Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-10-08

great pleasure 10 accept your invitation, were
/ not prevented by tire III health ofme family.
The aHusion in your letter to my devotion
to the true principles of the Constitution and
the cause of the South" implies thai, III YOUR
Judgement, the part which | acted in fadcfnl
politics, since have held the station with
which ana Lonored, was neither incorrect nor
excessive. Tie sanction of an eulg ghtened
public opinion, thus expressed long af,er the
lra;saclioms to which it relates have passed
away, adds greatly 20 the satisfaction. which
calm review of the principles by which [
was governed affords TO my own conscience.
III have for ulany years abstaiacd from par
ty politics, ithas not proceeded from any change
ia nay principles, or from inseHsibiEty 10 tsse
interest oi my cnuItry, but from regard to that
moderation which public tlsie seems, justly, to
exact from the judicial oiFice-
AT present, there appears 10 be Struggle IN
which lis 10 lie determined whether the pu1'ic
affairs slinN i,c committed 10 tia, great lrarly
which, 50 far us is power has e1leiided, las
always co1,tetdcd iai 4 a:adiBarian constrslc-
tiun ol The federal Constitution, or To uiat olleF
parry wlicl, has as uniformly striven 10 save that
Instrument from prrvcrson, by coiIfining The
government, within its granted powers itap-
pears to inc, thai at such tinn, with s1scti an
issue before ne. i should! be faildtss TO my
duty If were indifferent, aud that should be
distranchiscd i'll were forbidden 10 act with
those by whon,, in nay conception, The great
cause oltijcrty is upheld. While, thereiure, 1
aui free to coa!e>s the integrity and patriotism
otmary who, even among ourselves, take dt-
fnreut view of their duty7 While see among
them many who ditier in nowise. Ia general
principles, hut only in the application OF those
priac ipirs, from the true republican party:
cannot refrain from firmly and decidedly taking
my stand among yo,, all, In defence Of the true
principles Of tive Constitution aud lIie cause oi
the South"
The question is not, las l lament to perceive
il is too much considered }about President max
ing. Ifit is, have nothing 70 do with IL IL
is palny and slavish function for The peopie.
to assume, To busy themselves Ia the chnice oi
master. Our foreEathers were very unidp-
ply employed in constructing this government,
If our institutions are 50 inharmonlous, SO III
adapted 10 the general principles OF human ma
ture, that thev are endangered unless lie VII"
IS put at lle eadoialILirs, is pussessed OF trais
ccndunt abilities and immaculate rirt'Ie,-
lf our government is only TO be perpeiuated by
miracles. it must speedily perish. Its worth
any think, il must he capable of being admin
islered by men of respectable information
penelrntiOn and morals.
Ifthe people have nothing better to do than
to inquire whether it is preferable 10 belong
(as tic phrase is, ITO MIR. Van Buien or % Gcn-
era Harrison, they are already slaves.
For nv part. considering these men peison.
ally, tits matter of indif renee to me which OF
them is cho<c,r for independently oflhe control
of them by the party which is TO prevail IN lhe
election. / have but little confidence in either.
What decides me is this Tile present ad'
miuislration party has avowcd and acted upon
principles as sound Us can desire. IL mas
declared for strict construction Of the Consti-
tuition, against Internal Improvements, against
protecting duties, against Federal Bank, ana
against Abolition: and il has faithfully redeemed
its pledges. IL Mr.. Van Buren is elected, 1t
is only because this parry shall have prevailed
In that case the administration may be 1iomlil-
aIlv in his hands. but must be really in theirs
On the other side, behold Il party headed
by the father Of The American system and the
great federal expositor of constitutional Law:
and inits ranks see arraycd. in all its strength
the whole hank and Abolition party of the
north, If General Harrison is to be elected
it will be only because this party has pre-.
vailed. With my sentiments, can never be-
lierc the ",rne principles the Constitution and
the cause of the South" safe IN sach hands.
Ifyou have horne with patience the undiges.
ted remarks with which have made free to
trouble you: trust you will allow me 10 ofTcl
you the following sentiment.
.hbbeville District While she numbers a.
mung her sons II Calhoun, Cheves and q
McDulIie, aud hearkens to the lessons Of their
wisdom ard experience, she ia in no danger of
straying irom"the true principles of the Cons,i.
tuition and The cause of the South" have the
honor &c. J. JOHNSON.
Messrs. E. R. Calhoun, VIM. Eddins, &c.