Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-06
THE VIRGINIA rsyaRs.
TO THE PDHLLn.

/ TO the pubic, he has since Abandoned the enter
| prizc-but the large subscription obtained or . ~
Paper, while it indicates the high oplua c.tcrtaiiii
cd ct the character and qualification: ,t: proposed
Editor, seems at the SANG time Ia yynrrcnt the in
terence that Il very general dem ,ut l.rc"aS, not
only in this State, but throughout ar whole S,utt-
eru Country TOR the establishments a. Press in tho
Metropolis OF Virginia, devoted to the pr;, Plies
avowed by MIR. Gilmcr in his Prospectus. '''
Although several months have elapsed since tna
Virginia Times" was to have made its appearance,
and since its Editor rcnounccd his intention ID
publish, We have reason to think that the public
expectation has looked forward 10 some other in.
diTidual who might take charge of the Paper in his
stead. In proposing to do this, we have TO lament
that we cannot bring with us his experience infer.
nation and ability as Il recommendation to his pa
irons. But, in fidelity and devotion the prnc:
pies of the Old Republican party of l79S we Weld
to no one. We arc fully persuaded, that the best
interests of the Federal Government, and of the
States, and of the PeGpie Of the States depend
essentially upon the preservation of those prnoi-
PIES as tests of political orthodoxy, and as rules
of public conduct.
lnregard to the articles of our faith it might per-
haps be sufficient TO refer to fine original Prospcc-
tus of the ''Tmes." The principles as we'll as
the course of the Paper there pointed out will be
faithfully observed End strictly pursued. Our
GRECO IS brief--A CLOSE AID LITERAL CONSTRUCTION
OF THE Federal. CONSTITUTION. As articles of
agreement entered into by several and sovereign
States this instrument was adopted b. the People
or each, respectively. i'll their several and dis
tinct characters such. BY II, cach State for
Itself yielded up certain specified powers for spccf-
he'd purposes, rcscrving each ITSELF the 'rcsiuary
mass OF right for It's own scl-yoyernmcnt" From,
the very terms Of the proposition, which theinH
selves based upon ;ho indispm: able facts of history,
1T results great political AXIOM, tIiat in
of violations OF that nk: .dmort, and of encroach
nente upon these reserved rights matter by
whom, or by what power, ''yich State for Itself"
to the language of Mr.. Jefferson, '.hGs an eqaal
rgM 10 J"d@e, nat only u the iafractions,
6m Of the MODE and MmAstnE Of rcd,css."-
There cannot, 1t appears to us, be any otier inter-
nrnt1 fihn
danger both the sovereignty Of the States and tho
liberties OF their respective People. For, if tho
rights which have, by express provision, been re-
served, for example, TO Virginia are to be CONFRONT
Ga IN their exercise by any foreign power whatever,
1t Is maLitest that she holds her liberties ut tho
mercy of that foreign power, whose mil and not
INC Constitution, IS ESQ far as she is conccrnet,l
the supreme law of the laCd. In this view of tho
subject, 1T Is matter of no Importance, whether
this controlling power is claimed as belonging Ell
Their to the copartics to the compact, the Fee
dcrat GQvcrnmcmt, any department thorooG-the
consequence TO her still the same. In such
Case both in iyc theory and practical operation of
the Government, she would be- rs il were, tenant
at rih;-holding her reserved rights, which are
her liberties, at the pleasure OF Il foreign power
and Liable, ut any time, TO be stripped of every yes
tige of authority, and left Il naked trunk shorn
OF It's branches by the tcMpest of foreign usurpa-
ton. There is but in which the parties
TO the federal compact have recognized tribunal
vested Will the constitutional authority abrdg,s,
controu their reserved rgts-that is in the case
of amendments. This Authority did not, and does
not result from the nature of lie compact restrained
only by the ordinary rules Of construction and cS-
Pcdicncy-but from express and special agree
mcnt to that effect, cautiously wordcd, and guarded
against abuse by requiring the concurrence of
threciou of the Safes 10 constitute any act of
amendment vaid-anG, perhaps, further limited in
its exercise by the B OF Rights, adopted by the SCI
vcral States themselves. There is no other case
but this wherein the Constitution acknowledges,
the existence of power, either in the Federal Co
yDrnfnent, or in the States collectively, which may
lawfully COptrnul or abrdgc these reserved rights.
which it has expressly recognized belonging sstc,
the States respectively to the People" And this
power, resulting from an express CoIenant, (Which
like all others in the Constitution should be con-
strucd stricfy) ought to be confined rgdly to tho
case 1t was intended TO cover; for it should be me-
yer torgG-tcn, that the sovereignty of the States
consists i'll their reserved rigts-and that in pro-
portion as they arc yielded up to the Federal Co
yernment, so in proportion we change the essential
features ct our Fcdcratiyc Republic, and merge tho
tnTcd States into the National GOUcrnn,ent Of
North America.
These being views of the Federal Consti-
tuition, and believing, do, that the State
sovt.cgncs ere in danger, it will be our duty,
and the main object of the Paper, to defend the
States and 10 oppose every attempt to stretch tho
powers OF the Federal Government no matter
from w HON, or from what quarter it may come
no matter by what prcccdcuts susluincd-or by
what authority sanctioued-or in what terms Of
patriotism it may be disguiscd-whei in a
j"diciOUS Tariff, works of nationat utfijtv or
or HGtioRGt, or g UerHneHt Banks.
We feel no disposition, it possible
to avoid This cngrossing question about the PresI-
dcncy. Day and candour alike forbid that wo
should he silent. We shall therefore speak frankly
and freely, but in u few words. 1t is Il fact
claiming the common assent of the intelligent and
impartial Of MI parties, that in the present struggle
for the Presidency, there is actually no princjpIe
involved. 1t is q naked question of preferences
as regards With such question we havo
nothing to DO Our object is to support the old
Virginia Pfnciplcs-tbc .Jeilersonan doctrines of
1888 We consider them to he in danger; for
their deadest enemy could not, in his malice
have devised scheme more dangerous to them
than that of confounding all distinctions between
principles and parties i'll the reckless effort 10 elevate
men. When power smiles. and patronage invites,
and honours reward the traitor, it is not to be won
dcrcd at, it dcscrtion become Il common vice. Per-
haPs now, it might with truth and Justice BIO
said, that many who once claimed distinguished
places in the ranks of the State Rights Party have
since quit the camp, and gone over to the enemy
won by the dazzling Of some diplomatic distinc
ton, lured by The hope OF Cabinet or Senate
rial dignitics. n such times Of party excitement
the friends of the Old Virginia Doctrines, hayo
much cause to guard their priucpcs-lest in the
inglorious scrillc Tor place and power they fall n
Partizan warfare. We shall there ore look with
eye single TO the preservation Of those rrfnci-
plcs-holding ourselves free to investigate the nea
surcs OF those no are in power, and the opinions
Of those who would be. 80
As regards our internal concerns the s.'Tinocs,,
will be the scodflst advocate Of the true policy Of
n FF clad