Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-17

resisted by the arms Of State Governmental "hen
organized military force, under all the sanctions
Of State Conventions, and State Laws, was ready
10 resist the collection Of the public revenues,
aud hurl defiance at the Statutes ut Congress.
Gentlemen, this was an alarming moment-ln
common with all good citizens, felt it to be such.
A general anxiety pervaded the breasts OF all. who
were at home, partaking in the prosperity, hon
or, and happiness which the country had enjoyed.
And how was il abroad? Why, gentlemen, ev.
cry intelligent friend Of human liberty through
out the world, looked, with amazement, at the
spectacle which we exhibited. In day OF
unparalleled prosperity, after hall century's
most happy experience of the blessings OF our
Union, when we had already become the woH.
der of all the liberal part of the world, and the en-
w of the illiberal, when the Constitution had
so amply fasiied the predictions OF its enemies,
and more than fulfilled all the hopes OF its friends,
in time of peace, with an overlooking treasu-
ry.-where both the population and the improve
ment Of the country had outrun the most SAN
euine anticipations, was at this moment. that
we showed ourselves to the whole civilized world.
as being. apparently, on the eve OF dIsunion and
anarchy.-at the very point Of dissoving, once
and forever, that Union, which had made US 40
great 1t was at that moment. that those appear
ed among US, who seemed ready to break up the
National Constitution, and to scatter the twenty
four states into twenty. four uncOnneCted cOmmu.
mites.
Gentlemen, the President of the United States
was, as it seemed to me, at this evcntfu crisis.
true to his duty. lie comprehended aud under
stood the case, and met it. as It was proper 10
meet it. While am as willing as others to adj
nit, that the President has on other occasions.
rendered Important services to the country, aud
especially on tina. occasion which has given him
so much military renown, 1 yet think the abill
ty and decision With which he resisted the disor'
sanizins doctrines of notification, create CLAIM
than which he has none higher, to the gratitude
of the country, and the respect Of posterlty. -
The issuing of the Proclamation of the 1O'h De-
cember. inspired me, confess, with new hopes
for the duration Of the Republic. | regarded II
as Just, patriotic, able, and imPeriously demand.
ed by the condition 81 the country. would
not be understood to speak Of particular clauses
and phrases IN the Proclamation. but ITS great
and leading doctrines ! regard as the true and
only true doctrines Of the Constitution. They
constitute the sole ground oU which dsmember.
ment can be resisted. Nothing else, in my OPT
mon. can hold US together. While these opini.
ons are main tanned. the Union will last; when
they shall be generally rejected and abandoned,
m,jority in any one Of the states
speak, gentlemen, OH this subject, without
reserve. | have not intended heretofore, and
elsewhere. and do not nov intend here, to stint
my commentator Of the conduct Of the President
IN regard tn the ProCi nation, and the subsequent
measures. have differed with the President as
all know, wha know anv thing Of SO humble an
ind, idual as myself, on many questions OF great
general interest and Importance. | differ with
him in respect to the Constitutional power of In
ternal improvements; | differ with him in re.
spect to the rechar'ering OF the Bank. and dis,
sent, especially, from the grounds and reasons,
on which he refused his assent to the Bill, pass.
ed by Congress for that purpose; differ with
him, also, probably. in the degree Of protection
which ought 10 be afforded to our Agriculture
and Manufactures, and in the manner in which
it may be proper to dispose of the public lands
But all these differences afforded, in my judg.
ment, not the slightest reason for opposing him,
in measure of paramount Importance, and at a
moment of great public exigency. | sought to
take counsel of nothing but patriotism, to feel no
impulse but that Of duty, aud to yield not lame
and hestatins. but vigorous and cordial sup
port to measures which, in my conscience, be-
lieved essential to the preservation OF the Con.
sttutiOn. 1t is true, doubtless, that it myself
of opposition, we might have embarrassed. and,
probably, defeated the measures OF the Admins
tration. But, IN so doing, we should, in my OPT.
Mon, have been false TO our own characters false
to our duty, and false to our country. 1t gives
me the highest satisfaction to know, that, in re.
gard to this subject, the general voice Of the
try does not disaPprove my conduct
ought to add, gentlemen, that in whatever I
may have done. or ATTEMPTED. in this respect,
only share common merit. A vast majority Of
both Houses Of Congress cordially concurred in
the measures. Your own great state was seen in
her just position, on that occasion, and your own
immediate Representatives were found among
the most jealous and efficient friends of the
Union.
Gentlemen, ! hope that the result of that ex
pertinent may prove sautary, in its consequence.
to our Government. and to the interests of the
community hope that the signal and decisive
manifestation OF public opinion, which has. for
the time at least, put down the Despotism Of NuI
Iification. may produce permanent good effect.
know full we'll that popular topics may be urged
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