The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-23

"a To National Lntsuigencer is again out on
South Carolina, ia an editorial Of seven columns
In length. 1t is clear that it has serious appre-
tensions Of this little State: and thinks it q
very eommeudable service to misrepreseut, dis
passgs. and defams her. Not for the purpose
efdsfsndirg this State, (whoss people are quits
competent 70 defend themselves on any arsna,)
but for the sake Of truth--ths truth Of history
I'VE propose again to follow the Intsuigencer
10 few Of it, misrepresentation.
1t has not given fair, certainly not full
account Of the defects Of the articles Of the
Confederation, which occasionsd the convention
to meet which formed the present Constitution
Of the United Stltes. But this IL matter be-
aide the real object of the Inielligencer, which
il to disparage South Carolina, and truce out
her disuaionism." Whatever wore the defects
in the articles Of Confederation which bound
her to her sister States, the Inteligencer admits
that in the convention which formed the present
Constitution Of the United States, she not only
co-operated, but zealously sustained the main
features Of the Constitution" II goes further,
and justly says Of Mr.. CHARLES PNcksEy's
4plan OF Federal Constitution" that it con-
tained substantially most of those features,
and especially most of those powers, to be dele
gated to Congress, which are comprised within
the Consultation Of the United States as it now
stands" South Carolina, therefore, did her part
in those eyentful days. But strange to say, her
great services in establishing the present Con-
stitution of the United States, are brought for
ward not to credit, but to discredit her. ain
iadividualizing the State Of South Carolina"
says the Iatelligencer, @as we have heretofore
intimated, we do so because of her being
though among the foremost in the construction
Of the Government Of the Unon--the first to
snlist in scheme for is disruption"
Now, If South Carolina, although foremost
In the construction of the Government Of the
Union, has been the first to enlist in the scheme
for its disruption, must there not have been
some cause for this decisive change in her policy
No people. without any cause, have ever en-
deavored to overthrowa government which they
have produced and made to suit their own
views, for the preservation of their liberties
Not only did South Carolina aid essentially in
making the Constitution as il is, but it Is mat
ter Of history that she zealously sustained Gen.
WAsHIsoros's Administration throughout its
whole course. Thus she stood by the Constitu-
ton In theory, and the Constitution in practice,
for at least eight years after it went into opera
ton. Yet in spite of such proofs of her attach
ment to the Constitution, she so essentially
contributed to make and establish, the Iutelli-
gencer affirms that she was the first to enlist
in scheme for the disruption of the Union she
created"
"South Carolina the first to enlist in scheme
for the disruption of the Union!w The Incl
ligencer has most convenient memory, or it has
no memory at oil. Certainly such an affirma-
ton shows it to be totally unfit to sit in judg-
ment on any State, or to discuss the relations of
the States at all towards the Federal Govern
ment Why, did it never hear of the days of
the alien and sedition laws? Did it never hear
of the Hartford Convention Had South Caro-
lima anything to do in the schemes for the dis
ruption of the Union at these two great eras
of danger and CONFUSION! What STATES were
those which moved against the alien and sed-
ton laws! Virginia and Kentucky. What
State was it which nullfed the sedition laws by
a law yet on her statute book? Virginia. Who
IL 80 ignorant as not to know, that if the first
ADAMS had been reelected, and thus practically
have given the assurance by his election, that
those odous and unconstitutional laws would
have remained the policy of the Federal Govern
ment, that the Union would have been dissolved,
or the Constitution changed by new guarantees
Kentucky declared in her resolutions, drawn up
BY the pen Of Mr.. JEFFERSON
@That it (the legisIature) does also believe
that to take from the States all the powers of
self-government and transfer them to general
and consolidated government, without regard to
the special delegations and reservations sol
EMMY agreed to in that compact (the Constitu
tion,) Is not for the peace, happiness, or pros
perity Of these States; and that, therefore, this
commonwealth is determined, ms it doubts not
Its CO. States are, moi tan,ely 10 submit to undele
gated, and consequently unlimited powers, in no
man or body IF men on earth"
The declaration of Virginia, in her resolutions,
was hardly less determined:n
The general assembly doth soemnly appeal
to the like dispositions in the other States, in
confidence that they will concur with this CON-
monwealth in declaring, that the acts aforesaid
are unconstitutional, and that the necessary and
proper measures will be taken by such, for CO.
operating with this State in maintaining unim-
paired the aufhorities, rights, and iiberhes re-
served TO The States respectively or to the people,
Here cooperation Of the States, is dis
tinctIy looked to, AS means of maintaining their
reserved rights, against the encroachments Of the
Federal Government A Southern Congress is
by no means new idea, although the National
InielIigencer seems to look upon it with such
sanity horror. Nor are it's views Of the dan
gerous tendency of the doctrines of the republic
can party, as laid down in the Virginia and Ken
lucky resolutions--replete with much novelty.
Old fadornl Nfasaac huaetta in reuvinO IN thosa