Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-07-10
DEMOCRAT.

cf Cdr0LHc.- No. >
Sir have always believed tina, our State Rights
party had Il great work 10 perform, and that the object
and design Of lis organization, had stamped il with
characteristics too plain to he ohScurcd, and too indcli-
he 70 be erased; and, IN th:s point q: view, IT has been
looked 20 as the basis "f a new and more perfect com
bination Of the popular mind, in support OF the doc
trlncs and usagcs Of the old Republican party Of '9S
ana 80.
This new and more perfect assimilation Of the pub
lie opinion to the genuine doctrines Of the Republican
school, was already in a state Of progression under the
auspices of our State Rights party. The old Jackson
men Of the South, although they did not concur in the
whole theory Of Notification, yet, they were in reality,
quasi Ng!li!ieEs. They dIsapprovcd OF the PrOc!ama-
ton and the Force Bill-and they only begged the
question al las, in relation 10 Notification; for, they
maintained th" right Of Secession, winch only makes
a difference IN tine mod@s opcra"di Of the principle OF
States remedies. For, if NV slave hasa right 10 run
away, and ret out Of my iurisdict:on, and have no
right 10 r~c-captgre him, his remedy against my autho-
rity ~ as good for hs purp9sr, rs i! he hnd 4 legal
right 10 resist me n person. Il IS not my intention 10
enter deliberately into the merits of the controversy,
about the Proclamation, Force Bill, and Nulliiica.
on-Nothing would be lost 10 the State Rights
party, by suffering these questions 10 20 down 10
the tomb Of the Capulcis-and, on the other hand,
BY keeping up a fruitless discussion on those by
gone topics Of discord, the expected union Of the
friends of the Constitution, must be postponed, and
perhaps forever prevented. The true phenomena Of
the election Of General Jackson. and Of the sup
port given III the South to his administration, are
not to be- found II his military achjcvcmcnts-Tbat ar
guuent, have always thought, too common place; It is
certainly true as to Virginia, for he was not her choice
IN The first instance. We must seek for the beginning
ithat tide Of public opinion, in his favor, which ultI-
Inatrly rose so high as 10 threaten the barriers Of the
Constitution, in other causes, more congcnial TO the
Intellectual and moral capacities OF the people. And
these potent causes are to b. found III The manner IN
which Mr.. Adams was elected, and the materials out Of
which he con frucfpI has administration as vsgll n The
subsequent indications of It's heightened Federal clIarac.
ter and bearing.
And, in addition TO the foregoing, Nc are at liberty TO
reckon the patriotic impulses which were generally
conceded 10 tina, man Of the people, Gen. Jackson, for
such was The true and commanding position Of that cx.
t.nordinary individual. II was from these sources he
derived the gioricS and the successes uf his aGministra-
ton. IN despite OF his occasional! mad shooiIngS from
the sphere of his Constitutional duty. Such were the
sources Of his great mora! and political power over the
minds oflis counlrymen, which enshrined him in their
hearts and covered him over with a panoply impcne-
trablc to the kecncst hearts of his enemies.
Such were the civic powers, which, insensibly blend.
inc themselves with the halo of his military glOrIcs,
enabled him successfully TO grapple with and overthrow
the colossal power Of the ieder"i BanE, at a time when
it threatened 10 ojri die sOrcrugnfYo Of the states Gnd the
pt0yif in It's ''hdWghtV ShndOr.'
But these things are all past: they remain only for
philosophlc contemplation. and The lessons they should
teach are 10 be rcckoned among the most precious fruits
VI wa! Ky ~ ~ "''E "a ~ '-'' ''N -
our States Right party, ii. indeed, Their" Is any thing
IN that rom1 drriSSimHm but 4 book of designed
rninmas,' What Is, or can he the ul'inat" good, 10 be
draw n from It's current operations Who OF that party,
howe yer bold and experimental may be his genus, and
however commanding his position, and however tower
mo his intellect, will be able to step INTO the breach al
ready made in the Constitution and defend the citadel
of our liberties. Its brightest star, which rose South
of US. has mingled its gloTies and It's lights with the
present MISUNDERSTANDING Sr. Calhoun stands now
-, ,L, ,,,., hattie. fold vIiI tlp President the Castor
and Pollux of the hosts of the Administration The
distinguished leader Of the once torlorn hope OF the
Constitution has magnanimous!y thrown over has
former political rival, his own white mantle, and
has boldly uniurlrd his own State Rights banner III a
contest. which is believed 10 involve every question
which the State Rights party holds sacred. do not
pretend 10 orapple witt! either side rs an unComprOinIS-
mo foe, nor do mean 10 take either INTO my bosom as
my nearest and best friend. The price Of Liberty IS
eternal vigilance. But there are some important ques-
lions. which present themselves at the very threshold,
and ought not TO be hecdlessly put aside by the friends
of State Rights. FIRST, the State Rights party ought
not to step off from It's own platform 10 meet, or court,
or unite with any other party, which does not acknow-
ledge the true theory OF the Constitution, and conform
lis practice to that true theory in all essential particu-
lars. Its true position should be maintained in the re-
lation Of a reserved corps, ready 10 come to the rescue
of the Constitution when IN It's greatest danger. And
this brings US TO the consideration of the actual condi-
ton Of things. and the relative bearing Of the approach
ING residential erection on li1 tSLiIitS u IHt NtuSti-
tu.ion and the practice of the Government. assume
the ground, that something has been gained by the
State Rights party in lis unequal contests with power,
under The late administration of Gen. Jackson: and II
is the sacred duty of that party TO act so as TO preserve
that which has been achieved. and BY no means to ha-
card lis loss by entering on a new and unrrIcd being
also assume another position, 10 wit, that the ad.
rantagcs gained as above stated BY the Wing party
(ro nomiaeJ were gained by using the arguments
and applying the principles belonging 10 the States
Right party, (proper,) and could not have been gained
by the application of the argument and principles
which are proper to the Federal Wing party. There
are those among US, who belong TO the States Right
party, who NAV be prompted by a strange sor! Of party
feeling to question the accuracy of the distinction
now make between The Wing party and the States
r ight Wing party-5ut they cannot show that my dis
tinc,ion Is ansounh. In my next letter wil! point out
the advantages which rcre gaiHed orsr fcdcai nSUrpa
ton by the operation of the States Right principle anC
arguments; and will endeavor to show the rial Posi
tion oft HI two compeiiOrS for The PreSidenhat Char II
relation 10 these important matters.
Respectfully yonrs,
A STATES RIGHT WING.
June II, $50.
nv Ttr u T. nj .Es