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


recorded, and that Nj. Livingston, WHO was The
Secretary of State, was the 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 a 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 so anx.
iously sought to be created, that it was a 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 tor the
original paragraph on the same subject, to which
exception was taken by one of the cabinet:
1.-The people of the United States formed the
Constitution, acting through the State legisla-
lures in making the compact, to meet aud 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 10 direct the mode in which the votes
shall be given The candidates having the ma
; ority of the votes are chosen. The electors of
of majority OF States may have given their
votes Tor 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 Ia
mented Woodt ury, at whose instance it was
offered as substitute for the original, which he
deemed not quite guarded enough in the hStori-
cal account it gave of the manner in which the
} Constitution came in existence as a 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 ether general te ms which could be framed :;
and accordingly his suggestions prevailed, and
superseded other expressions which, though tan
tamount in substance, might have left roor, for
cavers to insnuate that there was desire to
evade or weaken the authority of the great
statesman who had taken so promnant part in
j,
and OF the Virginia resolutions of l79S-'99.
Other passages could be pointed to in the pro-
camation which mark Il change of the original
draught but il is deemed unnecessary to notice
them more particularly We shall hereafter
recur to the subject aud demonstrate that the
explanations which afterwards appeared in the
=. Gtobe, and have been termed by some of the
4 Southern politicians recantations of the pro-
clanation were intended by General Jackson to
show that his opinions as expressed in that doc
unent were unaltered and uHalrerable We re-
member to have heard Mr.. Livingston often
speak OF the advantageous impressions he re-.
ceived from the General when discussing with
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
scenes at New Orleans when he, az 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
ings which followed the resort 20 that extreme
measure. He declared that, until he read the
{. 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 of
New Orleans who could have given the mastery
exposition which the General gave without the
aid of a single book. On that OCCASION, and i'm
writing that defence, Dir. Livingston did no
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 consider.
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 a prominent politician In
1900, and understood perhaps quite ~ well 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
rs a 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. II was in those days
too, that he became acquainted with Hr. Living.
ston and learned 10 appreciate the consider atoms
which entitled him, NJ n distinguished iurs,, o.
the friendship and confidence Of Mr. J.fiersOn
! The reproach Of federalism, before it will tafn
J ISL the memory OF such a man, must come from
/ a soutce that Is less questionable than that which
proclams disunivn the policy Of the Southern half
Of our confedcracy. snd the Constitution. a com
pact which can be dissolved by any Of our s ates
whenever they choose, and for whatever cause
they may be pleased 10 assign for such an ex.
IRENE resort Ito oppose such violence be fed.
( eraIi.m, then was Washington n fpderalist. and
40 were also Jefferson, Madison, dickson. and
all our most Gua.nen; patriots and statesmen.
~ We find this item Of intelligence float.
ing among many Of our exchanges:
"Gen. Foote on his way to Washington,
! passed through Montgomery, Ala, and, at the
! solicitation Of many citizens, delivered speech
/ in the representative chamber. A correspondent
Of the Tuscumtia Albanian, gives the follow.
ing outline of his remark:
He took decided ground against the reorgan.
( izatiCn of old parties, or the observance OF old
party distinctions and very pointedly enjoined
upon all Union men Of both the Democratic and
A.