Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-03-22


first character, Of dis ineuished talents and 81
known patriotism, (opin.ons sanctioned b, the
people through long continued apprObstioa
of these lI!usir.ous men, your committee beg
leave 20 decline the expression of any opinion,
whether the exercise Of the powers before
mentioned, be conlrary 70 the provisions Of the
Constitution, or not. The expression OF such
an opinion BY the General Assembly, to use lis
own language on q former memorable occasion.
sought never to be interposed in hssty man.
nel or on doubtful or inferior occasion. For,
in the case Of an intimate and constitutional u.
nion, like that of the United States, The inter.
position Of the parties in their sovereign capa.
city can be called for, by occasions only, deep.
Iy and essentially affecting the vital principles
Of their political system-such an interpretations
can only be required, in the case OF delibe.
rate, palpable and dangerous breach of the
Constitution, by the exercise OF powers not
granted by it, II must be case. not of LIGHT
and transient nature, but of a nature dangerous
to the great purposes, for which the Constitu,
ton was established. Ii must be case moreo.
yer, not obscure or doubtful in its construction,
but plain and palpable. Lastly, it must be a
case, not resulting from partial consideration,
or hasty determination, but case stamped with
final consideration and deliberate Adherence
Although your committee are OF opinion that
the first of these powers has been sometimes
claimed 10 an extent not contemplated in the
Constitution, they are prepared to say, that in
the claim or exercise of either power, there has
been any such "deIiberste, palpable and dan.
eerous breach Of the Constitution as to re.
quire the nterpostion OF the Legislature. They
believe that the wisdom of the people, their
vigilant regard OF the powers not delegated to
their rulers. and their ardent devotion to the
principles OF the Constitution, will, in their Or
binary elections, and by the sure operation Of
public opinion bring about correction of what.
ever abuses may exist And therefore, the com.
mittee will ask to be discharged from the fur
ther consideration of the subject
This course will appear the more proper.
when il is recollected, that the exercise Of the
powers complained of, originated under ad.
n,inisrasions, enjoying in high degree, the
confidence and affection of Virginia, that du-
ring period of twenty years, while these mea.
sures were, from time to time, under conside-
ration, and in progress the voice Of her legis-
lature was never raised in opposition to them:
that on the contrsry, it solemnly sanctioned the
power ct internal improvement, upon two &C.
caslons under the administrations OF jefferson
and Madison; that the protection of manufsc.
tures, not only by duties, but even by prohbi.
tlons was earnestly recommended to Congress
by those great men; that the present tariff law
was frequently attempted, and finally passed,
under The administration of the venerable Mon.
roe; and that having at the last session, imme.
diatey upon the accession of new admins.
tration, to whose election this State was oppos.
ed, passed resolutions declaring that Congress
did not possess the powers before mentioned,
the renewed expression Of that opinion by this
Assembly, might excite, among our sister
states, jeatousles and imputatlons unworthy Of
the motives, the principles and the character
Of Virginia.
Resolved therefore, That the Committee be
discharged from the further consideration of the
matters referred to them.
From the Montreal Gaz.of March5.
Singular Occurrence if Tue-A
correspondent 10 rIsle Jasus, has in.
formed rs that woman who resides
there, had, a few days ago, three of
her children and her servant girl poi.
soned in the following extraordinary
manner. Previous to her going to
church, she gave orders to the girl to
make soup, in which she desired her
10 boil head of cabbage whole. The
CIR! did as she was ordered, and about
noon gave the three children some Of
it The children almost Immediately
after swallowing the soup, sickened
and died. This had such an effect
upon the girl, that she ran screaming
till she met her mistress, who hasten.
ed home and was convinced that the
girl was not crazy as she imagined,
when she bebeld her three infants ly.
ing lifeess. Her distress on behold
ing such = melancholy spectacle beg.
CARS all description In her phrenzy
she blamed the girl for being the cause,
and, as a punishment; ordered her to
take some Of the soup. The poor girl,
conscious OF her innocence, and TO con.
vince her mistress that she knew of no.
thing ola poisonous nature being put
into the soup, took some, and was
soon after corpse. A medical gen.
tleman was then sent for, who found
on cutting open the whole head of
cabbage, that it contained a consider
able sized snake, whose poisonous ma,
lure caused this melancholy catastro.
phe.
A final disposition, we learn, was
made on Tuesday last, in the Supreme
Court, OF the various questions arising
ander State Insolvent Laws, which
have been SO repeatedly argued, and
en- lon0 .,ndar adviSamant The re.