Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-05

TO Dc called a Government No, sir. II should not
De aenomnatcd Constitution II should be called,
rather collection Of topics. for everlasting contro
versy; heads Of debate. for disputatous people.
would not be Government. II would not be ade
qus,c to any practical good, fit for any country
TO live under. To avoid all possibility Of being mis-
UNDERSTOOD, allow me to repeat again, in the fullest
manner that claim no powers for the government
by forced or Unfair construction admit, that it is
government OF strictly limited powers; of cnumo-
rated, specified, and particular powers; and that
whatsoever is not granted is withheld But no,wth-
standing oil this and however the grant of powers
may DC expressed, its limit and extent may vet, in
some cases. admit OF doubt, and the general govern
men would be good for nothing, it would be incupa
bic of long cxisns,if some mode had not been pro.
vlded, IN which those doubts, they should arise
might be pcaccably, but uuthori,atively. solved.
And now, Mr. President, let me run the honorable
gcntiemans doctrine little into its practical applca-
ton Let us look at his probable n,odlus operandi.
II thing can be done, an ingenious man can tell
ho'o 1t Is to be done. Now, wish to be informed
ho.0 tins State is to be put practice
We will take the cSisling case of the tariff law.
South Carolina is said to have made up her opinion
upon it. five do not repeal il, las we probably shall
mott she will then apply to the the remedy of
of her Legislature, declaring the several acts of
Congress usually called the Tariff Laws, null and
void, so far as they respect South Carolina or the
citizens thcseof So far, all is paper transaction
and easy enough. But the Collector at Chaest on
Is collecting the duties imposed by these tariff laws
he, therefore must be stopped The Collector
will seize the goods, if the tariff duties arc not paid
The State authorities will undertake their rescue,
tue Marsifa with his possc will come to the Colec-
tors aid, and here the contest begins. Tho militia
OF the state will be called out, sustain the nufy
ing act. They will march, sir, under gallant lead
or; Tor believe the honorable member himself COM
manks the militia Of that part of the State He will
raise the nunfyins act on his standard and spread
1t out as his banner It will have preamble bear
ing that thetarf laws palpable, deliberate and
dangerous violations Of the Constitution! He will
IN hIc hor rN,,nv
in Charleston;
"Ai the while
"Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds"
Arrived at the custom house, he will tell The Collcc-
tor that he must collect no more duties under any of
the tarifflows This, he will be somewhat puzzled
to say, by the gay with grave countcnancc consid-
ering what baud South Carolina herself had in that
nf 1916. But sir, the Collector would probably not
desist at his bdd,ng-hcrc would ensue pause; for
they say, that certain Stiffness preccdes the tcmpes
Before this military array should fall tho custom
mousse. collector clerks, and ALL 1t is very probable
that some OF those composing it, would request of
their gallant commander chief, be informed lit
tie upon the point of law; for they have doubtless
Just respect for his opinions lawyer, as well as
for his bravery soldier. They know he has read
Biocks,one and the Constitution, as well as Turrene
and Vauban. They would ask him therefore some-
thing concerning their rights in this matter They
would enquire, whether 1t was not dangerous to re-
sist a law OF the United States. What would be the
nature of their offence, they would wish to
learn II they, by military force and array resisted the
execution in Carolina Of law of the u. Suites and
1t would turn out after ALL that the law toas constt-
ttonuR lie would answer, of course. treason. No
lawyer could give any other answer. John Fries he
would tell them had learned that some wears apo
How then. they would ask do you propose to defend
u.s. We are not afraid of.bullets but treason has
way OF taking people of, that we do not much relish
How do you propose to defend us? "Look at INV
Heating banner" he would reply: sec there the nui-
Tying ta1o!" Is your opinion, gallant commander
they would then say, that if we should be indicted
E,rt kL A..
make good plea in barr "South Carolina is a SOW
eregn State" he would reply. That is true, bur
would the Judge admit our plca' "These tariff laws"
he would repeat "are Observation-Disclosures de-
tribunals should not happen to be of that opinion
shall we swing for it, We arc ready to die for our
country. but it is rather an awkward business this
dying without touching the ground. After al, this
Is sort OF henp-taX, worse than any part of the
tariff.
Mr. President, the honorable gentleman would be
IN dilemma like that Of another great General
lie would have knot before him, which he could not
unite. liemust cut it with his sword He must say
to his followers, defend yourselves with your bayo-
nets, and this is war-civi war.
Direct collision, therefore, between force and force
is the unavoidable result of that remedy for the re-
vision OF unconstitutional laws which The gentleman
contends for. 1t must happen in the very first case
TO which 1t is applied. Is not this the plain result!
To resist by force, the execution of n law generally
IS treason Can the Courts of the United States
s'''N wv" WI thC VI Dtate 10 commit
treason? Can it authorize others to do it? If John
Fries had produced act of Pennsylvania annuling
the law of Congress, would it have helped his case?
lax about 1t as we WILL these doctrines go the length
otrevolution They incompatible with any peace
able administration Of the Government. They lead
directly TO dsunion and civil connections and there
fore is, that at their commencement when thew are
first found to be maintained by respectable men, and
IN tangible form, that enter my public protest
against them all.
Tle honorable gentleman argues, that if this Gov.
crnnent DC the sole judge of the extent Of its own
powers whether that right ofjudging BIO in Congress
or the Supreme Court it equally subverts State Soy
ercignty. This the gentleman sees thinks lie
secs, although H. cannot Perceive how Jhe right of
Judging in this mater ifet the exercise of STATE
Legislature. has any tendency 10 subvert the Gov
C nment of the Union. The gentlemnrs opinion
may be that the right ough, not have bsen lodg cd
with the Gencr,i Government; he may like better
such constitution should have under the right
OF State nterfcrence but ] ask him TO meet me On
the plain matter Of fact--I ask him to meet me on
the constitution tsr-I ask him If the mower is not