The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-06-20
LETTER FROM HON. l.. w.
TAZEWELL.
INoRFoLK, MAY 2

] INoRFoLK, Maya n; 1850,
M DEAR SIR: I haveio acktnowl-
aos he receipt Of your favor Of the
sib inst & reply to ii speedily as the
,6rmities of age will permit me To-
". let me beginihis reply by as
bring you that no apology was ne7l
Bssary for any communication YOU
bay choose 10 make to me at any time
specially in regard to anysquestion
,at YOU may think Of public impor-
Ance. lregret to he compelled to say
.pwever that my years, and the seclu-
In in which | live keep ne very far
ebind the times as to the facts which
yery statesman shonld keep in view
hen called upon to act, or even ex-
ress an opinion, in relation to matters
/ practical politics. | still retain a
rong predilectim for politics as a
eienCe, and not unfrequently review
,e theouesI formed, IN reference to
when | was much younger man.
OCCASIONALLY, indeed, compare the
bnclusious to which these theories
- ,;,L thnse tt.~,a ara now annnnncail
the opinions of others: and when
ey do not occur, ] take it for granted
bat some facts nnkn0wn to me are the
isturbing causes 70 which the discrep-
icy ought to be referred.
But there is one class of political
neStioDs concerning which the pro-
ssor IN his lecture room and the
atesman in Ills cabinet ought not tu
sagree--l mean questions involving
10 construction of the Constitution
hese are and ever must be mere alb.
ractiOns. Whether A be guilty OF
pme specified crime, or B is lntilled
some property which he claims, may
yolve facts of great prachcal impor.
nee to the parties; but the nature oI
e crime with which A is charged; and
elrath Of the principles upon which
= claim ofB depends: are pure alb
ractIons, that will remain equally Ger,
IN whether A be guilty or not guilty
the claims Of B be affirmed or de-
ed. So, too in regard to the Cnn-
Tuition Grant that any particular
pwerls conferred byit upon any de.
arlment Of the Government and the
lestion whether the granted power
lght TO be exercised becomes a ones.
% Ct otexpediency TO be decided bv
sc''caI statesman according to the
rcunlstances Of each particular case
" admit that the Constitution doe,
! concede such power, and III,
'espon otexPediency can never arise
oaaerihls aspect only have | eve
us'deredthe questions presented by
report ofthe committee oftb,rteeT
Ssss.lng The plan Of a Compromise
sse never seen that report in eaten
.n,. and nave too little knowledge Of
wy Of the facts to which i must ne
J ssa'liy a refer to justify me in formln,
!. oP,n'on asto these facts. But q
i = y sne subject involves the construc
80 !" " me Constitution, so far as
y vseoss aus. = 2 question Of constitutions a
Da5; aPars from my inquiry as 10 tn
ise spigncy ofthe proposed compro
~ = nave carefully examined il. an,
tgmed %l very decided opin
',,; DIS opinion is, that the Con.
SruOn \ s",a does not confer upon Congress
,ss su'norty to enlarge or conIrac
sn s,au's Of power BY any concession
apromises, or other means.
Als!s:odgh I. Y: lean readily conceive 4
psGlency ps,i' and proprieiy ofadiustin,
ss.lOOs % Of interest by comp-omia
~, s'a many other modes, | freely ac
s'suge that | have never YET bee
".,;''o \ q Comprehend how questions q
t,as. t'.aIl9oal rights could properly b
wiz l'sG especially bythose endoN
pb, " 1dnciary powers only. Ifiti
y ss9p g mat tha3result Of a compre
uiSal. j constitutional principles becom
,psti,s. si,sat with the provisions cf Ii
se E'on fs;l itself, then the comprC
Dn.,i.l.. n isln truth an amendment Of III
trnsa0 'sos! on-anamendment &c iii
os.:.'' s' 100 .by those TO whom
F'''''Vely denied ihs power ,