Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-26

N hIs,l
and sacred duties of any public furctionary Gu n
rightfully intcrposo.
No writton form of government can DO devised
Witch may not be liable to varions constructions
no freo government can exist without party diho.
ronoss-Hitherto the wso and patriotic men who
have administered the general government hayo
been csreful-as well from sense of official
dignity as from the moro important cens;dcra-
ton of the dangerous weight of official author
ity, not to mingle i'll tho party contests Of the
citizens. 1t is not only calculated excite regret
but other feelings, which tho committee will not
trust itself to express, that the State of South Car
ola has been selected for the first instance OF this
unauthorized intrusion-as the first example of an
attempt to close political discussion-by the terror
OF executive powsr-or to throw into tho scale
81 lparty tho weight of tho executive sw ord
While member of this confederacy and anx
ious for tho dignity of it's chief the state
| OF euthCarolina eaunot but regret every occur
| renee which may degrade that d;gnity-yet her
teehngs are OF sterner and docper character
whom her citizeus within her own jurisdiction in
tho exercise of uuquestiona BILE constitutional right
| arc denounced disofganEers and thrsnteus sd
with military Interference. Whatever emotions
however there may be, they not those OF ter
ror.SOurs is government OF law and not of force
or opinion not of will. In the absolute suprema
| ey OF the law We know that u President or a pr-
Vate citizen IL equally ameanablo to it's tribunal
and that threat from either against tho other is
of equal validity
If however the allusion of the President be not
70 the public discussion of opinions differing from
IL
legislative action which he denounced as a plan OF
reorganization. In this view of the Presidents
letter the Legislature has to consider an nva-
sion of the rights of the eitzon merely, but an
attsuiPt TO letter it's own freedom of action.
The Committee Snds it difficult 10 find lancuaoo
at once suitable to the and the dignity of
this House.
Is this Legislature TO be schooled and rated bv
tho President tho United States2
LIS 1t to Logislato under the suspended sword OF
the Commander in Chief?
, Is the Will OF one man to be substituted for de-
lIberation-and the enactnents of this body to be
iashioned by an ediot from President not only a.
Fowlng right to annul law when passed, hut
practically assuming the right TO nterpose while
1t IS yet under discussion? The executive of
most limited government; the agent of agency;
but part of creature of the states, undertakes
to prescribe line Of conduct to a free and
reign state, under denunciation of pains and pc
nalties. 1t cannot but be esteemed a signal in
stanse OF forbearance, calmly to enquire into this
assumed power of the President over the States
Under no part of the Constitution penal law of
Congress, known to the Committee, s the crime
OF Reorganization recognized made punish
able. 1t is to DO lamented that in denouncing
orimo and threatening punishment the President
had not used forms Of more definite import.
IL by the vague generality of the word disor-
ganIzation, he intended the context may per.
haps indicate, that plan of disunion existed IN
this State 1t will be equally difficult AK upon any
constitutional er legal authority any thing in
the nature of our institutions which imposes any
VI any power TO TIC GrcS!ucnL 10 pro-
vent it. This is confederacy of sovereign States,
and zach mag withdraw from the confedcracY when
ever it chooses--such proceeding would neither
be treason or instruction violation of any
portion of the constitution. II is right which is
inherent n u sovereign State, and has not been
delegated by the States of this Union. Whether
assuming such attitude might be Of war
on the part of tho general government, may be
questioned, but there can be question that the
President could not declare war. But the Gem
mittee deem 1t unnecessary to discuss mere hy-
Pothetical question, the possible occurrence of
which, if the President has contemplated it, is the
result of his entire ignorance of the feelings and
purposes of this State.
No one denies that it is his right and duty to SEQ
that the laws of the United States be aithfully
scuted, and no portion of the Union will be more
prompt to recognize the right to sustain and as
sist him in the duty than the State Of South Caro-
lina-but at the time, if IL the deliberate
judgment of this State, acting in her sovereign
capacity, any enactment of Congress is decided 20
be IN violation OF the constitution and therefore
not law--that judgment is paramount, and if the
executive or all the combined departments of the
General Government, endeavour to inlorce such
snactments it is by the law oftyrants, the exerton
of brute force. If such should occur, which
wo pray, wise providence 10 avor, the State will
throw herself on the protection of that providence,
and if her destiny be slavery, she will not be mock
cd by the forms of free government.
Resolved, That the letter of the President of the
United States, to sundry citizons Of this State
an unauthorized interference, in the affairs this
otdtep principles advanced III 1t lnCOm-
patIbiefwith the constitution and subversve Of the
rights of the States-tbat the threatened of
executive conduct would if acted upon, destroy tho
Liberties OF this country. and threat, s Of dan
gsrous precedent and highly repulsve to the feel
ings of free people. {PRzsToN.l
The minority r. out OF 13l of the committee on
federal relations beg leave to submit their report
SO much of the Governors Message refers to the
correspondence between tho President Of tho Uni
ted States, and large and respectable portion Of
the citizens of Charleston.
They deem it perfectly in accordance with the
character Of the FIRST magistrate of the United
STATES, to inculcate sentiments &C attachment to
the union, and TO promote the practice Of modera-
ton and forboaranse in the contentious of party.
That tho letter Of the President dated 18th june
1880 was evidently designed to dispose all parties
to peace, and cannot therefore bo considered do
nunclation of either. 1t is but too well known
| that the citizens of this State IRE at variance
same controversy that prevails between them and
| the general government No one deny that
those disputes have elected feelings of dstrust and
jealousy which every patriot must regard with
| pain.
! The good dispositions which are the foundation
of SOCIAL poace and order, become liable in Of
strong excitement to lose their influence. II is
against this danger the President with the bast in
tsntons, undertook to caution follow citizens,
| in language mild and becoming his station His
letter is dictated in the spirit with the invita-
ton to which it returned answer. No conspiracy
| or III designs were imputed To any citizens in the
invitation to the President. They stated Lhaf, Of
which no one can be ignorant, who is acquainted
! with the principles of human nature or the theory
1 of free government. tic deprecated tho tendency
Of n long continued and bitter controversy 30 loosen