Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-10

has been made face OF the In
se asr III The M cSS a. ny
tune OF ra'ifeauon the action both OF accidental eirs
changes in the distribution balance OF powers which
amount In Importance TO resoluon In the 3overnne
upon"
The Secretary, or Judge, as he then was, emu
mcrates, under seven distinct heads. the changes
which in his opinion amounted In importance 10
revolution in the Government, and, with all his IN
genuity aud special pleading, he will hardly under.
| take TO show that such changes IN the Government
as will amount in importance to revolution do not
| violate the character Of the Government or defeat
its legitimate objects. The enumerations are under
| the following heads:
LIST "Chango the spirit OF the Constitution in reeard
the powers OF electors OF the President
ID. Change OF the Constitution by the substitution OF
papor money, aud furnishing public credit as uahns
capital for private corporations and nd''nas ,.
IL. Change Of the Constitution by establishing the
high tariff or protective system"
18th. ~Change OF the Constitution by limitation OF the
Eih Change the Constitution by the general opera
ton OF Executive patronage"
9Th "Inhuenee OF Executive patronage on the Lcssla
tive body"
7th. Degradation of the Senate AMI destruction OF its
designed constitutional powers"
We'll, what can be made Of all this but that he
| would prefer dissolution OF the Union rather than
have witnessed the change Of the spirit of the Con
stituton in regard TO the functions and powers oi
electors ofihc PRESIDENT That he would sooner see
the Union dissolved than that Bank OF the United
| SkotCS SHOULD oe eStaOuSnCus tntt Wouiu eoohSi
| see the Government overthrown than that high
tariff should be imposed, SC. IL any logical de-
duction can be drawn from the writings OF MIR Up
shur, il amounts to this; and these ate his only quail
fca,ions, now for the first time set up. Under the
eighth and last head, MIR Upshur sums up his nc
count in the following words:
"By the fun exercise ofthe power pat
OF the Prcsdent-hc utter prosiraion Of the power
and dignity ofhe seTnic-and the employment of means
corruptns enough members control both Houses
Congress- as well as hy staining the crminc Of the judc
party political servy by the patciar
coming under the the other ofthcse several heads
oncs IRE. AND responssis Republicans Gersrnrsenf hG.
been already eonreriedto MONARCHY in disgsiss And
strange indeed isihai disguise should still remain 10
/ hide the dcormtty Of the reality"
| And. in conclusion, he adds;
"7sre is hops for relief TIE remaining
tire poteer Of erisfiHs constitutional defenees."
Although in his letter TO MIR Wise, he says:
al have all occasions advocated the Union upon the
principles Constitution. and have sought re.
were conservative OF the Constitution and the Union
Does he mean 20 say he sought to recommend
his conservative principles, after he had said "thcre
no hope for relief in the remaining conservative
power of existing constitutional deienccs 2" But he
adds:
"rhcre even less hope orbearancc OF any posi-
BILE Newborn virtue ard patriotism Of holders ofOce
suit as TO expcctihe sheepfo and its helpless inmates TO
be protected by the wolves that had broken
interrupted rirue Of n. great body Of N, bsopl.
"knd when the greai body OF the people can be but
nformeu and convinced OF the system delusion ami
fraud 10 which they and their rights interests have
been sacrificed. they will rise TO the majesty
power which virtue alone give, avcngc and repair
the violations and OF the GOOD principles ofthe
fore aud vulnerable defcuces be made
against both force andfraud"
We'll, are we left TO conjecture, now that there is
no hope for relief in the remaining conservative
power Of existing constitutional defences, what is
'the ground for hope in the yet interrupted virtue
of the great body OF the Peoplel MOI He tells us
himself IN his letter TO MIR Wise, il is disunon; it is
totrow of the Government and destroy your Con-
stitution.
have now proved, as promised, from his own
writings, that he is not only disunionist, but one
at least seven times dyed in the WOOL and that
there was studied prevacation in his letter Of de-
NAL.
But il was not this upon which based nv state
ment in the House o. Representatives. That state
ment was founded upon conversation which held
with Judge Upshur upon the deck OF a steamboat
in the presence OF a crowd of passengers, and in
which the late Judge Phillip Barbour occasionally
participated; and Mr. Secretary Upshur first denies
that he ever held any conversation with me- init.
mates that he has never recognised me as an assoc
ate challenges me 10 the proof that he ever uttered
such sentiments as ascrbed 10 him, and concludes
with assertion that whatever did hear from, hin,
was in private and confidential conversation. as
between gentlemen. Strange confidence this in
deed, TO man that he did not know, and whose
association was so lar beneath that to which he was
accustomed,
Conscious of the integrity Of my purpose and of
the accuracy OF my recollection, promptly gave
him the benefit Of the issue which he himself had
chosen to present. and accepted the issue of yeracty
which he had made, and invited the seyerest conse
quences 10 be visited on me if failed to establish
what had asserted IN any one particular and here
is the testimony which propose to offer, from
gentleman of as high and nice and delicate n sens,
OF honor as his State can boast; to whose high I'M
impeached, and unimpeachable character, OF the
thousands who know him there is not one that will
not testify:
"RIcHMosD, Jan. 81, 1912.
"MI DEAR STR Yours of the 2sth inst. reached
me on the following day. In it you say:
You viii perceive by reference to the National nte.
geneer OF this date that have In debate charged the re
sent head othe Navy Department lMr Upshur with hav
Jog been al one time an open unqualified and unsgus.d
suggestion Of Mr. Wise that there must have been some
qualification annexed repeated the charge and chat.
would undertake to prove IL. You further saw You'll
were present when the conversation alluded 10 by me
since in conversation held by last winter in Rc m
mond when Mr. Upshur spoken OF for the Senate Of
the United States, YOU I reminded you oft Imust here
fore request you ~ the return mall to furnish with
within your knowledge"
"You are aware, my dear sir, am sure thu, IN,
the last ten years more have not n,erfered in
the political contests; nor have been an actor in
the political struggles and party strife Of the day
OF tneSe contests OF late, have had spirit or
taste; and If had, the diligent prosecution Of nv
profession has left me no leisure for them. have
never scrubbed political essays for the public Jour
nails, and have always felt the greatest repugnance
to being brought before the public in any manner
connected with these matters.
"Governed by this feeling, you are aware that
during the late great contests between the Whie
and Democratic parties, | attended no political or
Log Cabin meetings; and from the love Of privacy
and peace, neither made nor listened 10 any Log
CABIN speeches, except upon two occasions when
Mr. Webster was in Richmond, when heard him
or the first time.
"You may imagine, then. with what reluctance I
comply with your request, seeing the hazard run
Of having that privacy and quiet in which have so
long INDUCED disturbed and broken in upon.
"But having carefully considered the matter not
the repugnance which feel, think
am bound in justice to you to give the Information
which you request, seeing the embarrassing position
in which you may he placed If Judge Upshur should
not recoect the expression OF the opinions attribut
ed 10 him by you. think il due TO Justice and IN
truth and that have right, morally 10 withhold
il, any more than should be legally, were you md
Judge Upshur al issue upon your civil right, he
fore court Of justice, and was called on 10 give
evidence between you upon the trial.
"In reply to your letter, then, have TO say that
have distinct recollection of the conversation or
discussion between Judge Upshur, Judge Barbour. |
md yourself, at the time and upon the oceas,on IN
Which you REFER snd Of the opinions then expressed
~ Judge Upshur upon the subIec. Of the dissolu.
ion Of the Union Of the States.
81 had, on more occasions than one, before heard
Judge Upshur express the same opinions openlv.
and with great bodness and freedom |
Il manner These circumstances have the more
leeDly impressed upOn my recollection The onin;,ns