Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-03-02
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Mn. CALHOUN'S ADDRESS.
(Erom he Charleston Mercury, Jan. 800
FoRT Hill, Dec. 81, 1843.

~NE FoRT HILL, Dec. Il, l643,
fiENTLEMEN:-l herewith enclose you
astho organ of those who have nomina-
ted mS for the Presidency in this State,
subjects a Convention fairly constituted,
anAddress to my political friends and sup
porteTss assigning my reasons for moi
permitting my name to so before the pro-
posed Convention TO be held in Baltimore
jn May next. transmit it 10 you, be-
cause ] deem it respectful and proper to
make il known to those TO whom it is ad.
dressed, through you, and in order to
afford an opportunity to take such mea
elres in relation to it, as you may deem
proper, if indeed, you should deem neces-
safy. All | have to request, is, that its
Medication should not be unnecessarily
delayed. With respect, ! am, &c. &c.
(Signcd,) J,C. CALHOUN.
Hon. JACOB BOND ION and other members
pf the Committee.
INC ADDRESS Of Mr.. Calhoun to his PolH-
cal Friends and Supporters.
have left it TO you, my friends and
IMPORTERS, through whose favorable esti-
N|hte Of my qualifications my name has
Zen presented TO the people OF the Uni
Ia States for the office OF Chief Magis-
Nate, to conduct the canvass on such
Ntinciples, and in such manner, as you
ill ght think best But, in so doing, did
IN waive my right to determine, OH my
'Adividud responsibility, what course my
Npty might compel me to pursue Ultimate
III, nor have been an inattent:ve obser-
~ Of the canvass and the course you
I've taken.
/, affords me pleasure to be enabled TO
m, that on all leading questions, growing
n "a OF the canvass, heartily concurred
i,h you in the grounds you took, and es-
kcially in those relating to the mode in
9hich the Delegates to the propos ed Con-
Sn,ion TO be held in Baltimore, should be
bpoin,ed, and how they should vote
BIZ have, in my opinion, concluslvely
al,own that they should be appointed by
Districts and vote per capita; but your
fcasons, us conclusive as they are, have
prbyed in vain. Already New York and
some other States have appointed dele
rates en- masse by State Conventions, and
one State (Virginia) has resolved that
the votes Of her Delegates should be Civ
6nby the majority, and be counted per
ntaitd. Their course would necessarily
6perrule that which you have SO ably sup
fNrted, should you 60 into Convention,
nd would leave you no alternative, but 10
reid yours and adopt theirs, however
nsllch you may be opposed to it on prlncl-
~, or TO meet them on the most unequal
tefms, with divided against united and
c1ncentrated forces.
The question is then, what course, un.
III such circumstances, should be adop-
I'll? And that question, you will be com
He'd speedily to decide. The near ap-
pSOach Of the time for meeting of the
pyoposed Convention will not admit OF
Mluch longer delay. But as your course
fpay depend in some degree on that which
have decided to take, | deem It due TO
NE relation subssting between US, 10
bake mine known to you without further
2elay.
@ !, then, after the most careful and de-
liberate survey Of the whole ground,
have decided, that cannot permit my
hame to 60 before the proposed Conyen-
lion, constituted as it now must be, con
pisently with the principles which have
evcr guided my public conduct. MY OBJ
ections are insuperable. As it must be
constituted, it is repugnant TO all prlncl-
Pies on which, in my opinion, such Con-
Fention should be formed. What those
principles are, | shall nov proceed briefly
10 state.
hold, then, with you, that the Con-
vention should be so constituted, as 10 Ut
ter fully and clearly the voice Of the peo-
sple and not that Of political managers,
or Office holders or Office seekers; and for
that purpose, hold it indispensable that
lhe Delegates should be appointed direct
4 y by the people, or to use the language
pf Gen Jackson, should "bo freshfrom
fhe people" | also hold, that the only
.bossible mode 10 effect this, is for the