Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-04-12

ed my course on the present occasion. ]
am not among those who pay no regard to
party obligations; on the contrary, 1 place
fidelity TO party among the political virtues,
but assign to it limited sphere. con.
fiue il to matters OF detail and arrangement.
and to minor questions Of policy. Beyond
that, on allquestions involving principles.
or measures calculated to effect materially
the permanent interest Of tho country, look
only 10 God and country.
But the Senator did not confine his at
tack TO my conduct and motives in refcr-
encc TO tho present question. In his eager
ness TO weaken the cause / support, by de-
strs:Jing confidence in me, he made an in-
discriminate attack on my intellectual fac
ulties, which he characterised as metaphys-.
lcal, eccentric, too much Of genius, and TOO
little common sense, Of course wanting a
sound and practical judgment.
MIR. President, according to my opinion.
there is nothing of which those who are
endowed with superior mentnl faculties.
ought 10 he more cautious than to renroacl,
those with their deficiency to whom Provi
dencc has not been so liberal. The faculties
of our mind nre the immediate gift of our
Crcalor, for which VIC are no farther re-
sponsible than for their proper cultivation
according to our opportunities, and their
proper application 10 control aud regulate
our actions. Thus thinking, trust i shall
bc the last 10 assume superiority on nv mart.
or repreach any one with infcriori,y on his
but those who do not regard the rule, wher,
applied to others. cannot expect it TO be OBJ
served when applied TO themselves. The.
critic must expecI 10 be critized, and he who
points out the faults Of others, to have his
own pointed out.
] cannot rotor, on the Senator the charge
of being metaphysical. cannot accuse
him of possessing the powers of analysis
and generalization. those higher faculties of
the mind (called metaphysical by those who
do not possess Them which dec0mpo g. re
solve into their elements The compIex
masses of ideas that exist in world of mind
ms chemistry does the bodies that surround AS
in the material world; and without which
those deep and hidden causes which
arc in constant action, and producing such
mighty changes in the condition Of society.
would operate unseen and undetected.-
The absence of these higher qualities of the
mind is conspicuous throughout the whole
course of the Senator's public life. To
this it may be traced that he prefers the
spccious to the solid aud the plausible to the
true.
To thcsamc cause, combined will, an ar
dent temperament, it is owing that we ever
lind him mounted on some popular and ia
vorite measures which he whips olona.
clccretl by the shouts oflhc multitude. and
never dismoun,s till he has rode il down
Thus, at one time we find him mounted ON
| the protective system, which he rode down:
at another, OH internal improvement. and
now he is mounted on bank, which will
share the same fate, unless those who are
Immediately interested shall stop him in. his
headlong career. Itis the fault Of his mind.
10 seize on few prominent and striking ad,
vaniages and TO pursue them eagerly with.
out looking 10 consequences. Thus in die
case of the Pntectiye sysien, he was s,rI,ck
with The advantages nf fmanufactures.XnS
believing that high duties was 'e proper
mode of protecting them, he shed fSr-
ward The systern.wi'hont seeing that he was
! cnriclling one portion Of the country M tbe
! expense Of the other; corrup,ing the one and
| alternating the other; and finally, diyidine
tho community into two great hostile inter,
ests, which terminated in the overthrow of
the system itself. So, now, lie looks only
to uniform currency, and bank as The
means OF securing ii, without once reflect
! ing how far the banking system hns pro-
gressed. and the difficulties That impede ,ts
farther progress; that banking and politics
are running together to their mutual des
lruction; and that the only possible mode of
saving his favorite system is to separate it
! from The Government.
10 the defects of understanding, which,
the senator attributes 10 me, make no re.
ply. 1t is for others, and not for me. TO
! determine the portion Of understanding
| which it has pleased the author of nv being
IN L. g
for me; that the standard by which sboll
he judged, is not the false. prejudiccd, and,
rs have shown, unfoundcd opinion which
| the Senator has expressed; but nv oc,s.-
They furnish materials, neither few nor
| scant, to form just estimate Of nv mental
faculties. ] have now been more Than 2G
years continuously in the service of This
Government, in various stations, and have
taken part in almost all the great questions
which have agitated this country during
this long and important period. Through.
out the WHOLE have never followed events.
but have taken my stand in advance, open
~ and freely avowing my opinions on all
questions, and leaving it 10 time and expc
rIcnce 10 condemn or approve my course
thus acting,l lave often and on great aucs-
tions. separated from those with whom I
usually acted. and If am really lso tlefec.
tive in sound and practical judgment as the
Senator represents, the proof, if,o be found
any where, must be found in such instnn-
ces, or where ! have acted OH nv sole re-
sponsiblity. Now, / ask, in which of the
many instances the kind is such proof to
be found! 1t is not my intention TO call 70
i tho recollection of the Senate all such: hut
that you, Senators may Judge for vour-
selves. it is in justice due to myself that I
should suggest few ofthc most prominent.
which at the time were regarded no the