We may exclude them from our territory, as we do persons
infected with disease. Such is the situation of our country. We have
most abundant resources of happiness within ourselves, which we may
enjoy in peace and safety, without permitting a few citizens, infected
with the mania of rambling and gambling, to bring danger on the great
mass engaged in innocent and safe pursuits at home. In your letter to
Fisk, you have fairly stated the alternatives between which we are to
choose: 1. licentious commerce and gambling speculations for a few, with
eternal war for the many; or, 2. restricted commerce, peace, and steady
occupations for all. If any State in the Union will declare that it
prefers separation with the first alternative, to a continuance in union
without it, I have no hesitation in saying, 'Let us separate.' I would
rather the States should withdraw, which are for unlimited commerce
and war, and confederate with those alone which are for peace and
agriculture. I know that every nation in Europe would join in sincere
amity with the latter, and hold the former at arm's length, by
jealousies, prohibitions, restrictions, vexations, and war. No earthly
consideration could induce my consent to contract such a debt as England
has by her wars for commerce, to reduce our citizens by taxes to such
wretchedness, as that laboring sixteen of the twenty-four hours, they
are still unable to afford themselves bread, or barely to earn as much
oatmeal or potatoes as will keep soul and body together.
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