Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-05-26

10 the late war, IN order 10 tX on me
a charge OF inconsistency. | am pleased that be
has afforded me, on this occasion, an opportunity
to speak OF this portion Of our political history,
and of the part took 1t is QUE that requires
explanation, not only in reference to myself, but
to the party to which belong.
la supporting the measures to which the Sena-
tor referred. was not alone acted with the
great body Of the party; and, if took more
prominent part in relation to them than others, it
is to be attributed TO the position which held in
the House and the party at the time. 1t is not |
my intention 10 defend those measures, but to ex-
plain, in justice to myself and the party, the cir
cumstances under which We acted. do not de- |
ny hut that Ne departed, more or less from the true
principles and policy of our party but IT WAS un.
der circumstances which, though they DO not JUS
uly the departure, are calculated, in great dc.
groe, to excuse It and to repel ehcc,ually any
inference that It was an intentional abandonment
of them.
No popular party IS proof against success, and
the long possession Of power AMI such proved
to be the fact in our case. We had been in the
uninterrupted possession Of power for more lhan
sixteen years, and had just carried through sue
SNS9AuIiy hW us"lioh tAC SItdlCst OhNI WI
earth, and, at the same time, overlhrown the party
in opposition to us. The flush of victory had, as
is usual, the effect of working considerable
change in the feelings and views of our party,
which contributed to the introduction Of the mea-
sures TO which the Senator refers. But there
were other, aud powerful causes, which also con
tributed to it. During the war, the country had
suffered much from deprecated and unequal
currency from the want Of domestic supplies to
take the place of those articles which we had been
IN the habit Of receiving from abroad, but which
had been eut oifby The war, and from the want
| of good roads, and other channels of conveyance,
on which to transport munitions of war, and to
concentrate promptly sufficient force, on the
points menaced or attacked by the enemy. AZ
ter It's termination, there was a vivid recollection
of the difficulties occasioncd by these wants
The danger, at the time, to the country, was be-
ieved to be connected exclusively with our for
eign relations. The war, il is true, had terminal
ed successfully but there were hostile feelings
left behind on both sides, between our county
and Great Britain; and she kept up powerful
tolcc III her possessions in our immediate vicinity,
which was calculated 10 excite our vigilance, and
to admonsh us Of the necessity Of being prepared
for renewed contest Besides, we were in dan.
ger of being involved in long aud dangerous
contest, growing out Of The Revolution in Span
lsh America; in which, at one time, the grea
Powers of Europe, united by what was caIleC
+" The Holy alliance" were strongly incircd tC
interfere. Under these circumstances, and wher
the political principles of our party appeared tC
have gained permanent ascendency, by the pros
traitor OF our old opponents, and to be in no dan
ger, itis not at all wonderful that the measure,
with which the Senator now rcproaches me shoulC
have received the support OF myself and the par
ty to which belong. | confess, for myself, tha
then believed the danger to be, not within, bu
wllhout-not from the giving away of our princi
pies, but violence from abroad, and that had NJ
suspicion that il lay in the quarter which expert
ence has shown it really did. This accounts fol
my course at that period
In voting for the tariff Of 1876 which am still
oiopnon was a judicions measure, with the ex
cepton Of the minimum principle, of which thinl
as badly as any one, regarded it as rerenu
the time. But did not dream that, in the shor
: space of twelve years it would be perverted b.
, those interested into an instrument Of such III
, bounded oppression as TO exact and pass into tn
Treasury one-halt Of the whole proceeds Of on
foreign exchanges. Nor did | imagine that, i
introducing bill to sci apart a particular (ua
; for internal improvement, and leaving it to Con
:, gress to determine thereafter the extent Of it
power over that subject, and to what object III
: funds should be applied, Chat was its real charat
ter,) there was the least danger that, in ie
tho Iyhnla of tio a.
:, become an object Of scramble among the yariou
:, sections in which the struggle would be, VII
. should get most, without any reference to tn
public good. As TO the bank placed in the CT
cumstahccs ii which | and those with whom
, acted were, do not now see how we could hay
: acted differently, even with our present exper
. ence. The time for reformation in reference
6 the currency had not thea arrived and any a
tempt at reform would have proved aborive.
I But offer not what have said as ustlf
! cation; acknowledge we all departed, in
! greater or less degree, from the stern and rg
!. principles Of the party, and the true policy Of ii
Government, and well have we paid the penalt,
. 1t has taught me lesson never to be forgotten
!. and now call on the younger and more inexper
enced members Of the party, as then was,
n profit by our example. Avoid as you would II
q greatest evil, the least departure from principl
= however harmless and innocent it may at tt
q time appear to be. The smallest departure ma
. prove TO be an entering wedge and others, di
. elpg from you in views and principles, will dri'
n the measure farther than you ever contemplated
i jus, as we have seen our old opponents seize {
the tariff, internal improvement, and the bank,
D. overthrow our principles and establish their ow
"a Never cease to bear in mind that ours is lml
$ ed Government with specific powers and IN
s 1.-THE prescribed line be passed ever so lttl
/. there is no fixing any limits to the encroachmen
IN Of power.
% Nor is the period of which amspeaking the on
n one in which success has caused departure fro
" the principles and policy of our party. The va
/ revenue, which the protective tariff placed at 4
- disposal OF the Government, had the effects