The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-21
A Chapter Of Hjstorv.

To the Editor of the Press
The reference of Mr.. Blaine to the history or
tne pernlclous disorganizing doctrine of State
Rights in his speech made at City Hall and his
proofs that the Southern wing of the Democrat
ic party was pledged to it as much as in CAL
houn's day, was very interesting to me- Well
do remember the excitement in 1888 by the
course of South Carolina in armine, and CAL
nouns nulliHcation and reasonable doctrines
expressed fally in the u s. Senate. The whole
country was agtated as by q volcano, East.
West, North and South; and there was every
Indication of a dissolution of the Union. Good
men of all parties North, were in great fear as
the result of this agitation. But Gen. Jackson
was sufficient foz this great emergency. Bot
for his Roman frmness the country then would
have been plunged into civil war.
When the compromise was introduced into
Congress, Mr.. Letcher of Kentucky, approached
the President upon the question. Gen. Jack
son replied, he would have no negotiation upon
this matter, and would firmly execute the
laws. Report says, but not history, tha, he
would arrest John G. Calhoun, 'and BY the
Eternal, hang him as high as Hamsn." Ger
tainly it was understood by this conversation
that he would arrest Calhoun and have him
tried for Observation-Disclosures the bellger.
ant attitude of South Caroina, and had Calhoun
been convicted there would have been no leni-
ency exercised towards him, no pardon from
the Executive, but he would have been made
just example for all time to traitors The friends
OF Calhoun were alarmed and decided that he
must at once be advised of his great peril. Mr..
nnfr o.,
er to report his conversation with the Presi
dent to Mr.. Calhoun, which he did at once find
ing him at his room in bed
Calhoun was greatly agitated, trembling like
leaf when apprised of his great danger.
The result Of this was the compromise; every
nullifier in the Senate voting for the same,
Calhoun hesitated, and objected, delaying AZ
much as possible-but when he found he could
not change this measure, in the least, he voted
for it.
Modification and State Rights were defeated
in this great battle-many good men did not
approve oil the compromise and Webster and
Benton did not vote for it. Gen. jackson &C
cepted it rather than push matters to the ex-
treme.
we'll recOllect the soothing influence which
the passage of this measure had upon the
country. But John @. Calhoun and his nulli-
fcation friends the advocates of State Rights.
were made to feel and believe that the United
States was not confederation but a great
nat on and able to deal with traitors aud, able
to call the aiders and abettoFs OF the same to
an accounti
State Rights and Modification plugged the
country in 1861 into civil war.
Every battle fought was by the government
for the existence of the nation on one side, AID
by State Rights and Modification on the other
side for the destruction of the nation.
The government won this great contest and
| the victory was sealed with the blood Of half .
million of men. Tho government was leDient
TO these traitors restoring them to their rights
and privileges as they enjoyed them before the
war III the nation they would have DESTROYED.
With ingrsttude these men come forward
again at the ballot box to make their perni-
cous and destructive doctrine of State Rights
predominant in this country. Thrice have
| they been defeated once, in the Legislative
halls, and last BY an appeal To the sword.
What are their doctriues? That TINS govern
| ment is only Confederation" and If only q
| confederation then "a rope of sand" a. Tbom.
| as II. Benton called it,-esch state with the
ability to secedo upon the the most trivial pre-
text, each county having the same rights and
| each city and town likewise. Jackson aud
| Benton said we are nation indivisible, aud
| Abraham Lincoln and the Republican party
i said so. Aud shall any Republican in this
Centsn nnial year, by his vote, say that the
| United States is not nation?
| If by his vote at the September election be
| aid Indirectly the election OF q Democrat from
| this Congressional district, although he may
| be good man, will he not do what he can for
| the advance of those pernicous doctrines Of
| State Rights which the South are unwilling to
| yield?
The evidence given by Mr.. Blaine cannot be
| refuted in regard to this matter. This question
| is not to be trfled with. Let the Republican
| voters in this Congressional district, in this
| state, in this county meet this foe to the ma
| ton aud achieve a victory that for all coming
| time shall be conclusive and permanent with
no more appeal to the ballot or the sword.
PORTLAND, Aug. 10, 1876. Fl.