Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-05-26

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every point Of the compass, in Tie course
OF their political lives. The lesson Il, be
drawn from II is, that the people should
think for themselves upon ali political
questions, and not take their sentiments
from the great men Of the nation. | do
not mean by this that the people should
reject all that comes from the great; but
that they should pin their faith to no
mans sleeve. confess that in reading
the controversy, felt the kindling Of
State pride: Georgia has over been in
profession, and almost uniformly in prac-
tice, q Republican State, Of the old school.
She has been unwaveriugly opposed to a
liberal construction Of the Constitution.
Accordingly, she has opposed National
Banlt-lnternal lmprovements-the Ia
rif--and every other measure of the Gen
|eral Government, which was not sanction
ed by clear authority Of the Constitution
lido not know, therefore, that ever felt
warmer emotions of national pride, than
i did upon reading the following remarks
Of Mr.. Calhoun, at the conclusion of the
controversy to which / have just referred:
"But offer not what | have said as a
justification. | acknowledge that we all
departed in greater or less degree, from
the stern and rigid principles ofthe (STATE
RIGHTs party, and the true policy of the
Government--and well have we paid the
penalty. 1t has taught me lesson never
to be forgotten; and | now call on the
younger and more inexperienced members
Of the party, as | then was, to profit by
our example. Avoid as you would the
greatest evil, the least departure from
principle, however harmless and innocent
it may at the time appear TO be. The
smallest departure will prove to be an en-
tering wedge; and others differing from
you in views and principles will drive the
measures further than you ever contem-
plated; just as we have seen our old oppo-
nents seize on the Tariff, Internal Improve
ment, and the Bank, to overthrow our
principles, and to establish their own
Never cease TO bear in mind that ours is
limited Government, with special powers:
and that if the prescribed line be passed
ever so little, there is no fixing any limits
TO the encroachments of power"
While Mr.. Calhoun was in this course
of error, which brought him at last to this
rank confession, and this solemn warning,
he was warmly opposed by the State Of
Georgia, then in the dominion of the State
Rights party; and one would naturally
suppose, that the palinode OF so great a
man, would go far to confirm her in her old
principles, and to inspire her with new
zeal in the maintenance of them. But is
it so with herr Very far from it fear
1t is not to be disguised, that there is at
this moment-the moment of triumph,
strong disposition with many of the old
State Rights party, TO renounce the prin-
ciples Cor which they have ever contended,
and which experience has proved to be
the only conservative principles of the
Government. They are rife for the ex-
pertinent, against which Mr.. Calhoun
warns them by his own sad experience,
yielding little principle to suit the con-
venience of the times) and they are for
the experiment in manner in
calculably dangerous. 1t is marvellous
how rapidly these men are getting rid of
their old constitutional scruples about
United States bank and il is little more
how rapidly these scruples
dissolve before the breath of Cldysm.-l
Show me Clay man, and | will show you
a bank man; and show me State Rights
United States Bank Clay man, and will
show you thing, the like of which never
was seen or heard of in Georgia, until
within the last six months. And yet it is
no uncommon thing, to hear one of these
compounds, whose very name
is bundle Of inconsistencies, railing at
Mr.. Calhoun for inconsistency, But it is
not my design to vindicate Mr.. Calhoun,
or to censure Mr.. Clay desire only to
improve the lesson which quoted from
the first of these gentlemen; and which,
whatever we may think Of the man, we
must all acknowledge to be undeniable
truth. beg the State Rights Party Of
Georgia to be extremely cautious in ta-
king the first step towards establishing a
heavy monied institution in this country.
Let il be conceded for the present, that
such an institution may have salutary
influence upon the currency; this does not
relioveit from the Constitutional objections
which we have ever urged against it; it
will not relieve us from the charge OF In
consistency, to say the least cfi) if we
support it. We had better stick to our
old principles, than hazard the consequent
ces ola departure from them. When
few manufacturers sought the protection Of
Congress for year or two, at the conclu-
sion Of the last war, and the protection
from principle4of generosity was extern
ded to them; who could have supposed that
from this small beginning, would have
arisen the Taritfof 1890 and the perils Of
1889! Who, from small appropriation
for Internal improvements, could have an