Miners recorder and spy in the west. (Auraria, Lumpkin County, Georgia) 18??-????, April 26, 1834, Image 2

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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.