144

REPORTS AND PUBLIC LETTERS.

However beset by difficulties we may be, in sustainingthe great cause of constitutional liberty, we see much tocheer and impel to perseverance. We stand on the rock oftruth and principle,—and have the highest assurance, fromthe spirit of the times, that, if we faint not, we must finallytriumph. Look where we will, we shall find the spirit ofinquiry abroad, and a growing intelligence spreading in everydirection, which no injustice or oppression, however artfullyconcealed, or deeply intrenched, can evade or resist. Whenwe see one of the leading nations of the world, under itsauspices, expelling from his ancient and hereditary throne, apowerful monarch, surrounded by a numerous standing army,for the violation of its charter,—it would be in us pusillani-mous and shameful to despair of the Cause of the Con-stitution.

LETTER

To General Hamilton on the subject of State Inter-position.

Fort Hill, August 28/A, 1832.

My dear Sir — I have received your note of the 31st J uly,requesting me to give you a fuller development of my viewsthan that contained in my address last summer, on the rightof a State to defend her reserved powers against the encroach-ments of the General Government.

As fully occupied as my time is, were it doubly so, thequarter from which the request comes, with my deep convic-tion of the vital importance of the subject, would exact acompliance.

No one can be more sensible than I am that the ad-dress of last summer fell far short of exhausting the subject.