Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-07-16

SUCH MAN lni9lIl De peTlltcI 10 Vote LOT ~ hIs>
and in that way approach their shrine as an hun. =
bic sacrihcer OF his opinions But the Wing that
would vote Tor him would be denounced ard
damned without hesitation or ceremony.
Nothing appeared 10 me more obvious than that
this system OF tactics for the Presidential can
vass OF 1911, ii il should receive the concurrence
Of The Southern Wing Representatives end poll
ticianS, was calculated TO draw the whole Wing
party of the South from their old ground on the
subject of the Tariff, and enlist them in tie sup
port and advocacy of the protective policy
II was equally obvious, thai, in such event,
any individual Wing Representative. who should
stand out against the general movement would
probably find himself involved in painful diff
Gully and misunderstanding with his friends at
home saw this fate awaiting myself. But
was not lons left TO anticipation and CONJECTURE.
Through The Wing press Of Georgia. through my
correspondence with friends, and other most au-
thentic means OF intelligence | was soon made
10 know that. although the Wing party, general
", had come Ia the conclusion L. overlook kindly
my differing with them on the election question,
ye, was not 10 expect repetition OF this friend
II tolerance il | presumed to lly III the face 81
The Wing party in the House on the Tariff que>
ton also Under these circumstances was led
10 ponder well uron my position and the obliga-
lions growing out of it; and il appeared 10 me
exceedingly clear, that il WAS my duty 10 myself,
and 10 the people Of Georgia, 10 take my stand in
the breach, and abide The hazard ~. being SWEPT
down and carried Ia the bottom by that swelling
tide OF high Tariff politics and laiitudmou> pIin-
ciplcS, which, rushing from the North, were sci
ting IN full volume upon the South. threatening
Ia overwhclm and dcvastatc all those great land
marks of policy and the Constitution on which
We have ever deemed our safety, rights and III
tcrcsis 10 depend.
81.
a. 10 the unpleasant and unwccomc state Of Tela-
tons TO which it was likely TO lead between me
and very large proportion OF my political friends.
have been painfully realized. | found myself
promptly and semly araiyncd al the bar OF the
Wing party OF Georgia, for the crime Of oppoSi-
ton 60 Use The language Of Your el,cr,) TO the
leading measures OF Wing policy"
Gentlemen, it is true, | am indeed opposed Ia
the leading measures and general politics of liz.
great national Wing party. And have no hcsi-
talion in declaring il rs my opinion, ,hatthe lead
inc measures and principles OF the patty, as cX-
hibiicd III Congress and throughout that quarter
OF The Union, from whence emanate all the Wing
law and doctrines now-a-davS are such as de-
serve the special hostility OF Southern men. This
hostility on my pant is boldly and distinctly avow-
ed III my late address 10 The people OF Georgia.
In that address | travelled out of the subject
which particularly prompted the writing of H. in
order 10 make this ayowal because | felt it 10 ".
due To the pcoplc-espccially those of the lhini
Congressional Di>ric.-ihat they should know
that anticipated from the Wing party, in the
event o.! ils coming into power, such principles
and policy i'll the administration ol tEc Govern
ment as | should feel il my duty 10 oppose.
cannot now doubt that, in that address. made:
myself clearly understood 10 that effect. The call,
however, which You have now made on me, AMI
To which il Affords me great satisfaction To ie-
>pCnd. amounts To requiring ~ ne tu enter inio Il
full specification OF the grounds oi my opposition
IA task which shall cnGcavor Ia perform with
The greatest breviiy and diStincincss in my power.
To this end, be- 10 present Il The outset, that
view which, TO my mind, furnishes The true So
luton OF the marked difference which has ever
distinguished the Norih from The South, Is well
in the constitutional politics, as in Tie general
maNims OF legislative policy mainly held and adj
vocated by The two sections II is notorious, that
the North has been labuay characterized. as
compared with The South, hy greater latitude Of
opinion 10 the extent OF NE powers pr Tie CT
neral Government, and as 10 tho purposes for
which those powers should be exercised. What
has given rSc 10 this difference, which j. as
strongly marked in the two sections as The great
features of Nature hcrScfi The answer Is a.
hand. 1t i 10 be found in The fact that the North,
a. compared with the South, IL and feels con-
scious that she must always be- the stronger see
ton. She feels, consequently. that the General
Government, 10 a very great extent ic0n"s 10 hcr:
that She can WELD il as she lists: that il is ma
chine in her own hands and under her own cor
rol. She knows that her power in lis councils
and over lis action must always be such as not
only 10 enable her 10 prevent il from inlurin9 and
expressing her by IL measures, bUt such a. 10 en-
able her 10 cause lis measures 10 he OF such a
character H. viii bc positively suhseTient 10 her
interests and grandeur. Hence the North nau
rally nclincs 10 favor the enlargement, OF the
powers OF a machine OF which her superior
strength in the cunlcderacv renders her sub>tan-
tally the mistress and beneficiary. Hence, loo,
the people Of the North have been little accusiom-
ed 10 feel dread from the stretching of the powers
or the increased ac,ioa of the General Govern
ment. And why? Because they we'll know thai,
under every extension OF lis powers. and every
multiplication Of lis objects, il must still remain
the slave and in.,rumen, Of their will and int
rests in all lis operations
The South, on the other hand, is deeply con-
Scious that the precise reverse is the case with
her She feels and knows that she is the weaker
section; that she *, and is doomed TO remain Il
sectional minority in the councils of the General
Government: that il j. machine not bclon9n.
10 hel, but 10 others: which is not in her hands
and control, but in the hands and control OF others
distant from her, having views and interests wide
Is different in many respects from hers. and it,
clincd by all the principles and passions inherent
in human nature, 10 consult their own views and
Interests. and not hers. in the direction which they
give TO the Government Hence the South feels
that her liberty and salvation derend upon Jea-
lousy coniining The Government within lis con-
Slitutional sphere, by rigid construction OF its
powers, and of The objects to which those powers
shall he applied.
The clue which have now presented, uElolds
also the grounds of still another difference in tie
constitutional politics Of the two sections. The
South feeling herself 10 be the weaker section, rs
scented and participating in the General Go
vernmcni, is naturally arersc 10 permitting that
Government to be the sole and ultimate ablter Of
the extent Of lis powers over her, under the Con-
stiinlion She discardS such n doctrine. rs being
,antamount to making the will of that Govern
ment lin other words, the will OF the stronger sec
lion, as represented I'M that GoverEmenD supreme
over all sections Of the Union, and over the limi-
tatons OF the Constitution itself. To this the
South earnestly objects; and insists not only on
State rights, which the General Government may
not violate, but also on State remedies as means
of checking and arresting such violations The
North. on the CONTRARY, feels but little solicitudc
about State rights because She knows that the
Government being mainly under her control, will
obedience To her Will and Interests. Still less
does she care about State remedies for She pos
scsscs the requisite power over the General Go
vernnent to compel it 10 administer lis own
remedies in all cases where She deems il desira-
bic.
Thus. il is seen, that both sections are addicted
TO contemplating and constituting the Constitution
and the powers and policy Of the Government
very much through the medium of their respec-
tive interests The one goes naturally for the
enlargement and free use Of powers which she
can control pretty much she pleases 10 her own
advantage, and which, at all events, nobody else
will be able to turn against her. The other OF
Southern section, is constrained. by her ieeblencSS
TO regard the powers of the Government rather as
being exercised orerhan Jyhcr; and as being I'M
PEELED and directed rather in accordance with the
will and interest Of the sectional majority IN
which, than of the sectional minority orer which,
they are exercised. Hence the South is sensitive
Is Jealous OF the enlargement OF Federal power
md E,r i,c