Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-03-28
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" O.NDaY, MARCH 2s, 1872.
THE NULLIFYER CAUGITr-CONSTITU
TIONAI OPINIONS.


Rhode Island is said have been remarkable for its logic
Of fact as well as logic of argument and by its singular
spness and force Of illustration. Mr.. Calhoun was
made TO vince several times during It's delivery, as his
mutarious Inconsistencies exposed and commented
on Among other things, he was arraigned upon the
subject of the COMPROMISE Act, aud told by the Senator
from Rhode Island not only that he had voted for the
bill (Which every body knew } but for tho mos, mpor
tant provision Of the bill. This denied by Mr.
Calhoun. with characteristic emphasis We quote from
the \. Y. Express
Never, "nerer, d" 'NEvER,' said Nr Calhoun.
The senator tfom South Carolina cer,ay did, re
spondod Mr.. Summons Il have seen the rccord,'
Never, ntrer,' returned Mr. calhoun. 81 beov-
cd the provision unconstitutional"
"Well, - said Mr. Simmons. II will not misreprcscnt
the Senator Lei see the record
Mr.. Calhoun Bring it Mr.. Secretary" Mr.
Secretary vanished from the chamber like locomotive
railroad track and Mr. Calhoun in close pursuit
his heels.
Mr.. Simmons continued w hle the gentleman is
hunting up his authority will continue my speech y
Mr. = went on for ten minutes, when in popped Mr..
Calhoun a, the entire door aud fresh from the Sccre,arys
Office with bell book and candle as he thought at
any rate with book open and the page turned
Mr.. Simmons was interrupted IN hurry IN make
the explanation and Mr. Calhoun was up in a hurry
lie commenced reading, when 10 and behold, Mr. Sim
mons WAS right and Mr. Calhoun wrong! lie had for
gotten his unconstitutional vote, and read the evil
dence of his own shame to the Scnatel As moment
before he had come into the Chamber pumed booted and
spurrcd he now made his exit like dog with his tail
between his legs Mr.. Calhoun was now much longer
absent and did not make his entrance until Mr. Simmons
had closed.
We do not wonder that Mr.. Calhoun sometimes for
gets, in the ardor with which he defends whatever opn
ION he may happen for the time entertain tina, hehadcvcr
held, at any antecedcn period, directly opposing views.
But WEI not copy this anecdoe for the purpose of
showing OFF Mr.. Calhoun's inconsistency would
be work OF snpererogaon Our purpose is to ad-
vert to the unfortunate tendency Of all political contro-
vcrsos in this country, Of late years, become more or
less identified with the construction of the federal con
sttution No question, it would seem, be debated
in reference to its expediency merely-s opponents be
ing to find either express inhibition of the power
Of Congress to act upont else negative by inference
c,,nay potent in THEN estimation as an explicit, de-
NAL
The foregoing anocdotc illustrates, to some extent,
meaning Mr. Calhoun forgetting that he had here
toiore, by voting for particular section of the Compro-
mise Act, recognized its consuonality. being op-
posed to it, forthwith begins to hunt down with the
dog cry, sit Is unconstitutional, this, of course,
being an answer to every argument its favor however
girdcd question of national policy The constitu-
ton, in the hands Of such as Nh Calhoun, is far
more plastic instrument than even the Ilamiltonian
school Ct Fedoraists would have made it, for that is not
strict construction which denies to Congress the right
exercise powers specially granted which necessary
and proper to carry into effect such specific grants any
more than is the Affirmation Of the right of Congress
do acts not within the express letter the spirit of the
constitution The parchment may be contracted, in
deed, much easily than can be expanded and the
princp Plies of the ultra Unitarian school are therefore
more pemicous and dangerous than those of the wild
est la,itudinarlan, from Alexander Hamilton down to
Martin Van Buren,
The Fcderallss, in giving latudinous construction
to the co institution, have been generally influenced hy
desire TO accomplish some probable national good but
the ultraisis of the other side the Nulles We mean
and not the legitimate State Rights men,-in their fit
u and caprcious interpretations of the constitution.
seem to be acatcd by the single desire of checking the
national prosperity, by preventing the development OF
the national resources. tariff for protection
among the first acts passed by the first Congress after
the adoption Of the constitution and similar acts were
recommended by every President and adopted by almost
every Congress from that time until 1874, without one
whisper otunconst,utionalty having been heard
nom friend or ne 10 the system But In 1924 that
ratio genius, John Randolph made the grand discovery
that all duties beyond those necessary for revenue are
unconstitutional and, it is always assumed as
conceded thing by those who borrow opinions witbou.
examination, or who. not believing j, .cmsely- have
yet purpose TO sulsorvc ', inc assumption Mr. Cal
noun e'seli AT first secuted this idea; and long
after this that MI Randolph finding him too stubborn to
adopt his saltlaced creed uttered that memorable de-
caraon that they were separated in political feeling and
principle, by gulf as impossible that between Dives
and LAZARUS. The truth is, Mr. Calhoun had hopes of
the support OF the Tariff interest for the Presidency
(Pennsy vana, tho most ardent Tariff State, being re-
gardcd as his certain supporter until years after
Mr. Randolphs discovery that protective duties are un-
through different glasses from those used by the orator OF
Roanoke. lie thought them entirely Constitutional I'M
III hs PRESIDENTIAL prospects bastcd-and then his
magn'iylng glass nvered and that instrument in
which before he had boundess powers became sud
denly almost dead letter; and the government into
which was intended to nuse vitality and strength DE-
came puny, rickotty thing incapable of exercising the
functions either of self preservation selfdefence The
Tariff, which Mr.. Calhoun had supported in 1876 with
all the ardor for which he yet remarkable then
became unconstitutional in his eyes-and is with him
now not dogma to be doubted but axiom to be bccy
ed and oboyed He is like the Emperor of the Cces
als, who issues especial edcts" his thunder struck
mcnas who trcmb and obey without investca ton or
scrupo.