The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-03

IL
certain process.
Always on the side OF liberty and djustice, the
South Carolina statesman was sleeplessly vigi-
liant in detecting the insidious advances of pow
er, and confirming the Genital authority Within its
Strictly constitutional orbit. Aware Of the CEN
t.ipctal tendency of all political associations,
under federal head, ,,hc labored so unceasing
ly 90 maintain the Uuion, by preserving the in
tegrity OF It's members, Us to subject himself,
among the latitudinarians, to the imputation of
Southern prediction. Duty and patriotism
alike impeled him to the adoption OF this course.
The Congress, at an early period OF our his
tory. had not only exercised ungranted powers,
but had applied them to the promotion of sec
tional purposes, first by openly piundering
through the forms of law-the property of Que
half Of the States for the benefit of the other
half but more recently by other MEANS which
threatened the extinction of their Independence
and sovereignty. To compel submission to its
edicts, tho authority Of the executive had been
unwarrantably enlarged. Prior, indeed, to that
despotic cnactment-the Force Bill-the Pres
ident of the United States had announced his
solemn resolution that, should resistance by q
State to any measure of the Genera! Govern
mert be attempted, he would suppress it with
the entire military force Of, the country. In
fine, separately and unitedly, the Executive and
Legislative departments had each avowed and
assumed the right of determining the extent Of
its own powers, and thereby repudiating any
title in the States to- enforce the restrictions
they had originally imposed on the several fidu.
ciaries OF the Federal Compact
In opposing, or every occasion, with all the
strength Of his gigantic intellect, these bold
and reckless attempts to convert Republic
Of checks and balances ia!o Democracy,
governed by the will of an interested aud ir-
responsible majority, the pen OF the euloSlst Is
alone furnished Will. abundant matter tc exhi5-
il. in is true light, Mr. Calhoun's reverence for
the nohie beqrsst OF our fathers, and bis deep
devotion to the principles Of constitutional lib.
erty. His elaborate exposition OF the prominent
doctrine of the State Rights school; that the
Union OF 80 was Union OF States, and not
ofirdividaa!s; sEd as. eli unavoidable deduction,
that Gin cases Of deliberate and dangerous III.
fractions OF the Constitution, the States, AS par
ties 10 the compact, have the right ard are in
duty bound, TO intorposc to arrest the progress
Of the evil, aud to manltaiffwitGr their rcspec-
tive limits the authorities, rights and Liberties
apptrtaining to the!a;;" is unsurpassed for clear
ness of conception, logical reasoning, and
sound conclusion, BY any. intellectual effort Of
ancient or modern days. Ii the important
truths it embodies be disregarded by the Amcr-
can people, it is not difficult to predict that,
at no distant day, the bond which unites their
respective sovereignties will be severed forever.
Had ,Mr. Calhoun been party zealot, he
probably would have been elevated to the post
of Chief Magistrate. tits certain that, at one
time, the road of ambition was open before him,
but he "chose to tread the rugged path Of duty"
For quarter ofa century the acknowledged
leader Of I'll. State Rights party he labored
assiduously,, by precept and example, to detect
and establish its landmarks. Keeping stead.
ly in view the great ends of his system, posi-
hiy OF their immediate or prospective attain
ment, depending on the comparative difficulty
Of the circumstances under which he wss called
to act, was nevertheless an aim, in his judge
I,,agnt, to be constantly kept III view. For this
reason he would, at times, in his Senatorial
capacity, assal the measures of his own polit
ical friends, and by cooperating with their oppo
nents, render himself liable to the charge of In
consistency, ifnot dctelection Of duty, while in
reality he was only maintaining his own indepen-
deuce and consistency. These occasions in
volved generally considerations affecting d.
recty or incidentally, the relative powers Of
the Federal and State Governments.
Our faithful sentinel died at his post. his mind
dwelling to the latest moment on the mighty
topic which bad for many years engrossed Lis
undivided attention. He had long seen the
dangers the domestic institutions Of the South
would have to encounter, unless averted by the
influence of wise and patriotic coursels. His
last speech so @bly portrayed the peril of our
institutions, and the causes which had produced
it, that had it pleased Providence to given him
the hour lie seemed so anxious to possess, an.
other successful INVASION OF the guarantees Of
Consultation, unless truth proved powerless on
the occasion, would not have resulted from
the federal action. His potential veice, alas,
viii never again be heard! The record Of his
opinions and acts constitute bis legacy to his
countrgmsn. BY scruprlousiy avoiding IT,"
guidance ola lcvelling philosophy, and crushing
in embryo the delusion and unIratcrnal meas
ures which ;he spirit of ., turbulent and restless
age has endangered, We shall be following the
example Of him whose Whole lie was a contin-
uous effort to adapt his intellectual energies to