Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-01

4 an Address aud Resolutions which wa learn ,b
| following guar facts:
"Thus the dominant rarity OF tn State thu le.d.r
OF which the legitimate successors OF the mon,r
chy party Of 1887 In tho blindness OF infatuated zeal
are permitting quietly permitting the sovereignty o
on bv the United States Court
way more, by dece, and ,reschcry they have beer
auing and abeting in thi. usurpaonin this treason
against the Commonwealth.
"Tha' this question may be clearly un lersood by In.
people. IL 10 proper to give the facts they exist
'More than forty years since the Legislature OF thi,
safe granted TO company OF individuals charter
incorpor alton, authorising then Ia build bridge o
given width, from certain points in Boston Charles
town over Charles river-and to take TOLL according &c
certain specified rates, OF IN who mi GIT choose u
pass over II, for the term OF forty years.
at subsequent period, the charter was proloog ed
by Legislative act for further term OF thirty years
without previous notice TO the people, whose int
rect. were thus comprr mi ted
"The population OF Boston s. Charlie ,to wn having in
creased, anew bridge zee led TO be required for
convenience. Citizens Of Cbaresown pcti,ioned year
alter year for leave TO build IL.
"The Legislature granted the charter for the War.
rem bridge, leaving all the rights that granted
10 the Charles river brdg- untouched The apseal to
the court Of the United States is for the purpose of
nui'y'ng this STATE Law, and destroying the Warren
bridge. a
"whM right. fellow. citizens. has the snprem,
Court at Wa.hngiou more than the Supreme Court OF
Canada, TO abrogate this law of Massachusetts, The
charter Tor the Warren bridge, the Legislature
alter the most mature deliberatonit was
by the State Executive aud has been declared upop
solemn adjudication by the Supreme Court OF this State
TO be constitutional IL is within our own Jurisdiction
over our own watersfor the ben i of our own ne
P'e-interfering with rights of none 9th and We,
we are to be subjeced to the decision of a tribunal
alien TO our interetsstrangers to our te nys over
whose appointment aud acts we have no coatro,iny
power.
"what that decision may be is immaterial. II is not
against the Judgment but the jurisdiction of the court that
we obect-and against that jurisdiction an alarming
usurpation, bound by every principle of right
oil interested self-preservation enter our most solemn
protest The Supreme Court of the State has the RIGHT
10 decide upon the constuonality of this State law
and that having been donc ought to be final in this
case"
The advocates OF consolidation contend for the
rights oil Jursdicon in the federal cours under tn
clause oil the constitution which inhibts the Sta'e.
from passing laws mpsirng the obi atoms Of contracts
OF appealing the Warren bridge case from IN, Sat
tribunal, u could not, in our opinion, be reasonably
brought within the aiming of that clause of the con-
sotution That Inhibition was intended simply to re
strain the ates from passing what known under
the term stop awslaws against the collection of debt.
aud To restn States from absolving debtors from the
demands oil their Editors by gem RAJ special gi,-
iauve acts. grant emanating from the sovereign
power TO puc corporations, for public purposes, can
not reasonably be considered in the of con.
tract embraced in this provision of the constitution
Grant this power OF revision TO the ipreme Court
and there seems TO be little limit their lrsdie
Ihey may take cognizance OF all Charters granted by
the State Legislatures, relating ear ais
igious relcts Of colonial tmss-in feet TO the who
mass OF chartered assoc tion', established peculiarly
under the authority OF the Statss.-Gran the Susrems
Court such sweeping powers IN an Others which
they have claned-and also grant them the power OF
Furnishing ty fine aRd imprisonment any ma, who
shall question the justice of tn cir decisions-ani thew
VIII be Invested with most fearful power over the
rights OF the States and the liberties Of the people.