Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-09-17
TIE true .simon Pure" Harrison the man
for Hnginia.

thought, elegantly and lucidly arranged and |
powerfully developed and expressed, but as
worthy In much higher point Of estimation,
TO command the attention and admiration Of
the country. 1t is the most condensed and
faithful epitomc Of the States Rights doc
trines which we have ever seen, and in a
few words, gives the most lucid exposition Of
our complicated form of Government which
in our belief any man has given.
Liberty, State Rights, Reform and Harri-
son forever This Speech of Harrison at
Carthage, will infuse new life and vigor
into his Virginia, North Carolina and Geor-
gia friends. Now we all do know that in
him we shall find an unilinching friend of the
Rights of the States. His Carthage Speech
is worth 1890 votes 10 Gen. Harrison i'll Viz
ginia.-iHg.
From HE Cincinnati Republican,.
GENERAL. HARRTSON'S SPEECH AT
CARTHAGE.
We insert, according to promise, so much
of General lIarison's speech at Carthage, on
the goth inst. as related to the subject of alb
clifton
Having recently received a letter from a
personal friend, who is n member of an abo-
litlon society, proposing to me twoquestions,
which he requested me to answer; but hav-
ing from necessity, arising from the absolute
impossibility Of my answering the numerous
letters ] receive, requiring my opinion upon
political subjects, declined to answer am
from individuals, willingly embrace the OPP
portunity of answering them which this &C.
casion has given me without violating the
rule had found myself under the necessity of
adopting.
The questions are the following, viz
1st-Do YOU believe the people Of the o.
States possess an unrestricted right TO dis
cuss any subject that to them may seem
worthy of consideration
2nd-Do you believe the people of tho u.
States have the right to petition their Leeis-
lature for the redress of whatever they may
deem grievance, and for the adoption of
such measures as the petitioners may think
conducive to the welfare of the nation
do not hesitate to answer both of these
questions in the affirmative. The Constitu-
ton Of the United States, and that of our own
State, have secured to the people the enjoy
ment of the rights referred to in both cues
tons, entirely unrestricted but by their own
sense Of propriety, and the legal rules which
protect the rights of others. The freedom of
speech and Of the press, are the distinguish
ing characteristics of free governments
Without them, we might call our country
Republic, but it would be so only in narne.
like that of Rome, under the Emperors, IL
might be mask to cover the most hOrrid dos-
potism. The right ofthe people to write and
to speak openly and freely upon all matters
of public policy, sis the palladium Of all civil
and religious liberty" The authors of cur
Constitution must have known, that it " Guild
| be subject to abuses, to be used for improper
and indeed sometimes for criminal purposes !;
yet they declared it without restriction.-
More than halfa century has passed away
since 1t came into operation, and although
upon one memorable occasion it was resorted
to for the purpose of giving effect to councils
tending to paraiyZe the efforts of the nation.
in the midst Of dangerous war, and to en-
courage the enemy to persevere in support
ing their unjust pretensions, Still these decla-
rations Of rights in relation to writing, speak
ing and publishing, having been suffered to
remain III all their pristine force, / should be
the last person who could under any circum-
stances, consent TO restrict them by LEGAL e.
nactmcntS.
l must, however, take this occasion to re-
peat what | have before declared, that the
discussion of the right of one portion of the
States which compose our Union to hold
slaves, by an assemblage of citizens of other
States which hold none, is in my opinion, not
sanctioned by the spirit of the Constitutions
1t 1t is tolerated by the broad and unrestricted
declaration in the Constitution to which !
have referred, it is forbidden by the general
tenor OF that instrument, and the fundamental
principle OF the government which it has es-
tablished. Our government is certainly one
OF very complicated character, difficult. in
some OF It's aspects, TO be well understood
10 foreign governments it presents, and was
Intended to present, power clothed with the
most important attribute ofsovereignty; and so
Tar as our relations with them may be concern
ed, they are to see nothing hey ond that which
is described in orr glorious motto, ''E Plitri-
bus tnum." we are, however not ssone' In
the sense that it would be understood if an
piled to other nations which have been form
ed from once disjointed and separate parts
Our Union is not that which, like marriage.
merges the ,choIc rights of the parties in
common stock. We are not
-----------''.ioined like meeting rivers,
Which roll into the sea one common flood,
And arc no more distinguished
Our Union is more properly like an ordna-
~ co-partnership composed Of a number Of
individuals, who each furnish a portion Of
capital, TO be subjected to the control Of the |
majority Of the partners, but who each also
retain another portion under their own exclu- |
sve management. With the latter. neither
the partners collectively nor individually |
have any more right to interfere than if there |
existed no sort OF connection between them. |
This ~, also, the theory Of our General and |
State Governments. Over the powers retain |
ed by the States, respectively, neither the
General Government nor the other States,
nor the citizens of the other States, can exer-
Use the least control. If this opinion is cor