The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-11
Speech Of Hon. r. Barnwell Rhett

To THE PEoPLE OF CHARLRsroN, S. CAROLINA
This remarkable address contains so many
plain, wholesome truths, and has attracted
much attention, that had its author hitherto at
tanned no elevated position among the popular
disclaimers Of the country, we should be justified
in offering it to the perusal OF our readers, as
we now do, to the exclusion OF much other
valuable matter. II was this speech which called
down upon it, author the denunciations of Clay
and Foote in the Senate OF the United States,
and terribly excited Mr.. Richie of the Wash
ngton Union. We are glad that the truths
which it contains, have been published in the
form in which they are now presented, and that
these truths, so presented, evoked from the dis
tinpushcd senator from Kentucky an unguarded
expression of his heightened federal policy. Mr..
Clay denounced Mr.. Rhett as n traitor, for
plainly uttcrng the sentiments which this speech
contains, qualifying the denunriation by the eX-
preston of the christian hope" that if he at
tempted to carry out these sentiments, by organi-
zing resistance to the authority OF the federal
government, he might receive the DOOM of
traitor. In word Mr.. Clay contends that he
owes the highest allegiance of subject to the
Federal Government, and Mr. Rhettthlnks that
the first allegiance from citizen, is due to his
own State--the Federal Government being the
creature of the States, and not they the creatures
of the Union For this difference of opinion
among gentlemen, Mr.. Clay thinks that Mr. Rhett
and all who think with him, ought to be hung.
1t may be fortunate for Mr. Rhett that the Ken
lucky Senator's denunciutions begin and end
with the lips.
We have transferred this speech to our col
umns for reasons of the highest character; we
are not afraid to meet the raw-head-and- bloody
bones, DIsUNIoN, thce to face; and it is time that
the people had become more familiar with the
monster than politicians had want them to be
heretofore We yield to none in devotion 10
the Union ofour forcfathers-the constitutional
Union-the Union of co-equal sovereigntes.-
But this compact, like all things else beneath
the sun, may perish; it is pusilanmous idolatry
and superstition to believe otherwise. 1t is right
that we should meet and discuss the important
questions which involve the permanently OF the
compact Mr.. Rhett has done 80 ably and fear
ess Y, and we applaud him for it. If it was
serious question before the formation Of the
confederacy, which occupied the greatest minds
in all the Stat 81 whether it were best to form
the compact if that question was long discus
srd, and several of the States long hesitated be-
fore they would yield even part OF their sove-
rcgnty TO the central government, are we not II
pitable set of timd, wo-begone bipeds in these
DAVIS, to shrink from debating the question of
little gravity, whether it were best to preserve
Union which so fir from protecting all its
members equally, has become Il powerful lever
for the oppression Of a part of them! We shall
not de deferred by denunciation from any quar-
ter, high or low, from openly debating issue.
We hold that the true friends of the UNION are
those who would conne the exercise of power
by the Federal Government within the limits Of
tho Constitution. They who would give loose
| rcin to central power, are the enemies OF the
constitutional Union. They should be watched
with unceasing vigilance; for, it is thy who
will one day force The States, in self defence, to
scccde and defy central power.
| Entertaining these opinions, we commend the
speech Of Mr.. Rhett to the careful consideration
Of all thinking patriots. There are doubtless
| some views in it which all cannot reconcile
with their pre-conceived Judgments. This may
| be the result Of error, pre- udce or reason; but
the whole speech affords food for deep contcm-
plation.-.MSsissippian.