Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-16

WWTTUT, NIlI9FFI, tUG VVNOIWTTONN,
affixed his official sanction, and thus nnequivo-
caily svowed that lie believed il not only not
" doubtfHi." or q dangerous. but that il ,rcs
constitutional. aud Necessary TO the public
good. Where are the arguments which prove
this law -tottihed by SO many sanctious-to be
unconstitutional In the Enquirer we look for
them in vain. Who has satisfactorily answered
the arguments OF the Supreme Court Shall we
seek an answer in the defamation ~ iHveciive
with which thar opinion has been assailed /.
More powerful weapons mist be used To over
turn ITS reasoning. aud destroy the confidence
OF the people, (tae great body OF them we
mean,) IN ats correctness. Let The act IN
question. then. be admitted 10 be one OF which
the enlightened mep of onr country differ in
opinion what more can be made OF the con-
cession. than that il Is doubtful case precise
~ such one, as according 10 Mr. Madison's
report, does not call upon the individual states
totuterfere. We therefore, respectfully ask
she Enquirer TO review IT'S decision, and Il IL
still abide by the principles OF the Virginia re-
solutions, see, ifit can then conscientiously
pronounce this case one which can fairly call
for the solemn resort, jus,ihabe only in - pdipu
Oh" plum, undoubted," p" .Rdgrant" usurpa-
tons OF authority.
We hare reviewed" orr opinion-bui
there is not one atom i'll the heresies of
the National iDteliigencerto change tina,
opinion. We must contue tit seems) the
Report of The General Assembly to such
cases onlyas admit no doubt'-and where
there a coBtrariety ofopinion, (it seems,)
there is to be doubt and OF course, the
state authorities are not TO interpOse in
such cases.
. Did The Intelligencer think for one mo
ment upon this definition fine had, he
would have seen that il is not the sense
in which the Virginia Assembly under.
stood their own doctrine, Judging from
their o'cn acts and that il is such soc.
iriDe as would indeed be of very little
use, except TO the usurper himself.
How did the Legislature understand
their own doctrine ! Look at their acts
Look at the state of things when This
Report was uShered TO the world. The
Alien and Sediton Laws had been sad
died upon the country. They had been
passed by both branches of Congress.
signed by the President, carried into
execution by the Judiciary, supported
by innumerable pens and presses, and
eulogized by many public bodies Of the
people. Was there then no doubt in
these cases, according TO this silky def
milton Yet this was not all. The Vir
ginia resolutions of '9S, denouncing these
laws, had themselves been denounced BY
the legislatures OF many OF the other
states. That of Rhode Island had " de-
clared that these laws are within The
powers delegated 10 Congress, and pro-
motive of the welfare Of the u. States"
Those OF Massachusetts. ofConnccticut,
| of New York, of New Hampshire, Yer
mont and Delaware reprobaied the con
duct of Virginia i'm the harshest terms
They held The consiltulionality of these
| laws TO be undoubied. New Hampshire
declared that their cunsiituiionaliiy had
been very ably advocated and cieariy
| demonstrated by many citizens of The u.
STATES. more especially by the minority Of
The General Assembly of Virginia" And
the whole matter appeared so plain and
| paipa6Le 10 Massachusetts, that in the
resolutions of her legislature, 1t is
holden TO be truth mast ciear, that the
| important trusts Committed to the ditfer
ent departments OF The governmcnD eau
not be discharged by the government 10
which they are COMMITTED, without the
power TO restrain or punish SeiitiOnS prGc-
| t'c9s and unlawful combinations against
itself, aud To protect The officers thereof from
| dbus,,e Interpretations" Yet nuiwith
| standing this sweeping declaration, iht
! republican party have been in power ioi
Is years, without sedllion law But not
| w.thstanding these doubts (if we look Will
the 1ntelllgeucer TO cOntrariety of senti-
menis,) Notwithstanding the legislature
| OF Virginia and Kentucky at first aImost
stood alone: Notwithstanding the Virgi-
| MIA House of Delegates itself was divided
upon this Report, in the proportion OF
100 10 60; yet what did our Assembly
Did they shrink back from their duty
because others differed with ihem?. :.
Did they say. though We have no Doubts
though these laws appear 10 US plain anc
| paipable lnfraciIons OF the constitution; YET
there are many Others who Apr we The MI
aud therefore WE must not raise oui
| voices in defence of The constitution
No; they did not say so. THEY die
their dniy like men. THEY breasted
the torrent of popular delusiOn and ~
one Of the darkest days of the republic
they uttered what they thought TO be thu
truth and their arguments were reflected
back III The convictions of the people,
THEY did not then adopt the views OF ilt
lntelligencer. Had its tame and accom-
| modatiug definitions been prea ched VI
! To them and adopted at that day, lha
| glorious report; would never have burs
upon the world. Had the Intelligence
| preached then as il does now, il nigh
have said, "Do mi interpose respectful,
alien and sedtion laws; forpubIic opinion
has decidedly approved them; najorily
Of The most enlightened and patriotic citl
zens have upon their oaihs declared tha
they believe them 10 be constitutional
Others differ from YOU, aud therefor,
though these laws appear 10 you plaiI
and palpable breaches of tie constitution
| yet you must give up vOur own cOnvic
lions, and remain profoundly SILENT
But no, thanks 10 that illustrious Assem-
bly,, this is not the way in which The,
understood their principles. They spokt
what they believed Ia be truth. Thry
denounced those acts which appeared {,
them 10 he a deliberate, palpable ant