Southern telegraph., 1838-01-02
FoRr HILL, Nov. Sd, 1887.

aext regular session of Congress, anl SO
is it TINT should devote il
exclusively To my domestic concerns, pre-
,aratory to my long absence from home,
hat l am compelled to decline the honor
Intended.
In saying that on no occasion coald an
of your conf lence be more wei
come, | intend no unmeanng common
place. Daring the long period of my pub
lie service, never have seen more i'm
nortant crisis than the present, and in none
b we ever been compelled ia the discharge
of my duty, TO assume sreater respansi-
bility. | saw clearly, on my arrival at
at the commencement ct the
late extra session, that or affairs had reaeh~ii
ed the point, when according to the course
we mi ht take, we should reap the full har-
vest Of our long and arduous struggle IA
gaiast the entertainments and abuses OF the
general government or lose the traits of"ur
lal OR. | clearly saw that our bold and wig |
orous attacks had made a deepand sacce.s-
full impression. State interposition had O.
yeythrown the Protective Tarta, and with
it the American System. and put a stop to
Congressional usurpation, and the joint at
tacks of our party and that Of our old opno-
nents, the National! Republicans, had eiiec-
tually brought down the power of the Exc
cuive, and arrested It's encroacbmen.s fnr !
the present. 1t was for that purpose we had
united TrIc to our principle of oppnsi-
ton to the encroachments of power, from
Whatever quarter it might come, we did
not hesitate, after overthrowing the protec
tive system, and arresiing legislative usur
patton, TO join the auth RS of that system.
~ order to arrest the encroachments of the
Executive, though we differed as widely
as the poles on almost every other question,
and regarded the usnrpations of the Execu
tive, butas a necessary consequence of the
principles and policies of our allies. In
joining them we were not insensble To the
embarrassment Of our position With such
allies, success was difficult, and the victory
itself, without change Of principles ~"I
policy on their part, dangerous, aud &C
cordingly, while we united with Item "a
gainst the Executive, we refused all p,rti-
cipation in the Presidential contest. Bu.
with all lis embarrasnentS, it was the only
practicable course left us, short cf abandon
ing our principles or the country by retiring
altogether from the field of contest. In
this embarrassing position we waited the
Development of events with the fixed de-
termination, that let what might come, we
would infexIbly pursue the course, which
regard to our principles and the success
OF our cause demanded.
such was the position we occupied. from
1888, when our contest with the General
government terminated, to the commence
ment ofthe late Extra Session, when it be-
came manifest great change had been eff
lsc'ed, which could not but have a power
Iui influence over our future course. 1t
was soon apparent af er the meeting of
congress, that the joint resistance Of our
selves and urlate allies in conjunction with
the course of events in reference to the cur
rency, had brough: dowa the lofty preten-
tons OF the Executive Depa tment. The
union between the Government and the
money power, which had so greatly strength
ened those in authority at first, had not On
~ ceased, but they were forced to take
g~und against reunion Of the two, and
70 make war against those very banks which
nad been the instruments Of their power and
hggrandizement. Forced to take this nos;
ton, aud Invested in great measure of
patronage and influence from the exhausted
state OF the Treasury, they were compelled
10 tall back as the only means of saving
themselves, on the principles of 1927, bv
winch they had elected the Nationel Rep,,b
ican Party, and to which our portion of the
old party OF ~ have inflcxibiy adhered. but
from which the other adhering to the Adj
'nihis.ration, had so greatly departed in
practice.
AS soon as | saw this state Of things. I
clearly perceived, that a very importan,
question was presented for determination.
which we were compelled to decide forth
with, shall we con!inne our Joint attack.
with Nationals, on power, in the new posi-
ton, which they have been compelled to
occuPyY 1t was clear, with our Joint f,rc-
es, we could utterly overthrow and dem,l-
lsh them, bat it was not less clear Tint the
victory would nure not to us, but exclusive
y to the benefit ofour allies and their cause.
They were the most numerous and power
fu', and the point Of assault on the position.
which the party to be assaulted had taken
IN relation to the banks, would have greatly
strengthened the settled principles and
policy OF the National party, and weakened
IN the same degree ours. They are, and
ever haye been, the decided advocates ii a |
Naiional bank. and are now in favor of one.
with capital 50 ample as to be sufficient to
con'ros the State institutions, and to rcyu-
'a'e the currency and exchanges of the |
country. To join them with their ayowcd