Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-07-29
From the Republic.


There are certain expressions in the
extract quoted below, which are certainly not
less lust in themselves than prophetic OF the
events which have occurred since the period OF
its delivery.
We trust thatthe hypothetical overthrow of the
Constitution may not be realized. We trust "the
Constitution" may ever remain Gas it is" we
agree that "to this Constitution we must ''attr-
butte the glorious distinction we possess as the
happiest and freest people in the world" and we
trus that the patriotic prediction, that whenever
any party has fairly developed designs hostile to
the integrity of the Constitution they will be over
thrown" may be realized.
If, however, any darker conspiraces should De
successful, we shall, as people, testify that ours
like "every free government the sun mas ever
shone on, will have been overthrown In the
names of liberty and the people" From no other
source can human opposition treaten us with lnJu-
| ry. a
Extract from speech delivered by Mr. RHETT, OF
| South Carolina, in the House of Representatives,
July 1912.
"But to make the will of all the law-by consdtu-
onal arrangements protect the weak, and enable the
weak as we'll the strong to rule themselves, aud
thus the blessings Of liberty and tree govern
ment 10 athat is the mighty problem which has puz-
zed the statesmen and patriots OF all ages, and which
has, at last been soawonderuly solved In our Constr
tuition. This Constitution the result OF long traia
Ut events-of peculiar times and circumstances and
wisdom and virtue quickened by the ntensest thought
| and matured by the sternest trials. Gentlemen may
succeed in overlhrowng -or there is no blessing man
| is not capable of despsng and abusng-but let them
not indulge the vain hope that when overthrowu hev
can re-esabsh it, Centuries rolled over before the
birth OF this Constitutions and may take as many more
to find people either capable OF approaching or ad-
mnisterng such Constitution. Once tallen like the
decayed cities OF the old world standing amidst runs
and deserts, it will be fallen forever. Ii the Union
were dissolved tomorrow, it could not be re united
Aware ofthe difficulty OF establishing the Constitution
and its completeness, when honestly administered, to
accomplish the great objects for which it was created
| the people of the United States have ever frowned
upon all attempts TO alter abolish any OF its essen
tal features. Whenever any party has fairly devel-
oped designs hostile to its integrity, they have been
| overthrown. To what but this Constitution must
attribute the glorious distinction we possess as the
happest and freest people in the world! and what are
all our troubles and contentious with each other,
but provdential rebukes for departing tom its
wise and Just provisional Sir, go for the Constiu
ton as it is. l want change in its provisions,
but there to be any change, want those changes
be in favor of pupular liberty Instead OF strength
ening the legislative power from which all usupations
on the Constitution have originated, and which now
threaten to overthrow t-le the legislative power be
still further restrained by limitations ore clearly de
fned let the veto principle on which the Constitution
is built be enlarged in order that great maortes-an
increased number of wills-may be required to make
laws for the people, and thus nearer approach may be
made to the naked theory of free Democratic Govern
ment--that every shall rule himself detes the
dominion Of one mana king. detest more the do
minon of many, because moie hearess and lrrespon-
sble abut above ALL fear and loahe and despise more
than fear the dark fahess, remorseless tyranny oil
caucus maJory-rst the tools and then the victims OF
the bloody despotsm OF bold, bad man, who uses
the high aspirations OF the people tor liberty to over
throw the Constitution of his country, and lift himself
its ruins Sir, republics are proverbiaily short lived
They aim at higher standard OF equity In government,
and require, therefore, higher staudered OF virtue to
administer hem and being open to the aspirations and
ambition OF al they must necessarily be liable to more
frequent and desperate contests Tor power and darker
conspracies against their integrity; and let never for
get the sad lesson all history teaches that every free
government the has shone upon has been
thrown in the names of liberty and the people"
Some of those who will read with some aston.
ishnent the fervent admiration of the American
Constitution, and his eloquent depreciation of its
overthrow, will attempt perhaps to modify the
inconsistency of Mr.. Rhett's position, by say
ing that he went for the "Consttution as it
was.''
In what has it been changed since l842? He
was then living under the tariff of 1910. that of
1912 was pending before Congress. The tariff
OF 1912 has been modified by the tariff of 1916, for
which Mr.. Rhett voted.
Then it could not have been that the repeal of
Wing tariff, and the subsequent adoption of a
Democratic tariff, varied the Constitution for the
worse in the esteem of Mr. Rhett. If in 1912
he glorihed the "Union it isl it could not have
been less dear to him when the Democratic tariff
of 1916 had still further modified one ofthe fea-
| lures so Objectionable to him. 1t cannot, then,
| have been the expressions of the tariff which
render the Union, in the eyes Of Mr.. Rhett, as
detestabe now as it was admirable then. Per-
ceving nothing in the condition of the revenue |
| laws which renders the Union less valuable than
in 1872 directors will turn perhaps, to the change
in the relations between the North and South, by
the relative acquisitions of power of these two
| sections.
| The first acquisition of territory was southern
measure. The annexation of Texas was confess
eddy an object dearest to the heart of Mr.. Tyler,
| and of the deceased statesmen who held the first
office in his Cabinet.
| The success of this measure certainly did not
make the Constitution other than it was in 1912,
| in the estimation of Mr.. Rhett. The elevation of
| the Democratic party, aided by the vote, we be-
lieve, of Mr.. Rhett himself, gave the control of
our foreign policy to Democratic Executive
war with Mexico gave us extensive possessions
upon the Pacific.
| We believe the Senators from South Carolina
voted for the treaty of peace and purchase which
was made with Mexico. So far there was them
no change in the Constitution; it was but what it
had been, or, if modified at all, underwent those
notifications with the vote of the South Car DINA
Senators, and not, therefore, in their estima
| ton, unconstitutional.
But when a new country thus acquired had
been thrown open to the emigration of the whole
American people, North and South, and where it
has resulted as was evident to all it must result
in throwing intothe new territory larger number
of persons from the free States, having popula-
ton of three million five hundred thousand free
white persons, than from lie slaveholding States,
having population of six million five hundred
thousand, VINO can be surprised that this Southern
and Democratic policy of annexation, conquest,
and purchase, has resulted as was alike obvious
and inevitable, in the addition of more free states
to the Union.
Then we submit that those who sanctioned the