Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-21
JUDGE WILLIAM SMITH.

acquaintance, WhOn, tOr sutne hohtho past, We
had lost sight Of 1t was the venerable Judge
SMITH, formerly Senator Of the United States
from South Carolina, but now, it appears, having
removed from that State, resident and planter
in the State of Alabama. In his retirement, al
rrost beyond the pen of man. he has lately re
ceiv.d from friend an extract from Columbia
paper. published before the last October Election
hut which he has never seen before. charging him
with making speeches, electioneering, &c. and
as .soniy thinking of gratifying his thirst OF ven
yeance against John G. Calhoun;" with shaving
two years ago deserted his principles, and De.
ING now about 10 desert his country" Fired
with indignation at this reproach, the Judge
comes out in his strength, and deals to his antago
mist heavy blows and many. He admits, he
saws. the Speeches-but let him speak Tor him.
.elf-Nat. Intel. 9
81 ADM, was making speeches, not against
Mr.. Calhoun, Governor Hamilton, and Mr.
M.Duffe. as private gentlemen, but against their
wild and delu.ive schemes Of nuliihcatiOn, by
which they had destroyed every thing which had
the semblance Of social order or social felicity
among a vrtuous people, who were before So
pren,eiy happy. aud were evidently bent on sep
aratipg South Carolina from the Union, as the
first step towards the dissolution OF the Union It
self. For the moment Of making those speeches,
MIR. M.Duffie, Gov srnor Hamilton, anu General
Hayne. were riding post throughout the State,
collecting the citizens in large assemblies at bar.
becues, and yocfefating publication as peace.
full and constitutional remedy against the Iariff
and Internal Improvement systems. imposed on
the South, to take from the planter forty bales OF
cotton out Of every hundred, to enrich the people
of New England; and at those delicious festivals.
they strcve to excel in their toasts and sen;i-
ments in their convivialtes, best adapted to pro-
duce deep hatred to the Union, hostility to the
administration of its laws, and excite the citi-
zens to civil war against their neighbors, their
brothers. and their fathers, in which the father
might cut the throat Of his son, anu The son m'sht
plunge his dagger ilto the bosom Of his father
Add when the assembage was more splendid,
the Grim soned flag, devised by G"'eruor Hamil-
ton, as the ma ionai banner cf South Carolina,
with one star and one stripe enbematical Of her
separation Fl un the Union, was unfuy!ed, and
waved over the sumptuous banquet"
The Judge then goes into pretty wide field
Of fact and argument, to shew that when he was
an opponent Of the Tariff laws, by argument and
by his votes, Mr. Calhoun, and others, were vi.
ira tariff men--were. in fact, as he believes, the
authors ofthe svstem.-rhe Tariff Law Of 1916,
he says,
.'wa, passed by majority of only five. Mr..
Calhoun carried to its aid six South Carolins
votes. Only two FROM that State voted against
it. John Taylor, Of PendIeton District, and Ge
neral Moore, of Spartanburgh. Had Mr. Cal
hnun aud his five other voters gone against the
bill, it would have been negatived by majority
OF seven. This is mere sketch OF the part MIR.
Calhoun, Mr.. M'Difie, Gov Hamilton, and Ge
neral Hayne, acted in peffectiDg those systems,
which they now with one voice publicly proclaim
as so oppressive. so unjust, and are SO unconsti
tutioua, as To justify dissolution Of the Union
at the price Of blood: and have said, through
their Ordinance, that Congress must gauge the
revenue to hairs breadth, to the wants OF the
government, before the first Of February, or they
will dissolve the Union.
s.rhe annals of the world do not furnish such
a contrast in the political history Of any other
men tina, ever lived. When other politicians
change, they acknowledge their error, and atone
for il 10y eudeayoring 10 repair the injuries socie
ty had sustained by those errors. But those gen
tiemen have shii;ed,as BY magic, and have, with
daring unexampled in the history Of faction
shifted their own i'll judged and rulnOus policy
upon the people Of New England"
The charge of deserving his country natural,
produces the strongest sensation in the veterans
.But, saws this euogist Of the Vice President
''you have deserted your country. Mr.. Calhoun
has not" There is something repulsiye in tina
expression, "You deserted South Carolna."-
Therefore 1t is used. Had lighted the torch, i
would have been reproachful to have LETT 1t to-
others to estinguish. That does not apply to me
left South Carolina as every other honest mar
ought to do. left no debts uupaid-no mora
obligations uncanceled-no political functions
unfinished. gave nv last suffrage at that cleo
tlnn which was to decide her fate. remained
AZ the polls until the last man voted, who was
criminal brought from the public Jail, by the She
riff, Who was MULTIPLYING candidate himself
saw that criminal vote uullfying ticket-and
saw the Sheriff return him safe to his cell. Up
on which | asked myself. Can the boosted caus
Of the CONSTITUTIONAL Union, Of Liberty, wan
such aid to sustain il? asked myself, Is thu
fate of South Carolina. once the boast and prid
Of her sons to be decided by the suifrases of out
la,cs and uagabonds, dragged from the pubi
dungeons to the polls to compete with freemen