Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-11-19

course is constitutional, and that the State may
adopt it without rcnquishing her character as mem
Der ofthe Unions
To the unconstutonnlty Of such principle I do
most uncqaivocally dissent. can trace no vesiae
in any article, section paragraph, of the con-
stituton, in any treaties upon that instrument from
which can possibly deduce any such construc-
ton, either expressed or implied But that State
can arrest the operation of a law of the United
States, and compel the general government to aban
don it, without renuuishinr her character q
member ofthe Union, IS tome inexpicaSle. 1t IS
opposed to every principle of confederatcd govern
ment 1t IS calculated to defeat the very ends it in
ENDS to promote, and tn clog every operation of the
general government, and to arrest the operation OF
every law, however sautary, whether constitutions
or unconstitutional. For If State has this power,
1t possesses the power Of determining what
laws she will arrest Then suppose South Carolina
by virtue OF her reserved sovercgnty should
the general government, arrest the operation of
the Tariff laws because they Unjust and oppres-
sive; and Ohio should say arrest the land laws.
the lands lying within our chartered limits. claimed
oV the United > ates, is under sovereignty and
belongs TO us, you are deprving OF our rights and
we VIII permit you to sell no more of It. Tennes-
see should say, we arrest the law establishing the
United States Bank, deem it unconstitutional,
and we have sound bank currency of our own: it
| takes from us the profits of the banking system.
thus 1t might go on, until you would mol have a
single lazy OF the general government, which was
not N state of arr 1t would b. Just rational
to suppose that the planetary system could continue
to perform all It's revolutions with the came beauty.
order and harmony, which have been assigned to
them by nature, were the laws OF projection, atrac
ton and gravitation, to be totally suspended, it
would be to suppose, that twenty four coniederated
States could exist in harmony, and perform their
federatlve functions, were each State 10 have the
power OF aTrestng or suspendng the operation of the
laws OF the confederacy, whenever In the opinion
of the tunctionaries of any single State, it sheuld
De thought expedent for the interests of that State
to do so.
Another mode of operation is proposed: which l..
n a rftnn l ran crnrcx ntfn
venton which might have been useful, and Of which
would have been proud to have been mcmber
In constituting that convention, would have
suited the people at large; and would have obtained
from them distinctly, by ballot, the State of Vir-
GINA lately did, who was for, who was opposed to
Convention. Then the question of Convention or
no Convention would have been settled by the sove-
reign power, and further controversy could have
arisen. A convention elected under these crcum-
stances, limited in its action to remonstrance only,
and limited in its duration 10 single session, could
have been objected TO by none. In convention
thus organized, great unannity of sentiment. and
great unity of action might have been looked fos
And a solemn address from such source, must have
commanded attention abroad. and might have pre-
served the peace and harmony of the community at
home. 1t was convention of this pacific cha racter
to which alluded in my speech ON Foot's resolution;
not that thought one. even them be necessary as
then expressed il. And much less do think con
vention necessary now, when here every hope that
the systems OF the aiff and Internal IMPROVEMENT
are going down by other means, that can endanner
not hing. But convention gotten up under he pre-
sent excessive excitement of party feeling, that has
thrown the State into the most violent ierment, bro
ken up all former political associations severed the
most intimate friendships, and called down the most
bitter rcproaches upon the rights of self opinion that
party excitement has produced, where there cx
lists no difference of opinion regards the nature
and extent OF the injury complained of but ONLY q
difference OF opinion regards the mode of redress;
and this too, at time when mutual forbearsnce was
never more ihnPeriously demanded. at any other pc
rod OF our history would leave but little hope ha,
such convention could effect any sautary purpose
If, however, are to understand as one DISTINGUISH
ed gentleman has avowed that Convention for az,
other purpose but notification an unmeaning alla
or US otner gentlemen no less distinguished, tel
Us, 'sfr resistance" and if such convention shouIt
really be ordered, | can nothing but revolution
n"tore US. We could not retreat. that is certain
Then revolution is the only alternative. For there
pears TO ne no ground upon Which to presume, tia
the other twenty three States, with General Jack
at their head would be coerced into conci!iator
measures, consequence of such an hostile atitud
by South Carolina. Nor it be supposed Mort
Carolina, Virginia. and Tennessee, ALBANIA o
Georgia, States equally concerned in this grea
question with South Carolina are prepared to adop
implicitly what would appear 20 lead directly to
state Of revolution. Would they not choose to b.
consulted in the first instance, and prefer to lIav
some share in arranging and directing the naod.,
opsrandi, if they share in rhe burthens o
conflict with the general government to impose an,
separate unconstitutional measure upon South Car
DINA alone, and she shonld les1st 1t TO reyo
luton, there be doubt but those neiphhor
ing States would not stand by and see single
State selected for political sacrifice. But wher
it is common cause. they might not be so rea.
dy to take part in war, which State has va
ged without consulting the rest of her fellow suf
ferers.
1t has been affirmed, ifSouih Carolina would
commence opposition, those States would fall in
with, and follow up that opposition That this
the course pursued at the commencement of the
revolutionary war, which separated us from Great
Britain. That some State began, and the o.
ther States followed. Some one State had to strike
the fist blow it is true and then the other States
took and immediate part in the war But there is no
parallel IN the two cases. The then Colonies now
United States, began to feeF the oppression
of the Mother Country more than twestv
bve years before the fatal blow was struck
And during ihc whole of that interval thew had
friendly communications on she subject OF Revolu-
ton and for several years previous 20 the decara
tion OF independence, they had their different grades
-tl