The North-Carolina standard., 1848-09-13
1etter from Hon. Bedford Brown.


Letter from Hon. Bedford Brown.
,he Editor Of the Standard:
ns,p Sir: You will please publish the following
,a,- from the Hon. Bedford Brown, formerly
Eator in Congress from this State,) but now resi-
Srt in Abemarle County, Virginia, addressed to
Gr B. Graves, of Caswell, in reference to the re-
| t statement in the Milton Chronicle, that he had
Sandoned his Democratic friends, and united with
h. Wings in the support of Gen. Taylor. hope
5 Editor of that paper, well others that have
nnbIshed his article, will have the fairness to
P'lSn -"'' D'''' . ''''e n. J. PALMER.
Milton, Sept. 1st, 1S46.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA, AUG. %, 1849.
NJ Nv DEAR SIR: received by the last mail your
endly letter of the 18th instant enclosing para
Tr,nh cut from the Et Milton Chronicle, - in which
reference is made to my opinions respecting the COM
Nartye claims of Generals Cass and Taylor for the
flee of President of the United States, and In which
mu also inform me that it is the wish of number
# my old friends to know how tar my sentiments
ire represented.
Although nv opinions are merely those of pri-
ate citizen. who has for some years had active
artcipation in politics, yet deem it due to the un-
avering support which you and they all occasions
ave me, while in public life in North Carolina, and
he long standing friendship which has existed be-
reen u.s. to place them in their and your possession
.ithout reserve On all the great leading questions
H National Bank, Tariff, and the Sub-Treasury,
stand precisely where did In the administrations
Il Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren, with convic-
ions, if any thing, still more strengthened by time
short am as strong in my belief, that the
|H fashioned Democratic creed affords the surest
arantee of public liberty, 1t does the most cer
lin means of promoting the interests of the masses.
10 much, respects the internal policy OF our gov
,ument. A few words as to its foreign policy.
|You know that was educated in the old fashioned
Uitical School of Jefferson and Macon, which held
aa the Federal Government was created for certain
kined and limited purposes, and that the salvation
III the Constitution and the Union depend on keep
no il within its prescribed orbit Acting on these
lrncipes when the measures of my political friends
Lave occasionally In conflict with them, nave
neve hesitated to express nay dissent Although the
nre bill against South Carolina an admlnIstra-
ion measure deemng it in conflict with these Pnn-
spes then gave it my strenuous opposition, not
NVthsandinu was before and afterwards among the
most steadfast supporters of Gen. Jackson.
confess that have been greatly alarmed at the
Itravagant and dangerous powers which have lately
ven set up for the federal government by number
|fhose who have been long associated with the De-
ntc party in relation to foreign conquests and at
policy which it has been declared our duty TO Pur
ne in extending what is called '' the area OF free
5m. :" Many treat this question as 1t the federal
UYernment was an absolute sovereignty instead OF
government of derived and limited powers. The
var making power is given to 1t not In the broad e1-
lent that it is DosseSsed by the monarchleS OF Europe,
because the trainers of the constitution we'll knew,
hom all past history that the abuse of this the most
Tremendous of governmental powers, had more than
al other causes contributed to degrade and enslave
nhe human race. Hence the patriots who framed our
II constitution with GREAT caution and wisdom, limited
H he war making power in the hands of Congress to
Ihe "eommon defence Hence MIR. Madison, Mr..
hamilton, and Mr.. Jay in their celebrated Numbers
the constitution always speak OF the war making
over as oyen to use their own language, tor - the
ummon defence,'' and for g the national defence, "
md for no other purposes. So far as have ever OBJ
srred in those writings, kept In that limit 1t can
ver be exercised but for the safety and good OF the
nupry-carried beyond it, and abuse is almost Ger
an to follow If the doctrine is to prevail that Con
. ness NAV at its mere whim and caprice make war
mood of knighterrantry to carry out some tanei
extension of 9 the area of freedom" or to fuIhi
he high mission which some politicians CONSIDER tue
sAago-Saxon race'' charged with, to extend our gov
anment over this whole continent land do not In
dude Gen. Cass in this number) what security nave
he American people that they may not become oP
essed with exhorbitant national debts, and that tne
ny military force employed to effect these scneme'
nav not nrove the overthrow of their liberties
a interpretaton of the constitution Is correet-anc
believe it warranted by the test principles applied oJ
he Virginia resolutions of 989, 1t follows that war
be leading objects of which are conquest are
unconstitutional and that Congress cannot use tn
honey or the arms of this nation Tor such PurPos'
Etbopt oross usurpatior. maintain therefore, tina
We have no constitutional right to bring under ou
gvenment anv foreign nation or sovereign GCd'e y
dIOeGn nation 0y IObCS Oi
gle solitary exception of a war for /" the common ae
kuee and then In order to Justify their
should show that it was the only means OF on
afety placing it ON that principle OF seff'deienc
rhe jnstites tledestruction of an adversary elthe
HI ~ nation or an individual, when the only means
d sefDreseryatiorl. Il will give an example mus
aative Of nv meaning. Beforc the war OF 1917 VIII
Great Britain She had violated every right dear 10 ~
Z an independeht nation.ls Occupying an e1'enoe'
line on onI norhepn and northzwesternf frontier, IN
lives of our people were often sebject?d to the cIoe,
les of savage hostility by her insagatlon' wnicl
hly justified us on the principle OF 1.-The common
deenee' in pushing the war into her CANADIAN pos
sssons where she was most vulnerable TO our arms
I to use our utmost to expel so dangerous and pow
Il su an enemy from our vicihage. If there ever wa
awar hallowed bv the jnsticeo ofits cause, sucn wa
f that Of 1919. NV approval Of that war Is' as yo'
Know to be found on the Legislative journals OF Nol
Carolina in 8. when but few months over tWen
. gyears old. NV course on that occasIOn, ana m.
Jealous support Of democratic principles afterwards
Srousht on me an opposition from most OF fhe ieoela
aders more violent and of longer contlnuaten en1
believe was ever made against any pnDhc man . .
We Ste having continued until TIT close OF my scr
Vice one Of the Senator'S from tbs State. snoule
ReVer do Injustice to sou1ea very esfima1te men:
Old not mention that there were honorable except
ens to this remark and whose course towards mi
as ever been appreciated. Glorious as weEs IN
Suevements of this war, both by sea ana !ano, ye
Sey We're rendered doubly brilliant by the justice
%e cause which ennobled them.l It i, not the mere
&c. tbe-Eh that