Southern planter., 1832-11-17
CORR i3SPONDENCE
BETIVEEV
eERNOR HAMILTON AND VICE
PRESIDENT CALHOUN.

PRESIDENT CALHOUN
"A PrNDLEroN, July 3lst, 1882
4 ~ Sir IN reading again. fea days since, youl
.ie,tion addressed last summer TO the Ed tor Of the
ielon Messenger" containing an exposition OF the
Z se ofthe light OF interposluon, which belongs TO a
~. STATE in this onfederacy 10 arrest an usurpa.
4 ,shepart Of the General Government. Of powers
,r,icd TO il, felt satisfied, not only from remark
n e yourself made in that article but from an obp.
oaaesaton of your Argument, that there still a
I'm Of lights ia which the truth and vial Importance
a hlv conservative principle TO the liberties Of he
q eefo quite familiar TO the reflections Of your own
"A which have not suggested themselves even to.those
2 n n he most zealously devoted to the doctrines in
hiln
rpatenee has been heavily taxed by the late op-
e session Of Congress, Oppressive in every sense o.
z +,l that feel some scr PIE in placing YOU under
Y astion which my request is about to impose upon
Aetl ifyou could find leisure this summer tor my pt-
thdacton aud information. 10 hll out your argument
~ ht year, BY going somewhat more into detail, both
n he principles and consequences Of Notification,
road add one 10 the many obligations Of friend
= owe YOU. As shall be. during the residue nf the
aef ~ Charleston. be pleas d a. direct 10 that place
rm,n, my dear sir, with great esteem, yours, faith
''4'''F''" }. HAMILTON, Jr
an . c CALHoUN " p. Of the u. $.
FoRr Hun, Aug 2s, 1882
hg Dear Sir: / have received your note OF the 3ls
n requesting me TO give you fuller deveopement Of
F,sus than that contained in my address last summer
Hhe ieht of state TO defend her reserved powers
.trl he encroachments Of the General venment
Ihhly occupied as my lime IS, were u do by 20, the
Eaa rom which the request comes WIN my ueeP CON
of the vital Importance Of the subject, would exact
1lpliance.
IL one can be more sensible, than ! ann that the adj
Of lasi summer fell la short Of exharsting the sub
III Il was in fact tended, a sim lie statement OF
~ Aaaf. n trnI
kib distinguish one occupying high public station,
rd duty on me to meet the call ior my opinion, by
a md fuil avoval of my sentiments, regardless -
Quences To fulfil this.duy 3 not to discuss the sub
: wa. the object Of the address,. But in making these
minary remarks do not ntend 10 prepare you TO ex-
M full discussion on the present occasion What l
bose IS to touch some Of the most prominent points,
have received less Of the public attention than their
1iiance seems to me to demand
nge as the assertion may appear, il Is nevertheless
that the great difficulty in|detelmining, whether
M has the right defend her reserved powers against
General Government, or in fact any right at all beyond
" Of mere corporauOn) Is to bring the punhc niila
IFze plain historical facts, connected with the origin
f a ornaiion of the q yerunent Till they are fully un-
hDod IS impossible that a correct and just view can
asen Of the subject In this connection the first and
iimporlant point is TO ascertain distinctly who are the
authors OF the Constitution Of the United States
as powers created t-whose voice clothed It with au-
Idy-and W ose agent the government Il formed 10 re-
BB AZ this point, / commence the execution OF the
- which your request has imposed
10 formation aud adoption OF the Constitution are e.
@ % rerent and all the connected facts fully ates
atit would seem impossible that there should be The
uncertainty in reat on TO them, and yet, judging b,
ht constantly heard and seen, there are lew subjects
which he pgblc opinion is more confused. I he mos
einiose are habtually used in speaking
im Sometimes il is said that the Constitution wa'
|de BY the States and at others as II IN conradistnc
n BY the people, without Distinguishing between The
10 very different meanings which may be attached 4
n neral expressona, and this, not in ordinary con
on but in grave discussions before deliberatve bod
and IN judicial investigations, here the greatest accu
M on 20 important point, might be expeeed' partleu
NJ The other meaning Is intended conclusion
most opposite must follow, not only IN reference 20 W.
Nect OF this communica ioh, but as u he nature ah
Anacler of our political system But by state may b
lint, her the Government Of State, or the people
nfming separate and Independent eomnuhlyi ana "
people, either the American people taken coleeusey
ofming one great community' OF as the peupu ~ "
eral States forming above stated separate ana iho
'nlent communities These dstin tons are essential !
inquiry, II by the people, be meant the people co
vey, and not the people OF the several states laec
fPNely and f IL be tue, indeed, that the consttuuo
ne work Of the American People collectively, u u or
naled with them and derives Us authority iIom ne
nv, then there is an end of the argument. The rgl
tamed for a State Of defending her reserved powers
pnsl The General Government would be an absufdiy'-
leHng the American People collectively as ihe soul'
political power the rights Of the States would be mel
aeessions-concession from the common majority, au
be revoked by them with the same facility that the
we're granted The States would, this supposition be
ue Union the same relation that counties do to the state
would, in that case, be just as ploposleous TO dl
y the right Of ihterposition on the part OF state
tanF the General Government, as that OF the counu
Snst the States themselves. That large portion OF q
pe Of the United States thus regards the relation b
zen The State and the General Government, incudil
-9. who call themselves the friends i State lights al
pponens Of Consolidation, can scarcely be doubted as
only on that suppostion, it cat be explained, that
ny Of that description should donounce the doctnl
V which the State contends, so absurd But, iort
ey, the supposton entirely destitute OF truth
~ uom the Constitution being the work Of The Amenc
'0pe collectively, no such political body either now
~ did exist In that character the people OF tins cou
never performed single political act, nor indeed ca
gnoat an entire revolution, m all our political relation
~ challenge an instance, From the beginning, aud
me changes Of political existence th ough which
. se passed. the people of the United States have be
5lea' as forming political communities, and not as in
Isas Even in the ist stage Of existence, they form
het colonies, independent Of each other, and political
1uea only through the British Crown In their iirsi
A union, for the purpose Of resisting the eucroa,
'u Of the mother country, they united rs distinct po
~ 'qnmunites; and, passing from their colonial con
y ~, VI IN the act announcing their independence TO
NJ q they declared themselves, by name and enume
@ nee aud independent States. In that character Oh
tnea The old Confederation; and, whan It was pr0po'
"pe'cede the Articles Of the Confederation by the p