The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-06
MIR, Calhoun.

We have received from Mr. WOODWARD,
| one Of the Representatives in Congress from
South Carolina, the following letter. His re-
quest that we should publish it is cheerfully
complied with
Ma. EDITOR have to request the use of your
paper in order to correct prevalent misconcep-
ton of a position lately taken by Mr.. CALHOUN in
the United States Senate. refer to his suggestion
of an amendment of the Constitution, indispen
sable to the safety of the South, in the Union.
He has been represented, well by Senators as
by persons ofless consequence and responsibility, as
having had in view the preservation or restoration
of what they term the balance between the North
and the South. And, assuming this to have been
his meaning, they have been eminently successful
in exposing the fancifu character of the idea and
the utter impossbity of its being reduced TO prac
tce How, il is asked, you preserve this equi-
librum, since, if il existed to-day, Maryland, or
some other southern State, might destroy it to-
morrow, by becoming free State? And how I'M
just to the North, to prevent her from increasing
any faster than the South may be able to do
Now nothing could be moro ridiculous if unin-
territorial, or more dishonorable if Intentional than
this missatement of Mr.. Calhoun's proposition. So
far from having in view the preservation of the
merical equality of the two classes of States, his
| suggestion was based upon the assumption that it
had already ceased 10 exist would shortly cease
forever. He referred to the equilibrium of States
as having been, originally, relied on by the South,
and having, in measure, heretofore proved
sufficient for their protection against encroach-
ment from the North. But alleging that this
equilibrium longer existed, could not exist
| much longer, he declared il to be indispensable TO
the safety of the South that some other guaranty
should be provided. lie says in his speech
his last speech-that the principle cause of the
sense of insecurity the part Of the South s to be
found in the fact chat the equilibrium between the
two sections Of the government as il stood when
the Constitution was ratified and the government
put in action, has been destroyed" He next pre-
sents certain statistical facts, going 10 show that
the equilibrium could never be restored. He had
conclusvely shown the same thing i'm a speech de-
livered in Charleston in March, 1919. Seeing,
then, that the equilibrium lost he insists that
there be safety for the South until an equiv
alent means Of self defence shall be placed in her
hands. This equivalent was, TO his Ian
guage, constitutional amendment which should
restore TO the South IN substance, the potoer she
possessed to protect herself before the equilibrium
between the two sections was destroyed by the ac-
ton Of this government" He continues "There
will be no difficulty in devsing such provision
one that will protect the South, and which, at the
same time, will improve and strengthen the Gov
crnment, instead Of impairing and weakening il.
What the provision Mr.. Calhoun had in
view, shall not take il on myself to state The
world will shortly know through much more au-
thentic medium than my pen. My purpose has
been TO show what he did moi mean, and this, sub
NIT, has been satisfactorily done. trust there
fore, that We shall hear nothing more, whether
from ignorance dishonesty, about the "fanciful
idea" Of preserving the equilibrium Of southern
| and northern States; or of the "crying injustice"
Of restricting the northern population 10 an even
ratio Of increase with the southern.
One thing, however, IL is proper 10 add Mr.
Calhoun thought that the South owed il 10 their
safety to oppose the admission into the Union of
any more free States, with view 10 maintain the
equilibrium as nearly as possible until such an
amend nent of the Constitution as he contcmpla.
ted should be made.
Very respectfully,
j. A. WOODWARD.