Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-08-26

fraud or concealment, | am chargeat lie.
In order that your readers may Judge, !
shall state the reasons which governed me
in making the selection.
1t is proper TO premise that have been
urged from various quarters, in the last SIX
or seven years, to have my speeches col
lected and published, and have during Tie
same period received numerous aPpllca.
lions tor copies of my speeches in pamph-
let form, with which | could not comply,
because | had not spare copies. Since
my name has Teen presented to the Peo-
pie in connexion with the Presidency, ap.
plications for copies have increased, and
have teen more frequently urged to col.
lee, and publish my speeches, reports, and
other writings on political subjects. |
finally consented to the publication, be.
cause believed il TO be due to The Peo-
pie, in the position occupy, to afford them
the means of ascertnining the opinions
and sentiments entertain on all political
subjects, particularly On those which have
agitnted the country of late, and on which
the Presidential election will probably III
a great measure turn. Tint | believed
could best be done by publishing what |
had said and written on III sc questions in
form which would make the work &C.
cessible to the People. 1t would give my
opinions and sentiments in the fullest and
most authentic form, and in a manner
much moro consonant to my feelings
than by popular speeches made for the
occasion, or n persona! canvass.
To effect the oil iec!, it was not only ne
cessary that a selection should be made,
but that il should be made from the later
other discussions on political Subjects
TO publish all have said or written in
the long period Of thiry-two years, in
which have been without intermission
in public life, would make the work too
bulky and expensive to lie access lie to
the great body of the community; and to
publish those Of an early date instead of
those ofa la'o, ...-..iL ..U' 81. 49, :--"~.
nation intended. I accordingly fixed on
the termination Of Mr.. NJ nroc's Admins
tra,iou, when became Vice President, as
the reriod from which 10 make the se'ec-
zion. That may be fairly regarded as
the point of time in our political history
which marks he end of an Old and the
commencement of il new order OF things,
in the mi St of which we still are. From
that to the present time is peil'd of
einth,ccn years, Icing more than halt OF
that in which have been in the service
of tie Union, During the Whole | took
prominent and responsible part on all I'M
nor,ant questions Such was my leading
motive for selecting the period | did from
which 10 make the compilation.
There were others of subordinate
character which had their influence. 1t was
the portion of my public life in regard to
which information Gas | bcIleved) was
most desired. Infer so, among othe rea-
,ons, from the fact that the applications
have received for copies of my speeches
we're almost exclusively confined to it
There was another still stronger. 1t the
period in which my speeches and ether
publications contain my mature ana set
tied opinions on the principles and policy
of the Government; adopted after long ex'
ner;ence and much reflection, which have
modified, or changed, il you prefer, IN ma
nv particulars, my caller and less ma'ur-
ed impressions. About the commence
ment Of the period, my mind settled down
in the views Of the principles and po'Icy
of the Government nov entertain, ana
to which | have ever since adhered re-
} pardless of personal consequences and I'M
Influenced by party considerations; thus
giving the strongest proof possible oil my
deep conviction both Of their truth and VI
tai importance. By them desire to be
: Judged, and by them to stand or fall.
Guided by these motives, | compiled
. the volume in the first ms 'ance exclusive
~ from that period; but afterwards yield
: ed to the persuasion of my friends, agalns
! my judgment, to include the speech al
| ready referred to, delivered in 1911.
They urged it upon the ground that, as
g was my first effort in Congress and on
). subject OF LASTING interest, it was deslra
}. Bile it should be inserted. although dePar
t turc from The principles on which the vol
Il ume was compiled.
j. Blu, even within this period a selectio
!. became necessary to effect the object /
j. view. To publish all my productions o
}. political sub ccts during the period wouI
II make the volume still too bulky and e'
o pensive to he acceptable 10 the gener'
| mass of readers. Here, again, the leat
= ing reason which governed me in selec
&c ing The period, governed also in maxim
ID the selection for the compilation. 1t
Ic accordingly full on the subject OF banl
e. sub Treasury, currency, tariff, distribute
d, State rights, and the principles and polk
IN which should control IN the admlnlstr