Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-01
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER /, 1882.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
MESSAGE


gslature Of tina, State. on the opening OF It's
extra session, on the 22d ult
EH, 90 Citizens Of ,hs Senate,
and H,use 0f Representatives:
Ia con,euing yGu al an earlier moment than
the period fixed ny the Constitution for your usu-
al meeting. | have cheertullv assumed whatever
responsibility may attach to this exercise OF my
prerogative, under belief that after our general
elections, YOU could not too soon be brought to-
gr,her to deliberate on the best means OF pro'not
in. the interests Of those whose rights, whose Ii.
berries. and whose public honor, are conhded to
your care.
I should. indeed, have convoked your prede-
cessors immediately after the adjournment of the
last session Of Congress, If had not deemed 1t
in every respect desirable that our people, IN
the exercise of one Of the highest functions Of
their sovereignty, exerted in the choice OF their
Representatives, should, in the first instance,
have an opportunity Of passing judgment on the
6naI result of the proceedings OF that Session.
which claims to have fixed on permanent basis,
as far as it can be effected by Federal legislation,
the settled policy OF the country. As the can
yass, which preceded our recent elections, was
conducted in almost exclusive and absorbing re-
ference to the ultimate result OF this Legislation
by Congress, your selection NAV be taken as the
tuate YOU, and our State at large, not on! on
the auspicious and elevated decision which our
people, bv infallible tokens, have thus made,
but also on the cheering indications of our
having already reached unanlmity NJ sen'i-
nrnt, nearly as great as the inevitable jisersi
" OF human opinions will permit. or a s"hiect
vitality affecting our dearest rights and liberties
Thus convened under circumstances Of profound
public anxiety. and intense public interest. you
will. | am sure, come TO the discharge of the
trust which has deyoved upon You. with in
flexible determination to perform its duties IN an
enlightened spirit of frmness and moderation,
worthy of the occasion. aud of those inestimabe
principles of constitutional liberty, which it will
be one Of the most impressive OF our obligations
to preserve, and forever defend.
IL is known to YOU. Fellow Citizens. that the
must anxious hopes OF the good people OF this
State were directed to the proceedings OF the last
Congress of the United States. The necessity
of providing for large reduction of Federal Tax
alton, consequent on the proxma.e extlnguish.
ment of large public debt. the strong and well
founded complaints ct a respectable and patriotic
portion of the States in this eonfederacy, the So
lid grounds an which, "a u matter OF constitution
al right, these complaints rested, as well as our
just claims 10 a reform not only in the abuses of
the exercise of the power Of taxation the part
Of the General Government, but in the abuses of
the appropriation Of the public treasure after il
is levied, inspired even those prone to despond.
In spite Of inauspl,iOus omens, with some faint
expectation, that these great and alarming Ques-
,ions Of political power would b. settled in spi-
rit of impartial justice, and with a considerable
regard to that amity and mutual concession, so
essential to the preservation OF c0nfederacy
composed of co.equa and CO ordinate sOvereigns.
1t is scarcely necessary thatI should inform
in afa wis has noan tha final IF
these deiusively cherished expectations, for you
are in possession Of an authority this subject,
infinitely more valuable than my own. Two thirds
Of your Representatives and both Of your Sena.
tors after efforts on the floor Of Congress of SIG
nal ability and disinterested patriotism. in which
every species of Cancellation was exerted, that
Just and wise moderation could dictate, short of
surrendering principle essential to your consti-
tu'ionai liberty, have solemniv declared to the
people OF South Coroina in the face of thelword,
!. That whatever hopes NAV have been INDUCED
nc the commencement ct the session. that return.
inc sense of Justice. the part Of the majority,
would remove materially mitigate the grievous
load OF oppression under which you have so long
lahored, and OF which YOU have so justly con-
plained, they are reluctantly constrained to de-
clare that these at'ering hopes, too long deferred
and too fondy cherished. have finally and forev-
or vanished" In proof Of this disastrous con-
summation ,hey could not better have relied on
any testimony than tina which they did rely the
Tariff act Of 1882. whict:hN perversion Of eve-
~ principle Of common sense and common jus.
tee, has been called compromise between the
conflicting interests of the manufacturing and
plantation States. on principles of equivalent be-
NETT to both. tits unnecessary. gentlemen. that
I should inform YOU, who are so well instructed
npon the true grounds of the controversy, that
this imputed compromise is destitute Of every
feature Of that justice and equality that ought to
characterize measure bearing such an appeIla-
tiun. We might well in advance nave distrusted
the compact tor this adjustment. III which il was
saana expedien, 40, To consult, at any period Of