Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-04
TcoMMusIcArED.I

II Strikes me, Mr. Editor. that those who are
for welding at once to the complaints and cia-
uors of the South, for the purpose of avertinR
sio.m. or ef suLLrFYiNs ratification. take but
a very superficial or partial Wee Of the whole
subject. As Mr.. Van Buren, said on another and
very diiFrreat occasion, the question has reach
inss aud bearings far beyond repeal OF the Ia
riff. or a retreat from the protective system. -
That. taosgh a very grave aud important consi-
deratlon, 10 nut, 10 my opinion, the most 'mPor'
tan, The real points IN despite involve the
whole policy Of the country, since the adoption
of the Constitution, and the very existence OF
the Governnment. South Carolina and yTgi-
MIA too, and perhaps the entire tier OF Sc.sissSn
States. question, DE powers.oi the governme
deemed mesi essential to the promotion Of the
Is yenersi wefare' and +" COMMON dgencs," and
assert the right Of each State to Judge for itself
of any infraction of the Constitution, and to Sc
sede al pleasure! Am not rights Is it. there
fore, fair to represent the present agitation as
simply a struggle on the one hand TO destroy, and
ON the other TO maintain, the Tariff: That is
the immediate. and, il you please, the leading
question; but surely u cannot be called the only
one. II, then, there are other and more imPor-
tant points to be considered than the Tariff, why
not proceed to settle them now, in the vIgor oil
the Repubiicf They must be met at some time,
and why not now as well as at any other perlods
If the nation has been pursuing ruinous policy
all alons--if the system Of legislation has been
through vieious-if the Constitution has ne.
yer been well understood, or, u understood,
wilfully perverted; and If these States are held
together only by the bond Of mutual convenience,
why the sooner we understand these things the
better, that we may apply remedy, u the evils
be remediable, or make up our minds to submit.
If submission be Indispensable or unavoidable.
For my part. am for looking danger full in the
face, and meeting it at the threshold. "No~'s
the day and now's the hour" to put an inter
probation upon the Constitution which shall abide
the test Of time and scrutiny.
Suppose that all that South Carolina now de-
mands in relation TO the Tariff, be conceded
would there not, think you, be some danger IN
the precedHntf Would not other States, seeing
the effect 0bthreats and violence upon the ma.
tional authorities, be disposed hereafter to use
the argument Of the bayonet, instead OF the To-
sic of the schoolss And could the Union be pre-.
served under such course Of fear and tempo.
rizins? What would the States deeply interest
eh IN manufactures saw, IL their property and
their interests were new sacrificed 81 appease
III. anger OF. Snuth Carolina? Would that mo.
raj force, upon which so many of our eminent
Statesmen 20 much rely for the preservation ut
our Union, be suffi, lent to hold them to their al
iesiance? Would It not, in fact, be totally with
dawn. and superior obligation created to Sc
parate aud take care of themselves pray you,
think of these things. and urge the consideration
Of them upon your readers, and they and you
ton will hesitate before you decide as to the
course which wisdom requires in the present
highly critical juncture. cannot agree with
the Richmond Wing that there is doubt about
the right tn use coercion. but the p"tCy Of it is
another and a very different affair. To doubt
shnut the right. is to admit the doctrine Of seees
sion, which consider as aeretcal and as danger
Gus as notification. X.
Jan. 2, 1859.