Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-08-23

4
much more cunsaaantso my feelings than
by popular speeches mace for the osca-
sion, or a personal canvass.
60 efsei The object, il was not only ne
scssaty thar selection shoud be made,
but that /. should be made from ,hs later
and. mol the earlier of my speeches aud
Other discussions on political subjects. To
publish all have said OF; written in The
long period Of ,hir.y-two years, in winch
have teen without iniernission in public \
life, would make The work too bulky and
expensive 10 be accessible TO the great bo-
fy Of tho community; and 10 publish
those Of an early date instead Of thosc o!
alntc, would nor give the Information in-
tended. / accordingly fixed on The termi-
rasion Of Mr.. Monroe's Administration,
when became Vice President, as the
period from which TO make the selection.
That may be fairly regarded as the point
Of time ia our POLITICAL history which marks
the end OF sn old and the commencement
or q new order Of things, in the midst of
uirich We still are. From that 10 the pre-
senl time Is q period Of eigh,een years, be-
ing more than half of that in which have
been in the service Of the Union. During
The whole ] took q prominent aud rcspon-
siblo part on all impUtan, questions. Such
was my leading motive for selecting the
period 1 did from which 10 make the COM
pila,ion.
There were 0thers OF subordinate
character which had their influence. II
was The portion Of my public life in regard
10 which information (as 1 believedl was
most desired. infer so, among other
reasons, from the fac, tha, the applications
Ihave received for copies OF my speeches
were almost exclusively confined TO IL.
There was anoihcrss,ill stronger. II is Il
period in which my speeches and other
publications contain my mature and set.
iiod opinions on the principles and policy
Of tho Government; adopted after long
experience and much reflection, which
have modified, or changed, if you prefer,
in many particulars, my earlier and less
mathred impressions.
Abou, the commencement ofihe period
nv mind settled down in The views Of the
principles aud policy Of the Government !
now entertain, aud 10 which have ever
since adhered, regardless Of personal con-
sequences and uninHlenced by party con-
sideraiions. thus giving the strongest proof
possible ofmy deep conviction both OF their
truth and vital Importance. By ,hem l
desire 70 be judged, and by them TO stand
or fail.
Guided by these motives, | compiled the
volume in tho 6rst instance exclusively
from ,ha, period; but afterwards yielded
to the percussion Of friends, against my
Judgment, to Include the speech already
referred 10, delivered in 1911. They urged
Il upon The ground that. as i, was my first
effort in Congress and on subjectof last
ing interest, il was desirable it should lbe
inserted, although, departure from the
principle on which the volume was com.
piled.
But even within this period selection
became necessary 10 effect the object in
view. To publish all my productions on
political subjects during the period, would
make the volume siill Too bulky and ex.
pensive 10 be acceptable to the general
mass Of readers. Here, again. the lead
ing reason which governed me in selecting
the period. governed also in making the
selection for the compilation. II is ac-
cordinely full ou the subject of banks, sub
treasury. currency, tariff, distribution,
Stale rights, and the principles and policy
which should control in the administration
Of the Government. Those which dis
cussed subjects of more isolated charar-
ter were for the most part omitted. But,
after the compilation was frs, made with
In these restrictions, the work was thought
10 be still too bulky, and many were struck
from il which il would have been desira'
bic to retain. =
Such arc the facts in reference TO the
eompi'aiion. They show conclusivcly
that the charge Of suppression against it,
is us entirely uniounded as that of. .fraudu.
lent imposition ogains, the title. The very
charge is absurd. How could the speeches
be destroyed or concealed! They are to
he found not only in the files Of the Intel
iigcncer, but in those Of many other juur.
mails and publications Of the day, where
they afc just as safe and as open 10 inspec-
ton as if placed among ,he public records.
TO aiiemp, 10 keep them from the public
eye would only cause them 10 be more
srecdily sought after. The very speeches
you have published, as If they s.sre new
and unknown 10 the public, are the very
ones which have been re published divers
times, aud have again and again been re-
pcatehly referred 10 in Congress, in politi.
cal harangues, and by newspapers and
that for The very purpose for which you
now re,publish Them. They are the very
Jas, which any ous who was base enough
10 resort 10 fraud. would think ofron-
eealirs. But why speak of them as being
suppressed. when ahey are referred to in
the Biographical sketch TO which you al
luie, aud which, IL would seem from its
index. was intended to be included in the
work Again. why speak of them as
Suppressed, when all the speeches which