Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-03-31

Y
energies and holding the purse, strings ct
any considerable portion of the people. Ii
| then indeed is the fearful meeting OF
Greek e. Greek" & as il is an opposition
without law, il is TOO apt TO GO beyond The
eoatrcul and the correction of the law. IL
this country, and under this contedera'ed
government, held together by no other tie
| than that which arises from the harmony
| aud affections of the people, such state OF
things ough, in particular TO be deprecated.
I live love the Union, ii we involve in the
smailes. degree, the political blessings,
| which our fathers have handed down TO US,
we should look TO hostililies between the
state and general governments, as the worst
of evils, and the las: resort Of violated right.
And happily for US, Sir, the constitution un-
der which we live, has rendered such re-
sort unnecessary, By furnishing the people
themselves with the most abundant means
for forcibly correcting svery evil, TO which
its operations may expose them. ii ii he
vested in the constitution itself. amendment
is always in their power. II it proceed
from legislative encroacbmen ts, their ben
NAL elections, will correct the abuse, ana
restore item 10 their rights. The elective
franchise too may be made TO reach the ex-
ecuive. and even the judiciary departments.
Or if in relation to..h EN- it should be con-
sidered too slow in its operations, the mere
summary process of impeachment is at
hand; and can never fail to be efectuaI,
while the people are true to themselves.
know Sir il will be said, that serious op-
position to the general government, is not
intended, and freely confess that | do not
apprehend it, as the immediate consequence
Of the adoption OF these resolutions. But
you are laying the foundation for it. You
are encouraging spirit, which, sooner or
later, must bring you to it. You surely
cannot mean to continue forever the prac-
tice of thus formally protesting against the
violation OF your rights. Protests are the
language OF imbecili,y; they are the " Sim
belle telum" of those, who have not
strength to WELD more powerful weapons.
They may excite pity, but can never com
mand either respect or admiration. The
character Of Virginia then forbids NE TO ex-
pect that you are TO stop here. And | see
no poin, beyond that to which you have al
ready gone, but open and direct opposition
TO tb. government Of your country, and the
laws OF the land.
But suppose that am mistaken. Sup
pose as the friends OF these resolutions tell
Us, they are designed merely 10 warn the
people and the states. of the silent, regular
and determined encroachments Of the gen.
eral government. Are there no evils TO re-
suit from such course? Is I nothing that
the expiring embers ofpariy spirit are again
TO be raked into life? That under your aus
pIces. and influenced by your example, the
honest and industrious farmers ofyour coun-
try are again to be converted into angry and
discontinued politicians Tha, father is 10
be arrayed against sen, brother against
brother, and friend against friend! Sir, the
people are intelligent. firm. aud gener-
Gus. Let them alone, and they will not
not fail to understand ana u maintain their
rights.
But what effpc; must this course have IN.
Oh yourselves? RecolIeot that this no, the
first but the third time in the course Of one
year, in which you have undertaken 10 sound
the tocsin Of alarm. RecolIect also, il you
please, sir, lie old and backneyed but for
chile fable of the boy and the wolf Viz
ginia influence has long been the theme of
every :ongue-Virginia talents and Vir-
gnia character subjects Of pride and exu.-
tstion 10 every son OF the ancient dominion.
But cur influence, am afraid, is rapidly
passing away. Our high, our exalted cha
racter ill soon he recolect, d las a thing
that was" And il these measures be per
severed in, the time W i'll come, when our Ia,
tents (such al least as may be left us) will
be exerted in vain in behalf Of our nvs-
ded rights. The cry OF wolf will have been
reiterated. until, like the idle wind, it will
be disreg and despised.
repeat il, Mr.. Speaker, this right Of in.
reference on the part of the states with the
operations Of the general government. is
one of the highest and nost dangerous cba
racter, and ought to be resorted to, only in