Litchfield enquirer., 1833-03-21

other; it did lay duties for protection. Look
to the case of coarse cOttOns, under the mini
mum calculation the duty on these was six
ty to eighty per cent. Something besides
revenue certainly was intended ia this and,
in fact, the law cut up our whole commerce
with India in that article. 1t is, sir. only
within few years that Carolina has denied
the constitutionality of these protective laws.
The gentleman himself has narrated to Us the
true history of her proceedings on this point
He says that, after the passing Of the law Of
1898. despairing then Of being able to abol-
ish the system of protection, political men
went forth among the people, and set up the
doctrine that the system was unconstitution-
al. "And tie People," says the honorable
gentleman, I" received the doctrine.' This, I
believe is true, sir. The people did then re-
ceve the doctrine; they had never entertain
ed it before. Down to that period, the con-
stitutiOna!ity ofthese laws had been no more
doubted in South Carolina, than slsewhere.-
And / suspect it is true, sir, and / deem it
a great misfortune, that, to the present mo-
ment, a great portion If the people of the
State have never yet seen more than one side
OF the argument. believe that thousands Of
honest men are involved in scenes now pass
ng led away by one-sided views Of the ques-
ton, and following their leaders by the i'm
purses VI ou uUuuIItcu CohuuCHSCs
upon it; sir, If we can avoid the shock ofarms,
a day for reconsideration and reflection will
come; truth and reason will act with their
accustomed force, ard the public opinion of
South Carolina will be restored to its usual
constitutional and patriotic tone.
But, sir, hold South Carolina to her an
Gent, her cool, her uninfuenced, her deliber-
ate opinions. I hold her to ner own admiy-
sions, nay, to her own claims and preiensiohs,
in 1889, in the first Congfess, and to her ac-
acknowledgements and avowed sentiments thro'
long series Ut succeeding years. hold her
to the principles on which she led Congress
to act in 1916; or, if she has changed her
own opinions. claim some respect for those
who still retain the same opinions. ! say she
is precuded from asserting that doctrines
| which she has herself 50 long and SD ably sus-
tanned. are plain, palpabIe, and dangerous vio-
lations Of the constitution.
Mr.. President, if the friends Of notification
should be able to propagate their opinions,
and give them practical effect. they would, in
! my judgment, prove themselves the most
skiful " architects Of ruin" the most efectuaE
extiDguishers of high raised expectation, the
greatest basters of human hopes, which any
age has produced. They would stand up to
proclaim, in tones which would pierce the
ears of half the human race, that the last great
experiment Representative government had
failed. They would send forth sounds at the
hearing of which the doctrine of the divine
right of kings would feel, even in its grave, Il
returning sensation of vitality and resuscita-
ton. Millions Of eyes, of those who now
feed their inherent love of liberty on the Sue
cess of the American example, would turn ii
way from beholdng our ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
and find no place on earth whercOn to rest
thni afiH.1 cirhf 1iIsf ha inc nfa firms
and orgies of notification, secession, disunon,
and revolution, would be celebrated the (une-
raj rites of constitutional aud republican lib
erty.
But, sir. if the Government do its duty; it
it act with frmness and with moderation.
these opinions cannot prevail. Be assured,
sir, be assured, that, among the political senti-
ments Of this people, the love of union is still
uppermost. They will stand fast by the con-
sttution, and by those who defend it. rely
on no temporary apprehension no political
combinatiOn-but I rely on the true Ameri-
can feeling, the genuine patriotism of the peo-
pie. and the imperative decision OF the public
voice. Disorder and confusion, indeed, may
arise; scenes of commOton and contest are
threatened, and perhaps may come. With
my whole heart, pray for the continuance of
the domestic peace and quiet of the country
ucSTc inOSt aTuentIy TIC TcStOio'o" VI nnoN-
ton and harmony 10 all its parts. desire
that every citizen of the whole country may
look to this Government with no other senti-
ments but those of grateful respect and at
tachment. But cannot yield, even to kind
feelings, the cause Of the constitution, the
true glory of the country, and the great trust
which we hold in our hands for succeeding
ages. If the constitution cannot be maintain
ed without meeting these scenes ofcommotion
and contest, hoN unwelcome, they must
come. We cannot, we must not, we dare
not omit to do that which, in our judgment,
the safety Of the Union requires. Not re-
gardless Of consequences, we must yet meet
consequences; seeing the hazards which sur
round the discharge Of public duty, it must
yet be discharged. For myself, sir, | shun n"
responsibility justly devolsins ON me, here or
elsewhere, in attempting to maintain the
cause. am tied to it by indissoluble bands
Of affection and duty, and shall cheerfulIy
partake in its fortunes and its fate. l am
ready to perform my own appropriate part
whenever and wherever the occasion may
call on me, and to take my chance among
those upon whom blows may fall FIRST and fall
thickest. shall exert every faculty possess
10 aiding to prevent the constitution from be-
ing nulli6ed, destroyed. or impaired; and
evNn shoulh I see il fall / will still, with Il