The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-23

Of Charles CITY, and more recently that OF w Illiam
burg Ia both of which you presided Upon these
occasions our Intercourse tree and familiar
was natural between prisons Of different ages and
situations in life Ihave frequently heard you ex
press youi opinions upon subjects of federal politics
and have been present upon many occasions when
the doctrine of notification ion abolition and
other exciting topics Of the day the sutrcs Of
your conversation with others. Upon Of these
occasions myself took part IN the conversations On
Others Of them was merely silent auditor OF what
was said. cannot pretend to detail with accuracy
what was said by you IN any one OF these converst-
lions but Of this feel confident that nothing was
said which induced me TO believe for moment that
you were in favor OF immediate and unconditional
dissolution the Union. Had such sentiment ever
been uttered by you in my presence, or indeed any
thing which bore the slightest affinity to such sentl
ment an sure should not have forgotten it; for,
having always entertained the opinion myself that the
essential liberties of this people depended more upon
the preservation OF the union of the States than upon
any earthly thing, should have regarded that man
as little better than fool or madman who could
terrain the opinion that any state OF things had yet
arisen in the progress of the Government which could
make II desirable or expedien 10 dissolve it. II Is
true, always considered you what is cal ed State
rights man OF The very stTices sect, and have some
times heard YOU in the heat of discussion, push the
doctrines Of Stale sovereignty and State nerpos!lion
beyond what | believed to be their true limits.
well recollect thai, in the controversy which arose
between the General Govern ment and South CarGh-
ma upon the subject Of the tariff laws you took sides
with the latter and have strong impression that
have heard you declare, upon more occasions than
one that rather than the principles OF General
Jackson's proclamation carried into Practice and be-
the established and recognised principles oflhe
Government, You would the Union dissolved.
But did not understand you entertaining the ops
MON that these principles had become wouli
| bee Dme the principles of the Government and the
declaration seemed to to be made merely to evlncc
| the strength of your conviction of their dangerous
character and tendency. Generally, however, when
have heard you conversng upon the subject of the
South Carolina controversy, you were combating the
idea which then frequently advanced, that nulll
fcation, if practically applied, would soon produce
dissolution Of the MON, by rendering lis govern
ment pow, ress and its laws imperative. You main
tanned the contrary, that the principles Of nullf-
cation the only conservative principles OF the Co
vernment and that establish any other would be 10
build up a splendid central Government, from whose
expressions there would be escape for the people but
IN instruction and civil war.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY L. BROOKE.
p S. Upon the subject Of abolition, am not aware
that your OPT, ions at all at variance with those
entertained by ninetenths of the people Of Virginia,
as far as have heard them expressed
Go be continued)