Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-24
KECMMOVD.
Congress---2d sess.
IN SENATE-Saturday, March 10, 1883.
SPEECH OF MR.. CALHOUN, OF ;. u.
IN REPLY TO Mr. CLAY, ON Mr.. WRiGHTS BILL

I'm continuation

opinion abandoned no principle nor DESERT
ed any party, the charge OF the senator WIN Al" 'ne
asDersons with which he accompanied It, falls prostrato
10 the earth Here might leave The subject and close
my vindication But choose not. shall follow The
Senator up step by step, in his unprovoked, and, may
add grouudess attack vain olows not less decisive
aud victorious.
The Senator next proceeded to state that in certain
document If he named il, did not hear hm) assign
ed MS the reason why could not Join in the attack on the
Administration that the benefit of the victory would
mo-, enure to myself my party, or, as he explained
himself because il would not place myself and them in
power presume he referred 10 letter, in to
an invitation 10 public dinner offered me by my old
and faithful friends and constituents Of Edgefeld, in ap
probation Of my course at the extra session.
TMr. Clay. dol
The pressure Of domestic engagements would not per-
nit me to accept their invitation and in declining it,
deemed it due them and myself to explain my course,
in its political and party bearing more fully than had
dcse in debate They had right to know my reasons,
and expressed myself with the frankness due The
long and uninterrupted confidence that had existed
between US.
Having made these explanatory remarks, now pro.
coed TO meet the assertion Of the Senator and again
take issue on the fact assigned such the
Senator attributes 10 me- never dreamed nor thought
of such one; any force of construction extort
i, from what said No; my object was not power or
pace either for myself or party. Ii far hum
BILE and honest 1t 10 ourselves and our prn.
ciples from being absorbed and lost in party
merous and powerful, but differing from almost
every principle and question of policy.
When the suspension of specie payments took place
in May last, mot uuex pectcd 10 me) Immediately
turned my attention to the event earnestly considering
as an event pregnant with great and lasting conse.
quences. Reviewing the whole ground, saw nothing
10 change in the opinions and principles had avowed in
1894 and determined 10 carry them OUT as far as cir
cumstances and my ability would enable me. But, saw
that my course be influenced BY the position which
the great contendng parties might take in refer
the question did not doubt that the Opposition
o,t born nj RI n
of State Banks, with MIR. Biddle, at The head but
was wholly uncertain what the Administration
would adopt and remained till the Message Of the
President received and read by the Secretary at his
table. When saw he went for divorce, never hest.
,ated moment Not only my opinions and principles
long entertained, and, have shown, fully expressed
years ago but the highest political motives, left me
alternative perceived, at once that the object,
to accomplish which we had acted in concert with
the Opposition had ceased Executive usurpations had
come end for the present. and that the struggle
with The Administration no longer for power but to
save themselves. also clearly saw if we should unite
with the Opposition their attack the Admnista.
ton the victory over Them in the position they occupied
would be victory over US and principles. 1t re.
auired no sagacy 10 that such would be the result
Ii was as plain as day. The Administration had taken
position have shown, on the very ground occupied
in 1884, and which the whole State rights party had
taken the time in the other House, its our
mails will prove. The Opposition, under the banner of
the bank moving against them for the very
that they Ind taken the ground they did.
Now, ask, what would have been the result if we had
Joined in the attack? No one can now doubt that the
victory over those in power would have been certain and
decisive would the consequences have been the least
doubtful. The FIRST fruit would have been National
Bank he principles OF the Opposition and the very ob.
would have been only feeble to sesIst but would
have been committed by joining in the attack with lis
avowed object 90 for one while those who support the
Administration would have been scattered in the winds
choua I'm Ind a bank-thut is clear:
less CERTAIN that in its train there would have followed
all the consequences which have and ever will follow,
when ried-high duties, OVERLOOKING revenue, e1trava
gaGi expenditures large snrPluscs in word all those
disastrous consequences which have we'll near over
thrown our institutions and involved the country in its
present difficulties. The influence Of the institution,
The known principles and policy Of the Opposition, and
the utter prosraon of the Administration party and the
absorption Of ours, would have led 10 these results as
certainly exist.
| now appeal, Senator's TO your candor and justice,
and ask could having all these consequences before
me, with my known opinions and that of the party to
which belong, and to which only owe fidelity, have
acted differently from what did? Would not any other
course have justly exposed to the charge Of having
abandoned my principles and party, with which | am
now accused so unjuslly: Nay would 1t not have been
worse than folIy-been madness in me- 10 have taken
any other? And yet, the grounds which have as.
sumed in this exposition the very assigned
in my letter. and which the Senator has perverted most
unfairly and unqsy into the pfu personal and sell.
Sh when ne nus tO me-
of what say, again appeal TO the record The secre:
tary will read the paragraph marked in my Edgeheld
letter, 10 which, presume, the Senator alluded
GAS soon as saw this state of things, clearly per-
ceved that very important question presented for
opr determinations which were compelled TO decide
forthwh-shall we continue joint attack with the
Nationals on those in power, in the new position which
they have been compelled to occupy? 1t clear with
our Joint forces, could utterly overthrow and demo.
sh them but it not less clear that the victory would
t,,,to 81, 10 tof hoh coa nj al
lies md their cause They the most numerous and
poweru and the point of assault the position which
the party 10 be assaulted had taken in relation 10 the
banks would have greatly strengthened the settled prin
cpes and policy Of the National party, and weakened
in the same degree They are and have been,
The decided advocates of national bank, and are now
in yof of one with pita ample 10 be sufficient TO
control the State institutions and to regulate the
CIV and exchanges of the country To join them, with
their ayowed object in the attack to overthrow those in
oower, on the ground they occupied against bank,
would of course only have placed the Government
and country their hands without opposition but would
have committed Us, beyond the possibility OF e&teauSn'
for abank and absorbed party in the ranks Of the Ma
onal Republicans The first fruits OF the victory would
have been an overshadowing National Bank, with an
immense capital, not less than from hty TO hunoreo
millions which would have centralized the currency and
exchanges and with them the commerce and capital OF
the country in whatever section the head of the instiiu
ton might be placed The next would be the indlssoiu
BILE union of the political opponents whose principles and
policy opposed TO OURS and 30 dangerous 10 our
institutions, as well as oppressive to u.s.
NOV ask, is there any thing in this extract which will
warrant the construction that the Senator has attempted
TO force on it, Is it not manifest that the expression on
which he fxes that the victory would enure, not to Us,
but exclusively the benefit Of the Opposition, alludes
mot TO power or place but principle and policy Can
words be more plan What then becomes Of all the as
pensions of the Senator his reflections about sehsnness
Nd the want of patriotism and his illusions and illus
irations to give them force and eec They fall TO the
ground without deserving notice, with his gsoundess
But in SO premedi.atcd and indscrminate an attack
it could no, be expected that my motives would entirely
,ably leaving it 10 time 10 disclose my motive for going
&C., nho have changed no opinion, abandoned no