Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-08-29
ADDRESS
or THE WING CONVENT ION,
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI.
fConcluded,]

nOpGp .a.dent will occasionally dismiss from Of
t'S some of the most prominent punderors of
i"N.'nnhlic. is not improbable. But he is too de-
nondon, on the great majority of them, to ven
'',o On thorough reformation. Elected with
~, personal popularity it is to party discipline
V oYone since the retirement of his predecessor,
% hot he can look for support. 70 offend those
Who orc his most active and efficient friends
,,ould be TO sacrifice his last remaining hope.
FIRMLY impressed with the truth of these
suggestions, the convention which we repre-
ooet bas recommended man to whom, more
tbon any other now living, this nation is in
dehed for its greatness. AS speaker of the
House of Representatives during the last war
with Great Brtain-os supporter of the inter.
csls of the west in the negotiation at Ghent-I
&C the able defender Of southern rights in the
Missouri difficulty-as the author of the com
promise bill in 1833-and more recently, asI
The master spirit who queIled the spirit of Abo-
tion in ongress-Elenry Clay has been pre-
eminent in usefulness.
The whole country can bear witness, with
what untiring perseverance the friends of Mr..
Van Buren, have endeavored to destroy Mr..
Claws popularity, by ascribng to him opinions
at war with the rights and interests of the
south. OF these, his support of the tariff has
furnished the most plausible, and for several
wears, the most prominent topic of denuncia-
ton We have no wish to distinguish the truth
on any point connected with history. We
readily admit that Mr.. Clay was the advocate
of this policy, to the foil extent of the tariff of
l824-a measure which received the votes of
General Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren,, then
x,o,,bo.e o. tho Sopo'n Whatbor tbnt mans
ure was right or wrong, it is not material to in
Qurc--its most decided enemies must admit
that it raised great market for the consump-
ton of our cotton. But right or wrong, il sinks
into nothing, when compared with the tariff of
1923. 1t was this which was Familiarity known
as the "Bill of abomnations"--whichc created
universal dissatisfaction in the south, and pla-
ced one state in the attitude Of open resistance
10 the power Of the general government. And
for this bill Mr.. Van Buren, voed--not on its
final passage only but for the minimum" prin-
ciple, which constituted the worst feature of lis
details. We are aware that the Legislature of
New York had passed some resolutions nstruc-
ting the Senators from that state 10 support a.
protecting tariff but they were too indefinite
IN their character, 10 require such votes as
those which Mr.. Van Buren, gave. And III
should ever be remembered, that Mr., Clay ne
yer designed that tariff should be more than
lemporary--proposing, merely, TO establish
manufactures, and to leave them to sustain
themselves.
We know not Mr.. Van Buren's precise posi-
ton on this subject now. But the act OF 1882
was passed by his friends, having malorlues IN
both houses of Congress, avowedly as final
settlement of the question--and far from quiet
ing the agitation produced by the act OF 1928,
instead of checking South Carolina, it rather
hurried her into the extreme remedy OF nulf.I
cation.
1t was less than one year afterwards, when
the bravest look with terror on the prospect OF
civil war, and servile instruction, which, n
commenced, could not cease before the whole
South should be involved in its calamlties, that
Mr.. Clay submitted his celebrated bill for the
gradual dmnution Of the Tariff. The South
was satisfied with its provisions, and the North
saw the necessity of acquiescenee in this meas
ure ofconciiation. 1t passed-and by it the
ordinance of Notification was neutraliZed; the
Proclamation and Force Bill were dsarmed; i
the horror Of civil war was averted; the South
and the North again met as brothers; and our
extended country once more presented the mag
nifcent spectacle of a great, happy, and
united people. Mr.. Van Buren, had no part or
lot in this matter.
And yet it has been often and gravely urged,
that the election of Mr.. Clay would revive the
Tariff policy. No well informed man can be-
heye this. The act of 1888 was the result of
mutual concessions by the North and South,
and has ever been regarded by Mr.. Clay as a
solemn contract, rather than an act of ordinary
legislation. Such was his exposition OF the bill
when he presented it, and such have been hlsI
uniform declarations since.
He has been charged, also, with !avorlng the
disinns of the Abolitionists. 1t is difficult tol
conceive a more conclusive answer to this, than
u statement OF his own situation lie IS a large
slaye-holder--he was born and reared among
slave holders-and his home, his connections
and interests are permanently liked among
such population. But we have other eVi-
dence of his sentiments on abolition, IN the res
buttons which he introduced in the Senate IN
1888, and more recently, his speech on tna'
subject during the last session. wen olG MI
Calhoun remark, at the conclusion Oh Mr'
Clay's argument, that The question OF aOolluon
was now settled.
II is among the strange things OF these as
pointed times that such an accusation should DC
made by the friends OF Van Buren,; 1t might DC
doing this gentleman injustice to charge MN
with desiring the success of aboltionlsts' ne
has no interest, and, we presume, no ieelng'
either in their success or failure. But II lhe
time shall arrive, as we have reasons to lear
that it will, when this unholy lanaticism shall
fryNin n IN tk. hat