Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-08-17

ring the period would make the volume still too
bulky and expensive TO be acceptable 10 the gen.
eral mass of readers. Here, again, the leading
reason which governed Inc in selecting the period,
governed also in making the selection for the
compilation. 1t is accordingly full on the sub
ject Of banks, sub-freasury, currency, tariff, dis
uibution, State rights and the principles and poll
cy which should control in the administration of
the Government. Those which discussed sub
Jects of more isolated character were for the
most part omitted. But, after the compilation
was first made within these restrictions, the work
was thought to be still too bulky, and many were
struck ftom il which it would have been desira-
BILE to retain. Such are the facts in reference to
the compilation. They show concusivey that
the charge of suppression against it, is as entire
~ unfounded as that of fraudulent imposition a.
gainst the title. The very charge is absurd
How could the speeches be destroyed or conceal |
ed! They are to be found not only in the files of
the lnteligencer, but III those of many other jour
mails and publications of the day, where they are
just as safe and as open to inspection as if placed
among tho public records. To attempt to keep
them from the public eye would only cause them
to be moro greedily sought after. Thevery speech
es you have published, as they were new and
unknown to tho public, the very ones which
have been republished divers times, and have a
gain and again been repeatedly referred to in Con-
gress, In political harangues, and by newspapers;
and that for the very purpose for which you now
republish them. They the very last which a.
ny who base enough to resort to fraud
would think of conceaing. But why speak Of
them as being suppressed when they are referred
to in the biographical sketch 10 which you alude,
and which, it would seem from its index, was in
tended TO be included iii the work a! Again, why
speak OF them as suppressed when all the speech
es which made during the war to rouse and ami
mate the country to the defence of its rights and
honor, and TO sustain the burden and privations of
the war with fortitude, and which unani-
mously applauded, i'm the same predicament
except one! Are they too, suppressed or design
eddy concealed1
Why, indeed, should attempt to conceal them,
or any of my early speeches not contained in the
volume, even those which contain opinions differ
! ent from those now entertainl What is there
about them that should repudiate them! Do
they not breathe lofty sentiments and devoted at
tachment 10 the country, and evnce foresight and
hrmness! Were they net applauded by the Re-
publican party a; the times And are they not
now euogized by You and other political oppo-
nents! Why, them Should be ashamed Of them,
or cast them away, because they contain opinions
in several particulars which now, after more than
D quarter Of century, do not approve? Should
be ashamed to acknowledge that have lived to
Improve, and have had the sense to see and the
, llrmness to correct early errorSt No; am far
from repudiating these my more youthful efforts.
Their very errors lean to the side Of the country.
3 They belong TO the times, and grew ont Of ardent
=
e threatened the country was from abroad. The o.
verthrow of Napoleon was followed by comb-
nation OF the great soveregns Of Europe, called
D the Holy Alliance. Its object was hostile TO pop
: ular Governments, and it threatened 10 turn its
power against this continent in order to suppress
, The free States which had sprung out Of the old
Spanish possessions. There was then no know
, Ing at what moment might be involved in n
contest far more terrific than that which had just
, terminated. 1t was in this state of things that
l1nI IL
lshment on the termination Of the late war with
England. My attention was inten,ly turned to
what believed to be the point ofdanger, and was
anxious to put the country in condition to meet
, whatever might come. The opinions expressed
in reference TO manufactures, internal improve
ments and permanent system of revenue, kept
) constantly in view my leading object-prepara-
ton for defence-as much so 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 it,
salf was not. slow to see the strong tendency
ton, and tina, many of the means which had re-
garded as necessary to defend against external
danger, contributed not little to increase the
. danger within. That led to reinves,gaton, and
that to the modification 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 intended to collect and publish them. see
you promise to publish freely from them. Y OH can.
not do me greater favor, and hope you will not
halt till you have republished all. was so care
less as to neglect to preserve copies of my speech
es 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
lnelligencer sent by my friend, and shall take
care 20 get such others as you may publish.
Let me, in conclusion, say, wish you to I'M
dersand that make complaint. So far from
it, feel rather obliged to you than Otherwise
BE your motives what they may, you have afford.
ed me an opportunity of giving an explanation
made necessary by the awkward manner In which
the volume has been introduced to the public and
in which j have been compelled to state much
that ought to have appeared in preface to the
volume. With respect, am, &c.
| J. G.. CALHOUN.
! Mr.. CALHOUN AND HIS OMITTED SPEECHES.