New-York daily tribune., 1844-12-02
soEtn Carolina.

}ofH5rHH ~, r; .sI f.EIsoS; n oSys Secretaries d2a
soEtn Carolina.
The Legislature OF this State assembled at Co.
lum,ia on toe 25th ut. Hon. ANGUS PATTERSON,
ofthe Bsrnwell District was chosen President Of
the Senate, and Mr. WIN. F. CoLcocK, of Prince
William, Speaker of the House. On the follow
ing day TIE Message of Governor Hammond was
presented to the two Houses. A large portion OF
1t is Of coarse devoted to topics Of mere local in
terest, but the passages in which the Governor
discusses the Tariff and Texas questions are de-
cidedy rich, and in the present position OF parties
altogether too iraportan: to be overlooked. We
therefore copy them entire, taking liberty in view
of THAR length, Of arranging the different portions
under appropriate heads. We have also undar-
scored few passages in which the spirit of Null
li6cation is particularly prominent. 1t will be
seen that His Excellency has but poor opinion
of the Northern Loco. Focos, yiewing them as a
set of shutting treacherous politicians, on whose
honesty and good faith no reliance can be placed.
He's right, undoubtedly. They have cheated
South Carolina more than once, and they'll DO 1t
again if they find it necessary, in order to keep
themselves at the public crib.
But listen to the Governor.
The Tdnf-The Compromise Act.
| cannot omit to invite you TO az earnest con-
sderation of Federal afeirs, and the peculiar re-
lations OF this State to the Federal Government,
which have become highly interesting and I'M
portant. The proceedings of the last session of
Congress form an epoch in our history. With
the events which preceded, and the circumstan-
ces under which the act of Congress called the
Compromise Act was passed, you are familiar.
That act was in fact treaty, made between
beIl;oerent parties, with arms in their hands,
aoIemnJy ratified by the Federal Government on
the one part and Convention Of the State OF
South Carolina on the other, and deposited
among the archives Of our country. No treaty
was ever made more important in its character,
or mora eacredlY binding IN its obligations. BY
that treaty South Carolina bound herself TO sub
NIT jor nine years longer to al unconstitutional
and most oppressive Tariff, in consideration that
It's exactions should be gradually reduced during
that period, and that after the expiration of It no
higher Tariff should again be LEVIED tnan was
necessary 10 dsfray the exponses OF an economl-
cal administration Of the Government; and that
the rate of duties should in no event, but the
emergency of war, exceed twenty per cent. ad
compact, and patiently bore the heavy burden
which had been imposed upon her.
Tariff of ls42.
In 1912, the period arrived for the Federal
Government to fulfil its rtpulatons, and reduce
the Tariff TO twenty per cent. ad valorem, or
lower, if SO much was not requisite for the sup
port of an economical administration. But in.
stead of reducing them, the rate Of duties was
increased-actualy increased to point higher
than the Tariff which South-Carollna had de-
clared null and void within her limits IN 1882
which declaration led to the Compromise Act
History furnishes no instance OF q 2rosser or
more insulting breach OF faith, while perhaps no
law has ever been enacted by tie regular govern
ment of a civilized country, subversive of tue
nights and destructive to the interests of any re.
spectable portion of its people, as the Tariff Act
Of 1912, considered in all its bearings, is to the
rights and interests of the Planting States of this
Confederacy.
South CaroLina torebor to Nuigy.
It might naturally have been supposed, and
probably il was expected, that this State, in |
conformity with the principles she had SO long |
profcssed, and on which she had heretofore act |
ed, would Immediately nullify this Act; but she
did not, Closely united at the time with the
great Democratic party of the Union on the |
general principles of government, aud on GER
tain questions of federal policy of the utmost |
moment-seeing that this party had carried the |
elections to the House of Representatives by a |
large mao,ity-and justly regarding it as pcdg- |
cd to free trade and bound 10 repeal this exorbi-
tant tariff, she paused and determined to wait |
the action Of another Congress thus furnishing
fresh e1amplesof her patriotic forbearance, and
sincere devotion to the peace and integrity of
the Union.
Treachery of the Northern Loco. Focos.
The new Congress met, and has terminated
its first session. Propositions were made in both
branches to modify the Tariff, and sgnally de-
feated. In the House, where tho Democratic
majority was large, the proposition was disposed
of almost without debate, and a majority of the
Democrats from the States nortA of the Potomac
actually voted against it; while in the Senate,
some of the leaders of that party from the same
section did so likewise.
Hope Ersinet-No reliance on Northern Loco
FocoS.
There seems, therefore, to be no reasonable, or
even plausible ground, on which to rest hope
that this law, SO unconstitutional, and SO rum
Gus to US, will ever be repealed. or reduced to the
standard OF the Compromise. The friends OF the
Tariff do not appear to entertain The slightest
idea of such u thug. They have distinctly pro-
claimed it to be the settled policy of the Federal
Government; and, in fact, they scarcely conceal
that they regard our further remonstauces on the
subject as intrusive and impertinent. Nor could
we, after the utter contempt which they have
manifested for their plighted faith, rcposs with
safety upon sny concessions which they might,
By circumstances be forced again to make.
With what confidence we may rely, on the
other hand upon the northern section OF the De-
mocratic party 10 carry out the free trade princi:
plos which they profess, We arc well admonished
by the history, not only Of the last session of
Congress but ofihe protective policy itself. The
act OF lS2S, the most stringent OF the Tariff acts,
save that of lS42, was carried by the votes oftbe
Democratic leaders of the Stale of New-York,
given under very peculiar circumstances; and
this las, act, by tie votes OF the Democratic
leaders frsm the same State, and from Psnnsyl-
vania. Aad it may De regarded as certain, that
l.