The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1902-05-16

The settlers on the Mississippi river
Ind its tributaries, prior to the Louis
ana purchase, were greatly harrassed
and vexed in getting
The their products to mar
Louisiana ket, by reason of the
Purchase. oppressive restrictions
imposed by the Span
iards, who then controlled its outlet.
In a remonstrance presented by them
TO congress regarding their troubles,
they declared, eff congress refuses us
effectual protection, if it forsakes us,
we will adopt the measures which our
safety requires, even if they endanger
the peace Of the Union and our cOnnec-
tion with the other states. No prOtec-
tion, no allegiance"
1t will be seen from what 1 have said
that the right of state to secede had
been advocated openly by those Of the
North, as we'll as
Clash those Of the South,
of the from the very foun-
Two Theories, dation of the Union.
In the beginning, the
proposition that the constitution was
but compact between the states from
which they might withdraw whenever
in their Judgment their interests made
it proper that they should do so, was in
no sense sectional, Later on, the doc
trine was advanced that the effect o1
the constitution was to bind the states
together in an indissoluble union, and
thereby create a nation which was dom
inant and supreme. The ablest men il
public life arrayed themselves on the
respective sides of this proposition
Calhoun on the one hand, and Webster
on the other, may be accepted as the
greatest champions of the opposing the
ories. They were we'll matched in in
tellectual stature. nobility of character
and patriotic devotion to public duty
1t is notable exemplifcation of the
subtle and mysterious processes of th'
human mind, that these great mon
moved by equal desire to find the truth
should have reached conclusions utterly
incapable Of of reconcilement, as wa
subsequently shown, when the test o
supremacy was finally made. That th'
difference between them was the off
spring of honest thought, and not th'
mere result of that forensic or intellect
ual rivalry which sometimes plays 81
large part in forming the opinions o
men, find abundant proof in the fac
that each of them had openly'and frank
ly reversed 2ssts. Judgment with regard
to another great public question which
still abides with us, In his early caree
Calhoun had believed in and adv ocateC
the doctrine of the protective tariff, bu
some years later, became a great cham
pion of the contrary theory. Webste,
began by avowing his belief in the fal
lacy of the protective tariff, and ended
by becoming one of its ableSt advocates
The change Of conviction on this grea
question in the minds of these states
men was no doubt insensibly occasiOnet
by their commercial and industrial en-
vironments; and it may be that the
same environments. accentuated by the
difference in social conditions between
the North and the South, also played
their part in forming their judgments
with regard to the correct interpreta-
tion of the constitution of the United
States. These majestic gladiators sup
piled the arguments which were re
peated by their adherents, and that witt
increasing earnestness, in the forum, il
the halls of congress, through the press
and later on, Ottentimes in the pulpit
Though political rivals, they were per
sonal friends, and in his obituary ad
dress upon the death Of Mr., Calhoun
Mr. Webster said Of him: There was
nothing groveling, or low. or meanly
selfish that came near the head OF tht
heart of Mr.. Calhoun"
The discussion was regarded as a le
gitimate struggle by the opposine
forces to secure the acceptance of the
theory Of constitu-
lrrepressibIe tional Interpretation
Conflict for which they re
Looms Up. spectively contended
But thoughtful mer
all along perceived that if both sides
persisted, if neither would yield, if nj
middle ground could be found upor
which both could stand, the time would
surely come when the strife for mas
terry would find it's settlement in anoth