Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-18
POLITICAL.
lion iho Winehestcr vircinInn.


To me Editors Of the Pfrginian:
happened gentlemen, few days ago, to be in com
pany where the conduct of South Carolina and the mca-
sures II becomes the government of the u s. adopt in
relation TO her the principal topics of conversation
was agreed on all hands that our sister State had acted
unwiseiy rashy and with little regard the preservation
OF the Union. Some difference OF opinion was expressed
respecting the expectancy aud constu,onaiiy of The la
si, as well as OF the proper umpire for settling these diff
ferenccs but those who conende most strcnuouv
against the constuliondity of tariff for protection and
who denied that the Supreme Court was the snprene ar
bitter to whose opinions the States bound to submit
seemed to agree that The tariff laws not such Dlai
PdiPdote usuFPailons OF ungranted power TO justify
state in appealing her Interior sovereignty planting
herself on her reserved rights and erecting the standard
OF revolution and dsunion il they that least
every other OF redress, aodn shadoto of hone
ought to be tiled and exhausted.
The conversation then turned upon the measures which
the United States ought 10 take in this emergency
some advocated concession AMI concation-o{,ers ar
gued that such course would be pusillanimous and
would weaken the bonds OF Union, by inducing other
States to follow the example OF South Carolina when
prompted 10 by their interests by ina snary grevan
cestha the laws must first he execued-''peaceabIy if
we can-fore'1iYi il we mus ami that then should
calmly consider and nagnArmously redress the injuries
complained o-providc'l they found to to exist.
The advocates of oncessiou, on the other hand con.
tended, that for the strong yield to the weak on doubt
ful question OF cOnsttuionay expediency BETRAYED
want of rnness of political consistency: that The
adaplsOn OF the OF the government 10 its wants
had already recognized as the true prmciue of
ton, and that we ought not to be deferred following
up this principle at The present time (vhen are told thai
SIX millions OF The revenue may be conveniently pared)
nations ana states ongh not to be governed by the
motives which should acuse individuals in accnnno,a
ting their private differences that something was due even
'e PrJudiceS or errors OF large class of fellow
citizens: that force might subdue for moment but would
not remove the necessity OF subdung again was
uncertain IN It's nature and il its object attained tho
people OF the conquered would he forever lenatcd
from the people OF the other states and might be their
slaves, but their iclow- citizens: that tic aempt o
force would induce the other Southern states TO make
common canse with South Carolina, aud that the first
drop of blood "sIed in civil war might be inmeiicabe
riI,lus"
During this conversation some auson was made to the
conduct OF lord North, under circumstances not very
widely different, who admitted that the complaints of
Am2gca Of me mother counlrys former mode of eretng
the right If taxation, not phoily unEyunded but
considered concilJon nolmssible, previous to sub.
MISSION nc billsh parliament, under false notions Of
dignity and irmncss, followed his advice aud the British
monarch thereby lost tho brightest jewel ofhis crown
This aliuson, Messrs Editors induced me on my retura
home TO turn to the parliamentary history OF ha period
and particularly TO The speech of the celebrated statesman
Edmund Burke, " On Cancellation with America" | met
there with few passages applicable the subjects we
hdd 'een discussing, and to the momcntous questions
which nov agate every breast and employ every tongue
uat cannot refrain from iransciibng them for your pa
per- ana oF the serious meditation OF your read
Mr. }urke'' wise and liberal policy was to reconcile
the colonies by an entire repeal Of an The offensive ca
sures heretofore adopted coupled with pronunciation of
the principles which they founded SO as to leave
10 Just cause OF complain; and thus TO alay their
peTdted feelings, aud revive their alcnated attachment
lie TINS explains his plan;
The proposition IS peace-not peace through the me
nnh oil Intricate and endless negotiations; peace to
arise out OF universal discOrd fonenied from principle i'm
all parts Of hc cnplfci not peace 10 depend the uri
edt determination 0 peTperTg qursfiOJis; or the pre-
else marking, the shGd0cy bOURddTics If q COMPLEX qo
OeTnnien It's simple peace sought in natural course
and lis ordinary hiuns II s peace sought in the spirit
oil peace; and lail in principles purely pacific propose
by removing The ground Of The difference and by resIor
ing the former unsupccGug confidence the colonies i'm
the mother country to give permanent satisfaction TO your
people; and lar from scheme Of ruling by discord to re-
concue them 20 each other ia ie and by the bond
OF the very same Interests which reconcies them to Br.
tish government"
In the of his speech he declared that he would
nave nothing 10 do with The abstract right OF taxation
tha' ne put u totally out OF The question: and that
less than nothing ia his consdcfaon-ha the questions
involved in IL were dccp"where (e adds) great names
initiate against each ohei; where reason is eJ and
an dppedl 10 authorities only chickens The confusion THE
point - ne gFeat Ser5ouTn bOg, bsfUirt D0pinn 1d
mount CdsHs NJ 0id, ohere th0ie armies hare sunk
30 not inteni To be overwhelmed that boz though in
such respectable company. The question with inc is
not whether yon have right 10 render your people mise
fdbIcj but whether % Is yOur interest tn make the IN
happy IL IS not what lawyer tells INC ,gay do. but
what humy y, reason. and justice, tell OWghf 10 do
IS p0lc dct ne Worse Or being generous onc2 Il no
concession proper bat that which il nile from, vor ,v,pt
Of right 10 keep what you erauR Or does il lessen te
grace or dignity OF relaxing n tie exercise of an odio,s
claim, because you have evidence. room, ll n Inc
What sguiy s hoee Ges. and al those arnsl or what
avail are they, when The OF the thing tells INC that
the asse ton Of NY title is The los. Of my sui and ,bt
could DO nohng but woaud myself by tie of my own
weapons"
The foregoing exl.e'' are pregnant with instruction
~ DO not Hko ih9 pevd1glo, naurod phrase 90 stafs
~ VIC suPlcme CONT i"r instnncc.