E375 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DDDDSOaaSD/^ ^'^%i.%^ 'V c'?^'^' ** - ^^^^^' ■ ■'■>.,/ ^'/^m-:-. %..<<' "■^r^jXi-^ v^cv^ ^o. -: J,' "^v^ 4^ *'V(^J^'i^'' «i>- «^ *■ "• "^^ ♦'^ *^W/>?;^ \ <^^ '& ^*'- "^ V * . o ^ ,^^ . aP »J ^ C*^ ^^o^ ^ >, °- °o SOME OBJECTIONS TO lam^ ^m^wwmmm .iS A CAJ^BIB.IT^E VtSSi THE PRESlbCNTZ AX. CBAm. WITH 25 JO A FEW REMARKl?^ o3r tHt CHARGES PREFERRED A6AIW $OfJTB.CAR0UXtJk ^s being *^ in error ^ and uncertain in her PolkiosS^ T? / Sr J SOUTH.CAROLmEM- iXj^* THE distance of the writer from the Press has prevented an examination ofth" nroo: ■ibeets in due time, so that several errors have intervened, which t,he : -"^ ' jr i desired to correct. in the title page, for "Carolinian" read "Carolin/an." In til? 5thpaf^e and 17th line, for "prerjart- 7" read "prepare." In the 6th paq-e 3rd line, for •■editors" read "orders/" In t .e 7th paj^e in 6th line fiom the bottom, for "turned" read "trerr.cd, •' In tlie 9th pa-^e, for "warned" read " -.varmed." In the 14th page, for "g-enious" read "genius." In the 18th page, for "germe"read "germ." In the 20th page, for "bases" read "basis." Tn 21st page Istline of the note, for "Southr'-j;," rfsd "Soutiic-;;." Some of the objections lo Mr. CUAWFORD as a, candidate for President of the United States, spe- cifically stated ; caused by a book lately publish-' ed in Columbia, urging his pretentions to that. Office on the People of South-Carolina. A careful perusal of the book above alluded to, will shew that but few of the objectioos of the people of South Cavoliiia against Mr. Crawford^ for the important office to which he so ardently aspires, are noticed, and those which have attracted the atientiou of "the Author^*' are passed over with merely a sligiit observa tiouj or are un- fairly met, or superficially answered. It is not my in tention to go into the details of this great labor of 63 pa- ges, or to answer them further than a plain undisguised statement of my objections will have that effect. '^ The Author'^ of the book asserts that the people of < his state have been unduly and unfairly excited and prejudiced against Mr. C. This, as a general proposi- tion, is by no means true. His desires for that office have been known to the people liere ever since his me- morable Caucus contest with Mr. Monroe in 1816, a pe- riod of eight years, and the prominence of the offices which he has filled, has caused his political course to have been viewed with deliberation and fairness for a much longer time. It is therefore entirely incorrect to insinuate that tlie people, as a body, have been impro- perly, or suddenly excited against /z//?z or any other can- didate. It is true however tliat there is excitement ?igainst him, and very general excitement, but this arises j'rom the circumstance that a man against whom there a-re so many and such weighty objections, should per- t^evere against the v, ishes of the people, and not fronjL any personal hoslility to, or prejudice against him. That there may not be the shadow of ground for com plaint upon this score, I shall state my objections m nu- merical order, in so condensed a form as to preclude pas- sion or declamation, and in language as gentle and mod- •irate as may be compatible with a f^-itliiui and just com- Munication of my Ideas. I shall uot theiefore set out with a vain boast of my candor and impartiality ; of tliese the people will judge. Some oi* my objections may b^ entitled to less weight than I am disposed to give them, but if /??ft;. Vvhen Mr. .TelTerson and the Republican party had deiermined to abandon it, and prepared for more vigorous measures. Now those wlio condemn the Embargo as a substi- tute forwarj admit that it was a wise, necessary and ail- important measure jivpjmratory for war, — of course it was expedient when Mr. C. voted againt it, and unwise in its continuance^ when he voted for it — What a tissue of disastrous comradictions ! Always changing, alivays 'n'rn;id with Mr. Jefferson,) was at the head. They did no!, hesitate to praise each other, and find fault, almost con- f^fantly, with the administration. J have the authority of moie than one member of the then Congress, for the truth of this ; and in confirmation of Mr. Crawford's hostile t'eelinsrs towa,rds the, Republican administration, "* Ytv. Pickering'^ l^Ir. Otis, nnd clher distinguished Fedcrr.l Icr.cler.vaided b} ihe N. York Evening- 1'"- .':;-' '' ■ r Fyderid'pre^e'' • - -^ '^v' ■^' .-•c-.v -uduiy L'Jr. Crawf'jrd he dciiveved a pointed and personal piuiipjMc againsi: Mr. Madison, on account of the message of Mr. M. de- tailing the injuries inflicted by the British editors;, and recommending Congress to put the nation in a state of defence. lie characterized the message as ha^ ing " the ■imbiguity of ares.ponjie from the Delphic Oracle/' con ended against a war, averring that the Embargo ought to have been adhered to. Does this look like being a tVicnd to the war, and of iliose measures necessary for its vigorous prosecution ? 5. When the war became inevitable, at a later peri od, Mr. Craivford opposed ike erection of a JS^avi/, pro- nouncing it '•■worse than ridiculous to think of defend- ing our commerce by a JWvy/' This he did, when every politician of sagacity must have been convinced of the folly and impotence of declaring w^ar against Great Britiiin without a Navy. I admit that he did finally s^ote for the war, but I deny that he did support It worm ly. or those measures upon whicji its success depended. We have seen that he opposed the great engine by wliick it was supported — ^tlie most cheap, least dangerons, and most efficient means of defence and protection to the na- !on. His speecli against the J\''avy has been published and can be referred to. We have seen no speech from him in favor of the war, or one of its measures, nor was such an one ever published. His speech against the Navy v/as delivered on the 2d February, 1810, in which he pronounced it a fungus on the body politic which ought to be amputated — ^that the nation had spent on it about 12,000,000 of dollars, &c. 6. Altho' the war was a time of the most imminent pe ril the nation had seen since the revolution, and calcula ted to elicit the highest eflbrts of the patriot stateman in the councils of the Republic at home, yet shortly after if vas declared, we see Mr. Crawford taking refuge from responsibility and danger in a foreign court, (France,) where no great or extraordinary object was to be effected, and Tvhere no service, so far as I have ever heard, was rendered. There he remained till the storm had subsi- ded ! Wa^ this the course pf a great statesman, or an ar dent pairiot fitted to stand at tlic helm and guide the vessel of state ? 7. Butaltho' Mr. Crawford did not breast the shock of war, yet shortly after the return of peace, we find him ambitiously aspiring to that high office which a grateftd peoiile had almost ananinwusly desia-natedfor the loni^ services and recent sdf-devotion of Mr. Monroe. Tliis is certaiiily the most censurable act which could occur in the political life of any man under such circumstances.. I know- it is said that he did not seek, but retired from the contest. From the existing circumstances, no im- partial man can believe it. He could have stopped by a shigle decided command, the exertions of his friends. He ought not to have hesitated a moment to have done so, because he mimt have known that he was not the choice ^)f the people. From his political progress thitherto, lie must have known that then he had not been thought of by the nation. His nomination would have overwhelmed the people with surprize and astonishment ! It is true that Br. Bibb, a friend of his, did, under some pretext, write a letter in which he stated that Mr. Crawford ^'did not wish to be considered one of those from whom a choice was to be made." Upon the vert face of this letter there is nothing positive. — It in fact amounts to an invitation to his friends to persevere. li ivas almost literally ^'^ Cesser putting aside the crown that it might he the more strenuously urged iqion him." This presumption amounts to certainty, when we see it immediately afterwards declared in the Washington Ci ty Gazette, a paper e^^n then devoted to Mr. Crawford, that it was authorized to state that " nothing in that let ier was intended to convey the idea that Mr, Crawford would not permit his name to be used, but that he would yield to the determination of his friends."* From that time till the caucus, his friends exerted themselves to se cure his nomination, and the Gazette turned w ith denun ciations of Mr. Monroe, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Madison, ^/and the Virginia dynasty. It wai? urged in messes and private circles among the members, &c. that he would vacate all offices and fill them with his supporters, thus. attempting to purchase the government^ ivith its own cv patroridfis. liarin;;5ali this time, the declarutldti in Vue Gazette Avas navcrcouiradictedby Mr. C„ erhisfiieridiT' aud it was understood that he stiiaulated theiii^ at least till he found the game desperate. To illustrate this dark transaction. Ishall quote some of the remarks oi the National Litelligeacer of the Sth April^, 1816, As the editors of this paper are liow the devoted fr iends of Mr. Crawford, it is presumed their authority will not bf* questioned. They say '* our astonishment increases, hy vetiospec tion, at the formidable numl)er of the Republican raeet-- in^ opposed, to tlie nomination of Mr. Monroe. We c-onsult our inclination and probably the interests of the ^reat republican family, in avoiding an examination of the circumstances,, a cnmhination of ivhich had nearly produced a noniiuation in direct opposition to the PUBLIC WILL." ^^It is a fact iHidis-puted, we believe, that the acUviti/ and preconcert of (he opponents of Mr, Monroe^ and a fastidious delicacy of Iiis best friends, which prevented active exertions in support of his nomination, produced a state of things astonishing to most of the good people of the United States, who ex})ccted nothing less, than that division of sentiment which ])revailed among their repre- sentatives. The decided friends of Mi*. J^Ionioe were so backward in their exertions, that at one time their op- ponents, mistaking silent conviction for apathy, looked forward to certain victory. On their jt?a?'^ however no exertions ivere spared. As no labor was too great, so so MEANS WERE TOO HUMBLE TcT' AID THEIR OBJECT. Witness the use made of the columns of an ephemeral priniin this city to soil the character and lacerate the feelings of their opponents. '• Si has been said that the meeting was got up by Mr, Alonrac's friends under circumstances peculiarly favor- able to their views. This is not true. On the contrary, it w-as his opponents, flushed with sanguine hopes of success — the result of consultations previously held — it was they who urged the meeting — it was they who con- voked it,*' '"'It is well known /z pre. that had all t-he Republicans atteiidt'd, his (Mr. Monroe'^) majority would have been more than double." Such is the character of tiiis transactionj and yet it is to his conduct in relation to it^ that Mr. Crawford's friends appeal for proof of liis unaspiring modesty. Can any man, at all versed in human nature, say that Mr. Cs friends were not Avarned liud animated by the mas- tic spirit ? Can any one believe that he was the unwil- lins; inQtrument of all this distractinii; aa'itation in the Republican party ? Could a man, not dreamed of for the presidency by the people, thus be brought forward and sustained at iiie very capitol where he dwelt— -at his very door, without his agency or concm^rence. It is im- possible ! 8. But how has Mr. Monroe's magnanimity and del- icacy in failing to discard a political opponent from his cabinet been rewarded ? Instead of sustaining the ad- ministration as Mr. Crawford was bound to do by eve- ry principle which bind men together in relations of con- fidence, has he not secretly reared a party as violently op- posed to Mr. Monroe; as the Federal party ever waste Mr. Jefterson or Mr. Madison. A few years ago, and on its incipiency, this party was open and undisguised ; assumed the name of Radicals, and accused the most economical administration with which we have ever he&n blessed, of ruinous extravagance, and held up Mr. Craw ford as the great reformer of abuses. But since it is seen that the people frown indignantly upon such an attempt to undermine Mr. Monroe's administration, Mr. C. and friends, disavow the very name of Radical, and profess not to know what is meant by Radicalism ! The evidence however has gone abroad, and all the '* multidinous waves" of the ocean would not wash from Mr. Crawford's hands the stain of Radicalism. Let us advert to a few facts which are believed to be incontro- vertible. Every Radical in the United States is the friend, and the most of them the active partizans of Mr Crawford, so far as Iknov\^, without an exception. — The Radicals in Congress, as a party, have invariably sup- "poiif'd hiiii. It was openly predicted by them, that thef administration was unpopular and must go down. Mr, 10 Gilmer ♦ of (Teovgia.. a political and persoiial trieiid of Mr. C. in a violent attack upon the administration, said. '* it would rain the counlij, and that he wished to see, the line drawn and parlies designated." Cluirsed with the views and feelings of Mr. C . lie Avas too iionest and candid to conceal them. I)r. Flovd of Virginia, a gen- tleman of the banie honest principles, declared, during; iho. same deba-.c, that '^ he regrelitd that tltc period was eo remote that would terminate the administration of Mr Monroe." Tiie speeches of these two gentlemen and tiie replies they elicited, were never published, for rea- sons no doubt, satisfactory to the editors of the Intelti- g&ncer. If the discubKiun had taken place before the collected body of the American people, a single doubt ivould not now remain as to the existence, thejirincipleSy or the uliimate object of the Radical party. " The Au- thor" of the book might not have sulfered as he professes! now to do, for the dclinition of Kitdicalism. Hitherto I acknowledge myself greatly indebted to an able address to the people of North Carolina, on the presidential question, published last winter, in which many important facts are collected, from which I have extracted freely, and which 1 could wish now to see re- published entire. I have however other objections to Mr. Crawford, no less weighty than those which have been presented, nia- ny of which relate either to his want of talents or want of inclination, properly to perform the duties of the se- veral high offices which he has held. 9. I shall first refer to his acceptance of the office of Secretary of War, Avhich he held for a considerable time, (perhaps two years,) immediately after the late war, and although from the number of incumbents who had held it, and the great confusion of the war, was in a state of great di'^organizaiion ; yet so far as I have been able to learn, he never did progress a single important step to- wards reducing It to order, remedying the various evils incident to it, or giving it that complete organization of which it was susceptible in the hands of an able and in- dustrious man, and A\hich would SrtL'e ti?ne, save moneij, ^oc^lcre our almost unknown territory^ point out the vul 11 ■nei\2bU: and assailable yoinfs of our CGuat, vccommend the remedy, aid in impovtant works of internal improve' inent) such as roads, stations, ^'c. connected loiih the de- fences of the country, and render our army as efficient ae was jnmcticahle. I repeat it, that if ^Ir. Crawford did take any step towards effecting these Important objects; I have never known it, for 1 would not willingly suppress a single fact redounding to his credit. 10. As Secretary of the Treasury Department, I ob- ject to him, because his course has been negative^ hidden -or doubtful, weak, illegal and unconstitutional. It is impossible in the limits necessarily assigned to such a production as this, to go much into detail, but I will give an example in each particular : 1. His course has been negative, which is demonstra' ted from his uniform timidity and backwardness to sus- tain the views and policy of the administration in his re- ports, by marshalling the resources of the nation. Hi^ object seems to have been to diminish the funds really I'xisting, instead of drawing other resources into activity in incicase the Navy, according to the provisions by law already provided, and to go on with fortiiications, &c, I now reiser to the years 1820-1821, when Mr. Craw- ford's friends in Congress, under the popular idea of avoiding internal taxes, (which in no event would have been necessary,) cut down the Army from 10,000 men^^ to less than 6000, and exerted themselves to cut down the Navy in the same way, to wit, by moving to diminish the permanent appropriation of 83,000,000 for its in- crease, down to S 1,500,000, to reduce the number of seamen and boys, and to lay up the ships to be built un- der cover, ivithout jmrchasing those equijnnents^ &c. in despensible for a speedy outfit in case of emergency ; and the same party did actually suspend the appropria- tion altogether for some important fortifications, and greatly and injuriously lessened others, though the pub- lic faith had been already pledged by contract for carry- ing them on. The great JMid deserved popularity of the Navy only saved it, and it was to check this ruinous spi- rit of Radicalism, fnot true economy,) that president Monroe, immediately after, came out v. Ifh liis firm and i2 • '*nli£;]ui'?ie(i iiiaui;ural addiess, in which, reprobatine, that lliictuatiui:;, wasteful and riiijioiis policy, which, a? !. regarded our valuable institutions, changes with the f.tateof the Treasury, and under the pretext of poverty, wotild pull down, or uegkct, or lay waste, in one year, what it was wise, economical and safe to have built up the year ])efore ; he declares that '^ onr great resources remained unfouched/' and that for any purpose which miy affect •• the vital interests of the nation, they are in- exiiaa^^tibie."^ Mr. Crawford, in his report, cries out retrencii or cut down, &c. or vou must resort to internal taxes, the bug-bear he always held up. Mr. Monroe gays ^* o!U" great resources remain untouched.'^' — That '^ they are more especially to be found in the virtue, pat- riotism and intelligence of our fellow-citizens, and the devotion with which tljey would yield up by any just Measure of taxsition, all their property in siqjjjort of tJu rif^hts and Jimici' of their coimtry.^' (See the Journals of Congress— Mr, Monroe'^ second inaugural address and Mr. Crawford's annv.al report. 2. His course has been /liV/f/a^i, Ivccausebv the solemn mandate of the House of llepreentatives in 1818, he wag required to report io the next session on the subject oi internal improvements, which he has, up to this day re- fused to do, knowing, (as we must suppose,) that if he reported favorably, either on the expediency or constitu- tionality of such a system, he would lose the great bulk of his Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia friends, with whom he is popular as a supposed enemy to internal improvements, and if unfavorably, he would lose his friends in New York, Pennsylvania and other states, who are the strenuous advocates of such a s;ystem. 3. That his course has been douhtfuly is evinced by the cloud of ambiguity and mystery in which he seems disposed to envelope his opinions generally,' and partic ularly whenever he is steering between two great con- flicting parties or interests, both of which he is anxious to conciliate. I will give an example or two, in his an- nual report of the 13t(i December, 1819, upon the sub- ject of the Tr/Wj^. He says ^' under all the circumstan- "^s, it is respectfully submitted, that the public interest 18 reqiiii^K that the levenue be augraeuted, or that the ex- penditures be dimiuIsL 'd." " Should an increase of the revenue be deemed expedient, a portion of the deficit may- be supplied by an addition to the duties now imposed upon various articles of foreign merchandize, and by a reasonable duty upon sales at auciion, but it is not pro- bable that any modification of the existing Tariff can su- persede tlie necessity of resorting to internal taxation, if the expendure is not diminished. Should Congress deem it expedient to modify the present rate of duties ivith 41 vieiv to that iirotection, to our cotton and looollen and iron manufactures, which is necessary to secure to them the dcmestic market, the necessity ofreborting to a sys- tem of internal taxation will be augmented. It is believ- .^d that the jfrese7it is a favorable inoment iov. affording effvcient protection to that increasing and important in^ terest, if it can be done consistently with the general iaterest of the nation." Now reader, what can you make of such an opinioi> as this ? It is literally " Point look out, and point look in, Foint, no point, and point aj^iiin." I hope it will not be treating with too much levity, so grave a subject, by supposing the honorable Secretary to be seated between two of his dlstir.guished, yet warm friends, Governor Dickerson of New Jersey, a strenu- ous advocate of the Tariff, himself, deeply interested in the manufacture of iron, and Governor Barbour of Vir- ginia, a gentleman as violently opposed to the system. To Governor D. he, (Mr. Crawford,) says ^" the reve- nue must be augmented. ^^ To Governor B. *^o?^ the expenditure must be diminished/'^ To the former, ^^ the revenue may be increased by additional duties on various articles of foreign merchan- dize." To tlie latter, ^^ but it is not probable thai any modi- fication of the existing Tariff can prevent a resort to in* ternal taxation, ?/thc expenditure be not diminished." To the former, " should Congress modify the Tariff sv mi^ afford that protection to cotton;, tvooUen andiron 14 which AVill give them the domestic markelj'' w)iy thei); Gov. B. "" the necessity of internal taxes will be aug- mented/*' I really believe Gov. D. that '^ the present is a favor- able /nom-mtiov aftbrding efficient protection to that in- creasing .\n{\ important interest (cotton, wool and iron,) turning to Gov. B. ''if it can be done consistejitlij ivitk the general interest of the nation/ ■ " If the reader will examine the remainder of the re- port touching this subject, he will find it still wrapt up •*' in all the ambiguity of a response from the Delphic Oracle." Fro)n it we can collect but one thing certain, viz.. that the expenditures must be reduced, (whether it cuts doAvn the Navy, or impedes fortifications, &c.) m' we must be visited by that greatest of all terrors, *• a system of internal taxes.'' I do not intend to enter into an examination of all Mr. Crawford's reports to shew him friendly to the Tarilf; for ifitAvere necessary, I am not so fortunate as " the A-uthor" of Mr. Craw ford's book, in having access to aZZ these reports ; and it could not be expected that I should rely on tlie partial scraps of quotations which that book furnishes. I am willing to admit that in his overwean ing sj)irit of conciliation he, although the officer appoint- ed to shed light on all these subjects, in most instances, gets astraddle of the proposition, and leaves the ques- tion exactly where he found it, without receiving one ray of light from the plaistic power of his genious. It is sufficient for my purpose, to know that in answer to a resolution of Congress, he did recommend a higher duty on cotton bagging, on iron, on cotton cards and on vari ous other articles of prime importance to southern inter- ests than there did exist, when the duties were ad valo-t rem, and not specific. It is sufficient for my purpose, to know, that although the most of his reports leave the sub- ject in so questionable a shape, that each side of this momentous question may and do claim him as friendly to their respective interests ; yet on the 31st December, 1824, ivhen it was ivell ascertained that a majority of Congress tvere friendly to the Tariffs a flood of light hursts in upon him, and lie vohmteev^ a declaration, mv 15 asked for by Congress, and pot rendered necessary b^ the occasion, '^ that if it be deemed advisable to give in- creased extension or activity to the INavy, or to aid in objects of internal improvements," (tAvo of llKemcst pop- ular topics he could have touched,) " such additional means as were required, might be obtained by a judi- cious revision of the TariC It was then found thsit :^iich a measure " ivithout bc.mg onerous to the commu-. nitjij would be advantageous to the revenue, and leneji- cial to the manufactures of the country.'' It is sufilcientVor me to know, that if Mr. Crawford had felt the measure, (in any view of it,) to have been uncon- constitutionaL or calculated to rob one class of his fel- low citizens, to put into the pockets of another class, he could and would, as an honest patriot attached to sou- thern rights, have said so, crhave intimated it, in such a way, as to have been intelligible, wiihout trenching upon that delicacy possessed by a man of honor, or due to the office he held. If I may be allowed to quote the same kind of author- ity, repeatedly referred to by " the Author" of Mr- Crawford's book, I can aver that I have high authority for saying that Mr. Crawford did Jissure Mr. Baldwin, (whose bill four years ago, was far more objectionable than the bill, as passed by the house at its last session,} that his, (Mr. B's) bill met his approbation, with but some slight revision or modification. This Mr. Bald- win will not deny, and all will recollect that Mr. Bald- win's was avowedly a bill/or_/?i'ofec.#io??, and not a hill for revenue. If Mr. Crawford had not been distinctly understood, at least among tlie Tariff advocates, to be friendly to the scheme, there are oth«r members, now amongst his warmest friends, besides Governor Dicker son, who would not have supported his pretentions to the presidency for a moment. 4. The next objection to Mr. C. in his' office as Se- cretary, is his tceakness — of which, I will give this me- morable instance, that in his annual report of 1820, in marshalling ^'the ways and means" of the nation, he did make an undoubted blunder of about S 3,000,000 against the revenue. His friends were driven to confess this, ilioiigh Mr. C. endeavored to acfeen himself frofsi the imputntioii in iwo or three successive ameadatory it: ports; If this was not a blunder arising from weakness, it must have arisen from desigyi, — A design probably ta cut down the influence of the Array and Navy^, which from their perfect organization, ifcc. were said io be ra- pidly rising in Mr. C's way. Be this as it may. Mi*. C. is driven to one or the other of these alternatives. It could not be the effect ofinattentio}!^ because in hi* subsequent reports, he endeavorsto justify the error. 5. The next objection goes to shew that Mr. Crav.- ford's conduct as Secretary, was illegal and imcanstiti'- tional. I allude to tlic charges preferred by Kinian Ed- wards. For my purpose. Air. Edwards^ character or motive, whether good or bad, is perfectly immaterial, for the truth of the charges do not at all depev^d on his teMimony. The question is as iQ Mr. Crawford's con- duct, and althougli the committee screen bim from cor- rupt inotive, yet they admit some parts of his conduct'^ to have been *^ irregular and dangerous. '' They admit in fact, the truth of the four following essential allegations wluch are established beyond a question, viz : That he received uncui^ent and depreciated paper from the bank of Missouri, and other banks to a larse amo!i:it, when he might have demanded, and it was hi.^ daty to have demanded cash. That in numerous instances, he had made State banks the depositories of public money, and gave them stand- ing deposites to near a million of dollars, without report- ing to Congress any reason for withholding the deposites from the bank of the United States, ivhich the act cf Con- gress positively requires. Tiiat he loaned to several banks in the BitrliJ ; ' L'olunibia, which were under great pressure, large sum;-'^ of pu^dic money v/ithout interest, whilst the government was borrowing money on interest. — That to one a^ the banks of Alexandria, a loan of $ 50,000 or near that sum, was made to enable it to wind up its business, and that this sura is lost to the government. This was hoihunconstitidicnal and illegal: Ttic c-nid 17 these loans were sanctioned hv the President To im plicate tiiis distinguished oilicer in so serious a charge, the nation would require so?«e evidence j of which, not a particle has been offered. But the allegation is utterly urfomided in fact. I need not descant on the alarming na.iiir8 of a prac lice so scrupulously guarded against both by constitu tion and law. If without the sanction of these, an oiii^ cer can. lend the funds of the niition, either to acquire popularity, or from pure benevolence, then every liga ment of confidence which binds the government to the people, is destroyed. The fourth charge admitted by the committee, is that in more tisau one instance, when the secretary was call- ed on to transmit certain information to the House of Re- prejientatives, he suppressed cr kept back, a part of the information clearlv embraced Avitliin the call, and which '«'-?-?! material to a right nndersiaiiding of the subject. I especially refer to documents relating to the case of Af- ricans smuggled into Greorgia. A prosecution against D. B. Mitchell, a friend of Mr. C. v/askept back, until it was too late, as determined by the Judge of the Federal court, under the act of Congress, though Gen. Mitchell, as Indian agent, was subsequent- ly tried for his agency in this transaction, and dismissed from office by the President. (See Mr. Wirt's opinion as attorney general, on Mitchell's case.) I have now mentioned some of the principal objec- tions which at present occur to me against Mr. Crawford as Secretary of the Treasury, with only some of the ma- ny proofs by which they are sustainetl. I have merely mentioned them, because I had neither time nor room, in so hurried a production as this, to recite at large, even those documents within my reach — the most of them are however matters of general concession and notoriety. Again, 11. I object to Mr. Crawford because he is now open- ly su]>ported by his principal friends in Virginia, (who may be presumed to know his private opinions best,) as an enoiiiy to internal improvements, both on the g;roiHid of their infxpediency and n7iconstitutionality 3^ IS * T belio\ e a m vstem af liie kind, iudiciouslv viiid&rtakf n, and enerp;e^)caUy and economiculJij prosecuted, will do iiH)re toiaciiitaie and cliPiisli iaicFiiai coniincrce, enrich the country, render \is iinprcc;Ei:ible in time of Avar, ce- ■mf'wi the various pavfs of the Union, and thereby perpet- uale its libei'lies and ensure its duration, than perhaps any o^her plan that has ever been thought of by our wi- sest patriot!;:. 12. Eecanse I view him as not only unfriendly to a naticaai system of internal improvements, but that his popuisrity so far as it goes, is now priricipally founded on a pledge, that he will, if elected, pursue that JSorf/cf//, creepmg jiolicy, which, €^er fearful of resorting to taxes, woiild cut down our Army even from its present small size, stop our essential foidfications, and impede the pro- gress of our Navy, upon whicii, greatly depeiid our peace, safety and liberty, at almost every crisis of the country, but particularly when the crowned heads of Eu- rope. '• the Holy Alliance'^ arc conspiring against the liberties of mankind, and want only to see us vveak and defenceless, to prostrate the germe of freedom in this hap- py land I Herein is the difference between the policy wiiich 3Ir.. Monroe is pursuing, and has solemnly inculcated in eve- ry message he has delivered, and in v/hich he is heartily secondedby Jackson, Adams, Calhoun, and in truth, all his distiiitiui-rhcd otiiceri^, as well jisthe nation : and the Kadical parfv to whicli Mr. Crawford j.s devoted. The former do not disregard ecorwrni/ — on rhe contrary', true econonvjj is the distinguishii:.': (rait of the administration,, but it 13 that economy Vviiich is founded upon the pep* maneut iustitutions and prosperity of ihe country — which would not hesitate to expend a million this year,, +0 avoid the expenditure of 50 or 100 miUions in a war,, a few ^'t?J:Ti hence, which a weak, inefficient and lluctu- ating policy would invile. That the principal part ofl those devoted to Mr. C. and to which indeed, he w devo- trdy Mould pursue this iluctuatlng, temporising policy ; their conduct for live years back in Congress, will abun- dantly attest. Even the 3'Jilitary Academy at West Pointj the only institution where the all-important ele- 1 19 inenis of ih&i science, whkh AvUi eii:ible uss to defend uur selves, are taught, has been, from session to seMsion, as- sailed by a party of that horror struck, and tax-fearing interest ! The author of Mr. Crawford's book, vvho seeing to h& so puzzled for the definition of Radicalism, may here fairly infer my explanation of it. ^ 13. lobjecUo 1dm because he does liot combine in lii-j favor, any large body of the people — on the contrary^ almost every possible indication daily evinces, that he h less popular than any one of the ( aiididates — certainly far less popular dum two of them. It need not be urged that in a fr'^.e government, it is of vast importance that our Chief Magistrate should be sustained by tlie people to make us prosperous in ])eace, and successful in war. 14. Because being destitute of the refptisite popularity, th<5 artifice of a caucus has been resorted to, to forctt Mr. Crawford upon the nation, in spite of, anil directly against the icill of the peojtlc, and the fundamental prin ciples of our governmeni:. This was not only a Con- greshional caucus, tending to distract the members from their designated duties, and to corrupt their purity, slioukl the dection devolve upon them, but it was a small minority caucus, not warranted even by those dangerous party times, w hich gave rise to other meetings of the same kind, and utterly precluded the idea of aiiy thing like a fair expression of the piiljlic will. The stratagem and combination resorted to in Xew York, to force Mr. C. upon the people of t]:at great state, against the declared voice of the people, are of a kind with the caucus at Washington. 15. Because in despite of our interest, and the solemn Rdmoniiory advice of Washington, Mr. C's friciujs are now exerting themselves toc.-eatean odious and danger- ous jealousy between North, Soiith and West; to sow the seeds of that disaffection wliicli in springing up to maturity, will threaten a dis-union of these happy states ; and this to ensure his popularity at the South. For proofs of this, ? eethe address of a meeting acMil- kdgeville, Geo. im #c 'I'avitl', signed by a committee^ of Sve, with Mr. Joel Cr^v. ,^ord a<- their head, in which 30 (his apiiU orjcaLou.sv in the Soiiili. is iuciiicaied h^ aii:- ji;ation«r that the govenimeiit has disbursed the nationai revenue at the J\'ortIij in almoHt all the public establish merits^ such as the Military Academy, Navy Yards, Armories, &c. in v/hich tiic interests of the South have been disregarded. To excite a jealousy against tlie West, it is more than intimated, that the national funds have been expended tljere, (alluding to the Yellow-stone expedition, kc. up the Missouri, &c.) to favor the West without a due regard to the general good. What ren- ders such efforts more suspicious, is, that they are made at local or sectional meetings at the South, instead of re monstrating in a ilrm and manly way, to the proper or- gan for a remedy of the evils, if audi really exist, Anoihrr memorable proof of this disposition, is offer- ed by Mr. Crawford's book, wherein it is insisted upon, that should Mr. ^Mains be elected, v, e may expect " re- strictions upon state sovereignties, which shall end in the abolition of slavery, by emancipation among us." This assertion is utterly groimdless, for although Mr. Ad- ams is not my favoiite for the Presidency, yet as a mat ler of common justice, I feel bound to state from authori- ty quite satisfactory to my mind, and higher than the writer of this book has given for much he has said, that Mr. Adams was. in heart and hi sentiment, opposed utter- ly to touching, v/Ijai is usually called ^^ the Missouri question.'' I iirmly believe that no man in the Union would be more unwilling to defeat, or in any way, mo- lest that part of our Federal compact which has its bases in a solemn recognition of this population, as it existed at the time of its adoption. Tills "Author" more than once, briwgs to our re- membrance that the Northern and Eastern states, who are, from principle, opposed to slavery, are the most numer- ous^ the strongest. In the name of Heaven then, where is the policy of owr disturbing the question? — Of our ex- citing a premature jealousy against our Northern and Eastern brethren upon this score ! — Our course should be peace and conciliation, not from fear, but from prin- ciple ; relying upon their faith and the plighted faith of ^he nation to do us justice, and if necessary, to protect us 21 in our i?aci'ed rights, — Indeed j 1 have heard a veiy seusi ble gentleman, perhaps as deeply mterested in this spe cies of property as any other, avow it to be our policy to elect a Northern or Eastern President, (he mentioned Mr. Adams,) upon the ground of i:;eneral conciliation and harmony. Let us rely then with a due degree of oonlidence and maananimitv, knowisi^ that the indul- gence of ill-blood, hatred and jealousy, will more than .every other cause, give rise to Missouri questions, and those dangerous and distracting subjects of discord hich may threaten our Union. We have rights which ,m'st be held sacred, and an attempt to irrfringe them, would rally every man, vjoman and child hi the Southern states, around one common standard, for thdv defence. For myself, I have no fears upon this very delicate sub- ject ;* and it is with pain I see it dragged into this dis- , cussion for party purposes, to help a candidate on to the object of his ambition. I am not however, about to enter upon the defence of .Mr. Adams, for if I had time or talent to do so, the char- ges exhibited in Mr. Crawford's book need no defence. He is accused of having been a Federalist, when every Ile/piiblican President^ for more than tv» ency years, has It is a fact which will be remembered by many Soiithren members of Congi-ess, that the most z-alous advocates ot the Missouri restriction, were heartily sick of it, 'before the matter ended. The question anionij tliem, was, -vho should incur the odium of giving ivay, and when a sufficient numbci" did recede^ to carry the 2uestion in our favor, Mr. Sargeant himrelf, the leading speaker on that side, eclarcd that he rejoiced tliat the matter was at rest. The truth is, that the Northern people, by the discussion and progress of that distracting debate, be- came better acquainted with our situation and more thorojighly impressed with a conviction, that the Southern states never would permit their rights to be in- vaded. It is but just to state however, that all the Testvictionists li-om the be- ginning, declared that this was not their object ; and 1 do most conscientiously believe that distant, very distant; will be that dav-, wlien Northern men v/ill have ithe hardihood to attempt disturbing tiie compact which secures our rights. So far from v/ishingto throvs' my countrymen off their guard, I vfould exhort to vigilarice ; — At the same time, however, I would wait to have some evidence upon which, to condemn a distinguished statesman, before 1 would brand him with the charge of animosity to our interests. — I would not raise a quanel with the strongest party about them, before they were assailed. — I would not renew i contest by holding up past jealousies and remembrances, which mipht other- wise, forever be dormant, especially when nu possible good is to be attained by it. (.. I refrain from entering into the many and powetful jeasons, which, upon commercial princljjies, as well as every other, oughtiicw emphatically to unite '.'..«.- 5>t>utiiffn a'dKii:.V;rnEtatf=; ... 22 confined upon him the hii^-hest offices in tiie govenimeMt; as marks of their distinguished confidence^ and this too by the eulogist of a Inan Avliose first known act in politi- cal lifC;, stamped him with the unequivocal test of a Fed- eralist, and who is now endeavoring to gather strength through the agency of Timothy Pickering, H. Ct. Otis, the N. York Evening Post, and other distinguished Fed- eral men and presses. He is accused of being a friend to the Tariff ivithout proof, and when four fifths, per- haps nine tenths of the state which supports him and gave him birth, (I believe I may add of New England generally,) are deeply interested in commerce.^ and di- rectly opposed to exorbitant protecting duties. Neither will 1 be driven into a defence of Gen. Jack- son, the man to wliom /would confide the vessel of state, and who has been so unjustly assailed in the book be- fore me. That lie too, has his imperfections, I am rea- p^y to admit, but I can never be persuaded that it would be^ecessary, in his native state, to defend liim from the assauit* of a writer, whose heaviest charges against him must forever stand as monuments of his decision, wisdom, and due subordination to the laws of his country. I mean the execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister, by which he put an end to the effusions of the blood of our innocent and unoffending women and children, and which he had an unquestionable right to do, both by the laws of God and man ; and the salvation of New Orleans, of the Western country, perhaps of the Union itself, by a temporary declaration of martial law. — By a resort to the great first principle of self preservation, he immortal ized himself by saving a section of country of the most vital importance to the integrity of the whole ; and the moment the necessity for this wise exertion of his energy ceased, he gave one of the most illustrious examples of subordination to, and veneration of the laws of the land, wliich can be found in history. He not only surrender ed himself a prisoner to the civil authority for a neces- sary disobedience to its mandate, but cheerfully paid the fine imposed, though by a single nod, the people would have paid it for hiiii. or have rescued him from the gi-asp of the law. 23 Great, however, as is the debt of gratitude we oweiiim for his marvellous military services, yet I do not support him for the Chief Magistracy upon this ground. His exalted talents, his ardent love of country, the purity of his character, the impartiality with which he would re- gard every part of the continent, the sagacity with which he would select his confidential officers, and above all, the inilexible fidelity with which he would prosecute the •vise and enilghtened course of policy adopted by his distinguished predecessor ; these, I say, furnish the grounds upon which I support his claims to the high of- ilce. Whilst I thus avow my partiality for Jackson, 1 am by no means insensible to the sterling merit, perfect political discipline, great acquirements and talents, and correct principles of Mr. Adams. Should our country deem him best qualified to fill the station, I should rest satisfied, because principles and measures, and not me7i<, are my objects, and I belie^ e Jackson and Adams to be so identified in these cardinal points, that they would both pursue substantially the same political course. — That the nation would receive the advantages of the same enl!i2:hten( d counsels in the event of the success of either the one or the other. There is scarcely a doubt, liowever, but that South- Carolina will continue inflexibly to support her favorite son Jackson ; and although by the political artifice of •'•' the Author,'^ and other partizans of Mr. Crawford, lie^ has lately been shuffled out of the contest, yet every indi- cation of the pu])lic sentiment warns us of his increasing prospects of success. It would indeed be a master- stroke in the game wliich Mr. Crawford is playing, to get the irresistibly increasing popularity of Jackson out of his way, and then to have the easier task of prostrating Mr. Adams by an unfounded jealousy upon the Missou- ri question. This cannot be effected ; for as ^^ the reign of error in South-Carolina,'' according to the author of Mr. Crawford's book, ^^ cannot be terminated in a day,''' so neither can the second saviour of his country, be de throned from the affections of an admiring people, in a day, a year, or even for ages. All the management of the Gumiingest contrivers, cannot blot from a nations grat- ) ■* itude, au ;ibi(ling remembrance of Jackson's services an;^ virtues. If lie ascends to the most exalted station kno v, = . to a republican government, it will be upon the aiiec- tions and supported by the feelings of ten millions of freemen. If Mr. Crawford attains it, I verily believe it will be principally by the combined a£;ency of political managers and anxious expectants of office, directij against the wishes and feelings of the great bulk of ih people. As noticed in the outset, I intended to confine mysel* simply to a specification of the objections against Mj Crawford. The reader will iind an apolos;y for thr-. slight departure made, in the nature of tb€ subject^, anrS the complexion of some of the changes so artfuily mad - by '' the author of the address.*^ I trust I shall be ex cused in a few remarks in answer to that part of it, which stigmatizes South- Carolina as being obnoxious to th^ charges of *'' iincertaintyinj^oliticsJ' and subs^ittlng t'. ^' the reign of error. '^ The words of "the autijOT," are " had our vigilence been av/akened upon the lir;-;- display of such a departure from repui)iican principles . So t.itJi- Carolina ivould not now be charged with imcer taintij ofj)olitics. To return to tliemis perhaps liot now practicable. The reign of error is not so evanescent ft/ fo hp. terminated in a day.'^ &c. Let every honest South -Carolinian, freeing 5^;: ci; irom passion and prejudice, ask hoiv a.nd ivheti did om state make this departure from Republican principles P Was it in the election and support of Mr. Jefferson, of Mr. Madison, and of Mr. Monroe, and their respective administrations? Was it in an indignant resentment of the injuries inflicted on us by Great Entain and France previously to 1812, which had nearly reduced us to a second state of colonization, or the ardent zeal and iin yielding firmness with which we supported the late war, whicli grew out of these injuries ? Have we departed from the true faiths laid ourselves onen to the char£:e ' of an certainty in politics,^' or submitted to " a reign of err-or,^- because v/e have heartih^ sanctioned and sup- ported the leading measures of Mr. Monroe's policy. hich are based upon the experience of the late eventfuj 25 iv ar, and consecrated by tlie hloQcl of our best citizens f Here^ my brethren of South Carolina, we intleed find ^^ the liead and IVonL of our oHending." We have seen that Mr. Crawford opposed some im- portant points even of Mr. Jciierson's policy — of Mr, Madison's, and that he has been gradually diverging from Mr. Monroe, and in many instances, directly op- posed to him, (judging from his inseparable friends and parfcizans.) although he had a seat in his counsels. His friends openly declared tiiis administration wasteful, ex- travagant, and anli-republican, and here !>as risen up a writer within three moaths of the next presidential elec- tion, Substantially claimisig for Mr. Crawford the bene- fit of these allegations, and denouncing South-Carolina SiS heretical, '' uncertain ^'^ and subject to ^' a reign of e^rroVf-^ because she disbelieved them,. and stedfastly supported Mr. Monroe. Carolina has no such blind or idolatrous veneration for any ?nan, as has, or ever ivill lead her to sacrijice princijjles. It is her lofty devotion to principles, which has led this writer to single iier out from that part of the politicians of two of her sister states, Virginia and Georgia, who have acted from more fluctu- ating and grovelling political views, and who are devoted to Mr. Crawford ! — Who distrusting the virtue of the people, and without looking at the true principle of econ- omij, viz. whether the measures proposed, are calculated to ensure the peace, liberty, and pros})erity of the coun- try, would discard them uilder the paltry fear that the people might be taxed. If I were asked, what are and have been the politics of South- Carolina, now denounced as un certain and er- roneous, I would proudly appeal to the policy of Wash- ington, of JeJSerson, of Madison, and of Monroe, for a solution of the question, and demand to be informed in what instance she had infrinsred or come short ?^ — I would more especially refer to the proud monuments of Mon- roe's wisdom, because they are fotinded upon that uni- vernal touchstone which tests every thing human, and because the supposed error for which our state is denoanc?A lias arisen from a rigid tind fearless adher- ence to that policy^ although it lias led to ihe rejecr- •46 tion of Mr. Crawford.- Can any one in hk senses^ be lieve that we should be held up aHJl'ichiatijig, uncertainy and prrnrieousiw polUu s : if wo had united v. ilh Virgin' ia and fxeorgia in support of him. Avho may be emphati- cally termed 'Mho lladical candidate."" Yea, "the very chief of the Radicals?" In referring to the inau- gural speeches and annual messages of Mr. Monroe, for a fair text of Carolina politics, I cheerfully suhniit to the nation how far that text may have received a just and ap- propriate commentary from the labors of Lowndes, Cal- houn, Cheves, McDuffie, Hayne, and other sons, iden- tified with her rise, clierished in her growth, and endear- ed to her by eN cry principle which can bind faithful agents to an admiring people. If iliey have been true and consistent — so has been Carolina. If they, (who have lived to practice virtue and adorn humanity,) have adhere.d to the Rppuhlican standard ; so has Carolina, and thus she stands exonerated from the charges of un- certahity unA error. The truth is, that these imputations against us, are of a piece with tJiat, in the same hook, which charges upon the oificer* of the administration, a coalition among them selves, Wd with Gen. Jackson, unjustly and uufairly lo defeat the election of Mr. Crawford. What an auda- cious and afiVontiijg charge ! I would hope that there is not a considerate man in tlie nation, who would not re- pel it. One fact 1 will frankly admit, and that is, that they are all opposed to his political elevation ; but oppo- sed /ram j?rmc?/?/e, and not by coalition. They are op- posed just as the most of those illustrious men,. dra^Au from various parts of the Union and lit to fill such high stations, would be opposed to him, if collected together. Is it wonderful tiiat they should oppose his election, wiien the people, in at least, 22 out of 24 states oppose it ? This is shewn by the convocation of thousands, almost daily, from one end of the continent to the other, speak- ing the strongest language in favor of Jackson or Adams, whilst we find but very few meetings, and those very fcmall, in favor of Mr. *C. — Strange fdca indeed, that be cause there is a very general opposition to him, and be cause Jackson, Adami^, Calhoun, McLean, Wirt, aii4 Southard J (names sacrqd to vii'lii« inid iiben,y_,) are ali opjjosed to liim ; there must necessarily be an iinprin.- cipied coalition to defeat him ! It augurs badly of the 7nan and of the cause, that there is so unauimious an op- position among characters so high and so pure. It au- gurs badly that even in Georgia^ his adopted state, the legislature at its last session, and upon a direct question, refused to intrust the people with the election of electors. Is it strange that South- Carolina should be opposed to such a man ? Is it marvellous that she should be opposed to a man, who has attained a very high distinction, without even having furnislied any act or measure, laying a just foun- dation for such destine ion? Thus have I, (contrary to my first intention.) made a few remarks in direct application to some of the points urged in the book, and presented my objections to Mr. Crawford as a statesman. They prove him in his outset, untrue to the Republi- 'an party; from which he now claims confidence as the pxdusive friend — that he was inimical to a Navy — that lie retired to ?i foreign court during the war, when the most devoted exertions of our patriot statesmen were re- quired at home — that immediately after, he ambitiously aspired to the Executive Department of the Nation against Monroe, when not thought of by the Nation — that he has been wavering, hidden, and feeble in his ofiiciai course, illegally and unconstitutionally loaning the pub- lic money — contumaciously resisting the authority of the House of Representatives of Congress ; both in refusing. to report on a subject of vital importance, and to yield documents and information required of him — that he is inimical to Southern interest under tiie specious guise of being its only friend — against the great internal improve- ments of the nation — devoted to a policy which, under the supposed popular pretext of saving money, would neglect and prostrate the defences of the country, invite fore}s;n aggression, and' waste our lives and treasure.— Disposed to infiame the South against the JsToi'th, to Mnite the Southern States in his favour, just before the Presidential election ^ and finally, withput that popular- iiy neceH55«ry in a republican government to exalt Lin to the object of his ambition, a cducns and other artifu es with the agency of some of the most leadirta; JS'ci'thei'y federalists and presses are resorted to, to seat him ii power, against the first idea and true spirit of a rcpubi Dean government, the will of the people. If either passion, prejudice, or a want of correct iu^ formation, 7na7j have have carried me too far on some* foints, the error has been inmitentionaL In the mahVf am sure I cannot be mistaken, for I have for years been a close observer of his political course. I have careful^ ly refrained from intermeddling with those objectioE^^ against him, which have split the State of Georgia intcj two great, and nearly equally divided parties, for a se ries of years. The writer of his book urges that ^' he is> amiable, honest and intelligent, (it is conceived means,) in jtrivate life. If it be so, let him enjoy th€8( full benefit of such a reputation. I shall not go to Geoi?|' gia, the scene of his early aspirations, and contests, i disturb the question. It is as a politician alone that have viewed him. It would have been well, had thi task fallen on other hands, for added to a want of prope qualiiications, I have not had an opportunity of even copying a production, intended in the outset, only as on or two numbers in the public prints. It is still hope that an abler pen will undertake, in a more enlarged an critical form, such a duty. It is true, I did not, noif do I now, suppose that an answer to tlie book, Avould| be at all necessary to guide, or in any way to iniiuenc^- or alter the vote of South- Carolina. A fact, of which • the writer himself seems to despair. But I reg-arded it as due to the honor and elevated republican principles j:; of my native state, so far as I could, to vindicate her or thodoxy, and to give condensation and point to h^r hon est objections to the Georgia candidate. In fine,* to evinc^ to c;;.r sister states, that deeply r.s we are charged to b involved in error and delusion, and uncertain as r->ny b our politics, we have sagacity enough to tell when au un fit candidate presents himself for our approval, and firm ness and nationality enough to reject him in despite o a party appeal made to our prejudices and jealousies a Southern men, A SOUTH- CAROLINIAN. S9 ^ 'o , . * G^ "^ ♦TXT* A tf 'o . » * 0^ U ^ ^^ oV/M\^* \;^-\/ %-^*/ v^'s/ 0^ :' -•^\o'^ ^'-^^^ *,