Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-26
THE "NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER,
ON MIR. CALHOUN

The IrtelHgencer of the odd instant, accompa-
MES the republication Of letter of John c. Cal
houn with the following remarks:
1--WE copy from the Charleston Mercury of the
18th instant the subioined letter. There are
many of those who esteemed Mr. Calhoun in life
and respect his memory in death who will regret
that this letter has been published; but having
been given TO the public have no right to with
hold it from readers. If contribute nothing
to the fame of the distinguished writer as an
american statesman, in the bread and high sgni-
hcance of the term, IL TiH contribute something 10
right understanding Of the influences chich formed
and directed sectional sentiment in the South and
iohich by refer hare done much 10 shape IL in the
North. We do not feel free, under the circum-
stances, to indulge in any remark on what we
might deem the exceptionable spirit and doctrines
Of this posthumous letter, and can only express
our regret at the idiosyncrasies of great intel
whole country had il preserved the noble and
philanthropic direction which il received in its
outset in the Madisonan era"
We italicise few words Of the above extract,
we design making them the subject Of some
comments
The longer we live the more are wo convinced
that the great Carolina statesman comprehended
more accurately than any Of his contemporaries
the true theory Of our government and that the
zeal he manifested Gin season and out Of season y
in the vindication Of what are improperly denom-
mated Southern rights, resulted not from sec
tionalism but from reverence for the Constlu-
ton We have said that southern rights
(Which gives a sectional cast is an improper
term or definition. "State-rights" is the proper
phrase. No State has a right that the other
States do no equally enjoy No section possesses
right that is not common TO all sections But
inasmuch as southern men choose 10 have and to
hold slave property, and inasmuch as this pro-
perty is assailed and sought to be destroyed by
northern fanatics, the right by which the property
is held is called Southern right"
But TO come to the more practical issue pre-
scented by the InteHigenco. That journal, either
from Just aversion to controversy, from a dis
like Of strong and offensive language, or from
some other cause, has fallen into the habit of so
family and vaguely ntimating its opinions, that
oftentmes none but the most attentive readers
viii discern its true intent and purpose. And
even when discovered, the language employed is
SO delicate as to disarm resentment and give TO a
reply the appearance Of an unauthorized attack
Such is the case with the language in question
Yet il is due to the memory Of the ilIustrious
Calhoun, it is due to those who hold the tenets
he battled for, and il il due to the South, TO de-
fend him, them, and IT, from the yelled sarcasm
of the Inteliigsnctr
If the language employed by the Tnieiigcncer,
and which we have italcised, means any thing,
il means the charge that sectional sentiment first
sprdng up in ne South, under he leadership Of Mr..
Calhoun, and then By "rstler" arose in The North
The history Of tho rise Of sectional strife is ex-
actly the reverse, or VIC are more mistaken than
we ever were in our lives. What is Abolitonism;
what Freososm; but sectional things; Where
did they spring up Not in the South, certainly.
All will allow that they had their origin in the
North.
What did they PROPOSE To disturb the right
Of the people Of the slave States TO their property
and to invoke, what was never contemplated by
the founders Of our government, the aid Of the
Federal Government TO abolish slavery where ii