Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-11-03

10 suppose that the meaning Of the Ieri.,s.
ture, though yell romprshended Al m.
limo. may not now be .ov,ou, 10 ,ho.. nm
.e9unn.ed With The contemporary indies-
tons and impre ssions.
But Ia Is believed that by kssn;o, IN v,.,-
the distinction between tho yos~rnmep,, a
the states, and tho states in the ssn,o IN
which hey we're parties To the constitution
between the rights Of the psriies in their
concurrent and in their individual capsei-
~, oe'wsen the several modes end objects
'"'erpos"'on sgsinst the sbasss Of pow
er' and especially between iut~rpc.,i,oo.
within the purvisw Of the Constitutes. and
In'eS positions appealing from tho const,,s.
ION 10 the rights of nature. psramouu, to
ell constitutions; with an attention ,lw,,.
OF explanatory use 10 the We've and srxu-
merits winch were rombated, the resolutions
OF Virgins, as vind,csisd 10 the port on
hen', VIII be found entitled TO an expo.i.
uon, showing consistency in their parts.
and an Inconsistency Of the whole with IA.
docirins under consideration
That the segisls,urs could aot have IN.
tended 10 ssnetson such . doe tripe, 10 10 %
inferred from the debates In the House Of
Deiegates. aud from the address Of the tw,,
h"uses TO their constituents, on the subiec,
Of the resolutions. The tenor Of the debate,
wbich ne-e ably conducted aud ere UNDER
stood To have been revised for the pre,. nv
most. AZ not all, Of the -spe akers, discIossx
no reference whatever to q coo.t;tu,,on.I
rishi OF nm indisiJuaI stsie, TO arrest bv
loree the operation or . law OF the United
STATES Concert among The states for re-
dre.s sgsinss the ellen aud scdttion laws q,
acts OF usurped power, was q Iesdinr sen,,.
ment--sndN the ausinmsbt OF . concert IA.
immediate object OF the course adopted bv
the legislature. which was that Of in,;,in.
the o'hsr states Ito concur In declaring the
acts to be unconstitutional. and TO co-ope rata
by The necessary and proper measures in
maintaining unimPaired the authorities.
rights and liberties reserved 10 the states
respectively snt 10 the people ne
Ihat oJ NE necessary end proper mes.
sures TO he concurrcptly aud ro-opsrstiveiy
token. were meant measures known 10 tho
constitutions, particularly the ordinary con-
troll Of the people, and legislatures Of s,s,e,.
over the government Of the United State,
csnIot te doubted--and The inssrposi,ion
OF th's control, as the event showed. va,
| equal 10 the occasion.
IL 10 worthy OF remark and e1 pie n atory OF
the intentions OF tho Legislature. thai The
words mot law. but utterly null, void, and
of no force or effect" which bsd followed IN
one Of The resolutions. tho word 'uacossti-
tuiionai,' were struck out by common con-
sent Though the words were in fact but
synony mous with 'uDeoDstiiutionsi,' vet 10
gusrd against q misundersiandieg Of This
phrase, AS more Than decIsrsiory OF opinion.
the word suneous titutioDsi' alone . as se-
taiaed, - not Liable to thai danger.
! 3ho pebiikhet Address Of the legislature
TO The people, their commitments, afford. en-
other conclusive evidence Of its views The
address warns them against The ca roa aching
spirit OF the general government, argues the
oDcOn s,ituiionsi,tyo OF the elien aud .edition
acts. points To other iu,isnces in which tho
constitutional limits had been ovsrlesped--
duel j. upon the dangerous mode Of deriving
powNf hy impiic ation--snd in general press
es the necessity Of watching over the con-
sohdating tendency Of the federal policy
But nothing Is said thsi can he upds rsiood
TO lock to means Of maintaining the rights
OF The states beyond regular ones, within
the forms OF the constitution.
! n any further lights on the subject could
De needed, very strong one ~ reflected ia
the answers TO the re.olutinns. D., the state,
which protested against them. The main
objection OF these. beyond . few general
complaints Of the indammstory tendency Of
The revolutions, wss directed against the a.
sumed authority Of state Legislature TO de-
clare Law OF The United States uBeonstitu-
iiioosl. which they pronounced an unwsr.
rsntssic interference with the exclusive ju-
r'-diciion OF The supreme court OF The UBi-
ted States. Had the resolutions been re.
carded ss avowing ard msintsining . right.
in 81 individual state 10 arrrst, By force. the
execution Of . law Of the United States. Ia
must be presumed that il would have been
Q conspicuous object Of their denupeis,ion.
With cordial ssiu,s'ions.
JAMES MADISON.