Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-05-20

vowed. Ii could notbe the fact, for Inc
Wing party consisting Of a vast majority Of
The Uuiled States must, of necessity act
upon publicly avowed principles, and con-
sis,iug TOO of great majority ofthe South
ern States, it could not be implicated in
conspiracy against Southern Interests.
1t is not the fact that the distribution Of
the proceeds of the public lands, has ever
been considered aWhie parry measure.
1t is not the fact that in any just meaD-
ing of the prase il comes in as the high
Tariff party-either secretly understood or
publicly avowed-for it is notorious 10 the
whole country that as far as pledges could
be made by political party--the Wbigs
were pledged 10 the Compromise Act Of
1888. Their candidates for President and
Vice President were deeply, repeatedly
and publicly pledged to it, and the most
leading men Of all the party bound to its
maintenance by every possible obligation
while on the other hand, the candidates
of the other party, for President and Vice
President, and, their most leading and able
partizan (Mr. Wright, Of New York;
were at all times the advocates and suppor-
ters Of the most extravagant system of
Protection. The vote OF the anti Tariff
States-of Georgia and North Carolina
aud The present attitude Of Virginia, yindi-
cate the Wing party against this charge.
II is not the fact, that I was elected
Senator as an opponent Oh constitutional
grounds Of National Bank or disrribu-
ton of the proceeds of the public lands
neither of those questions were agitated or
though. ofin the State at the period Of my
election. Ifmy sentiments in regard TO a
Bank Of the U. S. were an element in that
election-it was known that | was of the
Republican State Rights School Of Madi-
son and Crawford-and had never de-
uounced them or the whole body Of the
Republican party who followed their lead
in the financial emergencies Of 1916. My
strong aversion TO a. Bank OF the U. States,
existed then and exists now-neilher de.
creased or diminished, by the recent fai-
lure of a State Corporation Of Pennsylva-
MIA, an aversion which could yield only 10
paramount necessity, such as overruled
The objections of wise and patriotic men in
18l6-whose character and fame must be
aspersed, before denuncia.ion can reach
me for following their example.
So far from this question entering into
the consideration of my constituents at
either Of my elections, the notorious cir
cumstances then existing, prove it to have
been impossible.
was elected shortly after Mr.. Calhoun,
who had been The principal agent in es-
tablishing the Bank Of the United States,
and who in the session subsequent to my
election, declared this fact in the Senate
of the United States, accompanied by a
strong panegyric upon the Bank. He did
not forfeit the confidence Of the, State
thereby.
The immediate representative of your
own district, Mr.. M'Dufie, always the
jealous partizan of the Bank-had at the
moment Of my election signalized his ad-
vocacy. of it upon every ground of consti-
tuality and expediency-had eulogized its
conduct and its conductors-and proposed
its re-cbarterin an elaborate and powerful
document. He neither forfeited the conf-
dence of Abbeyille District or of the State
to the highest office, in which he was sub.
sequently elevated. Although !. did not
and do moi concur in all the views and
conclusions ofthat celebrated report, / do
not believe that | was elected 10 the; SEN
ate en account of my dissent from them.
And I cannot refiain from remarking
that in the proceedings Of the meeting at
Abbevillc, there is striking forbearance
ofexpression of any opinion as TO the Con-
stitutiouality OF. a United States Bank
the objections to it being selected from the
frightfu exhibitions made in the Pennsyl-
vania Bank, and other topics Of policy, en-
titled unquestionably to the very highest
consideration. The meeting seeks to bind
me while it cautiously keeps itself unfet-
tered and holds me 10 an opinion which
itself does not entertain.
During tile period that I had the honor
to serve the State in her Legislature, do
not remember that the Bank question was
agi,ated. Engaged as we were in the
prosecution Of great enterprise, in which
energy and concert were necessary to sue
cess-when it was known that many con-
spicuous men deeply devoted to the main
tenance of the principles upon which the
State was acting, entertained various senti-
men,s upon this subject. it would not have
been prudent to have asila,ed it; and this
is, perhaps, one reason why it was not
agilated at that time. My course upon
the high questions then settled, undoubted-
ly procured me the honor Of an election TO
the Senate, and second 10 these, and scarce
ly second, my opposition to the men and
measures of tho Jackson Van Buren, ad-
ministration. TO prosecute this opposi-
ton, mainly, was sent, and if at any
time have enjoyed the appreciation Of my
constituents, it was when l have been
fearlessly and vehenently assisting in beat
ing down that dynasty. The only doubt
tha, was thrown upon my reelection, was
that might relax in these efforts TO pros
trate the Proclamation, the Force Bill, and
the Tariff party, although that party was
then distinguished by hardy opposition 10
Bank. If I had faltered in my opposi.
ton should have been false to my coun-
try and my conscience; and having prose-
culed it TO a glorious success, find no
matter for regret, but that in the moment
of that victory, am separated from por-