The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-01
From the Charleston Mercury.
Mr.. CaIhoun's Work ON Government.

The following extract is from letter of a
gentleman in the State of New York. addressed
to gentleman of this city who had transmitted
to him a copy of Mr.. Calhoun's Treatise on
Government and the Constitution Of the United
States. 1t is a very clear and striking criticism
on that remarkable book, and we have therefore
requested the privilege Of publishing il:
cannot refrain from troubling you with the
expression of the delight and Improvement
which have resulted to me from reading this
volume. The disquisition on government is a
most mastery essay, clearer, more original, more
conclusive and more truly philosophical, than
any thing Of the kind with which have, in my
limited reading met. There is no writer on
such subjects who would not have filed volumes
with the matter contained in this brief treatise.
So much in so little space, IL is nevertheless easy
reading from its perfect method, although the
hard thinking il begets in one after reading il is
no ordinary labor. II is the most philosophical
essay ofall, long or short, on whatever subject,
that have ever seen. ! wish il would consist
with the interest Of the family to issue this dis
QUESTION at some day or other, by itself, in
pamphlet form, at a cheap rate It is by no
means unsuited 10 be understood by the mass
in the North, and il would do great good against
the trash which they are constantly reading on
the subject OF government. His examination Of
the British government is evidently the first
sketch, never reviewed, for he overlooks entirely
the adoption there Of the executive, originally
independent, by the Legislature.
His commentaries on our own Constitution
are, in originality, truth, just differences, far
above any other commentaries, from the FEEDER.
alist down. never, until now, understood null
i6cation, nor by what process his logical mind
had arrived at that as a remedy. I not only
understand il now, but give il my adhesion
fully. ! understlnd, too, fully now, the posi-.
ton Of the South Carolina Senators against the
expedient Of the compromise. Il was a mere
expedient for temporary relief from quarrel
the quarrel was a wholesome one-and had The
South united, and Calhoun lived, they would
have not only provided for their own safety,
but in doing so, would have saved the Union
from its greatest and rapidly increasing danger
Capitalization. The opportunity is gone. And
unless the Abolitionists should increase rapidly
in numbers and influence, so as 10 drive the
South into united and unhnching action IN OBJ.
tain n reform in the Constitution, making Il
plainly the price Of their adherence to tho Union.
do not see how or when we can hope 10
obtain additional guarantees for State rights.
To attempt 10 make that the cry Of a party here
at the North, is useless the rising generation
hardly know that the republican party held that
doctrine. There is one other hope, that some
day, some great and popular man, like Andrew
Jackson, in respect to his will and his popular
strength, may get into power, and have eonvic-
lions strong enough, and honesty enough, to
use his strength TO diminish the power of the
government Of which he is himself head To
hope for this, is hoping against experienced"
REMARKs.-The writer Of the above has
studied Mr.. Calhoun's book with fine appre-
citation Of its merits; but in one particular II
does not seem to us that he has we'll considered
the conclusion he has expresscd,--that Mr.. CAL
houn must have written his comments on the
British constitution before the executive power
became absorbed by the Legislature II is certain
that Mr.. Calhoun wrote his book during the
last twelve years of bis life, and surely no such
radical change has taken place in the structure
Of The British government in that time. II Is
difficult indeed to trace any such change during
the present dynasty, or TO show that Queen
Victoria, with her minister, Sir Robert Peel, in
lS45, held position essentially different from
that OF George II, and his minister, Sir Robert
Walpole, century before.
The British executive has the absolute power
Of declaring war, and making peace; II com
mands The armies and navies Of the realm; il