The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-08-01

vention were, from every portion of the I'm
ION, the sphere of operation was far too ex-
sensve for wise and cautious delibefation and
decision. There were too p1any iyss.sYesls in
'volved. lfgsnerel propositions only are to
be laid down in such convsntion, the object
10 not worth the seff0rt; for, in the divided
state Of tss public mind upon the question,
whateves platform might be adopted, the
opinion Of parties. and generally of individuals
would remain tie same.
IT. general plan of Operations is to te pro-
posed and pressed upon Congress, the objec-
tons are palpable and grave. The members
are under little responsibility; and az each
section Of the country will have it's own OBJ
jects to attain, these MUST be attained by
concession to the objects of others, and
the result will furnish evidence of mutual
spirit Of accommodation rather than cautious
regard for the general interest. Such an as
semblaage 10 very different thing from the
ssttempt to concentrate opinion and action in
favor OF any Improvement affecting particu-
lar portion Of the Union, where there is a
Continuity of information and interest. and
where there is no weighing of one project
agaist, another, not any sacrificcs to insure
The desired result.
Ard am fully confirmed in my previous
anticipations concerning the Chicago Conven-
ton. ! imagine the first man is yet to be
found who will venture to say that any ad-
vantage has resulted from its labors.
but had yet another reason for declining
foattend that convention did not like it's or
igin. The earliest notice Of it which saw
was connected with the names of some we'll
known wings, prominent politicians the city
Of New York; and believed, and have yet
no reason 70 doubt, that one great object was
to injure the democratic party by taking ad-
vantage of the excitement which prevailed in
certain portions Of the country in consequence
OF the failure of two successive internal inl-
provement bills And have since under.
stood, though cannot vouch for the fact,
chat such was tho actual intention, and that
the proceedings &C the convention would have
assumed a party character, and been direc-
ted to this object, had not the design been
frustrated by the firmness Of the democratic
members. @ " '*
Now Mr.. Greeley will understand why I
did not attend this convention. But cannot
understand Why he seeks my opinions on this
question in my letter, which is wholly silent
on the subject, and not in my speeches and
votes in the Senate of the United States
Eminent whig politicians whom could
name, but that it would be invidious to do SO,
were invited TO attend the Chicago Conven-
ton, but neither answered nor attended.
thought tdue to the gentleman who invited
me to acknowledge his attention, and did go.
And this act of courtesy, which constitutes
the only difference between myself and 9TH
ers, has been made the text book whence my
opinions are to be deduced, and by which my
inconsistency is to be proved. On the ques-
:io" q tho United States over the subject Of
internal improvements, my sentiments are in
accordance with those of the great democrat
ic party, and are fully expressed in the reso-
iutions OF the Baltimore Convention. In the
words OF one Of these resolutions, believe
'tthat the constitution does not confer on the
general government the power to commence
and carry on general system Of internalim-
Proyement," and no man living has the right
to gainsay this assertion But at the same
time have never disputed the right of Con-
gress to improve some of the great harbors
and rivers and lakes of the Union, national in
their character, and important to the COM
merce, and some of them to the defence of
our country. While the democratic party
deny the power to devise and carry on vast
sysssm OF operations-whose pecuniary ex-
tentno man can foresee, and what is still
worse, whose corrupting influence, as we'll
in the Legislature Us out Of it, cannot be
viewed but with the most serious apprehen-
slon--the great majority of that party, in
deed nearly all fit, has advocated particu-
lar appropriations justified by the circumstan-
ces OF position and importance. Almost at
the same time that declared my adhesion to
the resolutions Of the Baltimore Convention.
l voted with equal good faith for bills in the
Senate providing for the improvement Of riv-
ers and harbors and lakes, and advocated
thelr passage in my seat; and this is precisely
the reason why accuse many of the whig
papers and politicians of dsingenuousness
or something worse, in asserting that nv
chicago letter, which contained not word
on the subject, was proof of nv hostility to
all the action of Congress, in the very face of
my official course and of my publicly-declar
ed opinions And my position was that of
most OF the prominent men of our party, who
while they held to the doctrines of the reso.
iutions, held likewise to the power of special
Legislation, and voted for the same bills. |
do not know, indeed, that there is a single
senator who denies to Congress all power to
legisate over this matter. Certainly MIR.
Calhoun does not, who adopts the wholesome
doctrine of strict construction. I am aware
1t is difficult to draw practical line at all
times between objects that ought and that
ought not to engage the attention of Con-
gress; and think therefore, looking to the
abuse to which the whole subject is liable,
that the effort should be to narrow, and not
to enlarge, the circle of power; and such
understand to be the views of the democratic
party.
The other proof of ins:ncerity, as I have
already stated, is drawn the fact that in nv
letter to Mr.. Nicholson took ground against
the Wilmot Proyiso, excluding slavery, by
law from the territories, and now believe that
slavery, with or without that restriction, will
not be established there. And the wonder
is gravely expressed how could write that
latter and the letter of three lines to the
Chicago Convention, and yet claim the char
aeter OF an honest man. 1t is much graver
wonder "; 70 me, how intelligent editors Of pub
lie papers, whose influence on public opinion
10 80 great, should venture thus to deal even
with political opponent, in utter disreg,rd