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n the preceding even’ng, I had parted fine
m v new *t m?- a hea.iiifiil ’m'ruing
(«•»■» su-i ' q f | r ! :p>< in nli ho splendour of a tr*»
ptca’ »dinmj and as I moved on through the «r
le ' !re.°s, methought the fair fare of nature;
had neve? looked s • beautiful; not a sound v. ns
he ’ r d -nve the s'-lemn neal nf matin bell, or
the rustling the silk mantilla of sOmo fair
beatn, us she glid'd oast me »o po r forth her
morning orisons at the shrine of her patron
paint lat him L reached the palace square,
and observed mv American friend slow Iv pa
ring the esplanade of the chui‘<'h of Mt. Maria
De we' tali and bonv; his bine frock and ample
white trowsers kune about him with republican
rw glignnce of manner; he wore Ins shirt collar
open: and his long matted dark haw was sha
dowed hv a bread brimmed hat of Chilian straw,
white, in comparison -o the sallow hue of his
complexion; his roontenanrr I ran never for
pee. it wore nut the open frankness and gallant
bearing of the soldier, but t ; cf-e was an exnre--
sion of enthusiasm, nf a cool, determined fast. I
a stern iutrepidr v; and, a- he stretched out nisi
hand to wel orne me, and fixed Ins large black ,
eves on me with a concerned gaze that seemed j
to read rnv thoughts. it struck me that I beheld i
the verv beau ideal of a duelist.
AVe moved on, each of ns wrapped up in his |
own med iations, when, on clearing the city,!
he at length broke the silence that had prevail- '
ed. by asking me if I had ever been out before? i
On my answering the question in a negative, ■
“I supposed as much,” he continued. “ \ts
your age one has seldom drawn a trigger, buti
on a hare or patridge; remember therefore, to
follow implicitly the instructions I shall grvg'
v u in placing von on the ground; and t ;kc this
Ci rar.” he added, handing me one from his
case :“it is a powerful stimulant, and quickens
the circulation of the blood.”
We had bv this lime reached the field of ac
tion, and discovered mv adversary his second,
and a medical attendant, smoking their cigars
beneath the shade of a cluster of cocoa-nut
trees, that stood in loneliness in the middle of
the vallev. They arose on our approach, sa
luted tne ster Iy, and interchanged friendly
greetings with mv companion. “You will, of
course.”observed my adversary’s friend, “have
no objection to sixteen paces.”—“ As the chal
lenged party, we have the right of choosing
our own distance,” rejoined mv second; “say,
therefore, twelve paces, instead of sixteen,
and the firing down.'’ “ Twelve paces,” I
repeated to myself; “can he be playing me
faise?” But I did him injustice, for to this ar
rangement I owe, to all human certainty, my
life
The ground was rnea ß t:red, mv second pla
ced me with my back to the sun—a disposi
tion that brought ins rays right on mv oppo
nent's line of sight. The seconds retired to
load. The ramming down of she balls grated
with pot teutons effect upon my ear. Ail be
ing rc idv, my second, taking a handkerchief
from his pocket, hound one end of it tightly
round mv fight band, and measuring the length
of mv arm. which he marked hv a knot, brought
it a r ><s the hack over the L«(t shoulder, where
the knot was tightlv grasped by the left hand
“Now, then,” l.e said. <>n putting the pistol
into my hand, “be cool! When the signal is
given, let vour arm stcadilv fill, fill vmi find it
brought up bv the handkerchief, a* d tb.cn fire!”
T e appointed signal was given; both tiled ;;f
n - nearly the same moment as possible, but
<. Ai unequal success. .Aly adversary's bullet
i --.ed through mv hat; mme was more uner
r ,ig m its ii n—he reeled and fell. Mv first
moulse was to rush towards him. hut I mis
::nested in mv course by my .second, who stood
se beside me. “Remain where you are.
sir ” said he; ‘he may vet stand another shot.”
is was not the case; iho ball had entered the
should, r; and us the wounded man lay welter
ing in his blood, lie said, with a look of re
proneti to my companion, “B— n. tins is al
vour doing.” M c conveyed him t,» a neigh
boui fig hut. till the shade of evening allowed
p- i >ke him on board sh'p. As he walked
oft’tbe >round, mv companion said to me, ‘ A on
<1 nlifh >s vv ordered why I rather placed you
nttweivi than s xteen paces. Know, then,
that a* the Lilt r distance your adversary was
n dead shot. 't twelve, it occurred to me,
that he might bv chance fire over you; that,
unacc’isintne I to th it distance, he might no!
correctly allow f r the parabola d. senbed bv
the lv|i on leaving the pistol; the result,” |je
added with a -mile, “has prun'd ih;il mv cal
rtdation was coire< t. Had v> n too.” he ad
ded, “allowed v-mr arm to have fallen with
great force, the shot would have taken » fleet
lower, nnd might (this was said verv <»ol!v)
have moved fatal. But I must not find fault
with you, as u was vour tir-l es-av ”
(hi the folio w ing morning my generous friend
rnv preserver, in fact, mv wounded .adversary,
nnd hi* tr ends, sailed lor the states. I have
never seen them since, nr even hrnrd of t'-em.
save a tew short lines sent me bv' a vessel thev
spoke at sen. to inform mo that the wounded
mao w.is doing well.
I have often r< fleeted since on the high-ton
ed. generous feeling that enter'd so deeply
into the oectdi'in'y mv situation; tlm high
resolve that, om c pb uged. »-rrij!y devoted it
self to carrv me through, indifferent to the ties
nf country or friendship. That mv friend w:<
a duelist, his cm duel on the ground warrants
me in supposing lam ignorant if he vet
Vidks 'his earth. Rut this I know, had I gone
into the field weh any one else, I should now
be sleeping beneath the wl.ite walls of the
Fnglish cemetery a' R .
A FIMA BRIEF I Rl FHS.
t'n'plcim-’ t \ 'roi d nan di'driins the
spot's <>f < i Aren. A <■'lm k s rt - ilv into the
employ men's ot his tn age. sr.d it w II (>,»
Imtnd iha' ih'm s tallies. ai;d 2iobbv-h< rses
art its exact rrnbb ms
Scorn to live in soeipiv as if tumbled inio
the wot Id for n , '» other purpose than just o Slav
there a while 'o eat drink, plav, sleep grow
gurl and d e.
Few can be cheerful, who do not some
j Ltr.es pnjtjtke of gome of the amosctneMs <>f
j ewo Id. arid m> man can be well employed
I -ho does not fake part in some of its useful
{ •('iniiinons or studies.
1 l-'njo incut. —ln life, an important lesson we
have io learn, is, to bear its evils with pa
tience, and to seize with prudent avidity, what
ever "f good is presented.
Friendship unrestrained.— The good Will
iam Benn sa's, “There can be no friendship
wh re there is no freedom. Friendship re
quires freedom. It will pot only speak but
act fi-eejv, and imagine no ill is meant—nay,
where it is, it w ill readily' forgive and forget
! too, after a aligh’ acknowledgement. A true
' friend unbosoms freely, advises cautiously, aS
; sist readily, adventures boldly, defends coura
jgemislv, and < , ontimies unchangeably
■' Small Errors.— If we commit small faults
; without scruple to-dav. wo shall commit great
■ ones without hesitation '.o-morrow,
i Extreme. Beware equally of a sudden
i friend and a slow enemy.
A SHORT < H \PTER ON LONG EARS.
“’Ear him! ’.-ar him! ’ear the honorable member.”
Cru of a Coc-ncy at the /luslings.
I am a true, son ol the Puritans, and there
fore an admirer of al) long card gentry. Talk
ol a laige nf'se! 1 lie joke is in having long
ears. Ihe nose is a sneaking, neutiai sort of
a fellow, that seats himself plump, right in the
middle of the face; bm the ear takesone side
or the other; generally both sides, and, there
fore, must be in the right. The ear is, also,
'he most important functionary of thetwo ; for
i a man’s reputation is often al the merev of the
I ear, hnf never of the uo-p. These organs,
these “side intelligencer,” have been sadly a-
■ h sed, and most shabbily treated in modern
j da vs. Nove) writers will write most eloquently,
jin describing their lieroes or heroines, of the
I color of their hair, the shape of their noses,
; the turn of their lips, the expression of their
countenance, and < hase a smile or a dimple
; from one sbeek to the other; but not a word of
: their ears. Not one of S< pit’s heroes or he
! roines has ears; or at any rate, it is a mere
j matter of indifference with the reader, ulietb.er
they have or no. In ancient times ii was the
I custom of females to suspend jewels from the
no-o as well as the ear; but, with the advance
,< f civihz ition tiie former was dropped, and
; the ear only was raised to this dignity. This
is about the only custom wo retain from an
. uncivilized age as wor'h keeping; and it
' shows, in mv opinion, as plainly as the'hmi
: versa! consent of all nations, wise and unwise,
I can show, that the ear is the master organ ol
the human frame.
“Survey mankind from China to Peru,”
with Dr. Johnson, and it will be seen that
this honorable member has not always been
treated as shabbily as H is now. If we may
believe Sir John Mandeville, (and he had
great credi' v. uh Columbus.) ihe people of a
portion of China have such large ears iha’
they use thorn for cushions. Sir John himself
used ins own fur a nighi-eap, as I read in a
v.'bime before me; and we have the word of
Mmitaigne, sceptic as ho was, that in Pt ru
large ears are esteemed a great and beautiful
ornament. It is sctiled, I believe, that Ho
mer had large ears, as well as that he was an
early riser. Commentators do not agree
whether lhe one-eyed Polyphemus had one <>r
two ears. Some assert tiiat lhe escape of
I lysses is proof-positive that lie bad but one,
i —that while in tiie cave lie kept himself al
i ways in the direction of the earless side <,f
t e giant’s head, and thus, being unheard,
• r'fFc' ted his r<* r< al.
In R'uie, the females wore jewels of every
i description in ib" r ears, and the men wore
j cha ns. T icy thought so much of this organ
i 'I al they dm not tap a man mi the shoulder, as
, wo do, to draw his atmntion, tint were accus
toined rcl/err fiwrcui, to pull him by the ear.
, wheiH’e, piobablv, our custom of boxing the
cars i< <]■ riv' d. I can easily magine Juvenal
j clapping both hands to his ears, when, in a
passional the stupidity ol the poets, and the
sensuality ofthe profligates of his time, lie ex
j claims, at the opeim g of his satire, “semper
auditor tanlum?”— stdl tmist mv cars —.'
I’he fairdy ot the Ameli were mimed from
, tiie 1 Tgcnes- of Iheir cars, as any . iymob>gi-t
iu m see nt once; at d I < ouk| hardly refrain
from breaking cut into a horse laugh, a few
Ida vs ago, as. boring in mmd tins circum
stance. I w.is r< admg an account of a travel
ler, who slated that while wandering ninon"
the rui-ts of Pom it, h.“ stopped t<» examine au
inscr plum or: a door ofthe hou<e of \urelms,
md disturbed a whole nest of ear-wigs. Shak
spearc, among othi r things, knew human na
t r : ho was well aw arc of ihe great value the
Romans set upon their ears. Strange that an
m.let’ered player should know so mnch ofthe
realities, of the world.—ofthe Roman world.
V. hat an rsqm-tte allusion to the value th,-
Romans pi ned upon tlieir ears, there is m
'- th 'pv’s sp erfi "Ver the bod <>»'< re- r.
. ' ten.. s* !Ro . n ! ( mi try e,‘ Z ■ d ars
I.ars were scan t? in Rome p. lai,r davs
nnd wo have a knowledge of the mode of pun
i-hmcnt adopted bv the Roman governors m
the time ot tiie apostle, from his frequent ex
clamation, —“Let them who have an ear to
hear, hear!’’
An idd writer tells an amusing story of a
wittv knave who went to an old woman, in
London, and bargained or as m'ich ,tai e as
would reach frmnenr to car. A’» hen the price
was settled, lie told her he Lelitvi «l she bad
no’ quite enough in her'hop, for one of his !
ears was nailed to ihi pillnrv nt Bristol.—
Alans h>: Englishman w »m t<> his gr ave, m ihe
sixteenth ren" rw, with but one ear, leaving
<! • other nailed to the pi’Mrv to look alter his ’
repot.i’ion. j her; w is t! r g'urv • ,* -'. its in
Lng| ied, when thev had the honor oI gnmg a
name to millions, and •ecamo more pr-mit ent j
bv the Mark velvet -u II caps that gave them .
the mme ot prirk-enr- d puritaes.
I here aip rrrtnin modes of speech th it
r ak n .1, now and tin n, m -pile of prrjm! ep
md one’s teeth, tvbtch show the impor.ance
*hnt almost universally, but tacitly, al'nebed
to this honorable member, (p tdon us S« ua
tois!) We say of one who has the confidence
of a great man, that ‘he has Ins ear;” and I r an
very readily enter info the sis'omslinu nt of a
Frenchman, but lillle acquainted with the Eu
glrsh language and idioms, who, upon being
told of var.-oas members of the cabinet tha’
“had the ear of the Executive,” asked the
precise length of the Executive ear, or i he
had more than (lie common number. We a-k
il such a one lias an ear for music ; but it
would be disrespectful to the suprem
acy ot theear.Wwe were to ask if one had a
nose for smell, or a leg for walking. We speak
o! a man’s “falling over head nod eais” in
debt, or in love, —thus placing those flankers
of the head next to the head itself. Combat
ants are described as ‘‘falling together l>v the
ears.” I once heard a person assert seriously
that, rather than cheat another, he would cut
ofi his finger nails. I should have placed full
confidence in the fellow if he hod said he
would lose an ear. In some stages of socie
ty the laws would be satisfied with no less
than an ear—thus showing the importance of
this organ; and it is only in the highest degree
ol civilization and refinement that they de
mand the whole body; but « never heard that
they would touch the nose—even with a pair
of tongs. They sometimes have requested
that one of the hand should be thrown in by
way of making up the fail compliment of jus
tice.
Small ears are said to denote what is expres
sively called s'inginess; but 1 have known men
with ears as large as those of .Midas, who
would spoil a hatchet to cut a copper info hall
cents, and w< re unwilling io pay for the instru
ments to make them with. lam in tlie same
case with Cowper, who say that Nature.
“ I hough ears she gave me two, gave me
no ears;” and as the reader, probably, has con
cluded by this time that mv eats are long e
nough, 1 snail not trouble him with any farther
description.—A'eit; England
i ?
MR. M’WILLIE’S REM MIKS’ ON THE
MILITARY BULL.
Mr. Speaker: It is with the most unfeigned
regret, that 1 feel myself compelled to embark
in tins debate. Some days since, when the
hill was under consideration, proposing to en
graft on the constitution of this State a provis
ion requiring an oath of allegiance to he admin
istered to all persons accepting office under
the State, 1 remained silent. 1 d.d so from
the most heartfelt anxiety to promote the har
mony of this house imd of the country. I
Lien did not imagine that the quesiion of lie
gianee. now pressed upon our con-ideration.
was to be ag't ited m any other foim d Ting the
present- session. I did not suppose th it this
house would, on one d iv, ask the grant of a
consiitutional power, and on the n-xt. exercise
the same poster, in defiance of opinions pre ■
viou-ly indicated. IV liy amm d the coiistuu
lion, if you now have the right to require an
oath of allegiance? The question as to the
con s’ 11 us ion 11 ™iu. udment, | was willing to
see submitted talily and without argument, on
euh< r side, t<> (he people. Fm e question
was one of conscience; and mv wish svas, lhai
each man might examine it lor h.mself’, and
determine without the bias of party construe
lion, hi this wish, I have been dis ippoint* d
Since then, we have had a report to this house,
from the committee on Federal Relations, de
fining the nature of sovt reignty and allegi
ance; which report is now in print, and claims
from the citizen an exclusive allegiance lo
the State. The bill to amend the constitution
was the wooden horse; the present lull ami
the report, are but a part of the concealed ar
mament. As gentlemen <>n the opposite side
ofihe question (the advocates of the oath)
have thought proper to give their opinion-, I
must do the same.
If I were to give a definition of lhe erm al
legiance. I would say, that (in this coiiu ry ) it
was the obligation on the part of the citizen,
of obedience to the law. The i- rm. however,
is not strictly applicable to our Republi anin
stifiifious. It implies superiority m one, and
inferiority in others; and < <>nseq entlv, ex
pres-es more properly, the relations existing
between a Prince and bis subj< cis The
best authors express It to be, lhe obligation of
obedience on the pert of the subject Io in-
Prmce. 1 n this country, we have m> Mibj cts,
nor have we a Prmce—ours is a government
of laws, and not of men. lam bound to obey
no man but as he is the instrument, or organ
of (he law; nor can I be controlled, or bound,
oiherwi.-e than bv law.
If gentlemen, by the use of the term allegi
■ ance, intend to expres® an obligation bevond
i the law, I challenge them to define it. Do
they, bv the pioposed oath <d allegiance, m
! fend to bind ihe affections, nr control v>da ion?
! This is impossible: you can only legislate for
actions —not feelings. Then if allegiance
doesnot express the obligation of obedience
to the law, or the attachments of the heai t,
theie is but one other obligation which it can
•x; ress. It is that of passive obedience m d
nonresistance, to Stale authority, be it right,
or be it wrong. 1 presume gentlemen will um
venture upon an argument leading to this di
lemma. Ihe right to res st opres-ion, is at
die bottom of our institutions. All govern
ments, according to the Declaration ot Ii de
prudence, are lornud fi r ihe pro’e ion ol if.e
governed, in the p rsuit of ha pun ss. and
whenevu r they become de-truct v ofllii* rn<!,
it is ttie rigid oi the peoote to iil>o||sh them.-
It will not be said bv tl.<>s<> advocating tins
measure. I presume, that if Robespierre, I) n
inn ami .M ir .t. vvi re now at the head of afft.rs
in South Carol na, and had 'he guillotine in
fell opperation, and the spirit ol lhe people,
broken down bv a rniht.irv despotism—that i’
I had taken the proposed oath, I would be
guiltv o’ prrjurv. ami a violation ofmvallegt
.im p to the State, if I shm Id dare to rc-i-i
them. I: '.Li-> be true, Vvashtngton was per-
inrcd when he resisted British Domination --
LLimuden was a traitor to hbert ; and ' ru us
violated his allegamce to Rome, w lien h< stab
bed f’n'sar in the Senate (’hamber. Il this is
the conclusion to which this oath is to bind
us
*'Tili it not loiullv nochitn,
Rut as for a good tonn’s sin.
Weep to recoid, and blush to give it in.”
If I am right. Mr. Speaker, in mv defini
tion of the term allegiance, I have no hesita
tion in admitting mv obligations to the Stale.
If I am wrong, I call upon gentlemen to tel!
me what else they mean, or intend, by the pro
posed <>ath—and to what extent i am to be
bound, bevond the present constifutional oath:
which binds me to support the constitution of
this Siate, and ol the United States.
I would ask if it is intend'd by an oath of
allegiance, to fix and command the military
services of the people? This mav be inferred,
oerbans, from the obligation of allegiance, du
ring the feudal times; or, even at present, in
Europe. There the people are bound bv their
allegiance, to support the King in his wars.—
In South Carolina, this obje< t would not seem
to be necessarv: for, by the constitution of
the United States, we have expressly granted
to lhe General Government, the. right to make
war. In time of peace, we have no' even the
right to “keep troops.’’ Nor can we “engage
in war, unless actually invaded, or in such im
minent danger, as will riot admit of delay ”
I am at a loss to determine, on rational or
political grounds, why this change is desired
why this new oath is to be imposed. The pre
sent oath requires the neifortnance of every
duty: the one proposed can d > no more: then,
whv change it? It is sporiing, (tr fling I might
say) with lhe richest inheritance of our fathers
—the choicest fruit of the revolution. Then
we throw o(F the obligation of allegiance to
Kings, and assumed the duty of conforrmtv to
law. During the Revolution, an oath nf alle
giance and fidelity to the State was required,
not only from all officers, but from eac ci'i
zen: and the framers of our constitution, with
the knowledge, from experience, of the inefli
caev of such an oath, and of the restrnii't whicn
if imposed upon liberty, wisely neglected i
and adopted the present. Europe is advanc
ing towards free and liberal institutions; will
we consent to a retrograde rm vement ?
There is an objection to iho o «:h of a lie fi
ance, now off-red flu - our adoption, growing
out ofthe spirit ofthe limes, ami the previous
action of tne State, on this subject. The con
stant affirmation of allegiance to the state, will
act on the public mm I as a negation of alle
giance to the U niird States : and thus gradu
ally slitter away our national feelings The
oath of allegiance tn the Stale, taken in con
im.xi un with the mdiiianee of the conv en'ion of
claret) last, mav’, by some, he umlrrstood as
an oath of abjuration of allegiance to lhe Un’-
t-d Stales; ami, perhaps, nropeily s>; f>r the
ordi ' im’e is in the following words:—“lVe do
f Tiber ordain ami declare, that the allemaner
ofthe citizens of tins State, while they ront n
ue sac i, is due to the paid fva , ,n I th ii oly -
djenee only, ;rt d not illfgiam e, dio hv them
to any other power or authority, m w w>m a
control over them has !>eeu, < r mav tie <le|e
g lied by the State.” Further hv the sa>d <o
din nice, the power is givet to thm leg'slaiur-*,
“to provide lor.-the, administration, lo the citi
zens ami olFc ei's of ihe Stale, or such of the!
said i.(Fleers as they may think fit, ol' suiiable
oaths of affirmations, binding ineni to the oh !
servam-e of such allegiance, and ahjuiing all
other allegiance.” Now, if the orduiancr? is
taken as the expositor of tlm obligatum ol' al
legiance, can it he doubled, that lhe oath of
.llegianci to lhe state, lu ,-. v proposed, is equiv
• ilem to tn o.aiii of abj, ration of all other al
legiance? I think this beyond question.
I tn iy lie mistaken, but I thick tha’ I can
shew, bv what lias been call, d the “Carolina
doctrine.” and the Con-titmimi of tiie Unite <1
States, itiat, i! allegiance is dm’ to the sta'e, it
s also dm- to the U. States. Ipr ••.mne it wfll,
mil he coiitemled that a sovereign v can exisi
without having citizens; or, that a suvr-n tgriiy i
ear. exist whose citizens d" mH owe p allegi
ance. I’he <-onsl;tulmn ofthe Fmi.d States’
as-iers. and recognizes that the United States
nas citiZ' ris. I o wit : “No m r-on shall be a
Representative, who shall not have attained <r
’he ige ot i • only-live years, ami been scmm; j
y ears a einzen of lhe I mted States, and who 1
shall not, vv tien elected, bo an inhabitant of (hat
Slate m which he shall be chosen.” This is
conel'isive ’ha’ the Unileri Sta’cs has citizens; j
and there mav be such a thing as a citizen of
the I mted States, who lias never been in any
state, and who is not a citizen ofaiiv Slate: for
instance, poisons born in the Territories, or
•he District ol Columbia. So much for citi
zens.
I will now endeavor to prove the United
States to be a sovereignty. I would not sup ;
pose it possible for anv man to read the con
stitution of the Untied States underxtandingly,
and to doubt upon this subject. This ts the
true ami proper source from whirl, to draw an-
Ihoriiv <>n this subjo.-i. Bm as | have by me
tiiat wliicli will not be denim! as authority by
gentlemen opposed to rm>, I vv I! proceed to u-e
i’. I refer to die r'Xposjmn adopted by the
Legislature of the State m 1828, (said lobe
wr'l'eri by Mr. Calhoun.) | tne is an orthodox
i rodm lirm, and 1 lake it for grimed, wfiai.it
I'sr‘rt.-vvill no: be denied. lhe following are
ex racts from H: “Our svstern then consists of
tw< m-tim-t and imlepeiiderit sovereignties ”
b’lrtm r, ‘ but by an express provision ofthe
cunsutution it mav be amended <t changed,
by t'.r. e fourths <4 fr.e Stales; and ear li Sime,
t'V assenting to the consiiimmn with Lis pro
vision, La< surremJered its original rig it as a
sov r.-ign. which made its Tidiv.du d c msent
necessary to any change m its political condi
tion, and hu-> pia< ed this important pow< r m
the hands of three fourth* of the States, m
which the sovercigr ty of tiie I mon under the
constitution, does now actually reside.” Fur
ther “if ii n<? conceded, as it m be by every
one who is (lie least conversant with our insu’.
tn lions, thal the sovereign power is divided bc»
tw< i'll the states and ihe General Governrnfcnt,
and that the foimer hold their reserved rights
m the same high sow reign ctipaci’v, «hi< h
latter does its dclogaleii rights; it will be im
possible to deny to the stale the right ofnecid
ing on the infractions of their rights, and die
proper remedv to be applied for their coirec«_
lion.'’ “\ s high as is the power ofthe Stateg
in their individual sovereign rapacity, it .s ut/
tlfe highest power kno in to our system. There
is still a higher power placed above all by ih e
express consent of all, the <-reatmg and (He .
serving power deposited j n the hands of three
fourths ofthe United Stales, which, under the
character ofthe amendmg power, can modify |
the whole system at pleasure, and to the fi tl l ;
decision of which, it would be political heresy
to object.” A more full and positive declara
tmn of the sovereignly „f t | K Uuned Males
than is contained in the fi-regoing extracts, can
not be expressed.
I have thus sin wn that the United States j 3
a sovereign y, and 'hat i his citizens. Does
it not follow as a corollary or consequence
th it those i' zens owe that sovereignty
allegiance ?—Would not lhe contrary supposj.
tion be a monstrous anomaL ?
The Constitution of the United States, also?
has provided for the poms .inent of treason by
d u larmg in what it shall consist. This is an
offence against sovereign power, and can only
be committed by temporary, legal nr oaluraL
citizens, and is in violation of the allegiance "
doe by the citizens to his government. The
Constitution ofthe United States also recog
nizes the sovereigntv ofthe States, and that
Reason may he committed againsi ihcm mdi- ’
vidually, in the 23d section of the 4th article.
Does it n-'t, from ibis view of the subject
follow that allegiance (or the obligation of obe
dience to the law) is doe to tiie United Mates
is well as to the State ? And that thesauction .
in each case isahke? The U. Slat -s has all
' has been granted; the States, individual
ly, ail that has been reserved.
I n ivo too an objection to any change of the
iircsent oath, from the fact, that we all now
'•’eh undoisrand its obliga i<m. L )s p| a ,n and
cX'iliiut. It conforms to the character ofoiir
msiitntions;—and the experience of man for
In y ve.irs is, that r has done well, and there
is much truth in the trite rem ark -—“That they
do well, who let well alone.”
I he remarks wlm h I have made I trust shew
that il the oath proposed is nothing more ihan
the old oath, in a new dress, u is worse than
useless. Il it is intended as an oath of abjora
tion of allegiance to the United States, it is un
constitutional and void—this house having um
right or power, to ch inge the relations
p'-ople o’’tMs state to ihe (-mim al Government,
fins is fixed by-(he Constilutjoii ofthe Untied "
which is the supreme law, notwithtand
”tg any thing we may do to the contrary.
Perhaps the strongest objection that can be
urged igani-1 the proposed la v, arises from 'ha
agca’i ig effect which i> will produce through- 4
mt 'he Stale I' will not. cannot, be received
Mii'll v. It mnsi lie me! lit the hfiirit of
•i im. Ii is. and will tie, considered as tyran
nies and proscriptive by a portion of the peo.
pi.; o! '.his stale. Ii is a Siam upon their hon
or as mmi—upon their loyally as citizens; far
it is in vain to attempt disguise; no m m on ihis
floor doubts its purpose ~ It is unwise—it is
ruel —it is tearing ooen a fresh wounds that
have scarcee ceased Io bleed For .some time
past 1 have wiitmssed wuhd light a ret th of
'he home feelings; “the gimd old feelmgs of
itietidship ami brotherly kindness.” Puss thU A
law, and blast lhe fruit that was blossoming so
fairlv. You sot neighbor against neighlmr—
t.ro'l.cr ~'7 an t brother—ami in m iny cases
rh.ldim, against thmr futbms-| scarcely know
< I m.ilv nhich on tins subject is mu divided.
Lei m. then re-pert the ties of consanguinity
at;.! f.i. if.-ffiog al! minor matters. rmty to
inc I i nig inti nests ofihe Stale. || you pa*.s
l! ■ 'in, you will send from vour borders thnu-
S . <)f voor people ami mi.|ln>t s of your
■ i I i.eir minds aie already lurned 100
r 1 !” the rich, the golden west, nn d
: . ihey are attached to their homes, they
f- ,-iii| more attached lo freedom of opinion
I. ijuljis <;f con->< i- nc'*. Now tins oath
mav, perhaps, to some extent, be considered
as a lest of political opinion; if so, it will be
odious to a portion of the people, while it can
not accomplish your object. For suppose van
were tn institute a reltgimis test, as a qualifi
cation lor office, how would it lie met? would
you t‘ ereby obtain conformi'y? No! men dif
fer, and widely differ, in th ir opinions of re
ligion. Even on this subject we cannot agree
though its first principle is truth, and its es
sence, love—though its emanation is from
G<>d, and its principles would harmonize the
world. Il you should imp >se such a test, in
the name of the (.'ml of laws and in behalf of
the religion ol the prince of peace, we would
destroy each others lives—yes! we would de
stroy each others lives. For men have thus
acted—they would thus act again. Such is lhe
spirit of freemen, tne spirit which achieved the
revolution—and it inns! be cherished if we ex
pert to perpetuate its blessings to our children.
The very fact that we so widely differ, and that
d IF rence is tolerated, speaks volumes in fa
vor of our institutions. his lhe essence of
liberty. Crush this spirit—force conformity
—and you make a nation of slaves. This you
should not do if you could. You could not if
you would. Carolina ought not, I trust will
not stain the honor of her sons. None of them
deny their allegiance to her. She should not
then question their attachment, “h j 4 our
own dear native land.” It is our’s—our fa
them’s am] our c nldreii’s home. Let her act
well her part, and she has nothing to fear. Let
“Justicebe, the herald ot her way,
And Truth’s pure beams, upon her banners play.”
and ner citizens must, they will gather around
her. Bm even a mot ier in iy so far forget her
natural obligations, as to expel her children
iroin her hearth. I trust in God Smith Caro
lina will never act so unwise, so suicidal apart.