Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-04-18

by plunging the country into revolution,
10 be followed by dsunion or despotism,
as was foretold would he the the ronse-
qucnce in the report to the Virginia Le-
sislature, so often referred to, if the sys-
tenn it reprohated were carried out in
practice. But happily, with the tariff of
1925, the reaction commenced, and has
been ever since progressing. How, or
by whom it was commenced, and has
been urged forward TO the present point,
this is not the proper occasion to slate.
All propose now is to trace its progress,
and mark the point at which it has arri-
| we'd.
The first step of this retrogade move
ment was the overthrow of the admins
tration of the younger Adams He came
into power on the extreme principles and
doctrines of TIE Federal national school,
aud on them he placed the hope of NJ 'n
tanning his elevation. For The truth Of
this ASSERTION, appeal to his inaugural ad-
dress, aud his messages TO the two Houses
at the openings of the annual sessions;
and to expel his administration from pow
er was, Of course, preliminary and indis-
pepsable step towards the restoration OF
the principles and doctrines of the oppo-
site school; aud fortunately this was effec-
ted by decided majority at the expiFa-
lion of his first term.
The next step was the final discharge
Of the funded debt; and for this important
step, at 80 early period, The country is
indebted principally to friend. now un-
fortunately no more-lhe amiable, the
talented, the patriotic Lnwndes-the au-
thor of that simple, buI effective measure,
the sinking fund act, passed shortly after
the termination Of the late war.
But the most formidable of all the OBJ
sracles-the source of the vast and COR
ruptng surplus, with its host of extrava-
CANT and unconstitutional expenditures,
the protective tariff, still remained in
force, and obslrucled any farther progress
in the reaction that had commenced
| By what decided and bold measures it " as
overcome is well known to all, and need
not be told on this occasion. 1t is sufii-
cient to say, that after IA long aud desper-
ate struggle, the controversy terminated
in the compromise act, which abandoned
The protective principle, and has. trust,
closed forever, what has proved in this
Government a most prolific source of pow
er, patronage, AMI corruption.
The next step in the progress, was the
overthrow of the Bank of the United
Slates-thc centre and soul Of the credit
system----a step thar may justly he regard
ed as uot inferior 70 any other in the
whole series. That was followed by the
deposite act of '36, which transferred 10
the treasures of the States the vast sur
plus which continued to flow in upon us,
Notwithstanding The great reduction under
the compromise act. This decisive meas
ure disburIiIened our surcharsed Treasu-
ry, aud has forced on this Government the
necessity of relrenchment and rconumy,
and thereby has greatly strengthened and
accelerated the reaction. SO necessary
is the reduction Of The income to reform,
that l am disposed to regard it. as polil
ical maxim in free States. that an i'm
povcrished Treasury. once in a generation
at least, is almost Indispensable to the
preservation Of their institutions and lib
erty.
The next stage in the progress was the
suspension of specie payments. This oc-
casion afforded an opportunity to strike
the first blow against that illegilimate and
umhoIy alliance. Itwas given decidedly,
boldly, and vigorously, but still with only
partial success. The interest in favor of
maintaining the connexion was TOO pow.
e'iul to be overcome at once; bur though
not broken, The tie is greatly weakened,
and nothing now is wanting TO sever forev-
er This fatal knot, hui to follow up what
has already beeu done bv perseverins and
energetic blows,
This is The point to which the reaction
has already reached; and the question
now 10 be considered is, to what ponr
ought il 10 be urged, and what are The in
! teimedlaie obstacles To be overc me? /
/ am, for myself, prepared TO answer.
have no conceamenI. My aim is fixed.
Ii is no less than 10 turn back the Govern
ment to where it was when il commenced
its operation in 1889; to obliIerate all the
Intermediate measures originating in The
peculiar principles and policy of the school
TO which am opposed, and which expe-
rience has proved 10 be so dangerous and
uncOnsenial to our system; to take
fresh start, new departure, OIL the State
Rights republican track, as was intended
by The trainers of The constitution. That
is the point at which | have aimed for
more Than Twelve years, and towards
which have persisted, during the whole
period, to urge my way, in defiance of
opposing difficulties, dangers. and dis
couragemcnts, and from which nothing
shall drive me twhiIe in public life) till the
object at which | aim IS accomplished.
By far the most formidable difficulties are
already surmounted. Ttose that remain
arc comparatively insignificant.