The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-28
LETTER FROM SENATOR PRESTON

re-publish, from the Charleston Courier, a
letter from Mr.. PRESTON to the Charleston meet
ing-showing the groundlessness Of certain
charges made by that meeting against the Sc
nator.
The Charleston Mercury suppresses the letter
and substitutes column and half of vitu-
peration upon Mr.. Preston.
The proceedings of the meeting, and Of the
Mercury, are characteristic illustrations Of the
malignant and ferocious spirit of party which
pushes its purposes by falsehood and defama-
ton. These qualities are SO gross and palpable
in the assault Of the Mercury upon Mr.. Preston,
thatthey cannot fail react upon the authors, and
to teach all impartial or honorable men, how
little reliance is TO be placed upon the assertions
of such party--and how all men, who respect
public morals, should unite together to suppress
spirit Of defamation and SANDER which, with
out the shadow Of pretence, attributes moral de-
linquencies to the objects of its hatred. II is
obvious that Mr.. Calhoun and his subservient
followers have determined TO hunt down Mr..
PREsroN, not by q war upon his politics, but by
a series Of fabricated personal charges.
Let the Southern public be taught what faith
is to be given to the charge of Abolitionism
made by this party against Others umknoVn to
them, when they see itmade with equal earnest
ness against Mr.. PREsToN. II is a cant word of
party slang. Its falsehood is felt and recognised
by those who use il. They apply it to all the
adversaries of that infamous coalition, for which
CALHOUN and his tail are now paying the price
Of shame, by slandering every man who is too
honorable to join in their infamy. Nay, further,
the Mercury manifestly considers itself bound
to surpass the calumny and vulgarity of the
Globe and its editor, who, we understand,
wears "blossomed face unproftably gay" has
insinuated that Mr.. PRESTON is addicted to the
vice which he should be the last man, and his
party the last party in the world, to charge
against any one. No one who knows the Sc
nate, viii point out the Senator from South
Carolina, as him who leaves his seat TO quench
his thirst. This foul calumny is specimen Of
the morals and decency Of the Coalition party.
Until this coalition took place, the Administra-
ton forces in the South had continued, to GER
tain extent, exempt from that faint Of vulgar
malignity which always marked the Globe
school. Since then, however, there has been a
new infusion of bitterness and low abuse, and
the Administration party Of the South is CLEAN
ing its materials from the foulest illusions Of the
Blair and Kendall cabal, and drawing poisoned
weapons from their armory of savage warfare.
We will not believe that this atrocious spirit can
escape rebuke from the People, or that it can
have any other effect than to destroy the faction
which is animated by il.
From the Charleston Courier.
TO THE CITIZENS OF CHARLESTON,
WHO COMPOSED THE MEETING ON THE 9TH INSTANT.
F,siioc Citizens-In the address adopted by you at
the late meeting you concurred in act Of injustice
to me, which am persuaded resulted entirely from
the haste and necessary absence of scrutiny incident
to such occasions-and in regard to which my great
respect for you and perfect knowledge that you would
not willingly countenance any unmerited imputation
upon me- prompts me to undeceive you. refer to the
following passage
so close is the intimacy between the Opposition
and the Aboltonists that even in the Halls of Con-
press when the clearest and universally acknowledged
rights Of the South under discussion, the public
servants of the country found silently deserving
their posts to avoid declaration of undoubted right
which might offend their Abolition Confcderatcs.-
Nav 30 powerful the influence Of this alliance
and so closely does appear interviewer with hostility
to Southern Institutions that upon question of vital
Importance to the South one Of our own Senators is
missing from his place. and half the constitutional
voice Of the State is lost to her support"
On the occasion alluded to was accidentally and
Internationally absent from my seat in the Senate
having fully intended and desired to be present.
This uncquivocal declaration might reievec me
from further remarks upon this subject but trust
Won will pardon me for adding few observations,
which IL the circumstances of the meeting had per-
m;tted YOU to consider, would have been relieved
from the necessity Of making. No one doubt
how would have voted had been present-there-
by nv absence
The address insnuates that declined to record my
vote under the influence of an alliance calculated to
produce hostility TO Southern institutions and to avoid
giving offence to Abolition confederates The ques-
ton nnder discussion is stated to be OF the clear
cst and universally Acknowledged rights of the South
ors If aundoubted right" These epithets most
correctly spped-the propositionswe the dearest
ersaiiy acknowledged" and nadoubted'-and
h.;na 40. could not have feared to assert them.
Nothnp would be gained in any quarter by declining
10 assert such truths and my State cannot have suf-
rsycd any material loss" by the absence of one vote
mon propositions carried unanimously.
"A moments reflection would have satisfied you,
fellow citizens, how vain, if had been weak enough
10 desire it, would have been pary device, to OBJ
tain from the favorable opinion Of the Abolltionsts
NV course in reference to them has not been equivo
cal or unknown II is not unknown, the considera-
ton in which hold them, or they hold me- Partly
in consequence Of exaggerated account OF declara
tons made have been the subject of their bitter and
continued vitupcraton in all their papers and public
proceedings Il were instance Of greater weakness
than think you will attribute to me, to expect to
mitigate such feeling by declining to assert nndonbf
ed and undispufed truths.
That could have done 80 in obedience to any par
" connection or purpose is directly and conclusvey
ncpatived by the fact that Clay, CRITTENpEN CLAY
TEN, DIXON, HENDERsoN and MERRrcK were present
and voted No one can suppose that could have
party purpose different from and opposed to these gen
,lcmen thai could avoid or could wish to avoid a
party responsibility which these gentlemen thought it
IN ass