Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-07-07
JOHN C. CALHOUN.

The course pursued by this distinguish
ed Senator, since September last, has civ
en- rise to many wild speculations in rela.
ton 10 his motives, and has induced MANY
oil his former friends to doubt his sinceri.
ty. We regret TO see some State Rights
papers hastily charging Mr.. Calhoun with
inconsistency, and desoriion of the "little
band" whose principles he so powerfully
advocated when in the mostimminent dan
ger of humiliation. The man who never
differs with another on any question, is
either destitute ofinellect or the independ
ent exercise of it. In politics the term,
consistency, can only be applied with GER
talnty toPrinciples; and he who will, from
notion OF consistency, blindIy follow
particular policy through all the mutations
OF circumstances, acts inconsistency with
all subIunory things He is the true friend
to his country and his kind, who treats
the things of this world, as he finds them.
not as speculative philosophy, may say
they ought to be. As we have heretofore
remarked, the Sub-treasury scheme, in il
sell, is purely question of policy, and "
consequently Nulifers may differ on that
question without abandoning their princi- {
pies, Mr.. Calhoun is Southron in feel d
ing and in principle. In the war now u
waged against Southern institutions. the a.
South has, in him, an advocate whose prin- P
cIpIes are sound to the core, and in whose %
ability and willingness TO defend her rights, !"
she can place the most implicit confidence. !"
Mr.. CaIhoun's vote against the repeal of q :
the specie circular, induced MANY to be. u
lieve that he had changed his opinion, and p
was now in favor Of that measure which r'
has been so justly denounced as partial and ID
ruInous. We are gratifed to learn, that VI
such is not the fact. Mr.. Calhoun believes "
that the treasury circular was violation "
oil Iaw-thatit was dangerous usurpa-
ton of power by the President, and ipso
tacto void, And that, to repeal it by the nj
iormallty Of law, would recognise its lie. q,
gallty' In order to place this in its proper III
light, we annex condensed report of the III
debate on the repeal Of the specie circular be
from the Charleston Mercury. S. III
In the Senate, to-day, the ointresolution fiji
resembling the specie circular by abolish %
ing all discrimination in the medium of
payment in the different branches of the
revenue, was read q third time and the IN
question being on its passage, Mr. Web eli
ster made speech, for the purpose of pc
showing what he supposed would be the 10
effect OF the law. II would, he said, re. or
nit US to the basis ofthe joint resolution of I'M
hat law which we're made by the deposte OIL
ct. He considered the two provisions Pc
which Mr. Clay had originally offered, tht
the government to receive and me
isburse specie bills, as unnecessary. He an
rgued that the joint resolution Of 1916, OF
as mandatory and not merely permissive; Die
nd that the Treasury order was there. to
ore illegal. That resolution was intend oy
TO rescue the government from ire.
eemabe paper, and to equaize the du- con
es paid at the different ports in bank q,
otes, at time when all the banks south 'i''
Maryland had suspended specie pay {
'ent. But, il was now argued that il was Il s.
mere permission for the reception Of !,
'tcs Of specie paying banks, whereas bo
ere had never been time previously, ~
hen specie bills were not taken by the -" !,
'vernment as specie, II, according To- !
8 view, the power to make discrimina- jug
IN was checked, the President could not stat
ntinue to refuse specie paying bank N