The Radical

NULLIFICATION
SOUTH CAROLINA NOT IN AMERICA.--In Mr. Featherstonaugh's addition to the series of Trollope and Fiddler's antics in America, there is the following picture of political society behind the curtain in South Carolina:

"Our party consisted of some gentlemen of the place, Dr. Cooper, and a few professors belonging to the college. Some of them were very intelligent men, and hearty in their manners. What particularly struck me at this dinner, was the total want of caution and reserve in the ultra opinions they expressed about religion and politics: on these topics their conversation was not at all addressed to me, but seemed to be a repetition of the opinions they were accustomed to express whenever they met, and upon all occasions. A stranger, dropped in among them from the clouds, would hardly have supposed himself among Americans. The language they used and the opinions they expressed were so diametrically opposed to the self-laudatory strain they too generally indulge in when speaking of their country or themselves. It was quite new to hear men of the better class express themselves openly against a Republican Government, and to listen to discussions of great ability, the object of which was to show, that there never can be a good government if it is not administered by gentlemen. Not having shared in the conversation, I ventured at one time to name Mr. Madison, at whose house I was in the habit of making a stood visit, as a person that would have ranked as a gentleman in any country: but I was immediately stopped by a declaration that he was a false hypocritical disorganizer--that he was one of their favorites of the sovereign people, and one of the worst men the country could produce. At a period of less excitement such a sentiment would not have been tolerated: and I could not but attribute their present pique against this eminent statesman to the inflexible opposition he had given to nullification, which went to destroy the efficacy of the constitution he had been one of the principal framers of. A short time after, something very extravagant having been said, I could not help asking, in a good natured way, if they called themselves Americans yet? The gentleman who had interrupted me before said, if you ask me if I am American, my answer is, No sir. I am a South Carolinian."

Although Mr. Featherstonaugh is a doubtful witness in any thing that concerns the United States, there is an air of verisimilitude in the concluding part of this anecdote which entitles it to credit. The truth is, that the tone of the "chivalry" has for years past been such as to shake general confidence in their patriotism. Like Gen. Hamilton they will die for sugar. But we look in vain to them for any enlarged sympathy with the whole country. South Carolina is their land. A pity it is, that all who think so, could not congregate in one corner of the State, and by some genteel earthquake, be separated from the continent and floated into mid ocean, there to exclaim in very truth, "we are not Americans, we are South Carolinians."

The riddance would doubtless be grateful to all parties.--Phil. North Amer.