Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-20
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MIR. ROMANS H-(coNrINUEp)
IL IL to secure against the influence OF this selfish
principle OF our nature. that in almost all the govern
ments OF the States, the members OF the Legislative
Department are elected for short perod'those OF the
Representative branch generally for one year, aud
those Of the Senate for from 10 four years aud the
Governors for like period The lection Of the Rep
res enatives is annual that they may he under the
troll of the People. The longer period allowed to thu
members Of the Senate is, that they may not be de
TERED from checking any popular ebnlltons, which
might be displayed on the part OF the House OF Rep
resenta'ive while in turn, the members OF the latter
might check astocrac tendency The part OF the
Senate. The Governor is invested with qualified
checking upon both branches and is himself check
ed, by allowing defined concurrent pow in both, to
override his veto and he is uther checked, and the
better qualified exercise his checking power, by be-
ing rendered Ineligible after given period, to the ea
bernatorial chair speak, Mr. President, of the check
provided by majority OF the States in their Consttu-
tons do not pretend to accuracy precision, TO
the detailed provisions of any.
81, too, in the General Government, biennial cleo
tons intended 10 secure the responsibility OF the
mbers Of the House Of Representatives, and there
by to check the influence OF the selfish principle in the
mbers. The members OF the Senate elected for
six years. and by the Legislatures OF the States 20 check
the tendency to consolidation, which the gentleman adj
vocaes The two Houses con. iuted, 20 check
each other; AMI the President TO check, and be
checked, by 10th. The States were reduced to tis
condition OF perfect cquipo'ience In he S'nae. and
thus the small enabled che ck Ito large State'
in any attempts they might make 10 oppre.s the small
Sir, this part of the subject do not pretend to mi
mute exacness Ii would be tedious and is not rcqir
ed for my object, which is only exhibit outline of
the vigilance and solcitude displayed by the States, in
their respective Governments, and in the General Go
vernment too, TO guard against the influence of this sell
fish principle, in those 10 whom political agency might
be assigned But need but have referred You to the
State and General Governments without referring peel
ally, TO any of their provisions this subject They
exhibit abundant, almost redundant solicude 10 guard
the liberty of the People against msrulc, the part of
the Government And think you, sir that, after all this
elaborate provision against misrue the States could have
intended TO subject their Governments, and their self
governing po,c'r together with the liberties of the
People, TO the discretion OF an irresponsible and I'M
checked Judiciary? Who does not see, that the only
security the people have for their liberty their lives
and their property is in the protecting power of the
vcregnty of their respective States? And that when
that sovereignty subjected to the will of the Supreme
Court the People subjected 10 the tribunal;
and that, after all their vigilance and caution in guard
ing, by every conceivable chock, against oppression
from their rulers they are by this doctrine, TO be sub
jeccd TO the rule of judicial arstocracy?to the rule
of four men--a majority of that tribunal-who I'M
known to them except by the fame, the feeling Of
their cncroachments upon State righswhose tenure of
power is for ie and irresponsible? And yet the Sena-
tor moaestly tells chat ifthe tiitit be told".uch
the intention of the People who framed the Consii
tuition.
Sir. if it be truth it had better not have been told
truth than iasehood if told, it should
have been told many years ago. The gentleman, by
the manner OF telling it, TO admit that il had been
concealed He treats of those precious truths
which nothing but necessity, could drag from its
ceament-' the truth mast be told must. is word
which imports necessity. The necessity which pro-
duced this long concealed truth WILL doubt, in due
of time come out, as a truth that must he told
The sentiment, whether ii be uM not, lurked in
every part OF the first message OF Mr.. Adams. He did
not feI that he must tell it in the message, and yet ho
could not conceal it. Perhaps the design only to
make such implied presentation of it, might ope-
rate experiment upon the public feeling If such
the design, they have mistaken the indications of
public sentiment, unless greatly deceived; and vet
it is announced with great confidence The gentleman
tells that the States must submit the judicial re-
sraints upon their sovereignty or incur by resistance
the guilt OF rebellion That the decision of the Su-
preme Court, affirming pnpdby unconstitutional law,
which nVades the sovereignty of "A State, must he sub
United TO by the State or must incur the guilt Of
bcllion.
Mr.. President conld tho doctrine Of paa.iv. oreli.
and si-ancc, have been exploitlyurg
ed' Has ii ever been more Zcaiousy advocated in
prepared for it yet. They are too well inform
ell OF their rights, and the principles which they
depend 10 he the dupcs Of that doctrine. There 10
scarcely man in the community who ha. participated
at all in political discussion, that does not know that
rebellion consists in the ressance Of lawful auhority
that the resistance of lawlest authority il a crime
but virtue. That the only mode OF escaping from op-
preston, Ivy resisting the exercise of uns wfu
That patriotism requires such resistance The citizens
must at their peril Distinguish between lawful, and
awess power; and while they determine 10 retain
Their 1t is high duty and FIJI IF peril, but repeat,
IL is the only condition which liberty, the most pre-
cous gift Of heaven 20 man, he enioye and
tained The alternative i. hard one. 1t present,
slavery, 10 which passive obedience and
lsadsanh liberty, which requires from s vota rice
prompt obedience TO all lawful requirements and a
bold and unfatering resistance, to lawless encToach
ments.
Sir, is, must repeat Too for those whormle NJ
hope 10 rule 10 address their arguments to our cred
lily and our tears to deny the intelligence TO di.
Germ our rights and the right to maintain them. vii
ne gentleman say, that the States Of Virginia and
lucky, in the steps which they took 10 nuy the a.
lien and sediion laws guilty OF rebellion! Were
their acts reasonable? II they were then all the State,
were guilty OF treasonAt least accessories after the
fsci for they all sanctioned, by the force of Their
pnion the proceedings OF The RESTING stes But against
whom did those States or can any State reb- 1
Rebellion means the resistance Nv inferior 10 the
lawful authority of superior. Itimplies the vol ,on
OF allegiance. 10 what power does Stae ALE gil
| ance? To what power ia il su5ordina'e? No ons
state owes ale iauce TO another, for il il did ta
Their would owe protection 10 IL, VIII the gentl-msr
say, that any such reaion exists bstweeh the Sa'es!
Or will he say, that sovereign Sac can owe all .i-
that cle States Of this Union are equal. and hava
always been sos we'll before since The forna ion
the Constitution. That the duties which th owe Ia
each other under the Con-itnilop pactio all and
have succeeded, then il is impossible tina thry can
connit rebellion; ncu~ The Guilt of treason, by any
violation OF Their covenant relations with each Other
Bui, cir the lea that sovereign state commit
treason, rebelion any crime whatever, il utterly
ma pisshle in the science Of politics The ilra .!
crime canno' exs', where there Is no concev able or
possible tribunal before which the culprit could lie
faigned, and convicted
Still less, Mr. President can any State he supposed
TO incur the guilt Of rebellion treason by resisting
unconstitutional law Of the General Government an
unconstitutional decision Of the Supreme Court upon
valid law of Congress. Tho General Government is
the creature Of the States the offspring of their