Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-28
ALEXANDRIA, ID. CO.
FRIDAY MORNING. SEPT 20. 1852.


Political Excitement in the Soah.-We wish
we may not shortly have to write--civii co"mo-
ton in the South: for things there seem hasten
ing with rapid strides to this dreadful result All
South Carolina and Georgia is in motion. Union
meetings and Modification meetings are held
ever, week, and degree Of personal bitterness
Of feeling is sometimes found mingling with the
contest. There appears, occasionally. eviden-
ces Of evaporation, as we'll as Of determination.
The leaders Of both sides bold, active. talent
ed, and enthusiastic. A gentleman who was
present on the 9th inst at Chester, in s. Carroll
ma, heard Mr.. McDufie for two hours harrangus
the people-an immense concourse was present.
The gentleman writes:
"The picture which he drew Of our oppres-
sions, and the rapacious character which he gave
the Yankees, had the pIainest tendency to dis.
solve those bonds which connect US together" -
and sever the Union, at least IN the hearts of
the people," Several ideas were held out by Mr..
McDufGe, which deserve particular attention.
He stated to the men Of Chester, that if few of
the Southern members had been base enough to
have betrayed their constituents, and would pro-
mise to alay the ferment at the South, they could
have had half a million Of dollars from the
manufacturers. And he repeated the asser-
ton with marked emphasis, expressing his belief
I" ,chole Million" to have seduced these few in
huential leaders from their allegiance. You will
notice he did not say this large bribe was offered
them-but that they g could haze had it,
Mr.. McDuffie gave also the n'odus operapi Of
notification, which is as follows:-
"The Legislature will call convention. this
body will declare the Tariff unconstitutional.
and authorize the Legislature to protect our citi-
zens from its operation. The Legislature will
pass laws obIiglng the Collector to give up any
goods he may have IN his possession, to the own.
er, under heavy penalties. The owner may sue
and recover the amount Of his duties, with da-
images. The Sheriff will collect fro,n the Col
Iector of the port, the award Of jury-and all
this is to be peaceaole method Of getting rid of the
Tariff! Mr.. McDufie then proceeded to notice
some Of the objections to this scheme. In the
first place he had heard il said an appeal might
lie to the Federal Courts-but he would remedy
this BY directing the Judges or clerk Of the State
Court. TO refuse copy Of the record-and it the
Sheriff should BY any manner OF means be brought
into the United States Courts. 'his life upon it,
the Federal Judges would never punish him for
acting under the authority OF the State. Again:
he had heard it objected. that State Judges might
defeat the intention Of the Legislature, by de.
claring such laws unconstitutional. as meant to
arrest the operation Of the United States Laws.
He assured the meeting that this would not be
the case, as certain Judges were pledged 10 be
governed BY the laws of the State. in preference
to those of the United States. But If any Judg.
es shall be found, with sufficient hardihood to at
tempt this course, their places would be filled by
other men, who would subserve the purposes Of
the party in power. With regard to the Jury,
Mr.. Med. simply said there could be no doubt
that they, under the instruction Of the Judges.
would always find for the importer.
As for the - Frigate blockade, :" he secuted the
idea, and declared his intention to- be there
.'that the moment Congress passed bill author
isiny the blockade: he should instantly leave
Washington for home, and tell his constituents
that this was declaration Of war, and that the
Union vas dissolved" This is but small part
of the inHammatory matter Of speech Of two
hours"
A writer in the Charleston Courier, attributes
all these notification doctrines to what he terms
the Aristocracy Of the State. He makes CAL
cuIation to show that the back country. which
is generally opposed to disunon. and where
there is great majority Of the free whits citizens
of the state, is not fairly represented in the
State Legislature.
6 The expressions Of Tariff, " says he, ella.
Bile to repeal every year, is triae, to the de-
grading and overbearing usurpation of these
Parish nobility. The ought to be nuAifed, and
the free white population can doit constitutional
~ and peaceably TOO, for they have the power to
keep the nobility quiet as lambs Here is at
least one instance in which Qualification BY
Convention is the rightfil remedy" The EVIL !
is too fragrant to be born any longer"
Mr.. B. F. Hunt in his letter to Meeting BIT
Greenville charges his opponents with having
6. discharged the Paupers. after sleeping. and
eating their breakfasts n the Poor House. They |
thus became good men and true, were, carried
to the polls, voted for their kind patrons; but
being unable to sustain this independent mode Of
life longer than the few dollars paid them for
the occasion lasted, they again sought the COM
forts of the Poor House" In like manner he |
savs 6. The act of the Legislature has prohibit. |