The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-20

recorded, and that NJ r. Livingston, who was the
Secretary OF State, was tho cabinet minister
chiefly consulted in its preparation. But it is
utterly untrue that Mr.. Livingston did more
than give form to sentiments carefully drawn by
the generals own hand, or by his private secre-
tary, or that the paper did not undergo the
usual cabinet revision and consultation before
| it was published The writer of this article
was that private secretary, and there is now in
the Senate one of the cabinet officers of Gen
eral Jackson, who took part in the consultations
on that paper, and who cannot have forgotten
that the careful attention which was given TO
every word of it whilst in state Of prepare
ton AT the last meeting of the cabinet on
this subject, several passages in the paper were
materially changed, in order that there might be
nothing in it, of either phraseology or sentiment,
at which exception would be taken, or which
could give rise to the impression, now 80 anx-
ously sought to be created, that it was docu-
ment which did not represent the opinions or
feelings of the President. The following is one
among other passages that can be enumerated
which was accepted as substitute for the
original paragraph on the same subject, To which
exception was taken by one Of the cabinet
"The people of the United States formed the
Constitution, acting through the State legisla-
lures in making the compact, to meet and dis
cuss its provisions, and acting in separate con-
ventions when they ratified those provisions; but
the terms used in its construction show il to be
a government in which the people of all the
States collectively are represented We are ONE
PEOPLE in the choice of the President and Vice
President. Here the States have no other agen-
cy than TO direct the mode in which the votes
shall be given. The candidates having the ma
jorty Of the votes chosen. The electors of
of majority of States may have given their
votes for one candidate, and yet another may be
chosen. The people, then, and not the States,
are represented in the executive branch"
This paragraph had the sanction Of the la
mented Woodbury., at whose instance it was
offered as substitute for the original, which he
deemed not quite guarded enough in the histor-
cal account it gave of the manner in which the
Constitution came in existence as compact be-
tween the States. Mr.. Woodbury. referred to
the language of Mr. Madison on this subject,
and thought it would be safer to adopt it than
any other general te ms which could be framed !;
and accordingly his suggestions prevailed, and
superseded other expressions which, though tam
tamount in substance, might have left room for
cavilers to nsinuate that there was desire to
evade. or weaken the authority of the great
statesman who had taken so prominant part in
the debates on the adoption of the Constitution,
and OF the Virginia resolutions of l798-'99.
Other passages could be pointed to in the pro-
clamaton which mark change of the original
draught, but it is deemed unnecessary to notice
them more particularly. We shall hereafter
recur 70 the subject, and demonstrate that the
explanations which afterwards appeared in the
Globe, and have been termed by some of the
Southern politicians recantations of the pro-
clamation, were intended by General Jackson to
, show that his opinions as expressed in that doc
ument were unaltered and unRlerable. We re-
member to have heard Mr.. Livingston often
a speak of the advantageous impressions he re-
2 ceived from the General when discussing will,
him the difficulties created by the ordinance OF
South Carolina, and the practical mode of coun.
teracting them by the constitutional action OF
The federal authority. He adverted to the
y scenes at New Orleans when he, as one of the
most prominent legal advisers of the General
:, felt overwhelmed by the declaration of martial
law, and was startled at the summary proceed
ngs which followed the resort to that extreme
# measure He declared that, until he read the
q ground, of defence prepared by the General him
self, he was not aware of the strength of his care
= and that there was not lawyer in the city oil
Is New Orleans who could have given the mastery
g exposition which the General gave without the
v aid of a single book. On that occasion, and in
more than reduce into form the substance of
the views hastily prepared by the General 1t
was the same with the proclamation, except
that the latter document had all the considera-
ton and reflection that were proper to secure it
the lights which could be supplied by consulta.
! ton with the most eminent statesmen and by the
most careful examination of our public records
and authorities
The Hon. Mr. Rhett has perhaps forgotten
, that Gen. Jackson was prominent politician in
1900, and understood perhaps quite MS we'll the
views of Jefferson and Madison as those who
now pretend to follow them when stirring up
the South to organized resistance against the
compromise. Gen. Jackson was The friend of
Mr. Jefferson in those days, came to the Senate
as State Rights Democrat, and never, by any
act or deed, sanctioned sentiment which he
deemed inconsistent with the original doctrines
of which Mr.. Jefferson became the honored
champion and expounder. 1t was in those days,
too, that he became acquainted with Mr.. Living
ston, and learned to appreciate the considerations
which entitled him, q distinguished jurist, to
the friendship and confidence of Mr.. Jefferson
The reproach of federalism, before it will tarn
3 ISL the memory of such man, must come from
a source that is less questionable than that which
proclaims disunivn the policy of the Southern half
of our oonfedcracy, and the Constitution a COM
pact which can be dissolved by any of our States,
whenever they choose, and for whatever cause
they may be pleased to assign for such an ex-
IRENE resort. If to oppose such violence be fed
eralism, then was Washington federalist and
= so were also Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, and
9 all our most eminent patriots and statesmen
v s4y~ We find this item of intelligence float
II ing among many of our exchanges:
y "Gen. Foote, on his way to Washington,
y passed through Montgomery, Ala, and, at the
i solicitation of many citizens, delivered speech
o in the representative chamber. correspondent
:, of the Tuscumbia Albanian, gives the follow
u ing outline of his remarks:
L He took decided ground against the reorgan-
i zation of old parties, or the observance of old
y party distinctions, and very pontedly enjoined
y nnon all Union men of both the Democrati tic and