[from the Mobile Register.]
a Precious Relic.
Through the courteous attention of a friend, are enabled to lay before the readers of the Register a letter, which, from the name of the writer and that of the recipient, as well as from its contents, will be perused with interest in every section of the country.
To the est of our knowledge this letter has never been published; and as we print it from the graph, we can vouch both for its genuine and correctness.
What grander epitaph bed to the memory of the lamented lading than this patriotic blessing to the dy ng Calhoun?
What more fearful castigation could be administered to the leader of the Abolition cohorts than this portrait of him by one of the purest and most distinguished men of his own State?
The speech of the great South Carolinian which called forth this earliest response from the friend and collaborator of Washington living, and one of the pioneers of American literature, was his last and greatest effort on the political stage, uttered when the tide of his glorious life was fast sinking to its and when the faltering body refused to support the weight of that great mind.
Mr. Paulding's letter reached him on his death bed, only a few days before his dissolution.
I have received and read your speech with the deepest interest and attention. It traces the present crisis to its source, and points out the means of avoiding its consequences with perfect clearness, without passion. It appeals to our reason, and asks only justice. It will not perhaps be so much praised as some others; but hereafter when its prediction will be fulfilled, as I presume they will be ere long, you will be quoted as one who foretold the danger, and pointed out the only means by which it could be avoided. It gives me pleasure to see that you take the same ground, with one exception, which I assumed in a pamphlet I had prepared on the same subject, but for which I could find no publisher. I was also desirous of publishing a second edition of a work of mine on slavery. now out of print but was met by the same oust The literary as well as the political press is enthralled in the North and Audi altarrem parism becomes an obsolete maxim. If you will permit me, I will suggest to you a doubt of the policy as well as efficacy of the guarantees you propose for the future safety of the South, which will be equally denounced with the Constitution as "violations of the law of God and the rights of nature by the fanatics. They will be but burnt flax in the fiery furnace. I mention this, because it would seem that several of the representatives of the South are not prepared to go with you to that extent; and, as I have formerly stated. I think unanimity of the last consequence to the South. It astonishes me to see the distinction of parties still kept up in that quarter, and that when such momentous interests are at stake instead of embarking to a man in one bottom, each one his own plank and paddles away in different directions. I cannot express the contempt and disgust with which I have to read the speech of our Senator, Seward, though it is just what I expected from him. He is one of the most dangerous insects that ever crawled about in the political atmosphere, for he is held in such after contempt by all honest men that no notice is taken of him till his sling is felt. He is only qualified to play the most despicable parts in the political drama, and the only possible way he can acquire distinction is by becoming the tool of greater scoundrels than himself. Some years ago, after disgracing the State of New York as Chief Magistrate, he found his lowest depths of insignificance and oblivion, and was dropped by his own party. But the mud has been lately stirred at the very bottom of the pool, and he who went down a mutilated tadpole has come up a full-grown bullfrog, more noisy and impudent than ever. This is very often the case among us here, where nothing is more common than to see a swindling rogue, after his crimes have been a little rusted by time, suddenly become an object of popular favor of executive patronage. The position taken and the principles asserted by this pettifogging rogue in his speech would disgrace any man — but himself. I fear it will not be long before we of the North become the tools of the descendants of the old Puritans, who had the most remote idea of the principles of civil liberty and no conception of religious toleration, but the most unrelenting in tolerance. The despotism of persons is taking of Kings; and the gown and the petticoat have conspired to usurp the breaches. Our freedom is in great danger of being sacrificed to texts of Scripture, and fanatical dog man; the Twelve Tables are becoming our law, and we shall be obliged to study the Pandects of Leviticus. I fear, too, you will be tempted to trespass too much on your strength in defending yourselves from your foes and friends. Let me beg you to hear in mind that at your age and mine, nature is not often strong enough to make more than one rally, and that every successive effort is productive not of vigor, but exhaustion. Remember that in all probability the future will require your exertions, as well as the present. I rejoice to hear the favorable opinion of your physicians. Don't trouble yourself to reply.
