The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-16
States and statesmen OF the South.

States and Statesmen Of the South.
The two most eminent statesmen of the
South for the last twenty years, have been Mr.
CALHOUN and Mr.. CLAY they have differed
widely in their systems and policy; each OF
them claimed to be the true expositor of the
Constitution, and each has powerfully influenced
the policy of the country. The merits of their
respective systems have been much and warmly
discussed recent events have thrown great
light upon them Mr. CALHOUN insisted on the
rights, the power and sovereignty of the States,
Mr.. CLAY has always inclined to contend for
the rights and power of the Federal Govern
ment.
The effect Of their respective views has been
very remarkable in the two States to which
respectively they belonged-South Carolina
and Kentucky-and on the fortunes of the two
men.
Mr. CLAY has acquired more general popu-
larity-Mr. CALHOUN more permanent one
Mr., CLAY has been twice foiled in his owr
State, once by General JACKSON, and more
lately by General TAYLOR. Mr.. CALHOUN al
ways had the support, almost the unanimous
support of his own State.
The effect of the systems has also been very
striking in the policy of the two States. Ken
lucky State politics have been governed by
municipalities organized on Federal politics
South Carolina has preserved the integrity
of her State government, and has not been
divided by Federal parties. Even in 1910
the popularity of General HARRISON, which
swept over nearly all the States, made no i'm
preston on South Carolina. The popularity OF
Mr. CALHOUN in that State repealed that of
General HARRISON from its very borders, and
made up for Mr.. VAN BURENs want of it.
In South Carolina there is no prescription
within the State on account of Federal politics,
nor does her delegation in Congress ever ask a
President to remove even Federal officer in
that State on account of party. They are above
doing anything to establish a subordination Of
State to Federal interests. But in Kentucky
every elective Office of the State is conferred
according to the opinions of candidates on the
Presidency. The consequence is that South
Carolina is always ready to oppose Federal
oachment-Kentucky never. Since 1898,
which was before Mr. CLAWS time, and when
Kentucky united successfully with Virginia in
opposition to the alien and sedtion laws, Ken
lucky has done nothing for the rights of the
States Messrs. Rowan and BIBB, her Sena.
tors about sixteen years ago, were State rights
men, were men of great ability, but were put
down. The Kentucky politicians have seen no
wrong, and no danger in Northern encroact-
ment for twenty years. They have derided
opposition to it as groundless, captious and
visionary. They have delighted in opposing
and disparaging the course of South Carolina,
and accordingly, they could see no encroach-
meut, no wrong in the exclusion of Kentucky
institutions and people from the entire region
acquired from Mexico. Her delegation, at least,
voted in the proportion of seven to four for the
admission of California; proportion the re-
verse of that which her sister States Of the
South voted on that occasion. Such is the
tendency Of State educated in habitual subor-
dnation to Federal interests, to sacrifice State
and sectional rights to the will of the Federal
majority.
Mr. CALHOUN predicted sixteen years ago, the
rapid march of Northern aggression on the
South. He was opposed and denounced--and
his counsel was drowned in the clamor of
union, harmony and fraternity. The genius
and goodness of that wonderful man
"gave his spirit strength to sweep
Adown the gulf of time"
And already his prophecies are more than full
filed.
One would suppose from The incessant pro-
fessions Of devotion to union and harmony
made in Kentucky, that her politicians are The
most fraternal and affectionate beings extant
But let him wait until some State or petty local
election is pending--for some town council or
city marshal The contest is between T'weedle-