Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-02-10

tice the most prominent -,
That which they have urged with the
greatest confidence, is, that each State has
n right 10 appoint Delegates as she plea
cos meet it, by ute " denying that
there is any such right. That each State
has the right to act as it pleases, in what
over relates TO itself exclusively, no one
will deny: but il is n perfect novel doc
trinc, that any State has such right, when
she comes to act in concert with others in
reference to what concerns the whole. In
such cases it is the plainest dictate of COM
mon sense, that whatever affects the whole
should be regulated by the mutual consent
of all. and not by the discretion of EACH
That the appointment ofDelegates to the
proposed Convention is case OF this de-
scription, trust have conclusively
shown. | have, also trust, shown more;
that the supposed right is perfectly deceP-
tive, for while it claims for each State the
right 10 appoint Delegates as it pleases, 1t
in reality gives the larger States the right
to dictate how the others shall appoint. IT,
for example, the Empire State as II is
called, adopts the mode appointing las sne
bas) which will concentrate her whole
strength, what discretion would she leave
to others, if they go into Convention, but
to appoint as she has appointed, or to be
ruled by her. 1t is then, neither more
nor less than claim to dictate, under the
earb of right, and such its exercise has
proved in the present case. 1t has LETT no
option. but TO conform TO her course, or
be overruled, or refuse to go into the Con-
ventlon.
Iregret this, because sincerity desire
TO preserve the harmony Of The party. |
had strong hope that the rally after the de-
feat of 1910 would be exclusively on Prin-
cples. This hope was greatly strength
ened by the truly republican stand taken
at the extra session, and the earlier por-
ton ofthe succeeding regular session.
During that period ofrigid adherence to
principle, perfect harmony pervaded the
ranks af the party. beheld it with Joy.
| believed the moment highly favorable
for the thorough reformation of the Gov
eminent and the restoration Of the Con.
sti,ution. To the republican party, |
looked for the accomplishment of this
great work: and accordingly felt the
deepest solicitude, that the stand taken,
and the harmony which existed, should be
preserved. In order that it should, l
made up nv mind to waive the objection,
which have long entertained to any IN
termediate body, unknown to the Constl-
tuition, between the people and the cleo
ton of the President, in the hope that the
proposed Convention would be so constitu-
ted, that might, consistently with my
principles, give it my support In this
have been disappointed, and being so,
am compelled 10 decide as have DONE
The same motives which impelled me TO
separate from the administration OF Gen.
JACKSON, in the plentitudc Of its power,
and to come 10 rescue of MIR. VAN BUREN's
at its greatest depression, compells me
now 10 withhold my name from the pro-
posed Convention.
Having now assigned my reasons Tor
refusing to permit my name TO 60 before
the Baltimore Convention, it rests with
you who have placed it before the people,
and assented to abide by n Convention
fairly constituted, to determine what
course you will pursue.
Be your decision what it may shall be
content. But | regard it as due TO the
occasion, to you and myself, to declare
that under no circumstances whatever
shall support any candidate, who is OPP
posed to free trade, andin favor Of the
protective policy, or whose prominent and
influential friends and supporters are. !
hold the policy TO be another name for a
system of monopoly and plumber, and to
be thoroughly anti-republican and federal
in its character. | also hold that so long
as the duties are so laid as to be in fact
bouties to one portion of the community,
while they are oppressive on the other.
there can be no hope that the Government
can be reformed, or that its expenditures
will be recuced to the proper standard.
Were |, with the evidence before me, to
say otherwise of my cours, it would be,
practically, TO declare that | regard the
protective policy to be an open question,
so far as the party is concerned; which
whould consider, on my part, virtual a.
abandonment of the cause Of FIRE. Trade
That can never be. have done and suf'
fered too much for it, when its friends
were few and feeble, to abandon it now
now, when the auspices every where, on
this and the other side of the Atlantic
proclaim the approaching downfall of pro-
lection and the permanent triumph Of
Free Trade. ], who upheld it agains
monopoly and plumber, in the worst o.
times. and braved the mcnaccs of Admin.
istration and Opposition, when backed
but by single State,-will not-canno
abandon the glorious cause now, when it.
banner waves in proud triumph over the