Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-10-07

our institutions, is one OF The hlSnesl re-
Communications any candidate can offer.
Our SO called government, is nothing in
fact bu. The public service; its most exalt.
ed officers are merely executive, and the
power that accompanies them, is strictly
limited trust. The whole theory of repub
licanlsm presumes in the nation the capa.
city OF judging and the ri ht to know how
this power is TO be employ /: and of course
the right to inquve into this will be before
it bestows il, and TO be plainly answered
The ministers Of lrrespoDsibles sovereigns
may have their private opinions and views,
their antiquities, evading questions they
do not choose to satisfy, and their reserves
which their subjects must respect, but new
er penetrate. 1t is otherwise here; and
the man who copies this insolence and
presumption, who attempts to hoodwink
free people, and expects 10 be trusted to
lead them blndfold, misconceives himself
and them, and sins deeply against first
principle of liberty. Mr.. Calhoun is not
that man. He is identified with definite
and Ineligible views on all the great
questions now or lately in discussion be
fore the public, and these views may be
found summed up in one of the resolutions
of the meeting in whose behalf we have
now the honor to address you. Free trade,
low duties, no debt, separation from banks,
economy, retrenchment, aud strict adher-
ence to the constitution; such Is the cata-
logue, and lis significance, pointed as it is,
is greatly heightened by the sincerity and
thorough going character Of the man in
whose name it is thus promul gated AL.
most all parties indeed, if we admitted re-
serves and qualifications, might now adopt
these words. There is pretty general
Abandonment of the wing projects Of Dor.
rowing and banking. and Of the folly and
waste of collecting unnecessary revenue,
and returning it, diminished by toll and
plumber, through an unconstitutional dis
trlbltlOn.
All these hereses may be said to be at
rest, and if, in treating Of the opinions Of a
presidential candidate. we were argue at
great length againt them, we should incur
the Suspicion Of wishing rather to over
shadow aud conceal something in multi
tude of words than to explain or elucdate
anything. Something like this we have
observed, with pain, in Mr. Van Buren's
letter 10 the Indiana convention. lie is
full and dfluse, too much 70, where there
is nothing in dispute. He fights the well.
fought battles over again, and Stays the
slain, and loudly declares himself for the
victUrs. But in the question of free trade
there is battle field yet undecided, and
TO that he comes slowly and with evident
hesitation and reluctance He explores 1t
cautiously on every side, and blows q
breath of favor with a sentence Of con-
trary argument, carefully diluted with n.y.
pohesIs, to every point of the compass.
Protection is declaLed to be constitutional,
and here in the guise of quiet legal opin.
ion white flag is hung out to the oppies.
sors OF commerce, Of which they well
know the significance. Protection then is
constitutional, discrimination is not alto
geiher to be condemned, but twenty per
cent. maximum is suggested, and Stra ght'
way looseGed to twenty five, and amplifed
by diligently noted contingencies into
thiIty-fve. Finally, in another paragraph
slowed away as secretly as possible, bu
alive and real, we find the insnuation thai
tho present measure of protection is "no
to be increased" Hear this, feIIow-citi
Zens; comfort yourselves with this, for you
are sure of it; the present abominable Ia
riff will certainly never be increased, and
somewhere between this safe assurance
thrown out to one extreme of interest lno
opinion, and the fast and loose general
ties about duties for revenue addressed t.
the other, you must look for The course MI
Van Buren, will hold, according to circum
stances, should he have an important par
to play in The REIMBURSEMENT Of the tariff,
Our ships are rotting at the wharves be-
cause no freigh's can be earned on i'm
ports. Our exports, for the same reason
are hindered with demands for doubl'
freights outwards, and prominent candi
date for the presidency expresses one o
the phases of his opinion of these evils
by hnling that they are NOT TO BE IN
cREAsED!!
Ii is much to say, Immediately after rea
ding such declaration, that We will never
theless cooperate with the partisans of this
CdHuluate, snDulu nc pe USHWttety uH'
fairly adopted by the democratic party
Yet we will do SO on that condition and o.
that condition only. But TO such fairness
the district system of election for mem
bers to the general convention, is absolute
ly indispensable. To convention ST
q elected we will surrender our individual
preferences, but we will not yield then
otherwise. We demand to be heard ant
counted in the convention from all parts o
the Union -minorites whero we have NJ
majorities-majorities where they arr