The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-24

the eamo high motives that dictated the change
that gave W the present system, would dictat'
another
The InteAigsncsr notices the fact which l. im
portsnt, that South Carolina AZ we'll a. Virginia
presented on the very first day that business
was transacted in the Convention, plan Of 1
Federal Constitution. and that the South Caro-
lima (Mr. PlucKsEY's) plan contained substan
TALLY most Of the features and powers Of the
present Constitution. A State that was thus
the first to conceive this great system of gov.
ernment ought to be presumed to have as much
patriotism in preserving its purity as any other
State. South Carolina asks nothing but the
preservation of this Constlution--so much the
work of her own hands--in its purity.
A glance ut Mr.. PINckSEY's plan will evince
its striking resemblance to the present system,
even in detail. And the parts that do not re-
semble, arc quite as important as those which
do. Mr.. PINcxSEY proposed that representation
and taxation should be based on the whole popu-
lation, whites and blacks, and it was very absurd
for the South to surrender that principle. 1t
was also mistake for her to abandon another
proposition of Mr. PMokNEY, that all bills TO
regulate commerce should haus the vote of two
thirds of Congress.
As for the statement Of the Inielligencer That
Mr. PIscKSEy proposed that the Senate should
be elected by the House Of Representatives, us
that is made to produce the impression that
South Carolina was favorable to it, the editor
ought to have added that when it was put to
vote, every State voted against it, Delaware ex-
ceRted, which was divided 1t ought also to
have been stated t.,at Mr.. PmcksEY was in favor
Of electing the House of Representatives by the
State legislatures, and so voted which would
have rendered our Government still more fed
erative than it Is. As to the motion of Mr..
PMcKSEY to give to the national legislature
power to negative all State laws that 1t might
deem improper, it was negatived by the vote of
South Carolina as we'll as of every other State,
except Massachusetts,, Pennsylvania and Vir-
GINA.
But the InteHigencer comes to consider the
slavery compromise of the Constitution, and ac-
tually states it as a. concession, that the South
was accorded" representation for three-fifths
of her slaves whilst the North had an equivalent
provided in the assessment of direct taxes, ac-
cording to the ratio of representation: but that
the Northern States have not realized these con-
sideration, because direct taxes have been i'm
posed but for few years since the Constitution
was adopted. Now, the first proposition was
that representation should be based jointly on
the wealth and numbers of each State; and this
was adopted by vote of nine States, including
every slaueholding STATE, and WINS opposed by
two Northern States New York and New Jersey.
Afterwards by vote of Northern States chiefly,
IN vote to fix the ratio of representation, the
basis of free persons only, was adopted but
when the Convention came to taxation, it WAS
insisted that it should correspond with repre-
sentation-and then the North acceded to the
three-fifths compromise. Instead, however, of
profting by the subsequent REIMBURSEMENT Of
direct taxation, the South has to complain it was
not preserved-she has to complain that the re-
venue is obtained from duties that fall most
heavily on the producing and exporting States,
and she has to complain that in addition to that,
duties have generally been levied for the avowed
object Of protecting manufactures.
But the Intelligence, tells us that the Consti-
tuition was adopted, and for forty years South
Carolina did not exhibit "any change or shadow
of turning" from her loyalty" to it. South
Carolina even went for Mr.. JEFFERsoS's en-
barge, which the editor intimates was going too
far.
South Carolina sent TO the twelfth Congress
three persons of new race Of men,--CALHoUS,
CHEvEs,-and LOwNDEs all Of them great, patri-
of the Republican party during and after the war,
and was elevated to the cabinet by Mr.. MONROE,
and aspired to the Presidency, which the InteHi-
gencer "never doubted" he would ain due time"
have attained, had not the march of events been
anticipated by his eagerness. and by such acct
dents ms would have defeated the wiscst and best
laid plans which placed il finally beyond his
REACH
Here the key is given to the mystery of the
I" evil Of the day." And here the Lnteliigenccr
begins course of misrepresentation which is
rarely exceeded by the most unscrupulous prints
of the day.
In 1921 Mr. McDuFrIE came into Congress,
and in 1923, Mr. HAYKE and General HAMILTON
"The advent of these gentlemen in Congress
indicated the gro with of feeling in South Caro-
lima" for the first time of hostility TO the manu-
featuring interests Of the country as quasi ad-
| verse to the planting interest of the South: a
hostility to the tariff in word, and to all those
who were supposed to be benefited by it," "Up
to this time occasional complaints were heard
Of the inequalities or oppressivencss of duties
on imports from Southern men," :" but hostility
to the tariff had hardly then become as il was
afterwards attempted to make it an article OF
political faith" and of Opposition to the ad.
ministration," and eventually TO the execution