Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-10-13

eet. Not Mat our op,s,ens cen Affect that
decision. or be OF an, weight This We dsrs
not presume; at lea>t, I ~tii nos. But die.
trust, d'hdencc. snd prudeaee. perhaps
should rathes restrain. The angry character
Ut that memorable debate, the nost able q
well - the most angry part of which heard,
aud never shall forget; sndtis heated and boss
tesous manner in which that discussion ON
conducted. is ever TO be regretted. Yet q,
It poured dood VI light upoa this and many
other Interesting subjects, IL had its use. And
only let these great constitutional lawyers and
eminent state sDeH, renew tie contest in =
better temper and ~e need not vet despair
ut the Republic. Ga the meantime, whilst
they 90 widely d,aer smoog themselves, in
opinion, I must be excused f 4 an not dis
posed 10 follow any ono .f them. a. an infal
hSie guide. might iose myself. If not in
the labys'aths Of their reasoning. perhaps in
the nazes Ut their sophistry. Ia concluding
thus head, gill only odd. . have always had
confidence IN the supreme Court, and that
s,'ii have. and should like TO hear their ON
op'n'o" upon this nome qaestion--tl,st
IN the present state Of Affairs, I will neither
JOIN N tho cry for the tariff, nor in tina, for
qualification. sate-rights, and rcAis,s ncc = AID
. more posteUtous erisis arise. wiil then,
as ever. be found for UNION, on the side of
nay county, hes constitution and isws-un-
lees conscience, reason, snd the best lights of
my poor Judgment, miSguide me.
have noe anawered each Of the questions
propounded. severaily. in their order, ~ sta.
Ted. add At greater length. perhaps, than was
necessary. or expected Of NE: for fear not
the responsibility, o. any consequence, tha,
can result from the fullest anil frcess cxpres-
sssn ut my principles sentiments. or opinions,
upo" these % any other subjec,s enter
tam. - have said. none avn either ashs med
or afraid my fellow citizens should know. -
Yet. these Questions .iid, eli Of them. from ihs
first. - now, seem To- me. TO nc sltogethes To-
reign to the Legislative duties that wiil de.
volvc upon me rs . member Of the viryinia
Legislature. IL elected; aud only inte nslcd 10
st'r up party prejudice and angry political an.
smos't'es against me, in particular. know
not nor recognize. any power vested in the
Legislature, by the smcnd~d constitution.
any more than there was under the old. to su.
thorize any Legislation upon sny Of the sub.
Jccts embraced in these questions, or upon
any they NAV involve. Resolutions, indeed,
erPressire efMc opinion of the Legislsture-
rather Of majority Of It's members-.s to the
power OF the general government to pass
such tariff. as that nov in force upon the
American people; and Of its right to appro-
pirate the public reyenue OF the Union, "a
works Of Internal Improvement, may proba
bly, be introduced, debated, and passed, de-
nying this right. either in the one case or the
other, to exist in the federal government
hut such resolutions will only be declaratosy
OF the opinion OF those passing them they
will not be Legisldfi,e in their cbaracter-wil
NOT have the force and operation OF lsv-wil
neither be binding. on our own people, upon
the general government, nor upon our repre-
sentatives in Congress. They will, 10 fact,
teilov-citizeus, be no more, nor Of more avail
than would be the similar expression Of iht
like opinion. by 80 many private individuals
Those passing them. having no authority un
der the Virginia Constitution. under vhiet
they are sworn to act, and must act, in thei
Legislative capacity, can derive none from
any other source. The mere circumstance
ct their being n'embers of the legislature, sEs
their assuming to act in that capacity, cat
give them no such authority. nor colour. -
You, ny fellow eifixens, 20 whom I am ad
dressing myself. might assemble yourselve,
and do the same thi0g--that is, pass simila
set of resoiutisns, plead the same right, ant
claim The same obedience from the geners
government. to your assumed authority. Ana
DO not and cannot, suppose any voter d
Jenerson so ignorant, as not TO know il. Ant
fhis. indeed. the author himself admits "
this same communication, Gas published 10 IN,
nsr, having more candoor and discretion thar
he. has done so for him. Yet this said suihor
over IN imposing signature. TO. be sure, vel
assumed TO further his object. tor the sole
purpose OF stirring up party spirit, which. 10
heing brought out under the circumstances
was, by both parties. I had been led 10 sup
pose and erpect. would not be reused sgzins
me, presunses to say, that the candidates fo
the Senate and House of Delegates shouit
answer these Questions, unconnected as the,
are, and rs be himself admits them 10 be, witi
The legislative capacity with which shall b,
clothed, and the dulles with which I shall b,
charged. IL elected, or some OF their neigh
bors and friends cannot support them At TIA.
election This Is . modest threat, I confr o
and would seem candid. indeed, in gentle
man pretending to Intelligence, and TO be scs
rag from principle. Hut, my fellow citizens
to you who might be disposed 10 " SUPPORT
me, but Tor the fears this psFtizsn would ex
cite psejudiciai to me, IN bosoms where non
should exist. nor existed before, by inducing
you Co believe, DO entertain principles an
opinions different from your own, which
shalt be called upon TO exercise, TO the inju
~ OF what you may deem your best interest,
can say, and appeal TO the past to sustsi
my sincerity. that I have always eniertaibe
the same opinions and views. have just ez
pressed. relative 20 all such Unofficial. ssi cor
S'deF all decisrstory resolution, OF opinions
~ those alluded 10. Yes. eau assert, viii
out fear Of contradiction. that have solem
acts to oppose to these insinua,Ions, ADD Z
repei thsm-ofiieisi acts. IL you please, 70
corded 40 the Journals Of more than one FOL
mer House Of Dclrgsies--yesrs ago. ss you
representative in the Virginia Legislature. q
three successive sessions, voted against sin
iisr resolutions, because I then thought, !
conformity 70 what have jus, stated, that
had been elected for different, puTposes-t
discharge duties, not 10 declare Unofficial aci
and opinioDs-ilsat such Legislation, " Icgislstio
u may be called, vas, % say the most of H. a.
less, u not wznton waste of .finlc and motcy
40 crisis having then arisen, IN my opinion. cal