The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-05-01
From the .Ntp Orleans Com. Bulletin.


Gen. Hamilton to Mr.. Nc DurrIE, published in this
journal last week, would encounter from those who
cannot understand It's sentiments, appreciate It's mo-
tves, rise to the dignity Of the questions which
il embraces, having probably exhausted its stock OF
nyectyes, has ceased We think it proper there
FORE now To say few words, lest silence be
strued into an assent to erroneous statements that
have been made touching the letter and its disiin-
guished author
The character of Gen. Hamilton does not need
defence In his native country, in the adjoining Re
public of 1exas, and in Europe, he bears the charac
ter of man of great ability of honor, Of courage,
and OF warm and generous impulses A word there
fore, in relutatlon of the assertion that Gen Hamil
ton not citizen of the United States, and is there
fore chargeabe with impairment interference, is all
shall indulge in. Gen ii. has neither voluntarily
nor Involuntary eXpatriated himself He holds AT
this moment, and has always held every right and
privilege that his nativity in the State OF South
Carolina gave him 1t is true that he has served
in public capacities in another country than his
but he had iliustrous examples before him II is not
true that he took oath Of allegiance to the Govern
ment Of Texas. lie committed no act OF eXpatrii-
ton beyond the acts committed by every European
subject who fought IN revolution, and by every
Amer lean who assisted in the wars OF Mexico, or Of
Central or South America, or has served IN any way
the independent Governments which have sprung up,
in imitation TO our own, in the new world. Besides,
what grace this charge Of Sin erierence has IN the
mouths of those who, only fortnight ago, extoed
to the skies letter from the same writer discussing
the merits of the different candidates for the Pres-
dency
Still less does the character Of South Carolina or
OF "Souh Carolina heroes" who have been so con
temptuously sneered at, need Justification. What
ever may be said thought oil the position which
was assumed by South Carolina IN 1892, (and
shall not attempt TO excuse the attitude IN which
she placed herself IT mast at least be- admitted that
that State did not take advantage of time when the
country was struggling IN a foreign and precarious
% nd rel ief .
moreover, 1t cannot be said with truth that her words
were " crammed down her throat'-she succeeded
IN obtaining nearly all that she asked I'LL then
laid down her arms. South Carolina heroes" have
shown themselves quite equal we believe, TO the he
roes of any other State, whether with pea or sword
The South Carolina character stands high, in
cry good quality, as the character of any people la
the wars OF the country 1t has proved brave and
III proportion to her population, the State has
trlbutcd incomparaby more great 10 the nation
al legislature than any OF her sisters
In regard TO the letter itself, hold IL TO be but
proper response TO the insulting d di-loya nantes
TO OF Mr.. Webster. / he Gerry of d.sunion" is no,
raised ia IT, Moreover, even II il were the patriotic
pens that hourshed their rhodomontsde on the APP
pearance ui tie letter might have found earlier vent
or their Indignation tad they chosen denounce the
cry when ~ came from their own friends and fellow
parisans. The "cry OF disunion, how ever as has
been charged, does not appear in the letter The
whole country Il spoken Of a. "oW country" ~ the
benefits which would result 10 the whole by adding TO
the system The adjoining territory that invites the
, counexlon dwet upou--the evils that must re-
suit TO the whole by the prevalence of such unjust
aud insulting dogmas Air Webster avows are
pointed out throughout the letter Gen H. mani
1eats an affection for the entire country-he draws
no such m idous and injurious distinctions between
different sections as MIR Webster drays-he does
not as Mr.. Webster does, separate the States into
eases, declaring that no of certain sort can be
admitted those OF that sort that IN being ba ely
I endurablc.
The position assumed by General Hamilton is
this that # Congress ,hall declare ats authentic
sense" a. is clearly TO be inferred fom Mr. Web
siers letter Is his sentiment that the rights Of such
oil the Siaies as have persons IN them held 10 bond
age, only respected In the other States in eonse-
quencc OF the obligation which the Constitution con-
icrs that those obligations arc already considered
onerous and that, Therefore 'no more slave States
shall be admitted into the Union"-in this case Gen
cral Hamilton contends, and we bo eye he W II be
earnestly responded to- that 1t will behooye the
\ South to assert her dignity and rights When il
C mes 10 be an ackno lodged prnclple-or on the
part OF the North, an asserted principle that odious
distinctions exist, which make the Union disrettta.
bic. Whtn the compromises OF the Constitution
come 10 De compared, as they have ben in the
course OF the discussion, growing out Of the proposed
Remuneration OF Texas 10 ShyiocEs bonds-we DO
not well see how The South Is TO remain with re.
gard either 10 her interests or her honor in family
connection with those who despise, contemn, insult
aud threaten her
As long as the doctrine adopted by Mr. Webster
was only uttered by OF no influence, or among
men OF note confined 10 those whose dssa ppoint.
mcnt had dlstempcred their minds II did not per.
haPs require the oanC res IT has met with.
But coming from man Of MIR. Websier's repute as
an expounder Of the Constitution-frOm a man who
has earned national reputation, and often spoken
OF m connection with the Chief Maglstrary Of the
Union, II acquires certain authority and weight
that cannot be met by too stye an assurance that
/ II will not be submitted TO-
TIE Constitution Of the United States does moi
make the distinctions that Mr. Webster would make
betw, en- the States. BY the clause which empowers
Congress to admit States" is 10 be inferred
That new States are TO be admitted, " at all on the
same footing a. the old-that is they are to consult
their own discretion and advantage whether the nsi.
tuition Of slavery shall exist within their limits
WIN the South submit thai MIR. Webster and his
friends may nterpollte words into that clause
and declare that Oniy such States shall be admitted
as conform to the Abolition standard of morals and
politics.
Another serious error into which Mr.. Webster and
his party have lallen Is that the rights Of the slave.
holding states exist only because they "guaran
The following is a s;abza Of piece entitled "a
Rallying Cry for New England against the hnnexa-
ton Of Texas published originally in the Boston
Courier and Afterwards circulated by means Of the
newspaper press, throughout New England and New
York. MIR. Websters letter breathes the same sent-
ment. MIR. Adams has uttered Il thousand times
What will the Constitution he worth when the spirit
Of these lines comes to be the authentic sense Of
Congiess'
"If hand and foot we must be bound by deeds our
fathers signed,
And must be cheated, gulled, and scornd because
they too were blind
Why III them have rpriR rorHn or rIrsu--for that il,
in The bond
nut 700 TO them, II they but tax. half hair, breadth
beyond"