A Letter From Old Ironsides

Considering my position as an officer under the control of the National Government, bound by a solemn oath to support the Constitutiou upon which this Union is based, a sense of delicacy and prnpriety would have prevented ma trom mixing with the great assem blage of our free, sovereign, and indepondent people upon the occasion rel'erred to ; but to the honorable use of my name in the manner proposed by you, I could havo interposed no objection, if, in your opinión, t carried with it aid of your efiorts to nulüfy nillification, such as dares, now, to threaten a' íeVéraaee of the bond of union which holdu this vast empire of the Western quadrature oí this vvorld together. For morethan sixly years of national service under the Union of these Sthtes, I have held it as a maxitn that the honor of an officer in his country's pervice pledged his fidelity to his constitulional oath, togatLer with his entire obedience to all laws passed by Congress, or orders issued by proper au thority in conformity with the Constitution under which he serves ; as also the exercise oí a sound discretion and delibérate judgment in all jaes vvhere ihe security of lives and property en trusted to his eire is invuived, giving at the same time, due and delibérate re fleotion, before acting, upon any mat ter arising within his control, which perchance, might be circumscribed bv international law or by the honor or interest of his country. These, gentlemen of the Committee of Councils, have ever been mv guiding stars during that long career of public service ; and, although in that length of time rnany occasions have arisen wherein the application oí this rule for my seli-government becamo necessary, with confidence I assen that notwithstanding error of judgment, negligenee of duty, or indiiference to any or al! of them, the finger of history cannot point to a single inetance wherein I havo failed to accomplish them in a íull, fair, and satisfuctory manner. Asa nativeof this city, on the cali of my fellow-citizens, had my views been essential to what I might deern just, honorable, and patriotic, I should have advised a roudition, not only to the South, but to all the States, of a íull, fair and conslitutional redress of' all grievances of which they had a just right to complain, on their relinquishment of oppressive or mutinous proceedings founded on the action of any State whatever, and a restoration to the charter anieles of the Consiitution inything of which they may have been deprived through a vicious, urifaii-, or latitudinous construct'on ot thatinsiruïnent, or revisión of the Consiitntion iteelf, whioh eo cloFely bind together myriads of the human family - seeking under it, all their rights in pursuit of honor, welfare, and huppiness. As an important nation, we should bear in mind that, through the imporfection of human nature, no oom inalion, even of the rnost proound and virtuous minds, can arrive at perfection ; and that all diffiüulties and dangera oannot, ïa a first essay in forjting a code for the perpetuity and sWility of a bond of fraternal brotherhood and union, bo toreseen and provided for in so extensiva a community of power ; and our own un fort un ate experence may toach U8 iu future that no compromisos will ever prove to be a correcti re for wrongs done or muditated. My voioe is tnillions for the redres.s of just gnavanoe.s, but not onü cent for inaginury ones. I have the honor tobe yourobodient servant and fellowtownsu.an, Chas. Stewart. W. Bkadfoed, Esq., Chairman. Phila.