Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-08

other political opponents. Why, then, should 1 be
ashamed OF them, or cast them away because they
contain opinions in several particulars, which now
after more than quarter of a century, | do not ap
prove. Should be ashamed to acknowledge, that
have lived TO improve, and have had tue sense 10 see,
and the frmness TO correct early errors, No am far
from repndiating these my more youthful Efforts
Their very errors lean 10 the side Of he county,
They belong to the times, and grew outof ardent feel.
inps of patriotism. The danger which hen threatened
poleon was followed by a combination, of the great
sovereigns OF Europe, called the Holy Alliance. Its
object was hostile to popular Governments, and it
threatened 10 turn its power against this continen ut in
order to suppress the free States which 1ad sprung out
of the old Spanish possessions. There was then no
knowing at what moment we might be involved in a
contest far more terrific than that which had just ter
minated. 1t was in this state of things that Congress
was called on 10 settle the peace establishment, on the
termination of the late war with England. My atten-
ton was inten,ly turned 10 what | believed 10 be the
point of danger; and | was anxious to put the country
in a condition to meet whatever migal come. The
opinions | expressed in reference TO manufa ctures, in
ternal improvements, and a permanent system Of reve
nue., kept constantly in view my leading object-pre
paration for defence-as much SO as what then said in
reference to the army, the military academy, and the
navy, as the speeches themselves show.
The danger from without fortunately passed away,
and that from within began to disclose itself. | was
not slow 10 see the strong tendency the Government
was taking towards consolidation, and mat many OF the
means which | had regarded as necessary to defend
against external danger, contributed not aliltle to in
crease the danger within. That led to a ieinvestiga-
ton, and that to the modification or change of opinion
which took place.
So far from casting away or desiring to conceal or
keep out Of view my early speeches, | have long in
tended to collect and publish them. see you promise
to publish freely from them. You cannot do me a
greater favor, and | hope you will not halt till you
have republished all. was so careless as to neglect
to preserve copies of my speeches or other publications
prior to my election as Vice President. Since then |
have been more careful. Your republication will give
me copies in a much more convenient form than that
of manuscripts, and save me much time and trouble
in collecting, and some little expense for copying. |
shall preserve carefully the two contained in the In.
telligencer sent by my friend, and shall take care TO
get such others as you may publish.
Let me, in conclusion, say, wish you to understand
that make no complaint. So far from II, feel "a
ther obliged to you than otherwise. BE your motive,
what they may, you have afforded me an opportunity
Of giving an ex~ explanation made necessary by the awk
ward manner in which The volume has been introduced
to the public, and in which | have been compelled &c
state much that ought to have appeared in a preface te
the volume.
With respect, l am, &c.
J. G. CALHOUN.