Gazette Of The United States

From the South Carolina State Gazette.

LET me publicly challenge the "Constituent" to adduce even a solitary instance of a tendency to anarchy and disorganization having occurred in the upper part of the state. Has justice been barred by lawless riot? Have the doors of the courts been closed by licentious opposition? Have the public officers been prevented from discharging their respective duties by licentious opposition? Has the collection of taxes been wantonly checked? Did the reform association—that establishment so much calumniated and hated—inculcate disorganization or recommend tumultuary violence, should its laudable measures be defeated? Come forward, thou confident asserter of "airy nothings," and substantiate your charge. It is as black as Erebus—as gloomy as the grave. Vague assertions and interested misrepresentations will not be admitted: adduce proofs: bring testimony: reply, if thou canst, to the subsequent questions: In what district have symptoms of "anarchy and disorganization" appeared? In what part of the state has disorder "paralyzed" government, and confusion rendered the "administration of the laws irregular"? Can you lay your hand on your heart, and, in this presence of God, declare, that these deplorable evils have occurred, or were even likely to occur? You cannot. You will not have the hardihood to attempt it. Why then do you wantonly charge the upper country with such dreadful views? Why represent us to the feelings of our fellow citizens, and to our sister states, as odious and abhorrent, disposed to tumult, and impatient to plunge into a sea of anarchy? By misrepresenting the disposition of the upper country, you have tarnished the fair name of the state. By styling your western fellow-citizens "anarchists and disorganizers," you have affixed a blight on republican virtue, and the freedom of political discussion has received a deep wound through our sides. To whom ought the humiliating epithets of "anarchist and disorganizer" so be applied? To the man who, by his writings or actions, spreads the seeds of dissension and excites the spirit of domestic hostility. Common decency prohibits me at present, from making the proper application. When will slander cease to scatter its poisonous darts? When will the abhorred distinction of upper and lower country be obliterated? When will citizen uniting with citizen, co-operate in effecting the most essential objects, mutual confidence, public happiness, and the private virtues.

The "Constituent" conceives-"Carolinensis" to be the worshipped "idol" of the upper country, pronounces him to be the sole author of the Reform association, and declares, that he was influenced principally by motives of personal aggrandizement. It will not be denied by his most inveterate enemies, that "Carolinensis" is a man of extensive talents, eminent in his profession, and qualified to be a valuable member of society. Inheriting from nature a fine genius, and enjoying all the advantages of a liberal education, his first appearance at the bar opened the fair prospect of rising eminence. His active mind is eminently suited to those most enlarged views, as well as the most minute details of his profession. Studious, persevering and ambitious, he is still adding to the vast fund of knowledge that he already possesses; and should no unfortunate dereliction from prudence or consistency of conduct occur, he will make, at some future period, a distinguished figure on the political theatre of his country. With a faculty of thinking, uncommonly vigorous and lively, with a flow of eloquence peculiarly elegant and spirited, with a voice full of melody, and a delivery truly graceful, he has advanced with gigantic strides, to importance in the line of his profession, in defiance to a combined influential opposition, and has rendered himself, at present, the marked object of public attention. Is it then surprising, that "Carolinensis," possessing such brilliant talents, should render himself popular in the upper country? His professional pursuits afforded him an excellent opportunity to display his abilities, and his general conduct was calculated to conciliate esteem. Was it criminal in "Carolinensis" to enjoy all the advantages resulting from his well-earned popularity, and to aspire to appointments of public trust and distinguished honor? Certainly not. Ought the citizens of the upper country to be called "dupes" to his ambition, because they co-operated with him in a measure, in which he warmly engaged, and which involved the most valuable rights of freemen? The idea is ridiculous. Ought we to be represented prostrating ourselves before this supposed "idol," and in humble adoration offering him our "worship," because we were disposed to patronize his merit? The representation is disgusting. It is with difficulty that my indignation can be restrained, when arguments of this kind are adduced to calumniate a particular individual, and insultingly degrade a respectable part of the state in the estimation of their fellow-citizens. As long as "Carolinensis" continues to adhere to those principles which he has hitherto professed, so long will he receive the approbation of his constituents. But should the day arrive, when he will basely abandon those principles, and become the interested tool of a faction, or the lavish advocate of a party, his popularity will be prostrated to the dust. The pedestal on which he now stands, will be broken to pieces, and he will "fall like Lucifer, never to rise again."

A NINETY SIX CONSTITUENT.