Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-03

IL i. sacred duty which the farmer owes TO him
SELL not 10 submit TO that which Is not binding upon
nun iha' an unconstitutional law is not binding, Is
i"'sm no one viii deny. As the representatives. Of
me people you have taken an oath TO support protect,
anu ue,enu the Constitution OF the United States -
Your solemn duty be performed only by fulfilling
hs grave undertaking. II Congress pass law viola
ns 'hs sacred inst ums n /, 10 your conscien
ee your country and yourselves. TO do every thing
WREN This oath imposes upon you. He who believes
the laws OF Congress imposing projecting duties, un
constitutional, il under moral cons,rain', which h,
csnno, pude to all reasonable means to relieve III,
country fom the cuu,brous Gin Of such gisatiop Ma
ny do not distinguish between the oblg alton thew ow,
to The Constitution aud tina, whi h they owe TO Law
OF Congress. II The law be in conformity to the Con
sii'uton, the oath obedienceii contrary TO ia,
| Constitution. then the oath con ands resistance
10. II would be The mersst despo,i.m on earth
"e-e the government so formed, az 20 compel every
public oiictr to take oath, the true observ ance
which would make him criminal. Hence every puh
nc 'uncuonary has right, uD er the prote con OF hi.
own conscience TO disobey unconstitutional law. Up
on this ground alone, Judges have the most unqu
aoe rgh TO declare such laws imperative aud void. No
one VIII deny that the judicial authority, when called
on 70 en'o'ce The Tariff laws. might il they though,
mem unconstitutional, refuss to sanction them
heir obis atoms 10 the Constitution higher than
the laws.
a. The J idgcs and Juries of the country. who be
iieve the Tariff OF protection uncons uouaI, would
be bound TO resist them. II the Judicial departing mt
may do 30, how much more may Conve ntion of the
people, who could exercise all Legislative, judicial and
executive powers? The precise effect OF such pro-
ce-dng by Convention, may be the subject of dffsr.
enct but that the right in the abstract does exist nor
but the advocates OF passive obedience deny. This
as practical right i. not 10 be spored with or assert
ed every day-Nor ought you TO suffer those who be-
.ve in the brnhts and consiutionaiy OF the restric
tive system, to msead and divide those who think dif-
-ren'Iy Let your principles he sound value not am.s
hrproachiuI names are consider d legitimate in party
roic' The Disunionist If the present day, wa, the
lie bel OF l776-the Democrat Of 1898 and the adj.
cal OF 1871 In South Carolina he il among that class
Of poll icans who conceds to Congress every power
except TO make freemen .l.ves aud slaves frsemen.
To- IL Incident to every government TO preserve its
existence II Congress has the right TO pass on its
own power, so have you. The people mus, elect
which they will obey when current iu isdictiors
clash. -
TO- Respect on your part for the laws of Congress il
matter OF political daty. When you clearly perceive
however, that the moral properties which have an in.
u'nsc clam to respect 10 not enter into their deihera-
tons, ycuc reverence ,houd cease What shall he
treason against th- State it is in your power to de-
clare. The enforcement of such a law must depend
upon the execu i've and judicial departments. You
cannon eon'utuoonay secede from the Union, but you
can nerpose constitutional protection against uncons.
tutional rxaciOu.
IL No rational object he urged TO the refer
enre OF this matter the judicial tribunals of the cam
Try They are daily in the habit OF pronouncing un-
constitutional laws void and evil arises therefrom
In surveying The wall Sehind which the Federal pow
er en"enched The trial by jury appears to he is most
esdiatl- point Upon /. point then you ut TO con.
cenrate your whole force before you make any demon
sraioa thereon IL il easy To perceive that Copsr
has not the power TO impose duties for prote con hut
whTte protection begins aud revenue ends is moro
difficult proposition. and like all other frauds must be
untaVeled by examining carefully motives and facts
Is competn either in your legislative character, or
oy Convention OF thu people, to draw the line between
revenue aud protection; and when this is DONE those
VINO are required to execute your laws must deter.
mine winch Is binding on Ihem, the authority of tbs
. ate or that OF the United Staes. This entire on g.
uon has been proposed TO be referred to the wisdom
and soui sense OF the people upon whom the rpspon
s,ohl,S must rest, either OF resisting submitting to
the American System. Our position in relation to the
patronage The General Governmen MT at presen, dis
"srous an mpoveri-hing We pay our portion of the
aN's, aud yet receive none of the disbursements Blu,
re" OF our citizens take The bene Of the manufac mr.
ing bounty nor will they do SO until all hostility on
lbI' matter s abandoned.
IL The people of this State have a common inter
est winch ought to unite them in opposition submits
Ion to tbs Tariff. Convention has been recommend
ed as measure likely TO concentrate public opinion
nor mat me representatives OF the people may not
nave all the power 10 protect their rights that Conven
ION would have, bat because more unanimy must ex-
Isl as 10 the propricty Of moving in the matter before
the question oil Convention can he carried. The mea
sures, TOO, recommended md adopted by Convention
would have more imposing Influence both at home
and abroad The Legislature is limited in its power by
the Constitutions OF the United States and OF South
Caroins the Convention )uld be limited only by the
Constitution of the United States. In whatever course
Convention might move ii would be in their power TO
make The people OF this State either for
.he Iarh or against i-eiher for submission or resis
lance.
10 suppo.iton that Convention would lead to dis
union or Civil war; gratuitous, not admitted by those
ito AL.
voca'es and urged only by those whose spprehsnsons
are unnecessarily awakened who avail Ives
OF ths devotion OF the people of This State to the Union
10 hsead their understanding by practising on their
ie'rs la conformity to the direction Of the last Leg
laiure made communication to the President of the
United States on the subject of our claim for military
advances during the late war; copy OF which is here
win SENT as also two letters from the late Comptroller
General the agent of this State specially sent to Wash.
lngton TO superiutend the adjustment of our de ands
hese letters and the message sent TO Congress by the
President, will furnish all the information in the pos.
session oil this Department TO the state of this
l recommend that you renew your instructions IN
your Delegation in Congress their beet exetons
10 procure hi1 just debt from the General Government
Considering the large amount involved, the Justice of
me claim, and the great difficulty Of getting claim
through Congress, IL would probably be the most pr,
dent TO pay The expense OF an agent aud allow him
smaIi commission on the amount received proceed to
Washington and supefintend the same.
20 AT the last session OF the Legislature n rsnor,
OF assessment made by the Commissioners in conformity
to an Act Of Congress that subject was submitted
concerning the value of tract Of land called Noup,
Dearborn l have no information what order was Ia.
ken thereon, do know what answer TO make IN tba
neral Government to the confirmation of this ar
raOgemen Among the various facilities afforded bv
nature TO The commercial prosperity Of the State none
appears more conspicuous to the Savannah ri
yer. II is common to the contiguous States The
int mate connexon existing between the interests of
these States, their identity Of staple and commerce re-
qulre Cooperation in improving this common proper.
w. During the winter and spriDg months an animated
commerce is kept up between Charleston Beaufort
Savannah, Hamburger, and Augusta BY steam boat.
which navigate this river. The transportation from
Charleston to Augusta through this channel i. now
much more expeditions and chea between Cbares
TOT, Colombi Camden, and Cheraw a small
by South Carolina and Georgia would add greatly 10 the