, 1840-08-29

the same are hereby repealed.
LETTER OF j. C. CALHOUN.
WASHINGTON, 4th June 1910.
Gentlemen: Il do assure you that it is with
extreme reluctance feel myself constrained
to decline the invitation, which you have so
kindly offered and earnestly urged me to
accept; to deliver the address to the Demo-
cratic citizens of New York on the approach
ing 4th of July.
am deeply impressed with the impor.
lance of the question involved in the issue
now before the country, and have the strong
est desire to meet the wishes of yourselves
and those you represent; but such is the ex.
tent of my engagements here, that it would
be out OF my power 10 prepare an address
worthy of you and the occasion, without an
interference with my official duties to an ex
tent that could not Justify.
He who would estimate the contest which
now agitates the Union throughout its vast
extent, from q mere surface view, without
looking 70 the bottom, would form a most
erroneous conception of its true character
and the mighty consequences involved. Be
assured, we are in the midst of no ordinary
crisis. The depth and width of the commo-
ton prove that some powerful cause is at work
beneath; and we cannot too early or earnest
ly inquire what that cause is. To ascertain
what it is, we must first have a clear under
standing Of the circumstances which consti-
tute the present crisis, and, for that purpose
retrospect of our past political history is
indispensable.
1t is well known to all, who are CONVEX
SAINT with the subject, that there has been
from the formation of the constitution two
great parties in our country-a national con-
solidation party & a State Rights Republican
party-the one leaning to the side of power;
the other to that Of liberty. They even prece-
ded the existence of the Government itself.
In the convention, that formed the constitu-
ton, the struggle was long and aIduous be-
tween them-the consolidation Party striving
to form one supreme national government,
with paramount control over the states, and
the other to preserve the federative charac-
ter Of the then existing system, but at the
same time to strengthen and perfect the Uni
on, as far as consistent with the independ-
ence and sovereignty Of the states. Fortu.
nately, the latter, after a long contest pre-.
vailed; and the result was our admirably and
beautiful federal republican system, unexam-
pied and unequalled in any age, or country.
The struggle did not terminate with the
convention. The two parties survived. The
one took the name Of Federal, &the other Re-
publican the former aiming to accomplish what
ithad failed todoin convention, by the enlarge.
ments Of grants of power, through a liberal
and broad constitutions; and the other to car.
ry out the constitution, in its true meaning
and spirit, as intended by its trainers, by re.
stricting the Government within the limits
assigned to it. Each party had its leader in
the first cabinet formed by General Washing
ton-the Federal in General Hamilton, the
Secretary Of the Treasury, and the Republi-
can in Mr.. Jefferson, the Secretary of State;
both able, accomplished, patriotic, and admit
rabiy suited by nature, education, and posi-
ton of the cabinet for leading the parties,
Of which they were the acknowledged chiefs
The policy of Hamilton prevailed; and
the funding system, the union of the govern.
ment and banks, the creation of a National
bank. the protective policy, and the unlimi-
ted application Of the money power to OBJ
jects not embraced by the constitution, fol-
lowed. The government thus received its
first and powerful impulse in a direction un.
suited to its genius and character, and
from which, it has never yet fully recovered.
The first reaction to this almost irresistible
impetus was in the election Of Mr.. Jefferson,
twelve years after the adoption of the con-
situation; but with such force had the machine
teea impelled in the iwrong direction, and
20 adverse was the period, from the then bel
ligsrent condition Of the world, that with all
bis experience. ability, and honest zeal, he
eoad do bat little to bring back the govern.
msnt, and give It . fresh start in the direction
which its farmers intended. The funded
debt VA indeed greatly reduced, the money
power restricted to constitutional objects re-.
t~renchment and economy enforced, but the
powerful ligatares, which bound the govern
ment to the paper system, could be neither
broke or served. Underhis virtuous but less en-
esgeic and orthodox successor, the timesb be-
came more unpropitious. The gigantic strug.