies To deny the right of the people to
| institute such elections would be TO call in ques-
ton their right 10 assemble and take measures
for the purposes Of counsel, elaboration or dis
cussion. The Convention would represent the
people, but they would meet not to form treaties
or alliances between the States, but to consult
and advise. The result Of their deliberations
would be communicated to the people OF the
States, but it would require the Intervention OF
Legislative action to give to their resolutions the
sanction of Law. They could make no law, and
they would violate none. They could form no
treaty, aud they would do no act beyond the free
dom OF speaking, writing and publishing, which
is guaranteed to every citizen. 1t IS not iiKeiy
indeed that any objection to the legality OF such
a meeting i'll be made by any but those who, by
the voluntary assumption OF the name OF Null'h'
ers. have shewn that the Cositution cannot be
in worse Keeping, than under their protection.
| But if Southern Convention is neither dan
| gerOus nor illegal, the salutary effects that may
be confidently expected from it. are OF the high
est inheritance. II would not be too much TO
expect from such a collection Of able men. the
best and wisest councils. They would have 1t
in their power to reconcile the people to reascna-
BILE terms, or to unite them firmly against offers
of Inadequate redress. They would exhibit a
full view of the dangers to which the Union is ex1
posed. and by making them apparent would, in
all probability, prevent them. No PartIzan ieel-
ing in favor or against any candidate Tor high or
fee could find place, much less predominant IN
the Conventions; and the question OF the larih
would be eifectuaily separated from the Presi-
dental election. The moral influence OF the
| Convention could hardly be over-rated. even in
relation to the Manufacturing States; but in rela-
ton to the Southern States, ITS operation would
be such as to render their opposition 10 the pro-
tecting system irresistible. But if South Caro-
lima, instead of this open and generous policy.
should insist on her peculiar course; and incur the
limputation of risking the peace and salvation OF
the country from vain glorious and selfish de.
sire of gaining all the honor Of an achievement in
which others are equally concerned, the existing
parties instead of being reconciled, will be more
and more embittered, and the violence extended
beyond the State. Darkness rests upon the iu-
ture, and no one can foresee whether Nulifica-
lion may end in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or the de-
struction of the General Government. But in
either event the friends of liberty may long de-
plore the error, and ascribe the evils with which
our future horizon is blackened, to the fatal eff
iects of ill.directed ambition.
Therefore Resolved, That Delegates should
be appointed by the Union Party TO meet Dele
gates from the other election Districts Of the
State of South Carolina, at Columbia, on the first
Monday in September next, to take into conside-
ration the expediency of Southern Convention,
and to- concentrate the action Of the party in re-
lation thereto
Resolusd, That in the opinion of this meeting,
a Southern Convention should be called in the
event of Congress adjourning without satisfac-
tory adjustment Of the Tariff.
Al