Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-10-30
speech Of MIR. Berrien,
OF GEORGIA..

i OF GEORGIA.
There was a meeting of the people at
Dahlonega, Georgia, on the 9th ult., which
was attended by Mr.. J. M. Berren. This
veteran Senator delivered an eloquent
speech on the occasion. Mr.. Berrien said,
as our Democratic friends appear to be ex-
tremey solicitous of making an issue with
US upon the subject of national politics, and
insist with much earnestness upon def
milton of Observation-Disclosures which
had been often defined to their knowledge,
and Of which we were neither afraid nor
ashamed-he would give them full and
frank avowal of them, so far as time would
permit and his understanding of them jus.
tfy. He and these principles were en-
bodied in one word, and that word Con-
servatlsm-that conservatism which would
guard the Constitution as a sacred casket-
which would look TO it as to the ark of the
covenant of our political, civil and reli-
gious liberties--that conservatism which
would preserve the coordinate branches of
the Government, and limit each to its re-
spective defined powers. and a strict &C
countabilty of public officers-that would
see to it that there was clear grant of
power for each governmental act; of that
conservatism which formed our constitu.
ton and had preserved US as people, and
which was aptly expressed in the homely
phrase of 'let well enough alone" But
as these general principles might not be
considered satisfactory, he said he would
60 more into the detail. He referred to
the much vexed question Of a tariff; he
said wing principle consisted in levying
duties upon imports 10 raise revenue for
the support of the government, and such
duties only as would be necessary to de.
fray the expenses of the government, eco.
nomically administered, and TO make such
reasonable determinations within the lin.
its of revenue as would protect American
manufactures; or, in other words. revenue
tariff with determinations within the rev.
enue standard, for the purposes of protec.
ton. MIR. Berrien said, the democratic
tariff of 1916, and Mr.. Folks Kane letter
admitted this principles; that there was no
difference between the two parties on this
subject, nor necessity longer for con.
iict in reference to tariff, except as to
the amount of revenue which the tariff of
'46 would raise. If it yielded enough, he
made no war upon tiff it did not. it
ought to be repealed or changed. He said
extremes had met upon this question: that
the men of ultra principles had yielded on
each side of this principle. He said the
alternative questions presented to the peo-
pie were tariff and direct taxation. The
wings preferred the former. He spoke of
the income Of this year as not fair test
in his opinion, in the amount of income
from the customs, on account of the great
demand for breadstuffs on the other side of
the Atlantic, and the large imports conse-
quent upon the state of affairs created by
the failure of the grain crops in Europe;
if he was found 10 be wrong, he should
not complain. He next alluded to a Ma
tional Bank, and said it had been ques-
ton Of wing policy, and they still main
tanned that Congress had the constitutional
power to charter bank, and if it were
required by the people, and circumstances
Justified the exercise of the power, the
wing party would still be in favor of it.
He said, however, that in the present
state of the country, when, upon the break
ing up and reorganization Of the State
banking systems, and since men of sub
santial capital had invested their funds in
the State banks, rendering their issues at
all times convertible into specie, and pro.
ducing a sound currency, which was re-
suit anxiously sought by the wing party,
he saw no pressing public necessity for the
establishment of such an institution, and
he considered that question in ADVANCE,
He said the wing party were still in favor
of the principle of distribution of public
lands among the States; these lands were
the common property of the States; they
had always been in favor of these proceeds
going towards the discharge of the public
debt; however, he thought this question
might be considered in allegiance also al
present, for that considering he debt which
: this Democratic administration had sad
died on the country, it was not at all likely
that there would be any necessity for such
a law, at least during the present genera
ton.
Mr.. Berrien next spoke of the Mexican
war, and characterized it as the offspring
7 of misdirected ambition, and said it com
r menced first in violation of the Const
tuition, in which the President had assumed
the war-making power, and was justiie'
by no public necessity. Secondly. 1t ha
been conducted, SO far as the administra
ton was concerned. without wisdom an
without energy. Thirdly. 1t looked t
no great and patriotic result; it was wa
r of conquest not contemplated by the Con
y stitution; measure at once pregnant wit
!. consequences dangerous to the wel.bein
e of the Union, and destructive of the har
= mony of the people. All Of the provision
= of the Constitution were peaceful in thei
I,b e.