Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-08-13
From the Charleston Mercury.

Messrs. Editors:-CoI. Richardson ha
never when properly approached refused
TO define his position as to political ques
tion past or present-and having expert
enced his frankness take the liberty o
speaking for him-and assuring your read
ers that speak what I know. Befnr,
replying to the questions propoundet
through the Courier, beg leave. to ente
my protest against their spirit and motive
protes, against The spirit ofmischiefwhicl
to gain an advantage in an election of such
comparatively small importance as that o
Governor would revive to bitterness ofou
old party feud. l, is neither just, delicate
nor generous to rake up from Lelhe al
the misdeeds and esasporatious Of tha
bitter contest aud hold one man RESPONSE
BILE for all; and as l believe the purpose o.
these writers is to excite prejudice and MOI
TO elicit trulh--(for Ipresume they die
not expect that Col. Richardson would suf
fer himself to be drawn into a newspaper
canvass) lwri,e not to satisfy but 10 disap.
point them.
Col. Richardson did warmly advocate
and support "the leading feature" of Gen.
Jackson's Administration, viz: his opposi-
ton to q National Bank-and disapproved
of The political principles of Clay and
Webster and the other accredited expo
neuts of the principles of the National
FederaI-Whis party,
With the principles attributed by "Path-
finder" to Gen. Jackson's Proclamation
Col. Richardson does not and never did
accord. He denies all constitutional right
or power in the Federal Government to
punish as treason, all act of obedience in
the citizen to the mandate of n sovereign
state. This will ltlink satisfactorily an
swer all the questions Of that writer re-
Spec'ing the Proclamation.
OF "the Military Organization" of any
party to resist the constituted authorities of
our state, much was written and said al
the time of the Nullifcarun slruggIe-but
as Col. Richardson, know, aud no par;
or lol in any such organization, he cariot
give any information OIL the subjec. j;
any such organization did exist, tb' know
ledge oft was withheld from .ilm-per-
haps because he was deemed unworthy
to be let into the myster,--perhaps be-
cause it was presumed, aid riehtlythat he
would not join in it Col. Richardson
cannot therefore be expected to give the
details with which, he had no more con-
i, seems less Information
Than s.Parhfrder" himself
..Pa,hfinder" is very consistent surely
in holding Col. Richardson Responsible for
all the hostile movements when he in the
same piece comedies him the small merit
of having heen a pacifcator.
"Path6nder" also treats that clever and
staunch Union man, The Editor of the
Courier with very odd courtesy when in
his very columns aud presence he init
mates and pursues his purpose Of invok-
ing spirit of prescription aud revenge
to exclude from state office erery man who
has heen member of the old Union par
". would be ashamed of the name Of
which I am proud that of ":Carolina
Nullifier" If | thought that after all that
has past in the way Of reconcilement. and
compromise. and pledge and corporation,
many NulIifers could be yet ac,uated by
such a spirit.
Tha, Col. Richardson and his consti,-
uents s,rennously and with all constitution
al means opposed The "rest oath" or oath
of Allegiance is well know-hut his ohjec-
tions were founded exclusively nm the pre-
sumed intention. When by The Commit
tee Of Federal Relations the motive was
explained aud our parry gave the nssur-
ancc that the oath was NOT Inconsistent
with any mans constitutional obligations,
and was NOT frame for prescription, Col.
Richardson, asl the other leading men
who acted with him-wilhdrew their Oh.
position-and where not ashamed to en-
ter'ain again and cherish feelings of con.
fidence and kindness towards those from
whom a temporary misconception had
estranged them.
For the Clarendon resolutions alluded
to. by one Of Col. Richardson assailants
The people of Clarendon are responsible
and neither they nor he will shrink from
their respective shares Of the responsible
ty. do not remember the resolutions.
! could saw more 10 prove how ungen
erous and unjust i, is to eudeayour 10 ex
cite the Nullifiers agains, this gentleman
by stirring up every disagreeahle toni,
Of party lore; hui enough of the past.
has nothing to do with the practical dutie
required ofa Governor or anv orher puh
lie servant. Whar is Col. Richardson
present posilon-and what course of poli
cv may we expect from him when he i
elec,pd.
He is decidedly opposed to all discrim
iualing tariff duties for protection.
He holds The doctrine of instruction a
part of his political creed.
He has full faith in The wisdom of III
independent Treasury system, and it
successful operation-and believe that