Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-04
MR.. wEBsTER's SPEECH.
(coNTINUEp.1

70 ueicnu, what conceive to be the true princ
pies OF the Constitution under winch here
scmbled might well have desired that SO wcighty
task should have fallen into other and abIer hands.
could have wished that II should be executed by
those, whose character and experience give weight
and influence to their opinions such cannot posi-
bly, belong to mine. But sir. have met the occa-
sion, not sought III and shall proceed to state my
own sentiments, without challenging for them any
particular regard, with studied painncss, and as
much precision possible.
I understand the honorable gentleman from South
Carolina to maintain, that it is right of the State
Legislatures TO Interfere whenever, in their Judgment
this Government transcends its constitutional limits
and to arrest the operation Of its laws.
understand him to maintain this right, as right
existing under tho Constitution, not as right to
overthrow it, on The ground Of extreme necessity,
such as would justify violent revolution.
understand him to maintain an authority, on the
part OF the States, thus to interfere for the purpose
OF correcting the exercise Of power by the General
Governmnnt, of checking it and Of compelling to
confom to their opinion OF tho extent of it's power.
understand him TO maintain that the ultimate
power of judging of the constitutional extent of its
own authority is not lodged exclusively in the Cen
Grai GoYernmcnt or any branch Of il, but that on
the contrary, the States may fully decide Tor them
selves, and each State for ITSELF whether in given
case, the act of the General Government transcends
its power
understood him to insist that if the oxironcv of
'hccase, IN The opinion Of any State Government re-
quirc it, such State Government may, by its own
sovereign authority, annul an act OF the General
Government, which it deems plainly and papably un
constitutional.
be the South Carolina doctrine. propose TO con-
siuer Ut, ard to compare it with the Constitution
Allow me 10 say, as preliminary remark that / cuu
TINS tue south Carolina doctrine, only because the
gent cman himself has so dcnonIiraed il. I do ma,
feel at liberty to say tina, South Carolina as Slntc
mas ever advanced these sentiments. / hope she los
not, ana never mnyTIhat aagreat majority of her
people are opposed to the tariff laws doubtless true
n M ,rt,l,a
TONED, conscienousy believe these laws upconst;
tutoDal, may probably also be true. But thnt anu
majority holds to the right of direct State nterfc
renee Ut state discretion, the right onul!i!yng acts
OF Congress by acts of State legsIa. ion is more
than know, and what shall be slow to believe
That there are individuals, besides The honorable
gent eman, who do maintain these opinions is oute
CERTAIN. lrccollect the recent expression of sen.
tlment, which circumstances attending It's utterance
and publication, justify us in Symposium was moi nm
premeurtated. The sovereignty of the State; never
Ito be controlled, construed, or decided on but bv
her own feelings of honorable justice"
lMr. HAYNE here rose, and said that for H.. mr.
poso OF being clearly understood, he would state.
that hs Proposition was In the words of tie Viroin
Ia resolution, as follows:
"Ihat this assembly doth explicitly and perennial
lily declare, that 1t views the powers of thu Fdn nj
Government, us resulting from the compact to which
inc states are parties, as limited by the plan sense
anu intention OF the instrument CONSTITUTING that
compact us no farther valid than they are autEoriZc1
and lint
I'D case OF deliberate, papablc and dangerous ey
cfcise or other powers not granted Jy the said com
pact, the States who parties the cfo h,ye tho 1
right and are in dnty bound interposc for aIresng
progress OF Inc evil and for rnania aiming within
,ncir respective limits, the authorities rgh,s and
liberties aPpertaning to thcm."1
Mr.. WEBSTER rcsuU ed:
am quite aware. Mr. President of the c,,is,o,co
now repeated and that he relics on it. as his auihnr
ity. knaw the sourse, too from which it i un.ler
b ooa 10 nave proceeded. need not say TINT hnvc
ncn respect for the constitutional opinions of Mr..
Mddison; they would weigh greatly with INC, al.
ways. but, before the authority Of his opinion be
Tonched Tor the genteman's proposition, it will Inc
proper to consider what is the fair interpretation ~
mat resolution, 10 which Mr. Madison is understood
10 naVe given his sanction. As the gentleman con.
strues II, 1t is an authority for linn Possibly. be
may not have adopted the right construction. Thai
resolution declares, that IN The case oc the dsnoerous
creretse q P,,oers not grasied by Ue GencraI Cor
srnnaen' nc otateS aay tnterPosc TO arrest he pro
nus dec arntion purpor;? Does it mean no more /
taan that there may be extreme cases IN which the
people, IN any mode Of assembling NAV resist ,eur
patloh ana IchcYc themselves from tyrannical rov.
crnment No one will deny this Such resistance
IS not only acknowledged 10 be lust in America but
IN England also. Blackstone admits as much in tbc
theory and practice too, Of the English constitution
We SIR who oppose the Carolina doctrine. do not
deny, that The people may, If they choose fbrny OF
iocrable, and erect better in its stead We nil
&now, that civil institutions are established for ,hc
puohc benefit, and that when they cease TO onsyer
The ends of their existence, they NAV be CHANGED
Dut l 10 not understand the doctrine now con.
1cnocu ior TO DC that which, for the sake of distinct
ness, we may call the right Of revolution under.
stand the gentleman to maintain that without revo.
uuol, without civil commotion, without rebellion,
TOT supposed abuse and transg rcssion of tho
powers OF the general government lies in d;,oc,
uppeai 10 inc interference Of the State Govern
~, MI HATNE here rose: lie did not contend
10; 'or thc mere right of revolution but for the
,!gh, OF constitutional resistance. What he main
tSnsa was that in case Of plain palpaLlc yi,laou
., inc constitution by the General Government.
'osa'o may lnterpose and that this interporition 10
conS,i,ntlonal] Mr.. w. resumed So cir nJo
S.y , Inc gentleman, and happy TO find that din
u ,e, I !, him. What he contends for is
tu",; u Is constitutional to interrupt the odmi,,s
uation OF The constitution ITSELF in the bonds 90 'as
ipoc, io, emJsen anu sworn to administer it, by the
;,,,,o &c nei1 III form oflaw of the States i,
nt t. OF tnelr sovereign capacity Tho inI,s,on,
I,g"s ~ l'e people to reform their government w.