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

locks 10 the liberties OF Ire people, 'he
rights. the happiness and the interehdetce
Of his country? know not what your de-
cision vii, he. know Ms; what eGec; the
influence Of former feelings may produce.
But there is sstribunal, to which can aP-
peal. with entire confidence as to the re-
sult-Ii is the world.
Corruption out of the question. SIR. Is
there in this case. any pairable violation OF
an important right! Can that be called PAL
pahle, which a large proportion OF your
best and wises' citizens viii pronounce IN
visihle7 Can that he considered violation
of your right, which may be easily demon
strated TO be simple discharge oil h'eh
and important public duty? Lawyers 'eiI
US that writ Of error is writ OF rlgh'' l
am no lawyer, Sir, AM therefore, VIII moi
undertake 10 decide this point. But feel
myself fully competent to declare, that Inc
chief Justice. in declining to declre 'he
question of jurisdiction, did nothing more
than proper regard for the rights OF Inc
PARTIES, and a proper respect for The OPT
Mons and privileges Of his associates on the
bench required al his bands.
And this odious citation, sir, which Is
continually rung in our ears. what Is us "a
mount! Why. simply summons from
Judge of the United States, to the common
wealth of Virginia, to appear at the bar OF
the Federal Court Now this summons has
been issued ither with or without authorl-
~. In the former case, Virginia would owe
it, to herself and the Union TO submit; and
all opposition, whether in the shape of MI
litary array OF legislative resolutions, would
be, in The highest degree, improper. 1t,
on the contrary, the citation has been made
without authority. wherein does Virginia
suffer from il! As il is accompanied by
no compulsory process. by no attempt
10 InfoIce obedience. ii is OF course,
optional with herself. whether TO ap-
pear or not. IF she does appear, 1t is
her own fault, She is accessory 10 the in
dignity ri which she complains. She be-
comes ''particeps crimnis" in the offence
az ainst her invaded sovereignty. Would
citation, sir, from the Emperor of Morocco,
or from his serene highness OF Japan, TO the
commonwe alth of Virginia, to appear at the
bar of their imperial courts, excite mo-
ments uneasiness here? Should eithink it
Necessary 10 obey-te appoint counsel to
appear for us-and to waste our precious
time in shaping resolutions, and entering up
protests against the violation of our rights!
And yet such is precisely our course, in a
case, considered by the gentlemen from
Henrico, not less extravagant than the one,
which | have imagined. Indeed, Dir. Snea-
ker, this farce is too ridiculous, 10 be play.
ed by dignifed and independent state
Depend upon it, whatever may be your de-
cison. The world will think, the occasion
has been made for the resolutions. and not
the resolutions for the occasion.
And here, sir, might with 'propriety
have closed my observations, but for the
extraordinary principles embraced in these
resolutions, and sustained with so much
zeal, by their advocates both here and else
where. You are told, 70. instance-snd
that is no, aIl-you are required to proclaim
it to the world. as your opinion. that The
supreme court Of the United States posses
ses TO appellate jurisdiction in any c'se
whatever, that has been previously decided |
by state court; but that the decision of the !
latter is final, and, in its obligation on the
parties, imperative. 4 doctrine. Lore dam I,
gerous, more repugnant 10 the constitution,
and pregnant with more important conse-
quences. to our whole system OF govern
ment never wasu,tered by the mouth otman. |
Let ii be adopted and there is not right, !
guaranteed TO individuals by the conslitu-
tion OF the l.. States, that is not endanger-
ed: there i. MT power vested in the ge-
neral go, eminent, that may not be thwart-
ed. defeated, annibilated. And would a
cover bnent thus situated be worth preserv-
ing? Would it not be better 10 abandon our
hopeless experiment. and go back. either
TO our original elements, or 10 the old con-
federation, which looked, for the support OF
its powers, not 10 the petty courts OF a state
but TO the representatives of the people.
and indeed TO the people themselves?
The constitution of the United States,sir,
is tue declared will of the people of the U.
States: aud what they have decreed no le-