Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

The speech of Governor Vanderhorst to the legislature of South-Carolina, containing much political wisdom and many truly federal and patriotic sentiments, we have pleasure in giving some extracts therefrom. It is much to be regretted by the friends of our union that such a chief magistrate should be about to retire from his office.

"The constitutional right of Congress to lay and collect taxes and duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and welfare, has been hitherto very moderately exercised, and has extended little further than commercial imposts and duties on imported articles. But it cannot be ascertained how our future exigencies and necessities may call for other resources and lead to more direct taxation, in spite of all that strict economy and prudent management which have pervaded every department of government.

We should, therefore, endeavor to anticipate that period, and place ourselves, by a timely diminution of our state debt, in a situation to answer and defray: with suitable alacrity and ability, our proportion of taxes to the general government, and not permit the pressure of them, cooperating with a heavy state debt, to be the source of disaffection and discontent towards that union from which so many prosperous consequences have already resulted, and on which we must continue to depend for every political blessing and security.

"The events of the present war, raging among other nations, have evinced of what high importance to the peace and prosperity of the American States, and to the averting from them war, the greatest scourge of the human race is the establishment and support of an efficient general government.

"While nations have been involved in the fiercest and bloodiest contests that have ever afflicted and desolated the world, with some of whom we had treaties of amity and commerce; with others were in the habits of constant commercial intercourse; it was extremely difficult to avoid being drawn into a participation of their warfare.

"The maintenance of freedom from all foreign influence, wisdom to discern, and firmness to resist all the arts and cabals of designing emissaries; a sacred regard to the plighted faith of treaties, a rigid adherence to the laws of nations, and steady observation of the rights and obligations of neutrality, were essentially requisite, to avoid giving umbrage to the belligerent powers, and exciting their resentment and enmity.

"This wise conduct and just policy have hitherto not only saved us from all the horrors of war, but have enabled us to reap abundantly the advantages which may result to commercial nations from a state of neutrality.

"While violent commotions and rude storms have furiously assailed, and shook to their centre, and menaced the subversion of old and flourishing empires, our infantine States have been gaining solidity and stability, and have rapidly progressed to opulence and grandeur. Could that conduct, and those rules and regulations of the executive of the United States, achieving such great and salutary objects, have been so uniformly and firmly adopted and executed by the separate governments of the United States?

"This happy experience ought to impress indelibly on us all, the expediency of union and of a general efficient government, and how impolitic and dangerous it would be for any individual state to enter into any measures, that may interfere with the general system, or prevent that cordial and assiduous concert and co-operation, which must give to it due action and energy.

"The general government of the United States, must be to that of particular states, as the sun to the planets, the centre of their attraction and motion, around which, although within their own orbits, they must incessantly revolve, receiving, reflecting, and diffusing warmth, energy, and splendor.

"The inland navigation and public roads claim, and are entitled to, your best attention and warm patronage. The great progress made towards the completion of the canal between the Santee and Cooper rivers, and which, in all probability, will be finished in the course of the ensuing year, with its other extensive benefits, promises vast advantages to the agriculture and commerce of the western parts of the state, and not only evinces the practicability of similar ones, but points out the expediency and utility of making navigable the rivers and improving the roads leading thereto.

"In the discussion of these and all other matters which may be the subjects of your deliberation and debates, I trust that your zeal will be tempered by candor, and that your minds will continue free of the spirit of party, or any improper jealousies.

"I need not more than remind you, that in the abrogating or altering of old systems or laws, great care and circumscription are requisite; and that as innovations are frequently full of danger, and seldom to be produced without disorder, they ought not to be rashly attempted, or upon slight grounds, without necessity, or very important reasons.

"I also beg leave to bring to your frequent recollection and observation, many of the important political truths and salutary maxims contained in the address, which our great and good President published to his fellow-citizens, in declining to become a candidate for the Presidential chair, announcing his resolution to retire into the walks of private life."