Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-04-27
From the Columbus Times.
TO GENERAL JAMES HAMILTON

"DEAR SIR:-The writer of this al ticle
was one of the 18th Brigade of South Ca.
rolna militia, who was prepared TO follow
you 10 victory or death, in defence of his
native State; and that, too, when the
frowning batteries Of the United States
men Of war, were pointed at your native
city, and when every iortficaton in The
harbor was brisling with Federal bayon.
cts. trust that this will be sufficient
apology, for addressing you few lines
on a subject OF vital importance TO the
whole Union.
Being aware of the fact of your having
retired from public life, and devoting your
self 10 agricultural pursuits, with the lau.
dable intention, (wortby of your great
name,) of discharging your mercantile
obligations; | never would have invaded
the sanctity Of your domestic repose, by
addressing you through a newspaper, but
my scrupIes on this point vanished on
your recent appearance in the Columbus
Enquirer. l could wish that you had APP
peared as of yore, with helmet DER head,
and lance in rest, ready TO do battle for
those glorious old republican principles
that you defended so CALAMITY in '32.
can never forget those days, sir. | was
one of the boys for whom you purchased
fusils; | looked upon Charleston as the
Thermopyle, and you as Leonidas, and
still believe, that if the conflict had come
you would have thrown away the scab'
bard, and fallen, like the great Lacedemo.
MAN, in defence OF the laws of your State
Your political career has been brief, but
brilliant; while in Congress, though you
had giants to contend with, yet none who
encountered you could boast of the contest;
and none ever filled the Executive chair
of South Carolina, at more perilous mo-
ment, or with more glory to themselves.
But, sir, what has become of those prin-
ciples, which called forth all the powers
of your great intellect, and caused you to
buckle on your amor, and give your pal
metto banner to the breeze.
Was it not to resist the unjust and ruin
GUS system of protection, for which you
and your felow-ctizens of South Carolina
pledged "their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor" and for which the
chivalry of Carolina flocked round your
Standard You may imagine, then, sir,
my surprise, on seeing your name attach
ed to the article Of the Columbus Enqui-
rer of the 9th, in which, if understand
it, in the absence of Mr.. Calhoun, you
will support Mr.. Clay for the Presidency.
Mr.. Clay, whose political watch-word is
protection, and who openly declared in
the Senate of the United States, in March
last, ''that Il quote his words) he would
live and die an advocate of the protective
system; he had never changed his prlnci.
pies; they were now the same as they had
ever been; as far as he could go he would. ).
Besides, sir, apart from that, your political
knowledge must inform you, that under
the tariff of 1912, there were some aril
cles, (prinled cotlons) one hundred pei
cent. higher than at the rates OF 1875 O
1924; steel, two dollars and hlty cen'
instead of two dollars per hundred; SHOES
thirty instead of twenty-five cents PAIR
and crockery ware fifty per cent NOR
than that OF 1923, rhich you na".'e'
2 And does Mr.. Cay not state, emPha''ci