The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-11-26

1
have been but her humble instrument but sincere fer
vent and faithful, though humble with a heart pene-
tated and softenod, whilst elevated by the proud
seriousness that spoke for a people tho know how
10 forget and forgive, as well honor aod
You do not, my dear sir exaSgersto the importance
of the present crisis. Nothing but it, deep and per-
vadng interest has drawn me from retirement which
the state OF my private affairs renders necessary as
well desirable to me.
must confess, before Mr.. Clsys letter on the an
nexaton, of Texas made its appearances, l was will
ling, under belief that he would stand resolu,ely by
| his own compromise of 1888, to general paci-
hcation OF parties, consummaed, if possible, by his
elevation to power by the default if not assent Of
the Southern States But that letter Convinced me
that he had determined to throw himself on the side
OF the antislave-hoding party of the country. had
hoped that he would n the generosity of his nature,
have found an ample motive to fOrbear sacrificing
| his own section Of the Union, comparatively weak,
to the stronger, more prosperous, and more growing
portions OF the Coniederacy; on measure, too, on
| which his opinions were but tribute to the rabid
spirit OF fanaticsm and concession to the proud
| and arrogant pretensions of foreign power. II is
in vain to conceal the fact that he has taken ground
| against the south and west, question involving
the highest interests of the whole Union, and that he
| is not OF US, but of uem-fOr those who authorize
lively announce there shall be slapc States ad
nitted into this Union; and who the most subtitle,
| the most untiring and vindlcve dsunonists in the
whole country because they strike at the great prin-
ciple OF that compi omise, out Of which the Union
sprung, without which it would never have been
| formed, and cannot now exist for single hour.
The progress OF events has served but to strength
this conviction, whilst the which his party
have universally taken to discredit the authority Of
his own compromise of the tariff in 1888, seems to
be designed artfully to prepare platform which
he is to stand, if eIecten, whore the good faith
and the whole agriculture of the South and West,
and the commerce of the North sacrificed 10 The Gu
pdity of comparatively small number of manufac,
turels. These are significant portents, and shall
want the courage and intelligence Of freemen if we
| are not prepared to meet them.
The first blow, therefore, have to strike, is to
elect Messrs Polk and Dallas, if can, and if we
cannot, to take counsels from despair 1t is true,
| that we have mighty combinations against us
Those who desire to riot in the wealth Of bloated
monopoly-who, in the spoils of the public lands,
look for the repair of the huge insolvent specuatons
! of bankrupt States and Territories, and who like.
wise look, in the election of Mr. Clay for the
and Appliances to boot" to justify tariff perpetual
! in its duration and UNANIMOUSLY enormous in its bur-
dens and lastly, OF those who expect TO seize upon
the entire patronage of the Government by making
| a clean sweep of the present incumbents from the
meanest turnspt in the treasury TO the highest places
| nearest the throne But our cause sis mighty and
| must prevail" Our name is LEGION" If united,
| we are invncible. Why? Because our strength is
in principles, and not in our adulaon of our men,
The latter are but the opponents of the former We
connect no idOlatry, no worship with their
names. Worthy, able, intelligent and irreproacha-
BILE as they are they are but the instruments of that
august cause which has epgraven on its escutcheoD
Justice to every portion of the Union. Freedom
through the fundamentally of equal laws to all its
citizens.
Although / am now a resident of Alabama,
can speak for South Carolina, once amongst the
most favored though the least worthy of her sons
She will strike valianty for Polk To count her
lOOk at her he
once preferred to all living her own illustrious
statesman, with him she bows to the decision of the
party with whom she is acting, and she will march
with an unfaultering step under the Western BAN
ner your, mass convention has so manfully unfulIed
know that every arlIhce that malice and cunning
devise has been used to ALLEVIATE the people from
| his support One individual whom will not so far
dishouor the public his DRY of country as to call
statesman, has said in substance, that Mr. Polk IS
recommended to his favor by his having voted for the
Force Bill, which, In, the event of the rebellion of
South Carolina, he would be bound to apply to her
people. This left handed manifesto OF friendship for
Mr.. Polk Is about as hollow the taunt in which il
is conveyed Is unspeakably despcable. South Caro-
lima means no disunion The charge, by whonso-
ever be made, is a radical fasehood which can on
y be supported by every possible deviation from the
truth. She means TO eject Polk, if she can and OBJ
tam, through Its instrumenaIty, essential change
in the promised wing policy of the governments re-
dress of the evils OF which she complains and rever-
Stare States be admitted into this Union
by prompt, penary and unrestricted annex alton of
Texas III this fails, she will appeal to her confede-
rates, and, my life upon it, only recur in the last re-
Sort 10 her sovereignty under the sanction of the pub
lie opinion Of those whose interests are identical with
her own, and under circumstances which far from
dissolvng the Union, will add fresh securities to its
preservation, by bringing the government back to the
good faith and authentic text of the Constitution.
know the prejudice which accompanies the ex.
preston OF my opinions in relation to the question OF
the annexation OF Texas, account Of impuieG pc
cunary interests IN that country, which for the pur-
poses OF party, have been most extravaganty exag-
geraed. II they were twenty fold larger than they
really are, they would be but feather in the bal
ance In comparison with the still higher interests
have as Southern man and citizen of the United
States in this Destimabe acquisition-an acquisition
which is to remove the torch of the incendlary and
the fanatic from the valley Of the Mississippi main
tain the equilibrium OF power between the States,
and thus afford another guarantee for the perpetuy Of
the Union.
write this letter, my dear sir, beg you to under
stand under great peril. highly excited but good
hearted Wing, who edits with commendable ability
a respectable print IN Charleston, to whom have
much pleasure in acknowledging, during my public
career, many kind words and much friendly support
has actually issued his VETO against my writing any
more letters IN the papers, although he has decreed
for me a sort Of epistolstory apotheosis That my
letters on annexation and The tariff and Polk and
Dallas, are not quite agreeable to him the love
episles he may have received before he placed him
self in state of double bessedncss when these tor
menting missves are very apt to cease, readily
conceive think il, however, hard that should be
visited with The sin Of their publication, when my
correspondents must shoulder this responsible ity =
Yet even from this am not inclined to shrink
And in spite Of the edict Of my testy friend, and
the pungency of his satire, | shall continue to
write and speak, and speak and write, where
think, as the gentlemen Of the fancy say can put
in with the most ef,ct Yea to the very end of the
war, and trust, if need be, "die game at LAST
j beg you to present my grateful Acknowledge
ments TO your associates Of the Central Committee
for the distinguished honor Of their invitation, the
compliment of which your letter has so greatly en-
HANGED.
beg you to be assured, my dear sir of the esteem