Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-23
Mr.. CALHOUN's LETTER.

Mr.. CALHOUN'S LETTER.
The citizens Of Edsefieid Village Is C)hav-
ing invited Mr.. Calhoun to public dinner, the
following is his reply, declining the invitation:
Foxr HILL. March 9th, 1883.
Gentlemen have been honored BY your
note Of the 18th inst inviting me, IN the behalf
of nv friends in the vicinity OF Edgeheid. to
partake Of public dinner. to be gwen at such
time, as would suit my convenience.
In declining TO accept this testimony OF the
approval of my public conduct, in the trying
SC nes through which have SO lately passed,
am governed BY the course to which have adj.
hered throughout the arduous and noble struggle
which this State has maintained IN the cause OF
liberty and the Constitution Tor 30 many years,
and not from any indifference to the honor intend
3D., nor want Of respect for those who have ten.
dered it, in a manner so kind, and with an appro
baton SO warm aud hattering as to command my
most profound gratitude.
Foreseeing, from the commencement OF this
controversy. that the part which a sense OF duty
compelled me to take, would, FROM the position
I occupied, expose the State, as well as myself,
to the mputaton of false and unworthy motives,
and thereby tend to weaken the sacred cause Tor
which she contended, deemed it my duty. in or
der to obviate, as far as practicable, such effect,
to decline accepting all such testimonials Of the
public approval CT my course. as have been OF.
fered. This originating in sense of duty, has
been in strict accordance with my feelings. Hav.
ing no personal object in view, have looked sim
civ to an honest aud faithful discharge of what
believe to be my duty, regardless of the effects
| on my future prospects, or even on the standing
| may have acquired by past services with
large portion of my fellow citizens. with whom
it has, and still continues to differ, in reference
to the public interest, at this important crisis
The reason which has heretofore governed my
conduct, must still continue 10 influence me-
The struggle to preserve the liberty and COnsiI-
stitution Of the country, and to arrest the cor
rupt and dangerous tendency Of the Govern
ment, so far from being over. is not more than
commenced. In making this assertion, DO not ill.,
tend TO say that we have not gained, already, an
important advantage. Commencing the contest,
as the State did, alone and under SO many disad
vantages-against system apparently 80 imino'
vably established and sustained by.so large ma
jority, and SO powerful an interest; opposed and
denounced both by the administration and the op.
positiun-to come of, not only without defeat,
but with decided success, is indeed triumph.
In spite of all these difficulties, we have up.
held and successfully asserted our doctrines, and
proved, by actual experience, that the rejected
and revcd right of notification is not, as its op-
ponents asserted, revolution or disunlOn, but Is
that high, peaceable, and efficient remedy, that
great conservative principle Of tile system. which
we claim it TO be, and as it has proved, and that,
too, after all the usual remedies had failed. and
when, without it none other remained, but seces
sion, the last resort of an oppressed State, but
(uI hat. ioor odi
cine, cannot be prescribed till the disease has be-
come more dangerous than the remedy. and when
the life of the patient. with or without, is almost
despaired of. Nor let any one suppose that
have stated the facts too strongly, in saying that
we have successfully asserted our doctrines. 10
these assertions must be attributed the recent adj
justment IF the tariff, which, whatever objections
there may be to some of the details, there can
be no division Of opinion on the point, that the
principle for which the State cOntepded. that the
duties ought to be imposed for revenue, and that
no more ought to be raised than the economical
wants of the Government may demand, is open
ly and explicitly acknowledged BY the Cavern.
ment. Time, i is true, has been literally al.
lowed for the gradual termination Of the system,
in order to avoid the shock and losses OF indiyi-
vuaIs, which necessarily follow all sudden tran.
siti0ns. even from an erroneous 10 correct prln-
ciple Of legisatlon; but feel hazard little in
asserting, that the system will expire at the ap.
pointed time, never more to be revived. For
this great result, you owe little to me, or any
other individual 1t is the work Of the State
the truth of the doctrines for which she contend.
ed and the firm and heroic zeal with which she
has been sustained BY her sons, in asserting them;
and by none more SO than By those OF EdgefeId,
a district which has distinguished itself among
the foremost for its union and promptiude 10 this
great contest-It is, | repeat, to the noble re.
solve Of her sons, to prefer the Constitution and
liberty to life itself, to which, under Providence
we are to attribute this success Of our righteous
cause
But let Us not deceive ourselves BY supposing
that the danger is past. We have but checked
the disease. II one evil has been remedIPd, anoth.
er act succeeded; the force act in the place of
the protective system; a measure striking direct.
ly at the fundamental principle Of the Constitu.
ton. and deliberately passed 10 place on the sta
tute book, and thereby to give legal sanction to
theory Of the Constitution, utterly hostile to that