Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-04
(For the Times.)

To GEN. JAS. HAMILTON.
Dear Sir-The writer Of this article of the
4th Brigade OF South Carolina militia, who pre-
pared to follow you to victory DEATH in defence OF
his native State and that, too, when the frownng bat
teres Of the United States men of were pointed at
your native CITY, and when every fertilization in the
harbor was bristling with Federal bayonets ! trust
that this will be sufficient apology for addressing you
few lines oh subject of vital importance 10 the
whole Union.
Being Of the fact of your having retired from
public life, aud deVoting yoursef,> agricultural pur-
su,s with the laudable intention (wor,hy your great
name,) of discharg,ng your mercantile obligatons-l
never would have invaded the sancy Of domestic
pose, BY addressing you through newspaper but my
scrupes this polnt vanished your recent appear
ance in the Columbus Enquirer. | could wish that
you had appeared OF yore, with helmet on head and
lance in rest, ready 10 do battle for those glorious old
Republican principles that you defended CALAMITY
in 32 | never can forget those days, sir. was
one of the boys, for whom purchased fusis; look
ed upon Charleston the Thermopyle, and you a
Leonidas; and sill, believe, tina. ii the conflict had
come, you would have thrown away the scabbard and
fallen like the great Lacedemonian in defence Of the
laws of YOUR Slate Your pol teal has been brief
but Brilliant while in Congress- though had giants
contend with, yet none who encountered you could
boast Of the contest; and none ever filled The executive
chair of South Carolina at more perous moment, or
with more glory themselves But, sir what has be-
come Of those principles, which called forth all the pow
ers Of your great intellect and caused you to buck
your armor, and give your palmetto banner to the
breeze:
Was il not to resist the unjust and ruinous system
of protection for which you aud your ftowcltzens OF
South Csrona, pledged their "ves, their fortune and
their sacred honor and for which the chivary of Car
ol,ns 'cked round your Standard You may imagine
Them SIR, my surprise, seeing your name attached
10 the art Gle of The Columbus Enquirer of the 9th,
in which, If | understand it, in the absence OF Mr..
Calhnnn, you will support Mr. Clay for the Presiden-
cy. Mr. Clay, whose political watchword 10 Proec-
ton and who openly declared in the Senate of The U.
Suites in March last, "that q quote his words) he
would 1--we and die advocate OF The protective sys-
tenn; he had changed his primer PIES they were
now the they had been: as far ne could
90 he would Besides, Sr, apart from that, your
political Knowledge must INFORM you, that under the
Tariff OF loi2, there some articles printed cot
rons) 100 per higher than the of ISIS aad
1926 steel two dollars and 30 cents, instead Of two
dollars pr hundred shoes thirty, instead OF twenty
FIVE cents n pa and crockery fifty per cen,
than that Of o25, ,chieh you nuiiifed
And does Mr. Clay not state emphetca'ly that he
spproyes the present tariff What reason then, sir,
will you give your old compatro,s IN South Carolina
for casting your vote for Mr.. Clay? Will you let your
fe. lnas OF personal friendship, or your admiration OF
the genius Of Mr.. Cay, induce you TO support a
man, who advocates principles fraught with the dead
lest hostility 10 The prosperity OF the whole South =
n even you do not vote for him, you recommend hn,
10 the American people. WHAT an anomalous state OF
things is this-the champion OF Notification recon-
mendng the Apostle OF Protection SIR, the impress
slons received in youth, the strongest - when
but a boy, | learned The dangerous influence of the
protective system upon Southern interests. II was
from your lips learned those lessons conveyed IN that
commanding .loquence which you are master OF, and
they are ndellibly engraved upon my mind and heart
Then, sir, in the name of The memorable struggle OF
$780, and by the a.hes OF The immortal Hayne, who
Tough, by your side against protection, invoke you &c
come out at once, aud boldly answer the following
questions: Isl, Do you believe The present tariff at
protective in It's operation that of 23?-2d DO iou
not know that Mr.. Clay approves it:-and: 3d. Viii
you vote for him. TURNBULL
Tabo,ton Ga March 9Th, 1874.