Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-10-12

cali There Is spell which nanacles the most yipo.
ious There orbiddng aspect not OF terror but of
fraternity, which We cannot me ct without r.l.xn In
our determinations however fixed they may have been
Ne'"er excitement, nor pledges, nor the sanctions OF
'"e sounues' wisdom, (such. mean, would br so, IL
supported ny the general adoption and APPRECIATION
u su.'sin the actor, when ported by the public
'-"nmen' OF the sphere to which he belongs He may
unng- in wih The utmost deter mina,ion, (iesp.r
you r.se) bat II he be human aud rational, he will
he rec Hell by the cold the orbdding regards Ct the
public timent
1t may he truly sad, then, think. that all sepa, ate
acton By one OF the Southern States this sion
which l. common to them all, however wise woulJ be
the same measure, If it were iavo ed by the general
adoption, viii he feeble and unsuccs ssful
proceed NV TO notice Of the specific grounds
which have been suggested Tor the action Of this Stt,
Among Thee reonsfi dnces, in the sovereign charac
IT, oil TIE s"te, seem not altogether TO be di carded
These con'ider rs worse than lie, for ought all
pendance on means 90 certainly deceptive and deusve
TO be con isred. For the utter ssnsss of hi.
mean" let our Illustrations transfer us 10 Wa.hing,oo.
on e oecson when the solemn protests OF this State,
aud OF the State OF George, were presented. They
could not have been presented with more dignity o.
WIN more e'oquence. or in a more imp,.ng manner.
on' uid they attract any considerable. produce
ensation! appeal To those who pre- on the
occa- sion, VIII her the rcpos- OF ID. letter. wr ers al
their desk, was broken by this awful presence of two
remon'tfa'ing sovereigus! proposed appropr alton
Of few buud,ed dollars TO indemnify petitioner for
negro lost In the campaign OF New Osieans, excited
h"y-nay, am sure do not exaggersts, however
hyp"rtoi cal the statement may appear. wh. say I'll
" homsand times the sensation hat produced by
''ie protects oil these sovereign states.-.And will you
remonsrai- again under like circumstances:
On publication, another OF The spec modes ot ac.
ton which have been suggested think construction
hs. been put in this Safe, different from that which
J-herson ami Madison, and the Virginia aud Kentucky
Legislatures intended II should bear DO not say
less correct sDe. They, AZ suppose, cousii-red /,
mere lie claraion Of opinion thu part Of the States Of
The va'iiy Of the law. Null6c alton III hi sen.e ha.
Southern Ss,es
The Interro.i,ion" Of ~hich these high authorities
sreak. and which hey hold as an Interior remedy
II thu oral Influence OF 'hs nui,ing d.cta,i,n shall
not he Ell Give IL simply the exercise of that power
mat belongs TO and cannot be separated irJm Stat.
which remains sovereign.
The books talk Of dependent sovereigns but The com
mon 'ense oil mat is, that those who called I'll.
h-r from motives Of interest policy agree voun,a.
ry and curing their pleasure to suapsnd or delegate
portion oil their power, under forcibs ,uhjec-
Ton TO another power, ard in the latter case not
sovereign in just sens-.Sovereign States NAV sus-
pend or delegate the exPrce OF msny THAR powers
without liunn'ion If their sovereignty, under a
compact with other snvsrrigns. Blu whatever name
be given TO ths compact il the conf r-rate states re-
main sovereign il is h,n treaty. Of solemn
Kind which any State withdraw from at plea .nre
One State OF III" conf.deracy may inierp,se nv on.
r.a " by negotiation, or by remembrance with view
oil Oh an ing redress Of particular evil in the sxscu.
uon oil the treaty. and still acknowledge the binding e.
hcacy OF IT, or il NAV at resume is power ard ex
erce AMI sustain. all i's original rights pleasure
II no such treaty had ever evisted II has precisely
the SAN means 10 ain itself that all sovereigns have
il h.
lect 10 the same ron'r" (and no o,heO which NAV be
brought TO bear on all overssps namely the like moral
y physcS force. Bnt whatever he the tine tortina nm
the subject notification, there il too great diver.i,v
o oTninn on me expcdiency OF it, authorize its aon
non, at his time, in the pm, upon IT, in hi.
State. " '"'
The lat Of the specific modss Of action which bav.
eph thrown on', - COnpfHton of the peopI. ri the
STATE to he called under the Cons N ion of the State
ih'' conceive 20 be equally impolilic anil still more
"nsn'ed I" the occasion ard the ohjert, because Q
NJ lalar h.t
denc.) IL cin lead 20 authorization rc-uIf an il an
pears 10 ME to be popoNd for the r reason imapina
b'-a want OF any d'hnl," notion OF practical line Of
conduct. Convention, | conceive. should only he
called Tor som" great speric object Noone has how
ever, suggested any dr finite question Of decisive char
'crr on which this Convention il act except that Of
n"inhcai'n. Aud why should convention he called
IN ms question: u cannot even upon it, in an AN
Ihorita'ive shape Convention, employed according
u IN" PRINCIPLES Of constitutional govern rent can ouy
'ct on hefrdme Of The Government mat is IN s1u o;,o
axe array, on modify its pouer N cannot Leo;sIofef
-ov what process then can IL nufy? A 10 the an. |
horlty oil III" government of the State as IL now s,ands
no. IN the power OF the Convention to increase il
"!h reference TO the subject Of sovereipn RIGHT,
Vhch arc t'ose in question NJ government which |
ecogriZes the right NJ the people TO abrogote mr. mn
NY lie ex"nce can have greater power than the CO.
'efnnsnt OF ths State are adv possesses on such sinh
'c's II his all the power that on such que s,ions can
10 conferred on government. IL il an unlimited
oV,rren Government in r"ertrce to all other States
ana Govetrmer,s The Convention there fore cen do |
no legal or authoritative act, unless il assume tevo
uonary vipor, dissolve the actual government. and
invest Itself with all power.
] know il has been said that the ligaiure If tbe IT,
Mon was tried by Convention and that therefore our
relation 10 il cannot he changed hut by Convention
his doctrine IL both faliacious md dangerous n vou
re IN impair VI not to deny grea, first princple TIA,
ne Union Ia confederation OF sovereign States The
Conve nions hch ratified Inc Constitution of the Union
we're instruments OF the State soversgnties called Ay
heiT power and responsive merely Of the populr o,in
on The people that aston neither dissolved nor
modified their corporate existence. Ii was mere
method oil collecting the Of the reopie on pont
mat me corr0rae sovereignty able (as the con.
ed'r don OF l7IO0 10 have decided without The refer
ence. There il nothing in the nature of the two in
s'rumens, which require the direct ton of the
people In the one and dspen.es with il i'm the other
ne greatest ri all powers-those of pc ace ard war
were inveSed in the confederation Ut l778 The peo.
pie may arnifilaio modify the State Governme nts
when they phase, but az long az they exist and are
'overeign thew not only represent the people, but ar
Tire people in their corporate caparty am consrain
ed TO believe, (hongh confess the .n Of having long
wandered from this gond fath) that ihere s neither
sa'etyfnor truth in any doctrines which do not rerop
ME- IN an erfe,nd' relations the Governments Of the
States crclusipely the people Of the States and the
only vi.ie signs by which they can be seen or known
50 snversigns.
But 20 very indsiinct and even wild arr some If the
motives assigned for the call OF Convention that II 80
been graveiv urged rs one, that practical remedy
cannot be struck out by IT, may be used 10 put an end
N The excitement altogether. by n popular s,daIive
Through some act Of the Convention,) nf tho whole
question! This does seem TO he sporting In very wan
tonnes with the most serious and sacred objects
~ has been slso suggested, that n Convention may
demonstrate, md That coming from such body il would
command the attention OF The General Government,
Such act Of the Convention Tor the reasons ,Iteadv
sugeested would be merely popular, not sgal-of the
nature oil like remembrance Of ordinary popnlar
Convention though more solemn and comprehensive,