Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-31
SOUTH CAROIIN;A

l.
merabie public meetings are held throughout the
State denoting the highest excitement breathing
the most determined spirit and leaving no doubt
"hatever, that Notification will be enforced. We
annex an interesting letter from Mr.. Calhoun, in
reply TO an invitation TO attend n public meeting
ct Colleton, and article from Charleston
paper. Col. Drayton has addressed the State in
explanation of the late change in the Tariff. and
in incubation of moderation and acouiesccnse !,
that change for the present. 1t will produce no
effect. We will however, prcsen Mt it 20 our read
ers us deserving their respectful! attention.
FORT HILL, 5OtI July, 1859.
Gentiemen-I have been honorcd by your note
of the Gath inst inviting in behalf OF the Free
Trade and State Rights Party of ST. Johns. Sol
Teton, to partake of public Dinner TO be uiven.
on the 18th of next month, on Edisto Island in
honor of State Rights and Constitutional Libcr
ty.
Devoted as am, to those great objects, sim
ccreiy regret that my engagements, and the season
OF the year, prevent from accept lg your inyt,
taton. Had ii been in my power TO attend I as
sure you, that it would have afforded me great ora
iItcation to join on the occasion the citizens Of
your fariSii, who have SO distinguished themselves
ny their early and enlightened zeal, in the great
struggle, which this State has maintained for so
many years, and under such adverse circumstan ccs
In favor OF constitutional Liberty Never was n
cause pure and patriotic, more grossly misrenro
sented or more unjusly sailed; nor has one un
der so many difficulties, ever been more firmly and
successfully sustained With Il powerful opposition
within; with the diScountcnance of surroun ding
States; with the whole promise and patronapo nj
the General Government against us; assailed alike
by ITS partlZans and its opponents; CHARGED with
the design o. disunion and revolution; AGAINST ALL
we have firmly maintained our stand. 1t is in the
order of Providence, that a good cause wortbiIv
sustained fails in the end TO prosper: and we
accordingly find that ours has advanced in spi,e
of every difficulty, till ii now so well understood
and so firmly established TO be placed beyond
the reach of contingencies, if we but narse
we're; ms we have begun. In the short
space of four years, our doctrine has over-sprcad
our own State, and is already rapidly taking roofs
beyond our limits; and may confidently antici
pate, that in few years, it will be the established
political faith oil our country. feel myself aut hor-
lZcd IN speaking thus, not only from the rapid adj
vances which our cause has aireLd y made but from
deep conviction, that it is founded on truth, and
that the cause OF truth, supported il ought to be-
will, i'll the end prevail OF one thing we NAV be
| assured, that without the recognition Of our doc
trne, our political system must end, and that speed
lily, in corruption and despotism. Our danger is the
loss OF Liberty, and not dIsuniOc, is honestly
| supposed by many opposed TO So obvious md
great are the blessings of Union, that all see and
appreciate them, while the encroachments OF pow.
er and the necessity of resisting it early, are less
clearly perceived and felt. Hence any efficient eli
| fort against arbitrary and dospotic power however
patriotic and Constitutional, will be opposed by the
cry of disunon, and the dread of so great disaster
however uniounded, will operate more powerfully
on many, than the still greater but less pcrccptibe
danger OF despotlsn; the truth of which we daily
witness in our present struggle, and it will continue
to be witnessed in every future struggle in favor
of liberty. But great as have been the diff
cultIes encountered from that quarter, thew are
now, IN great measure, surmountcd. Our cause
and our motives are now much better undcrsto od,
than ut the commencement of the struggle.
The ungrounded fear, that the right of State 10
in;erposc IN order to protect her reserved powers
against the cncroachmcnts of the General Govern
ment would lead to disunion is rapidly vanishing q;
and ii disappears, it will he seen, that so far from
endangering, the right is essential to the prcscrva
tion of bur syscm-as essential, the right of suf
rage itself. If the latter be necessary to protect
against the abuse of power on the part of oul
rulers, the former is less necessary to protect
! the weaker interests of the community against
the stronger provision, to compel the par
| Ties to be Just to another, is as ndispe asa
bic, to compel the Representative TO he faith
full to his constituents & it would be quite natura
to expect 10 be able to preserve liberty without the
one, as without the other-wthout the right o.
interpositiOn, something analogous, as with out
the right of suffrage. We accordingly find thai
no State has ever bcch able to defend its freedom
whose government hes no. Been so organized as t.
secure by some devise, to each great interest o
| the community, the power of scf-protcction.
| Thus thinking, have entire confidence, that thu
time will come, when doctrine, which has beer
so freely denounced, traitorous and rebellious
will be hailed being the great conservative prin
cipc of our admirable system of Government, anC
| when those who have firmly maintained it un
der so many trials, will be ranked among the grea
| bcnelactors Of the country.
With great respect, am, &c. &c.
J. G.. CALHOUN.