Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-08-21

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powerful sectional majority in the Govern
ment, which is its natural ally and sup
porter
Gentlemen, when I survey the foul
great positive measures of wing policy
which have now brought in review, ant
ponder upon their tendency to strengthen
and aggrandize the Federal Government
to the most fearful extent; and when
remember that this Government, thus fear
fully strengthened and aggrandized, viii
always be machine, controlled by soc.
ton of the Confederacy distant from thai
in which our lot is cast, and more widely
distinct from us in views, interests, AND
policy, than even in local position, | con.
fess my heart sinks oppressed with des'
pondent forebodlngs. And when | see the
South herself cooperating in all these
things, and raising, in addition, her suci-
dial hand to aid the stronger section in
tearing from the Constitution the only
check it has interposed between the rights
and interests of the weaker section, and
the overmastering legislative power of the
stronger, am ready to bow my head 10
the dust, and lift up my voice and weep
aloud at the heavy and dismal doom which
obviously overhangs the land of my birth
and of my SOULS deep and undying ALE
glance. For, gentlemen, you have but to
succeed in one other. measure, which you
indicate to me as a leading point of wing
poicy-the destruction of the veto power
land the will of the sectional majority OF
the North, animated and guided by North
ern interests, views, and prejudices, will
reign, unchecked and unembarrassed, Mt
all times, over the whole legislation of the
and the condition of Ireland at
this day, as minor member of the British
Empire represented in the Imperial Par
Lament, will be true, though faint pic
ture of what will tie permanently the con-
dition of the South, as represented in, and
governed by, the Federal Congress
Take notice. | pray you, that it is the Sec
Iional legislative majority in Congress,
which we have no hand in electng, from
which We have everything TO lear. Then
further, that the veto power is
but negative--a restraint on the will Of
that malonty-apd you viii perceive AZ
once the sectional bearing against the
South of the proposition TO destroy the
power. And it will be destroyed with
equal certainty by allowing the majority
of the two Houses TO oyerrule the veto,
whether it be required to be done at the
same session at which bill is passed, or
at subsequent one--the only PROPOSE
lions, believe, which have been made on
the subject.
Take notice, also, that the same sec.
tional majority which frets under the Pre-.
sidential veto, and demands its removal
from the Constitution, does, at the same
time, deny and scout that right of State
veto, or State interposition, for which we
have been wont so strongly to contend in
Georgia. Bear in mind, moreover, that
As part and parcel of the same system of
politics, supremacy is asserted for the &C.
neral Government and itssdepartments,
over the State Governments and their de-
partments.
Gentlemen, we are soIemnly bound--as
Southern men and Southern patriots,
charged by favoring Heaven with the
care of :he fairest and feeblest portion Of
his great Confederacy--to look at all
these things together, explore the sources
from which they have sprung, and scrutin-
ze their confederation and tendency
And if any man who will do so, shall fail
o perceive that the inevitable effect of
his whole system of politics is TO unbridle
he majority power of the Northern or
lon-slaveholding section of the Union,
md to give it full sweep and unobstructed
sway over all the interests and affairs Of
he country, of every sort and character,
here must, it seems TO me, be something
very unfortunate in the intellectual me-
1ium through which such man looks at
hings Bat this is not all. Nothing can
be more evident than that the possession of
such power by the Northern or stronger
section, is suhjugation and enslavement
% the Southern or weaker section. And
what they desire 10 hold US in subjugation
or, is glaringly discovered by the character
Of the objects for which they are 50 eager
o exercise the taxing power, and by The
region of country in which they have ever
aiken care TO concentrate an overwhelm.
ng proportion of The public expenditures.
Why, gentlemen, despots want provinces
mainly for the sake Of the tribute they
nay be made 10 pay 10 the riches anc
grandeur of the governing country. Anc
What greater subseryiency TO these objects
could even despot ask of his provinces
han TO submit patiently to be taxed to the