Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-22

olson, In support OF our side OF the question, we are
Immediately told, that il is an unfortunate thing for the
country, that those old men would not be silent in their
retlrement; that they became timid, and would not sup
port opinions that they advanced in the vigor of life
These politicians, L mean the ne,c school, have gone so
far as 10 explode one half OF an old adage-"that young
people m'tk old people are fools, but old people knotU
young ones TO be fools" Sir, they have Topped off the
latter memberot the adage, and if that be right, perhaps l
am wrong.
There is but one thing more that was uttered by the
rreslueht IN ms Proclamation, that | have heard much
complaint about. In his appeal to the people of his native
State, he said, "Those who told you that you might peace
ably prevent the execution OF the laws, deceived YOU =
they could not have been deceived themselves: they
know that a iorcible opposition could alone prevent the
execution oil them, and they know that such opposition
must be repealed. Their object is disunion. But be not
deceived by names; disunion by armed force is treason"
Sir, l VIII not support the President in saying " their OBJ
less was u,'unlon, nor will l say that he was wrong
nat was his opinion, or he would not have expressed
himself in that way. 1 think their object was, TO free the
south from unequal taxation and that they have resort
cd 10 desperate means TO effect their wishes; means, that
l VIII not support them in nor will the people of Virgil
MIA do It, so long as they have before them cheering pros.
poets oi relief in a more pacific manner. Nor will l go
win the President in Furnishing as traitors, the people of
a State, acting in obedience TO the laws of their State 1t
may be CONSTITUTIONAL, or it may not be-; aud not having
made up a PoSitiUe opinion, | will not claim the right for
me General Government TO punish offenders in that way;
although | say, they subject themselves to punishment in
some way. Ii is a matter that we need not squabble
ABOUT; as a conquering nation will always use its discre-
uon, In ~dlsposing OF the subdued or conquered. But, even
IN that idea OF Furnishing as traitors, General Jackson is
sustained by the opinion of Mr.. Jefferson. But before
| go any further, 1 wish TO explain to the committee. why
l SO frequently quote the opinions of Jefferson and Madi-
son, and leave out of view the opinions of Chief Justice
Marshall, and other distinguished men i'm the United
States. Sir, it is honestly this: | live among a people
who have never looked on such authority as good, since
1901; But you are not TO understand, that now diff
Ter, or have heretofore differed, from my constituents,
in viewing with distrust the opinions of Federalists gene.
rally. Mr.. Chairman, my constituents have been true TO
me- and every energy shall be exerted TO sustain the good
opinion they have OF me. Did l say true to me The
expression is not strong enough. sThey are the best
constituents that any man ever had" and 1 intend that
lneX snail q What haV said aaI and H. Hall ~,
Is to follow on this subject. Sir, the authority of Jeacr-
son and Madison, they will consider good and satisfactory;
and II L were 10 introduce Hamilton, and Marshall, and
Webster, and OILS, they might lose confidence in my
Judgment. No man ought, who has a proper regard for
what htue reputation he may have acquired as a polit-
ciah, .to introduce authority that is to do no good, either in
the body OF which he is a member, or among the people
he is representing.
But to return from the DEPRESSION. Mr.. Giles did in
1928, when he was writing against Mr.. Adams admins.
tration, address a letter to Mr.. Jefferson, TO know if he
would permit him, (Mr. Giles to inform the world, how il
happened that MIR. Adams was received into the republican
ranks. II was then known to but a few individuals, that
during the embargo or non-intercourse, in the latter part
oil Mr.. Jeiierson's administration, Mr.. Adams communi-
ca'eu u MT. Jefferson, a secret OF the leading federal
lists IN New England, 10 withdraw from the Union, if the
act was not suspended. He thereby obtained the COM
hdence oil MIR. Jefferson, which created in the minds of
The uniformed friends OF the administration, some dissa.
tisfactoD. In reply to NJ. Giles, he uses this Ianppaee
81 doubt whether a single fact known to the world, will
carry as clear conviction TO il, of the correctness OF our
knowledge OF the reasonable UietcS of the federal party
OF that day, as disclosed by this, the most n~efarious and
uaihs dttempl 10 dtSSeCeT The Union, oil which the Hart
ord convention wasa subsequent chapter" II these two
occurrences TO which MI. Jefferson alluded, were e51efn-
Tlous" and ''tredSondble,' because their object was to
diSSeUeT the Union" does 1t not follow as a consequence,
That he thought the General Government had a constitu.
uonal right to punish them as traitors' 1 leave the an
swer to the good sense of the committee.
Sir, the President could not well have taken a better
ground than he did, for saving the Union, when Carolina
had announced to him her rash determination. He rea.
sohed with her;-reminded her of his unwillingness 10
have her any longer laboring under the burtheus she com.
planned of;-called her attention TO the extinguishment of
the hauonai deDt;-and expressed a belief, that if the pre-
sent ala not, the New Congress would relieve her He
entreated her TO retrace her steps, and warned her of the
consequences oil an attempt to resist The enforcement of
The laws:-told her., that although they were laws he was
opposed TO the existence OF, yeti he had sworn TO have them
"tdithtuIy erecuted:"-that il was madness in her nm.
d er such circumstances, TO press on 10 her own ruin. and
put a stain on the best government in the world. Yes, he
told her he would do his duty, however painful might be
the consequences; that, if lorcel was used in resistance Of
the laws OF Congress, force would be used on the part of
the United States: That even if she seeded, he would
collect duties; that he acted under the authority of Con-
gress; thatit was his duty TO collect duties in every port of
the United States; and that he would consider s. Carolina
a part OF the United States, till he was informed by Con.
gress that she was no longer a part-Sir, the President
is right, and will be sustained by the American peopIe.
Here, perhaps, | ought to conclude; but 1 shall not feel
satisfied without taking notice of two or three remarks of
the gentleman from Wythe, (Mr. McComas)
MIR. Chairman, that gentleman said the other day in
his very able speech, that he wished " John c. Calhoun
was now President of the United States" must ask
That gentleman, with what propriety he could wish III
lie says they do not agree on the subject of Nullifoa-
lion; and II ne were President instead of General jack
son, we might witness in this country this STRANGE state of
things-one State in the Union subject TO none of the
burtheus, and enjoying all the advantages OF the Union;
the other States bound TO defend her against "inyasions
from abroad, and "domestic violence within. Accord
ing TO this doctrine, although the gentleman disapproves
oil nuliilcatioD, he would not have any means used for
It's suppression. III the gentleman has spoken frankly on
this subject, and i believe he has, he ought not TO wish
MIR. Calhoun President, for another reason they differ on
the subject Of secession, The member from Wythe
thinks 1t a p%eaceable measure; and MIR. Calhoun thinks
with me, that II is, or is not, at the will Of the other par
ties TO the compact. In fact, he goes further on the sub
ject than L do. He thinks "that war would be the certain
effect Of secession.' Mr.. Calhoun thinks that %nullifca-
ton is a peaceable and constitutional remedy; and that Sc
cession Is unconstitutional, and that the act itself would
be considered cause Of JCdr against a seeded State
MIR. Chairman, the gentleman from Wythe has, as is
usual ruth members in the consideration OF all great ques-
tons, complained OF the conduct of the Richmond Enqui-
reT, Oh tins vitality Interesting question. His brother, the
member from Cabell, answered him very handsomely i'm
his speech on yesterday; but | hope | shall be excused for
saying something in reply to him. Sir, he said elf the
Richmond Enquirer had Immediately taken a stand against
the principles of the Proclamation, and have advocated
State Rights, this question would have been settled before
now without difficulty: That it had great influence on
public opinion, but unfortunately for the country, man
OoTShiP had taken the place of principle" May enquire
OF that gentleman, whether we are to understand from that
remark, thathe was not operated on by the Enquirer, but
that other members were under its influence? mir. Nc
Comas explained
have been amused at the different charges, not only
here, but In the country, against the senior Editor of that
paper. Sometimes you hear il said that he has not bold.
ness e~nough-that he waits to see how public feeling is
going, before he comes out to advocate oE oppose any
great question. At other times he is charged with
wishing to dictate 10 the Legislature; and this, too, by the
very same men. Whilst | agree that il is an able paper,