The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-21
FSvs ~ 6Duthsrn Chr
LETTER FROM SENATOR PRESTON.
CoLuMBIA. May III, 1871.

closing certain resolutions passed in meeting
OF a portion Of the ctBsuo ~ Abbesille
The temper and laneuses OF those concerning my
self SAVIOUR much oss ofpsssonal bitterness than Of
political discussion that nhouj hold self discharged
from any obligation 10 notice them, but that feel
due to the public NOT to permit assertions con-
tanned in them 10 pass without contradiction
In the filth resolution, being the first IN which my
name is mentioned, ! am denounced for acting with
party whose principal objects known to me, though
not publicly avowsd, National Bank, Protec-
tive Tariff and the distribution Of the proceeds Of the
public lands.
1t is not the fact that the Wing party had any -
ject known to me and not publicly avowed. IL could
not be the fact for the Wing party consisting Of
vas, majority u The United States must Of necessity,
act upon publicy avowed principles and consisting too
Of great majority Of the Southern States could not
be implicated in conspiracy against Southern n'e
rests
1t not the fact that the distribution ofthe proceeds
Of the public lands, has been considered " ng
party measure. -.
Ii Is noe the fact that in any just meaning OF the
phrase it comes in A the high Tariff pary-eitnei Sc
crcsy undersood or publicly avowed-tor 4 Is no'o,
rous the whole country that a. far az pledges cou
be made by political pariy-tae Wn,gs were P,enged
to the Compromise Act OF 1888. ihen eaha'oa'es
for President and Vice President were deeply repeal
eddy and publicly pledged to IT, and the most leading
men Of ali the party bound TO its maintenance by
every possible charlottesville on the other hand
the candidates Of the other party, for President and
Vice President and their most leading and able par
THAN (Mr. Wright, of New York; were at all times
the advocates and supporters Of the most exravagant
system Of Protection The vote Of the anti Tanh
States Of Georgia and North Carolina-and the pre-
sent attitude OF Virginia, vindcAie the Wing party
against this charge
Il i not the fact, that was elected Senator an
opponent on constitutional grounds of q National
Bank or q distribution Of the proceeds Of the public
lands-nether of those questions were agitaied or
thought Of in the State at the period of election
If my sentiments in regard to Bank Of the u .
were an element in that election-r was known that
ID O. ns.shta Srhf .IpfAJ M MI
SON and CRAwFoRp-a and had denounced them
or The whole body Of the Republican party who fol-
lowed their lead in the financial emergencies Of 1916
My strong aversion 10 Bank Of the United States
existed then and exists nowneIther decreased or d.
nished by the recent failure of State Corporation
Of PENNSYLVANIA, an aversion which could yield only
TO paramount necessity, such as overruled the OBJ
ections Of wise and patriotic men In lo6-whore cha
Tacer and fame must be afpersed, before denuncia
ton can reach me for following their example.
So far from this question entering into the conside
ration Of my constituents at either Of elections, the
notorious circumstances then existing prove II to have
been impossible.
was elected shortly after Mr.. Calhoun who had
been the principal agent in establishing the Bank of
the United States and who in the session subsequent
my election declared this fact in the Senate Of the
United States, accompanied by strong panegyric up
the Bank. He did not forfeit the confidence Of
the State thereby.
The immediate representative of your district
Mr.. MDuffie, always the Jealous parizan of the Bank
=
vocacy Of upon every ground of constituiionaliy
and expediency-had ,eulogized its conduct and its
conductors proposed its recharter in elaborate
and powerful document. He neither forfeited the
confidence Of Abbeve District of the State 10 the
highest Office in which he subsequently elevated
Although did not and do not in all the views
and conclusions Of that celebrated report, do not be-
eve that was elected to the Senate account Of my
dissent from them.
And cannot refrain from renlarkng that in the
proceedings Of the meeting at Abbevle, there is a
striking forbearance OF expression of any opinion TO
the Consiitutionality of United States Bank-the
objections to it being selected from the fghfu exhi
billions made in the Pennsylvania Bank and other |
topics Of policy, entitled unques,ionaby the very
highest consideration The meeting seems to bind ms
while cautiously keeps itself unicttercd and holds
me 10 an opinion which itself does not entertain.
During the period that had the honor TO the
State in her Legislature, do not remember that the
Bank question was agitated Engaged we were in |
the prosecution Of great enterprise which energy
and concert were necessary to sucea~s-when it was |
known that many conspicuous men deeply devoted to |
the maintenance of the principles upon which the State
was acting, entertained various sentiments upon this
subject would not have been prudent to have agta
ted and this is, perhaps ore reason why it not
agated at that time My course upon the high qucs-
lions then settled, undoubtedly procured the honor
of an election to the Senate, and second TO these and
scarcely second, my opposition to the men and mea-
Of the Jackson-Van Buren, administration To
prosecute this opposition mainly was SENT and il al
any time have enjoyed the appreciation of my con-
sutuents, IL was when nave been fearessly and We
hementy assisting In beating down that dyna. ty.--
The only doubt that was thrown upon my reelection
that might relax in these efforts PROSTATE the
Proclamation, the Force Bill and the Tariff party al
though that party was then distinguished by hardy
opposition to Bank. If had fatered in my oppos-
tion to that party could have been elected or
reelected If | had faultered in that opposition |
should have been false 10 my country and my con-
science and having prosecuted j, to glorious success
find no matter for regret but that in the Of
that victory, am paiated from portion of my
stuents, whose countenance and encouragement had
sustained and rewarded through many vississi-
tudes OF the eventful struggle.
That the meeting at Abbcvie has thought proper to
censure me for thus perssting TO the contamination
of what set out TO effect is matter Of regret to me
that II has impugned my motives by the nsnuation in
the 9TH resolution, excite the utmost but
a momentary irritation. The tenor Of my life has put
me beyond the reach of such shafts. II had been
ambitious the party in power at the moment of its
tendency was accessible, when might have chosen |
it rather than the doubtful and amos, desparng
Of the country. If the allurements Of popularity of
that dearest popularity which is found al home could
have seduced me from the rough and thorny way oil
duty, the primrose path was straight before If
servile, might have surrendered my conscience
the keeping Of others and been safe. If had been
venal, might have joined the spoiis party. have
preferred discharge according TO the dictates of my
conscience the high and responsible obligations Of
patriot Senator for the promotion Of the interests and
honor of our common country, and esteem II piece
of good fortune, that in performing this duty, have
crossed material opinion once entertained-have
denounced no principle once avowed-and avowed
denounced--that have deserted from or TO
party, but have maintained straight forward and
direct course from the beginning Of my to the
present moment.
Even on that policy which has been the occasion of
the greatest difference bet and my eoosttu
ents am entitled, at their hands, at least to the Gre.
dit Of consistency Before my election, my judg
ment fixed in regard to it, Experience and the
verdict of the country have proved how Justly my