The southern press., 1851-03-31

erly and o6scurity. While he, who bows to its
mandate secures TO himself the h0nors Of the
State, becomes rich, distinguished, and power
full"
Tho principle of rewarding political partizan-
shipby public Office he had branded,as tending to
convert the entire body Of those In office, into
corrupt and supple instruments OF power, and 10
raise up host of hungry, greedy, and subserv-
lent partizans, ready for every service, however
base. "Were IA premium offered" he says, "for
the best means Of extending to the utmost the
power of patronage, to destroy the love OF coun-
try, and to substitute a spirit OF snbserviency
aud man worship; to encourage vice, and to dis
courage virtue; in word, to prepare for the
subvers0n of liberty, und the establishment OF
despotsm, no scheme more perfect could be de-
yised."
"This enemy, long working in our system, and
now brought into mn alarming prominence, was
exposed by MIR. Calhoun, in debate, in the
Senate, soon after his entry to it. He says in
1887, "Several years ago, in discussion with
one of the Senators Of Massachusetts, before
this fell doctrine had showed itself, then pre-
dicted that the doctrine Of the proclamation and
force bill-that the government had right, in
the last resort, to determine the extent OF its
bayonet--which was so warmly maintained by
that Senator--would, at no distant day, arouse
the dormant spirit of abolitionism. told him,
the doctrine was tantamount to the assumption
of unlimited fo,oer, on The part Of The government,
and that such would be the impression on the
public mind, in large portion of the Union.
The consequence would be inevitable. A large
portion of the Northern States believed slavery
to be sin, and would believe it to be an obi
gation of conscience to abolish it, if they should
feel themselves, in any degree, responsible for
its continuance, and that his doctrine would
lead, necessarily, to the belief of such respon-
sibility / then predicted that it would COM
mence, as it has, with this fanatical portion OF
society and that they would begin their opera
tons on the ignorant, the weak, the young and
thoughtless, and would gradually extend up
ward, till they became strong enough to Obtan
political control, when he, and others, holding
the highest stations of society, would, however
reluctant be compelled to yield their doctrine,
or be driven into obscurity"
"1his insight into the consequences Of an
overturn of the sovereignty of the States, and
the erection of consolidated empire on their
ruins, throws additional interest about the loyal
and untring efforts of Mr.. Calhoun, to maintain
the federal government within the strict limits
of the Constitution.
In the preservation, in ali their fullncss, Of the
rights of the States, are involved the rights and
liberties of the people--securty at home
honor and dignity abroad. Standing, as We
have been, and are, on the brink of an intestine
commotion, produced by this agitation, we look
back with melancholy satisfaction upon this
patriotic statesman, while in the Senate, under
the frown of power, nearly alone, unsupported
aud discouraged by the Southern States, his
own State threatened by the strong arm Of the
government, losing all sense of his isolated po-
stion, while he delivers these solemn, and most
oracular admonitions to those States: "We
have now sufficient experience, to ascertain that
the tendency to conflict, in the action of the fed
eral government, is between Southern and
other sections. the latter, having decided
majority, must be habtually possessed of the
powers of government, both in this and the 9th
er house; and being governed by that instructive
love of power, so natural to the human breast,
they must become the advocates of the power
of the government, and in the same degree OPP
posed to the limitations. One section is the
natural guardian of the delegated powers, and
the other, of the reserved and the struggle on
the side of the former, will be to enlarge the
powers, while that on the opposite side will be
to restrain them within their constitutional lin
it's The contest will be, a contest between
power and liberty. A contest, in which the
weaker section, with its peculiar labor, produc
tons, and institutions, has Mt stake all that can
be dear to freemen. Should we be able to
maintain, in full vigor, our reserved rights, lib
erty and prosperity will be our portion; but, if
we yield, and permit the stronger interest to
concentrate all the powers of the government
then will our fate be more wretched than
that ofthe Aborigines, whom We have expelled"
Mr. Calhouns estimate Of the value Of the
position of the Southern States reflects his
character. The prizes for which his ambition
contended, were not place, power, wealth. His
ambition for the Southern people was, that they
should rear an elevated character worthy of the
renown of their ancestry. "Nor do ] repine.
that the duty so difficult to be discharged" he
says, as the defence of the reserved powers
against such fearful odds has been assigned to
me. To discharge successfully this high duty,
requires the highest qualities, moral and intel
lectual and should we perform it, with zeal
and ability in proportion to its magnitude, in
stead of being mere planters, our section will
become distinguished for its patriots and states
men. But, on the other hand, if we prove un-
worthy of their destiny-if we yield to the
steady cncroachment of power-the severest
calamity, and most debasing corruption, will
overspread the land"
1t is not my purpose to follow the abolition
agitation, from its obscure origin, in Boston,
where its authors could hardly escape from the
violence of mob, through its abuse of the
mails with incendary publications. and its ap-
peas to Congress with its seditious petitions I;
to the abandonment, by Northern States, under
its influence, of their constitutional obligations
to the Southern; its opposition to the annexation
of Texas; the unconstitutional prohibition of
slavery in Oregon: to its final control over the
deliberations of Congress.
Mr.. Calhoun, from its first appearance, until
his death, was the constant, fearless, u dis
mayed intrepid hero, who confronted it when
ever it appeared. The solemn rebukes, the
earnest admonitions, the stern expostulations
and remonstrances, the indignant scorn, and the
unanswerabe arguments which were employed
by him, to form barriers against its encroach-
ments, are fresh in the memories of ALL For
the last fifteen years he has been the chosen
champion Of the Southern people, against this
most malignant and inveterate enemy OF our
peace In the Senate with lofty men erect