Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-11-10
LETTER FROM HON. J. c. CAL,
HOUN.

for me to attend the public dinner 10 be
given at ApplingtOn, on the 18th instant,
BY the citizens of Columbia county, ia.
vorable to the election of the present
Chief Magistrate, to which you so kindly
invited me.
My long absence from home in the
public service, and the necessity of deVO-
ting the short recess to my domestic and
private duties, have made it necessary to
decline all invitations Ofthe kind.
Your conception Of the present crisis
is perfectly correct. 1t is similar, but
greater. and more difficult, than that Of
1900, for the reason which you have so
Justly stated. But, if there is more TO
overcome, there is more TO stimulate the
Republican party TO exertion. The pO-
litical revolution of 1901, which brought
Mr.. Jefferson into power, as important
as it is acknowledged 10 be,was but partial.
1t was impossible, under the circun-
stances Of the times, 10 carry out fully
the principles of the party, The FEEDER
al principles and policy, against which
the patriots of that day contended had
been laid on foundations too deep and
strong to be subverted by the most Success
ful assault. The funded debt, the Ma
tional Bank, and the connection of the
Government with the banking system,
constituting the basis of that policy, could
not be reached by that revolution. All
that could be accomplished then, was to
get clear of the odous alien and seditiOn
laws; TO introduce rigid economy and &C.
countability in the public expenditures;
TO apply the surplus revenue, beyond the
necessary wants Of the government, to
the discharge of the funded debt; and to
prevent any further departure from the
principles of the CONSTITUTIONAL of
which we're faithfully and successfully
attended to by MIR. Jefferson and his admin
istration. Fortunately, the debt has
since been discharged, the bank has GEES
ed 10 exist, and the Government separa.
ted, trust forever, from the banking sys-
TEN. Doubly fortunate, their legitimate
ofsprngs, the protective tariff and the
mlscalled American system, are at their
last grasp. When they expire, one, on.
ly one, OF the odiOus progeny of the prin-
cIples against which we contend, will re-
main, but that the most hateful of the
whole--l mean Abolitionism. In calling
it progeny of consolidation ofprinciples,
make the assertion not without due rehec-
tion. 1t has its origin in the same mista-
ken views of the Constitution with the
Bank and the protective system and 9th.
er measures Of the kind-all of which
regard our cOnloderative system of Gov.
ernment as great national consolidated
Republic, with the right to determine, in
the last resort, the extent of its pow
ers and 10 enforce its decision by musket
and bayOnet, even against the sovereign
States from which It derives its existence
and all its power. They are all kindred
measures, and unless they, with the false
principles TO which they owe their origin,
lie thoroughly put down, Abolitionism in
the end will do its work. am no parti-
san. What | utter is the result of long
experience and much reflection, and
comes from the deep feelings of devotion
TO our admirable system of Government,
and to the liberty and prosperity of the
Union, as we'll as the safety of the portion
in which providence has cast my lot.
But now, if ever, is the time to put
down these false and dangerous princi-
pies and policy, and to restore the Con-
stItution to its primitive purity. BY one
decided and united effort on the part of
The South, aided by our numerous and
powerful allies in the North and West,
this may be done. The victory thus far
already achieved, may be maintained, and
that which remaius to complete the resto-
ration Of the Constitution effected when
Abolition, its roots eradicated and left
alone, must perish of itself. The great
question at issue is, shall this be dome
shall the reaction so fortunately commen-
ced and So nearly accomplished 90
through; or shall it turn back--shall
the constitutional Treasury be put
down, and a national bank estab-
lIshed in its place, to be follow
ed by all the rest ofthe kindred measures
Including abolitionl in its train--not at
once, butin the end, Certainly--inevitably
How unfortunate for US, for the whole
Union, and was going to say, for the
cause of Constitutional Government, that
we Ofthe South, who have the deepest
stake in this great issue, should at such
crisis be divided among ourselves. III
united victory would be certain, and safe
ty would be placed beyond the contin.
gency, and the liberty and prosperity
Of the whole Union on the most solid |
but as it is, the re.
suit is doubtful. A few years must
decide, that if the eyes Of the South
should not be opened in time, our ruin |
s unavoidable. That we are divided, at
'uch a period, is proof conclusive that
he system from which we are endeavor.
ng to extricate the Government. under