The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-12-25

Tor an honest and misguided people, the
same disrelish for oyerstrained theories,
the same detestation for simulated pre-
tences and motives, the same Indignation
agaiss, inordinate ambition that we in
stinctively felt upon our first perusal Of
the excellent State paper IN which you
have SO forcibly explained your views
and announced your determination.
We avow and renew our homage to the
Constitution and the laws. We cannot
conceive how State can exonerate IT.
self from its obligations TO the Union,
unless it means, and thereby declares
civil war, or (if there be any difference
in the thought) assumes upon itself the
peril of becoming hostile foreign pow
er, and in defiance, challenges to be
treated as such a foreign hostile power.
We hope Sir, that you, and that we are
mistaken in the intentions Of our sister
State and that the portentious impos, of
her language may under the soothing in
fuence Of your pathetic and parental
admonitions be modified or Withdrawn
We deprecate war, all wars. In regard
to foreign nations we believe that peace
IS the true and permanent policy of our
country, and that nothing but an inva-
sion of our rights too plain to be mis-
taken. and too grievous to be borne, or a
premeditated insult upon our national
honor can ever, under our circumstances
Justify OH our part voluntary foreign
war. As to a civil war such has hereto
fore been the felicity of our condition,
and the innocence of our feelings, that
we have never been induced to mediate
on what could or ought TO justify il. We
know however our constitution does re-
cognize it's possibility, in as much as il
gives power to Congress 20 suspend the
writ of habeas corpus only in cases of
rebellion or invasion. Ifa Governme Mt
has in any instance, under any circum-
stances the right Of exertion for self
preservation, il must be in the case when
a small integral portion ofa onfederated
Government, asserts right of disjunc-
ton, and thereby, in the waywardness
of its own single will, endangers the
unity and existence ofthe entire Govern
Iment and confederation. 1t must be in
the rase, where the single State, bound |
by oath to support the general consti,u-
ton abrogates that oath, and substitutes
a contrary oath, thus impiously pretend
ing to sanctify disroyalty and resistance.
1t must be in the case, where the single
State prohibited from raising armies or
navies In times of peace, DEGREES vast
IevIes OF troops, puts itself in a State of
military array, and points to the general
Government,its constitutional protector,
as its only enemy. 1t must be in the
case, where the whole order of constitu-
tional judicial contrivance is perverted
and counteracted, and the single State |
claims paramount power over all the
other States and asserts the right of
judging exclusively upon i.s own alIedged
wrongs. and disdains the thought of an
peal or revision. This right Of self
preservation must exist, when n single
State asserts under arms, its rights 10
annul law enacted by the people ofall
the States, and sets up its own separate
sovereign will as the only rule and arbiter
in this, and in all cases whatever. But
all these and other assumptions equally
preposterous are apparent in the pro-
ceedings of South Carolina. If that
State sojustly distinguished by the talents
and eioquence of its statesmen, by the
loftiness of its honor, and the liberaIity
of its sentiments II in truth serious, and
intends what the unequivocal enactments
of its solemn Legislation declare, it means
to wage war against the United States,
and to obtain by conquest, concession
to its demands. May this worst of evils,
this civil war be arrested-may pre-
ventive Providence save us from the direst
ofall calamities the shedding ofa brothers
bIood-may the Affections and desoIa-
ion of a civil war remain still unknown
10 US. and may foreign nations who dur
ng our establishment as free and con-
federated people have been compelled by