Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-26


prcssions and recollecting the genuine source and
object Of the federal constitution, shall candidiy and
accurately interpret the meaning Of the General As
semby II the deliberate exercise OF dangerous pow
ers palpaby withheld by the constitution, could not
justy the PARTIES it.. interpreting oven 90 far %
to The progress of the evil and thereby to pre-
serve the constitution ITSELF 40 well as to provide for
the safety Of the parties to it, there would be IN end
to all relief from usuppcd power, and direct SOLVER
sion OF The rghts specified recognized under althe
state constitutions, well rs plain denial Of the
fundamental principles on which our independence IT.
self was declared %. Ft
But, sir, our authorities do not stop here. The
State of Kentucky responded to visginis and the
10th OF November, 1893, adopted those celebrated
solutions we'll known have been penned by the author
of the Declaration of American Independence. In
those resolutions the legislature of Kentucky declare,
'That the government created by this compact. was
not made the exclusive final judge Of tho extent of
the powers delegated Co ITSELF since that would have
made its discretion, and the constitution, the
surc OF it's powers; but that, in all other of
compact among parties having no common judge,
each party has an equal right TO Judge for ITSELF
wei Of infections of the mode and measure OF
redress"
Attic ensuing session of the Legislature tho sub
Ject was rc-cxaminej, and on the 18th Nov. 1899,
the resolutions of the preceding ycarswcrc delbcr-
atcly affirmed, and was among other things
lemnly declared: ~ - $50 -
THAT if those who administer the Genera. Co
vcrnment be permitted to transgress tho limits fixed
by that compact, by total disregard to the special
delegations OF power therein contained, annhila
ton Of the Slate Governments, and the erection upon
their ruins of general consolidated government will
be the inevitable consequence. That the principle
and construction concndcd for by sundry of the State
legislatures that the general government is the ex-
elusive Judge OF the extent of the powers delegated
to IT. stop nothing short Of despotsm since the dscre
ton of those who administer the government, and
not the constitution. would be the measure of their
powers. That the several States who formed that
instrument, being sovereign and independent, have
hin IA
that qualification by those soveregntics of ali I'M
authorized acts done under color ofihat instrument,
is the rightful remedy"
limo and experience confirmed Mr.. JeIerson's
opinion on this altimportant point. In the year 1921
he expressed himself in this emphatic manner: "It is
fatal heresy TO suppose that either our State 90
vcrnmcnts superior to the Federal or the Federal
to the Sete neither is authorised literally to decide
which belongs to itself or its copartner in govern
mcnt in differences OF opinion. between their differ
ent sets OF public servants the appeal to neither but
10 their employers pcaceably assembled by their re.
representatives. in convention" The opinion of Mr.
Jefferson on this subject, has been SO repeatedly and
solcmnly expressed that they may be said to have
been among the most fixed and settled convictions of
his mind.
In the protest prepared by him for the Legislature
OF Virginia, in December 1925 in respect to the pow
ers exercised by the Federal Government i'm relation
to the Tariff and Internal improvements which he de
clarcs to be usurpations of the powers retained by
the States, interpretations into the compact
direct infractons Of it,-he soemny reassers all the
principles Of the Virginia resolutions of 98-protests
against "these acts of the federal branch Of the gov
ernulen null and void, and declares that although
Virginia would consider dissolution of the Union as
among the greatest calamtes that could befai them
yet 1t IS not the greatest There is one vet greater
submission to government Of unlimited powers II
IS only when the hope of this shall become
ged."
In his letter Mr. Giles, written about tho same time, he
says: - N',,'' "
II you do, and the deepes, affection the rao;d
sa s he Ss q s ss
the States & the consolidation in itself foreign and
domestic, that too ny constructions which limits 10
their powers &c Under regulate they as
indefinitely tina, also agriculture manufactures
tina, Of cutting down for Of roads
and digging canals, &C. And what 10 resource for the
might well reason and argue the columns en-
crcmg 'hen &c Are then TO stand arms with
DINA has said mol that resource We mus,
have patience aud long endurance with brethren &c and
et are dissolution Of our Union viii, hcm or soSmson e.
government without limitation of powers Peween these
taion" ~ - 80 "''
Such. sir the high and imposing authorities in supper,
Of "he Carolina doctrine which is in fact the doctrine Of the
Virginia resolutions of 1893.
sir, day the whole country divided on this yery
question u formed the line Of denarcaion between the fds
raj and republican ariies and tho political
which tcn look place turned upon the very question nvoy
III these resolutions That question decided by the people
and ~ thai decision the constitution was the enphatic
langoage Of MIR Jceson save at its last gasp" so uld
suppose sir would require self respect any gentls
man here would be willing assume lightly doctrines
derived from such high sources Resting authority like this.
will ask gentlemen whether South Carolina has moi manifest
ed hi. regard for Union under tyranny ten finn
grcyious than the alien and sedon laws she has hter
to gone further Than petition. remonsa,e and soennv
protest against series Of which believes TO be
wholly and utterly destructive her
Sir South Carolina has not gone step further than Mr.
Jefferson himself sposed co. in relation TO the very
object Of oor present complaints NOT step further than the
Statesmen from New England weredsposed 20 under similar
CIRCUMSTANCES; further Than the Senator
the limit qofo
opposition" The doctrine that il is the right of State 10
JuJso of the violations Of the constitution the pa of ta
federal goveDmen and 10 protect her from tire opera
lions OF Unconstitutional laws held by the enlightened
citizens OF Boston, who assembled in Fapeu Hail. on IN,
oath January, 1909 They state in that celebrated memorial
ey looked only 20 the State Legislature who competent,
10 devise relief against the unconstitutional the
government That your power ay ey) adequate 10
OBJECT evident hon The organization OF he confceracy~
distinguished Senator from Of the New England States
Ar Hhouse IN speech delivered here ona bill for enfor
cling The embargo decared feel in
70 declare cst tbe blood 81 shall fall in the
ton OF this measure shall be my head tia, consider this
to be an act which dectsa mortal blow the Liberties of RIO
Country