Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-07-15

der tine Tnnst,,ution? The Federal government
ho,;nr ,bo .;obt "a decide. ultimately and con-
oI,.;,lv an these matters. will say to u.s. oy
their practice. that all has been gwen, anu hoh'
resarved-and If ii be the duty vi the states i"'
picitly to submit, State Rights may eA''i a.
an abstraction, in tine minds OF seh''e"ieh. o'
thav ey;st no where else, and formy own Par,:
sr, utterly unable TO appreciate the value OF
.h'o.a,;ni ,;obt which is to be held at the mercy
NJ another. aud for the enforcement OF wnich
there exists no remedy. According to thiS aoo-
.,ine the States have right TO exercise jus. 81
,ouch power land nj mOre) as the Federal Ioy-
erunent NAV think proper to leave men, anu We
are presented with the strange anomaly VI
cy,a,,,s elevated above its creator, the servants
,bove their masters" IF such be the true cha-
r,cter of the Federal Government. the expert |
meot of the security to be derived from "'i',en
charters has already most ssnally tai'eu' anu ''e
people ..on whom, in the providence vi ocu'
has been cast the preservation OF the = Cd. pm
La"e surrendered the last citade! of freedom.
shalI not stop to inquire in what department OF
tho Fedora, Government this despotism Is suppos-
| ed 70 exist. The idea that the Supreme corr
il m h, the safeguard Of the reserved rights OF
! the States. can deude those only who close the
ear TO the acknowledged fact, that IN most OF the
cases where usurped power has been exercised OF
! il apnrchended, (such for instance as Inc iarhi
Of protection. and the appropriations OF money
! for Interna. Improvements. Education, Ihaflnes,
| Colonization or emancipation,) the question can
not even be brought before the Supreme Court
according 10 the forms If the Constitution, ana
il is certainly in the power OF Congress SO 10
frame their laws and so to regulate their oour's
as to prevent them from intelposing to "arreat
the progress of usurpation, III any case what
s0vcr. =,
When we cast our ewes over the map OF the
limited STATES. and behold territory OF such
vast extent. inhabited by people of such diver
.iied pursuits and interests Of habits and OF feel
mos. can il be possible that the "wll oil the MAJOR
itv shall he practically adopted as the rule OF Do-
vernmeut Cor all Of the parts. without ITS degene-
rating into the most odious and deso'atinS tyran'
nv. Look at the condition OF the Southern states,
having the system of SiGrery so interviewer with
their institutions that even TO touch the subject Is
to involve them in ruin: and depending upon for
ejrn markets for the sale Of their valuable produc-
tjons Can-it be believed. that the wise and pa
t,iotic men who represented the south IN the
Convention which framed the Constitution, would
have consented in our behalf. to sign a bond by
which il was 10 be submitted TO a majority OF the
people. ar what is more. majority OF their KEEP
resentatives in Congress assembled. whether our
Of industry remain unchanged, or whether We
mint be deprived of both, under the operation
Of Acts ofCongress, based upon vague notions OF
the general wclfare?'
Gentlemen. IN the presence of this respectable
assembly. and in the face of my country, de-
clare mv solemn conviction, that the Acknowledged
ment Of the exclusive right of the Federal Gov
eminent TO deie,7ninethe limits Of rs oCn powers,
amounts 10 a recognition of its absolute supren,a-
GU over the States and the people. and involves
the sacrifice not only O. -etttr deayestt,
States. and if. by the blessing of Heaven we
shalt yet little while avoid the fate which is inn
pending over Us, are as surely destined to meet
| a. a. the sparks fv upwards" In my view
of the actual condition of your affairs, (wihout
undertaking to determine what else 1t NAV be-
come YOU to do. to forbear. tits absolutely and
indispensablv necessary to give your brethren in
other quarters of the Union. distinctly to under
stand. that yo, never will acknowledge the right
claimed for the Federal Government, in either or
all of its departments, to decide 6 ultimately and
conclusivelv as to the extent Of It's own powers,'
that YOU never will consent to substitute the ill
of the majority for the Constitution. nor recoe-
nize unconstitutional acts Of Congress as the sl-
prene law of the land That viewing the Con-
>titution Il compact prescribing limits to the
| Federal Government. the state of South Carroll
Ia, as one Of the parties to that compact, in Its
sovereign capacity, claims TIE right to Judge of
its infractons:" and that whist she will at all
times Weld ready and cheerful obedience to all
laws made :. in pursuance of the Constitution
she claims the right to hold to be utterly null and
void all such clearly violate the reser,ed rights
of the States. Let these principles be maintain
ed, and yonr rights may be preserved. The day
that YOU surrender them, and acknowledge the
will of the majority, as declared in the acts of
Congress, TO be the supreme law. you will have
surrendered the glorious privileges of freedom, to
put the yoke upon your own necks. to fdsten ma
nacles upon YOUR own. and the hands Of your chill |
dren, to surrender your valuable possessions with
out struggle. and consented to put yourselves
and all that YOU possess at the mercy of those who
though standing to YOU in the relation. and call |
ing themselves your "brefhren,' have, in the ca
ger pursuit of their own peculiar interests turn
ed deaf ear to your loud remoustrances, mock
ed at your complaints, manifested an utter disre-
gard Of your feelings, your rights and your inte
rests
The mode. gentlemen, which these principles