Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-14


articles OF general consumption in your State.
Tho importance.ef this change was Understood
and you wcre auI>ortatvely told, that no further
aieviation OF your burthcns was to be expected at
inc very time when tho condition of the country
mReriously demanded such modification Of tho
duties as should rel1co thom to u just and eauita
h:g scale But asif SPprehensivo of the effect Of
this change in alayihE your discontcnts Won were
Prccptgtcd into the fearful state i'm which YOU now
tinttst o0rselvesA 5@
have urged you to look back 10 the means that
were Sssd to hurry you on to the position you have
now ASSUMED, and forward TO the conseouences 4.
will produce, Something moro is necessary, Con.
template the condition ofthat country of which you
still form an important par Consider its govern.
fhent, uniting in emo bond of common fn.ercst
and general protection so many different States.
giving to oil their inhabitants the proud title OF
AMERiCAN citizens, protecting their commerce, Sc.
curing theft literature and their arts facilitating their
REORGANIZATION, defending their frontiers
and making their narfe respected in the romotest
parts of the earth. Consider the extent of it's ter
r'tory, its Interesting and happy population, its ad!
vance in orts which render life agreeable and m.
sciences which elevate the mind! See education
spreading the lights of religion humanity, and ge
neral Information into every cottage in. this
wide extent of our Territories and States. Be-.
hold it the asylum where tho wretched
and the oppressed find refuge and support.
LOOK oh this picture of happiness and honor
and say-wE, TOO, ARE CITIZENS America
Carolina is-one of these proud States: her arms
have defended; her best blood has cementcd this,
happy Union! And then add, il you can, without.
horror end rcmorse. this happy Unsn we will dis
sove-.his picture OF peace and prospetity~we
VIII defacc--th's free intercourse will interrupt
these fertile fields will deluge with blood (.
the protection OF that glorious flag renounco
tho very name OF Americans wo discard. And
tor what mistaken mon!'-for what do you throw
away these ines,imablo blessings-for what would
you exchange your share in the advantages and
honor of the Union7 For the dream CT separate
,ndependence-a dream interrupted by bloody con-
fiicts with your neighbors, and vile dependence
( lc,sl
coed I'm establishing separation, what would DO
your situation? Are you united at bomc-arc you
free from tho apprehension of civil dscord, with
| all its fearful consequences Do our neigborinC
republics, every day suffering some new revolution
or contending with new nsurrection-do
they excite your envy7 But tho dictates of a high
duty ob'ige me solemnly to announce that you
! cannot succeed.
The laws or The United States must DO executed.
have no discretionary power on tho subjcct-my
duty is alphabetically pronounced in the Constitu-
ton. Those who told you that you might peacea-
bly, prevent their execution, deceived you-thev
could not have been deceived themselves. They
know that forcble opposition could alone proven,
the execution of the laws, and they know that such
opposition must be repealed. Their object is disu-
mon; but be not deceived by names; disunion, by
armed force. is TREASON Arc you really ready to
incur IFS guilt? If you are, tho heads of tile in:
stigatOrs of the act be the dreadful conscouences-
on their heads be the dishonor, but on YOURS NAV
tcil the punishmcnt--on your unhappy State wilt
inevitably fall all the evils of the conflict you force
upon the Government of your country. 1t cannot
accede to the mad project of dsunion of which
you would be- the first vctims--ts first Magistrate
cannot, ifhe would, avoid tho performance of his
duty-the consequence must be fearful for you, dis
lressing to your fellow citizens here, and TO the
friends OF good government throughout the world.
Its enemies have beheld prosperity with vex-
alton they could not conceal-it a standing
retutation of their slavsh doctrines, and they
VIII point to our discord with the triumph of malig-
nant JOY 1t yet in your power to disappont them.
There IS yet timo to show that the descendant O
the rinkneys the Sumpters, the Rutedgcs, and of
the thousand other which ado:n the papes
of your Evolutionary history, will not abandon
that Union to suppott which, many of them
fought, and BLEED, and died. 1 adjure you as you
nonor their memory-as you love the cause of
freedom, to which they dedicated their lyes-as
You prize the peace of your country the lives of it's
best citizens, & your fair fame, to retrace your
steps. Snatch from the archives of your State the
disorganizing edict of its Convention-bid its
members to re-assemble and promulgate the dcci
ded expressions of your will to remain In the path
which alone can conduct you to safety, prosperity,
ana honor-tell them that compared to disunion.
all other evils are light, because that briggs with
| 1T an accumulation of all-decare that you will
never take the field unless the star spanglcd ban
ner OF your country shall float you-that you
Will not be stigmatiZed when dead, and dishonored
and scorned while you live, the authors of the
1rst attack on the Constitution of your country
Its dcs'r5yers you cannot be. You may disturb
Its Peace-you may interrupt the course of ito
ProsPerity-you may cloud its reputation for sta
by-but its tranquility will be restored, its pros
pcrity will return; and the stain upon its national
character will be transferred and remain an eter-
nal blot on the memory of those who caused the
disorder:
| Follow citizens of the United States! The threa.
| OF unhallowed disunon-the names of those, once
respected, by whom it is uttered the array of mi
litary force to support itdcnotc the approach Of
Crisis in our affairs which the continuance of
our ncxamPlcd prosperity, our political existence;
and perhaps that of all free governments may de-
pend The conjunction demanded a FREQ full,
and explicit enunciation not only of my intentions
but OF my princ plies of action; aud the claim
was asserted OF right by State to annul tho
laws OF the Union, and to scccde from it at
pleasure, frank exposition of my opinions in re-
lation to the origin and form of our governments
and the construction give to the instrument by
which it was created, seemed to be proper. Ha-
wing the fullest confidence in the business and
stitutional opinion of my duties which has beem
expressed, rely with equal confidence your un-
divided support in my determination to execute tho
laws-to preserve tho Union by all constitutional
mcans-o arrest, if possible, by moderate but firm
measures, the necessity of recourse to force; and
/ 1T it be the will of Heaven that tho recurrence of
! its prfnIevai curse FOR the shedding of q
'.othcr's blood should fail upon our land that it be
not called down by any offensive the part of
the Uni'od States.
| Fellow citizens. Tho momentous case is before
you. On your undivided support of your govern
ment depends the decision of the great question it
involves, whether your sacror Union will be preser-
we'd, aud the blessings it to as ono Poo
pie shall be pcrpetuated. No doubt that
the unanimiy with which that decision will be OK
pressed, will be such az to inspire new confidence
in republican institutions, and that the prudence,
the wisdom, and the courage which it will bring tn
their defence, will transmit them unm paired and
invigorascd to our children.
May the Great Ruler of Nations grant that tho
signal blessings with which he has favored US
IN,rf he