Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-08-13
From the Nc,c York Eeenirg Post.
LITTER OFF. c. CALHOUN.
yVAsu,ScTcS, June 4th lSIO.

Gentlemen: do assure YOU that II Is with
extreme reluctance feel myself constrained 10
decline the invitation which YOU have so kind
" offered and earnestly urged me to accept; TO
deliver the address to the Democratic citizens
of New York OH the approaching 4th oiJnly.
[ am deeply impressed with the importance
of the question involved in the issue now before
the country, and have the strongest desire 10
meet the wishes Of yourselves ard those you
represent; but such is the extent ofmy engage
ments here, that il would be out otmy power to
prepare an address worthy ofyou and the oc-
casion. without an interference with my official
duties 10 an extent that could not justify.
He who would estimate the contest which
now agitates the Union throughout It's vast en-
tent from mere surface view, without looking
to the bottom, would form most erroneous
conception of its true character and the mighty
consequences involved. BE assured, we are
IN the midst fno ordinary crises. The depth
and width ofthe commotlon prove thatsome pow
erfill cause is at work beneath: aud we cannot
too early or earnestly inquire what that cause 49,
To ascertain what it is, we must first have
a clear understanding of the circumstances
which constitute the present crlsls,-and, Tor
that purpose 4 retrospect OF our past polticai
history is indispensable.
III IS well ktlOWU lO dil, WIZ
with the subject, that there has been from the
formation of the constitution two great parties
in our countrv-a national consolidation party
and state riebt republican party-thc one
leading to the side of power; the other to that
OF liberty. They even nrecedcd the existence
Of the Government: itself. In the convention.
that formed the constitution. the struggle was
long and ardnuus between them-the CONSOLE
la, err, fo fnrtn
tional government. with paramount control
over the states. and tie other to preserve the
fedcrativc character Of the then existing system
but al the same time to strengthen and perfect
the Union, as far as consistent with the lnde
pcndeuce and sovereignty Of the s;ates For.
tuna,ely the latter, after long contest pre-
vailed; and the result was our admirable and
beautiful federal republican system, nhexam-
pied and unequaIled in any age or country.
The struggle did not terminate with ,l,e con-
vcntion. The two parties survived. The ono
took the name of Federal. and the other other
Republican-the former aiming 10 accomplish,
what it mad failed to do III the convention. by
the enlargement ofthe grants ofpower, through
liberal and broad constructions; and the other
10 carry out the constitution, in its true mead
ing and spirit, Us Intended by its trainers, by le
stricting the government within the limits as
signed to it.. Each party had its leuder in the
first cabinet formed by Gen. Wasliingou-the
Federal in Gen Hamilton. the Secretary oil the
Treasury, and the Republican IN Mr. J"fersrn
the Secretary of State; both able, accomplish
cd, patriotic. and admirably united by nature,
education, and position in the cabinet for lead
ing the parties, Of which they were the ac-
knowledged chiefs.
The olcy Of Hamilton prevaled and the
funding system. the uniform ofthe government
and the banks, the creation Of u national bank.
the protective policy. and the nlilirntcd appca-
ton Of the money power to objects not cnbra-
ced by the constitution. followed The gov
ernment thus received its first and powerful
impulse in direction Lrsuted to its genius and
from which, it has never yet fully recovered.
The first reaction to This almost irris,ibIe I'M
petus was in the election of Mr.. Jefferson,
twelve years after the adoption ef the collstitu.
ton; but with such force had tho machine been
impelled in the wrong direction. and so adverse
was the period, from the then bclligerent con-
dition Of the world, that with all his experience.
ability and honest zeal, he could do but little TO
bring back the government and give it fresh
start in the direction which It's trainers intended.
The funded debt was indeed greatly reduced,
the money power restricted to the constitutions
al objects re,renclinent and economy enforced.
but the powerfnl lieatrIres, which bound the 60
vernment to the paper system, could he neither
broke nor serve Under his virtuous, but
energetic and or,Jdox successor, the times pc
came more unpropilious The gigantic strug-
gle which had so long asitalcd Europe passed
the Atlantic and reached our shores. The
heavy expense and financial cmberrlsSmenls,
which followed. bound the government with
cords more powerful than ever, TO the paper
system, and restored the policy Of Hamilton in
its full extent, and 10 more than IT. priinalive
vigor. After the termination oitilc war, IL was
carried out in bold relief to the lniScal"d Ame-
ricnn system, till it was finally collsunated in
the Tariff of 1898.
In its train followed rs they ever WILL dis
cord, distraction, profissIon. extravaganza and
corruption. which have done much TO sap the
foundation Of our free institutions, and ninst