Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-10-27
POLITICS.
KINGS MOUNTAIN CELEBRATION.
Letters reesiued and read TO the Meeting By the COMMITTEE
of limitation.


KINGS MOUNTAIN CELEBRATION.
Letters reeeced and read TO the Meeting by the Committee
Of Initiation.
FoEr HILL, 18th Sept, 1916
Gentlemen: With every possible disposition to COM
ply with your wishes it will be impossible for me TO
attend the proposed celebration of the anniversary of
the battle of Kings Mountain on the 9TH OF next
month, TO which you have invited me so kindly in the
name OF portion OF the citizens Of North and South
Carolina.
expect to be absent at the time from homo pr!-
vate business, TO which must give M attention.
You are not mistaken, in supposing, that the present
aspect of affairs threatens danger to the country,
and that the only remedy is speedy return TO the
principles on which the Constitution is based, but
from which the Government long since departed.
Without such return, speedily and thoroughly there
is much danger, that the principles and policy OF the
old Federal consolidation party will gain complete
and permanent ascendency, to be followed by the sub
version OF the Coastitution anu converting the TO-
vernment into of unlimited and absolute powers.
1t ught never to be forgotten, that the strength ofhe
Republican party lies in its strict adherence to pnci
Piles. As long it adheres, it is invincble but
when parts from them, becomes relatively weaker,
than its oppose and this from the and consttu
ton Of the parties and the which they
rest If then, the principles and policy of the Federal
party relatively far stronger in the community than
any period since the great victory, which brought the
Republican party into power in lc9l, the cause viii BE-
found the fact tina! The latter has deparedyes it is
time speak freely and boldly, greatly departed from
those principles, which brought them into power
Fortunately, have 4 standard which the whole party
acknowledges By which the truth Of what assert may
be tested with certainty refer TO the Virginia and Ken
lucky Resolutions on the Alien and Scdton laws vi
'9S, and the Virginia Report, on the same, N ~
Brought to this test, vii! be found that there not
n principle or measure, which they condemn in such
inst and severe terms, except the Alien and Seditlo
laws themselves, which has not since been conntenanced
and acted by the party TO greater or Jess extent
such is the effect Of power long possessed, on parties
and individuals.
So great in fact, did the departure become, that the
line of distinction between the two parties was, IN
great measure confounded when the Republican par
ty came rely less principles. than the power and
patronage of the Government to retain their ascend
ency The effect of this state a: things could not he
other than they have been. The public mind became
confoundcd the generations that had risen up, IN the
long interval, lost sight OF the original principles and
policy Of the party, but retained lis name, while they
embraced those Of the old Federal party, without losing
their adherence TO its name
But, reaction has commenced and is still in pro-
gress before which the whole system of Federal policy
is gradually giving way The funded debt is paid; the
National Bank EXPIRED the protective Tariff at ITS last
gasp; the system Of lavish and unconstitutional ex
pendtures great measure arrested and finally the
last and strongest link which bound the Government
TO the policy OF the party has been broken by the d.
vorce between the Government and the Banks The
advocates of that policy made their last and desperate
stand on the question of the divorce. They nstInc-
the connection of the Government and the Banks
and hence the desperate effort 10 prevent the
rance, and now, that IL is made to turn ITS authors
out, and bring those H. who will put dow the Const
tutonal Treasury, and the connection through
another National Bank. Shall this be done, OF
shall it be resisted, and the reaction BE- completed:
is the real issue trial before the country
On this depends the ascendancy OF one or the
other party. If another Bank be chartered with suii
cient capital and power to control the State Institutions
and c,nrf, ul,a pIpdl he
assured the principles and policy of the old Federal
consolidation party viii be carried out with ygor and
boldness of which there is past example, no, not in
the days Of the Elder Adams. A new and dangerous
ingredient has mingled with it. the fell spirit of Abo
lton, originating the spirit of anatcism and con
soldaton views Of our Constitution, which makes
the principles of the party dangerous than ever
But the other hand the Constitutional Treasury
be maintained and the charter OF another bank, the
renewal of the connection fthe Government and banks
prevented and if the Republican party shall in good
faith carry out the work Of reform and restoration, and
give to the Government the direction, which the Tram
of the Constitution intended should take, It's as
tendency will be permanent, and prosperity will iol'
low for duration and extent unexampled III the history
oi our
Let me add in conclusion, that this great issue is
brought TO point, when it must be speedily decided
The three four years at farhcst determine
and the action Of the next few weeks, must have 4
great influence the final decision. Blu, let me add
if the result of the present contest should unf"rtunate
be against us, belongs not to Republicans to despair
Our is good, and if supported, earnestly and
faithfully, must prevail in the end. There are thou
sands now opposed that are with in principle, still
more numerous body, who though without any fixed
principle, yet, must, in the end he thrown into the
Republican ranks The confusion OF the last IL or l.
years has done much divide and distract partes espe
cially in the South, where fall knowledge Of their true
interest and sense of danger be not lost it is impossible
that there be any party found permanently assoc
ated with party whose principles and doctrines lead to
the adoption of measures that end in the over
Government of absolute and unlimited power, TO lie
welded TO the subsection and rum Of the South wher,
Providence has been pleased TO cast our lot.
With great respect
am, &C., &c,
J. c. CALHOUN
I.arkin Stowe, ESQ.,, and others of the Committee.
RALEIGH, Sept. 90, 1910
tieatlcmen,-I have delayed acknowledging your IN
yitaton to the Anniversary Celebration of the battle o.
Kings Mountain, under the hope it might be IN my
power to Join our friends in this tribute OF remem
brance of the brightest events IN the history OF
the Revolution. But regret to says it is not in my pow
or to do So
rejoice find, "the Democratic citizens OF the two
Carolinas uniting such crisis in "a free inter-
change osentiments ready TO resist the "unwarrant-
able exertions of those, who seek to overthrow an
Administration. pledged every principle hitherto
held sacred by the Souh-as well to the defence Of
her domestic institutions, which peace and quiet
so greatly depends. am highly gra,iied, too, to see