Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-05

ton Of its powers. the Commonwealth of Virr;u;,
docs reiigiouslv and affcciionately adhere, opposing.
with equal fidelity and irmncss, tho usurpation Of
either set of iunctioua. les Oh the right!ul powers Of
tho other.
But the federal branch has assumed in some cases.
and claimed IN Others, n right of enlargipg it's own
powers by constructions, inietences, and Indefinite
deductions from those directly given, which this As.
lsembly docs declare to DC usurpations Of the powe RS
retained TO tho independent branches, mere iutcrpola-
tons, INTO the compact. and direct iniractious of it.
They claim for example and have commenced tho
exercise of a right to construct roads, omen canals.
and effect other internal improvements, within the
territories anu Jurisdictions exclusively belonging TO
inc several states, which this Assembly does declare
has not been given to that by the constitutional com.
pact out remains to each state among it's domestic
and unai'enated powers, oxcrciseable within Itself
ana oy ITS domestic authorities alone.
Thus assembly does further disayow. and declare
10 DC inc most false and unfoundcd, the doctrine, tina,
the compact, IN authorizing its federal branch 10 Law
and collect taxes, duties, imposls and exercises to nav
tic dents and provide for the common defence and ye.
neral welfare Of the United States, has given them
Thereby a power to do wi,atcver thcy may think. or
pretend, would promote tho general welfare; which
construction would make that, of itsclf, a con,plct,
government, without limitation Of power; but that the
pam sense and obvious meaning was, that they m;rht
levy the taxes necessary to provide for the general
weiiare: by the various acts Of power therein spcciii.
ed anu delegated 10 them, and by no others.
Nor Is II admitted. as has been said, thnt the peonle
NJ These states by nat investing their fete-al branch
WIN All the means OF lettering their conditlon. have
denied to themselves unv which NAV ef;,ct tI,a, m
pose sincc' IN the distribution OF these means, they
nave given TO that branch those which belong 10 ills
departments, and to the States have reserved. sonar
ately. the residue which belong 10 them scparately.
ana thus nv The organization OF the two branches
taken together, have completely secured the first OH.
'JCct OF human association. he full Improvement o.
ltheir condition., and reserved to themselves all the
faculties OF multiplying their own blessings.
whist the General Assembly thus declares the
rights retained by the State, rights which they is...
never yie,,ied, and which this state viii never vol.
unfairly yield, they do not meau to raise the banner
OF oisahection, or OF separation from their sister
states, CO parties with themselves 10 this cornpsc,.
iiiey know aud value too highly the BLESSINGS of
Their union as To ,orcign nations aud questions arising
among Themselves, 10 consider every infsaction as 10
Or met by actual resistance. They respect too aE-
iecionateiy the opinions Of thnSe possessing the
'en'e rlgh's uider the saiae instrument. To- make ey-
cry ailefence OF construction a ground OF immediate
rupture they would indeed consider such a rnp-
tnfc as anoig the greatest cslamities which couid
oeiah them; but not the greatest. There j. 20, y
greater s,i",hSsion to u government at animated
powers IL Is only when the hope OF avoidin, this =
shall become absolutely desperate, that further for.
oearance could not be INDUCED. Should the ma,or-
!ties o. the CO parties therefore. contrary 10 The ex-
pecte'ion ana ''ope of tiis assembly, prefer, at this
time, acqulescsnce III these assumptions of power by
the federal member of the government, we will be
patient and suffer much, ere il be too late. will nrovo
10 theln also the bitter Consequences in which tbnt
usnrpation Will involve us all. In the mean while we
WIZ breast with rather than separate from them, eve
NDNAI vi lFiU2 nue. d yer
ment OF unlimited powers. We owe every other
TO ourselves, 10 our federal brethren and 10
me world at large TO pursue with temper and perse-t
the great experiment which shall proye ,h,,
IS capable Of living in society, GOVERNING ;,s.lt
laws self imposed aud securing TO its members
me enjoyment OF HE, liberty, property and peace;
iuTtieT 10 show that, even when The government of,
lis choice shall shew a tendency to depeneracv. we
are not at once TO despair, but tiat the will and watch.
fulness OF its soundest parts will reform its aberra-
IONS recall 1T to original and legitimate principles,
ana restrain II within the righful limits of self gov
eminent. And these are the objects of this declare
ton and protest.
Surprising then that it might be for the good of
the whole, as some of its CO States seem TO think.
the power of making roads and canlls should be =
added TO those directly given to the federal branch as |
more likely to be systematica ly aud bcnefcialIy di.
rectcd, than by the independent action Of the several 4,
states, tins commonwealth from respect TO these
opinions, and a desire of Cancellation with is CO.
States, will consent, IN concurrence with them. TO
make this addition, provided it be done regularly nv
IN amendment OF the compact, in The way established
by that instrument and provided also, il DE sufficient.
!y guarded against abuses, compromises, and corr;,n,
practises, not only of possible, bat OF probable occur
renee.
And as a further pledge Of the sincere and cordial
attachment of this commonwealth to the union Of
the whole, so far as has been consented 10 nv the
compact called The constitution oi the United States
of America construed according to the plain and
ordinary meaning Of its language TO the common N.
tendment OF the time, and ofthose who framed itl TO
give also TO all parties and authorities time for rcfec.
ton and for consideration whether, under q tempe
rate view of the possible consequences, and especial
~ Of the. constant obs,ructions which an uncuniyocaIl
majority must eveE expect to meet, they will still
prefer the assumption Of this power rather than ia
acceptance from the free will of their constituents.
and TO preserve peace in the meanwhile, we proceed
TO make 1t the duty Of our citizens. until the leqisla-
ture shall otherwise ard ultimately decide, to aconi.
esce under those acts of the federal branch of our
government which We have declared TO be usurua
tons, and against which in point Of right, we do pro-
test as null and void and never to be gio;cI as Drc.
cedents of right.
We the cforc do enact, md be it enacted by the
General Assembly Of Virginia, that all citizens of
this commonwealth, and persons and authorities will.
IN the same, shall pay full obedience at all times TO
the acts which may be passed by the Congress Of the
United States, the object Of which shall be the con-
structlon Of post roads, making canals of navigation.
and maintaining tie same, in any part Of the United
States in like manner as IF the said acts were toG-