Piney Woods planter and Amite union literary reflector. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1838-1838, 1838-05-26

From the 81. ClairspiIEe (Ohfo) Gazette.
BELMONT DEMOCRATIC CELEBRATION OF
THE BIRTHDAY or THE ILLUsTRi-
Gus JEFFERSON.
Ans,cer addressed 10 the committee Of In
citation By John G. Calhoun.
wAsnrNoroN, April, 1888.
GENTLEMEN
Ireceivcd yesterday your invi-
tation to participate in the celebration
|. of the birthday Of Thomas jefferson,
In commemoration of the great princl-
pies. to which his life was devoted.
The great distance and my official du-
ties have prevented my acceptance OF
your invitation.
rejoice to see recurrence oil those
great and fundamental principles OF oui
Government, which are personihed IN
Mr.. Jefferson, and which it is the OBJ
iect of your celebration of his birthday
to commemorate. There never was a.
period in our history, in which it was
so Important to revive and impress them
deeply on the memory and hearts OF
our people. 1t is in vain to disguise 1t,
that we are in the midst of a mighty
conflict. on the result of which the tri-
umph, or.thc final and complete over
throw Of those principles are involved.
The union of the political and money
power would be their death, and the
separation of their life and triumph.
II is a union far more fatal to free and
popular institutions, than that OF
Church and State, which is so carefully
guarded against in the Constitution.
Nothing short of an entire separation,
now and forever, can prevent COM
pletc revolution in our political institu-
lions, and the property OF the coun'
try. :.
To this fatal union may be traced in
d great measure, the departure of the
Government from the true principles
ofthe Constitution, as held by the State
Rights party, and Mr.. Jefferson, as its
founder and head. 1t added the nigh
ty influence and weight of the whole
banking system Of the country to the
side of the National Consolidation par
ty, which has given, in the long run,
almost an entire ascendency to their
principles and policy. We are now,
and have been for years, tasting the
bitter fruits of this ascendcncy, in the
distraction, discord, and conflicts, which
have marked our political history since
1925; in the excess of vast and over
flowing revenue beyond the most ex-
travagant wants of the Government,
and the consequent increase of the cen
trail power and patronage of proiuse
and wasteful expenditures; of vast and
corrupting SURPRISES, debasing the pub
lie and private morals ofthe communi-
ty, and spreading the spirit of lawless
speculation far and wide; all of which,
with their combined influence, caused
the present deplorable state of things,
of a people plunged deeply in debt
without any fixed standard ofvalue, and
at the mercy of institutions, which,
while they refuse to pay their own de-
BITS, may enforce at pleasure, their dc
mands against their debtors. Such
has been the disastrous result of this
union.
The struggle now is on one side, to
terminate this fatal union; and, on the
other, to pefpetuate it, under the plau-
sible pretext ofregulating the currency
and exchanges of the country. This is
the mere exterior, surface view, which
can only deceive those who never look
beneath. They are as nothing com.
pared with the great principles which
be at the bottom. it is far more poll,
teal, than commercial or money ques
ton. Let the union be renewed, it mat
ters not whether with a league of State
banks. or National Bank,-let the
money and political power be once
more welded, and there will be an enc
of State rights. The great principles
which you have united to celebrate
will be forever postrated, and this Gov
eminent will absorb the whole power
of the system, and the States will sinh
to dependent and petty corporations
and then we may bid final adieu t'
our free and popular institutions. Blu
on the other hand, should we succeed
in terminating cffectually and finally
this fatal union, all this will be avoid
ed-For our Government will take
new and prosperous start, which, on
past experience, and under the gui,dl
ance of wisdom and in duration would
trust, pcrpetuate our Union and IN
stitutions to the latest generation, an,
raal;ye the fondest hopes of their found
ers. In conclusion, offer the follow
ing sentiment:
tn precont Crisis--I ,ct the watcl