Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-09
TEaEI VIRGINIA. THHaES.
TO THE PUBLIC

ed
''Thc Virginia Times" For reasons already known
to the public, he has since abandoned the enter.
prizc-but the large subscription obtained Tor tho
Paper while indicates the high opinion entertain
cd Of the character and qualifications of the proposed
Editor, seems at the same time to warrant the in
ference that very general demand prevails not
only in this State but throughout the whole South.
crn Country, for the csablishmcnt.ofa Press in the
metropolis of Virginia, devoted to the principles
avowed by Mr.. Gilmer in his Prospectus
Although several months have elapsed since tho
virginia Times" waste have made It's appearance,
and since its Editor renounccd his intention to
publish, we have reason to think that the public
expectation has looked forward to some other in
divdual who might take charge ofthc Paper in ha
stead. In proposing TO do this, we have TO lament
that VIC cannot bring with us his experience, infor
nation and ability, Il recommendation to his pa
irons. But, in fidelity and devotion to the prnci
pies of the Old Republican party of179S, we weld
to no one. We arc fully persuaded, that the best
interests of the Federal Government, and of tho
States, and of the People of the States, depend
essentially upon the preservation of those prnoi.
pies, as tests of political orthodoxy, and rules
of public conduct.
1nregard to the articles of our faith, it might per
haps, BIO sufficient to refer to the original Prospee-
tus of the ''Times" The principles as we'll as
the course of the Paper, there pointed out, will be
faithfully observed and strictly pursued. Our
creed is bref-A CLOSE AND LITERAL CONSTRUCTION
OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. As articles OF
agreement entered into by several and sovereign
States, this instrument was adopted by the People
tinct characters such. BY it, each State for
ITSELF yielded up certain specified powers, for speci-
fled purposes reservng each to ITSELF the ''residuary
massof right for it's own selfgovernment." From
the very terms of the proposition, which them-
selves based upon the ndisputable facts of history,
1T results as great political axiom, that in
OF violations of that instrument, and of encroaeh-
nents upon these reserved rights, no matter bv
whom, or by what power, ''cach State for isself"
to use the language of Mr. Jefferson, 'has equal
r'gM TO Judge, not only of the infrastiOns,
out OF the MODE and MEASURE of redrcss"-
There cannot 1t appears to u.s. be any other inter-
probation given the instrument which will not en-.
danger both the sovereignty of the States and the
liberties OF their respective People For if the
rights which have, by express provision, been
served Tor example, to Virginia, to be conroul-
cd in their exercise by any foreign power Whatever
it is manifest that she holds her liberties at the
mercy of that foreign power whose rcil, and not
the Constitutions is $50 far she is concerned,)
the supreme law of the land. In this view of the
subject, it is matter of importance, whether
tins controlling power is claimed as belonging Ell
ther to the co-partics TO the compact to the Fe
deral Government, any department thereof-the
consequences TO her are still the In such
case, both in the theory and practical operation OF
the Government, she would be, it were, tenant
at toiH;-holding her reserved rights, which are
her liberties, at the pleasure of q foreign power
and Liable at any tme to be stripped of every
tge of authority, and left as u naked trunk shorn
OF its branches by the tempest of foreign usurpa-
ton. There is but ORC case in which tho parties
to the federal compact have recognized tribunal
vested with the constitutional authority abridge,
or controu their reserved rghts-that is in the
OF amendments. This authority did not and does
not result Iro the nature of the compact, restrained
only by the ordinary rules of construction and ex-
pedIency--out from an express and special agree
mont 20 ;5at effect, cautiously worded and guarded
against abuse, by requiring the concurrence of
thrccfourths OF the States 10 constitute any act Of
amendment Vaiid-and perhaps, further limited in
It's exercise by the Bill of Rights adopted by the
verai States themselves. There is other case
hut
the existence Of power, either in the Federal Co.
vcrnmcnt, in the States collectively, which may
lawfully controu or abrdge those reserved rights,
which it has expressly recognized belonging "to
the States respectively to the People," And this
power, resulting from express covenant, (Which,
like all others in the Constitution, should be con.
strued Sirctty) ought to be confined rigdy to the
case 1t was intended TO cover for it should be re-
yer forgotten, that the sovereignty of the States
consists in their reserved rights-and that in pro.
portion as they yielded up to the Federal Co
vcrnmen!, so in proportion change the essential
features of our Federative Republic, and merge the
United States into tho National Government of
North America.
These being our views of tho Federal Consti-
tuition, and believing, do, that the State
sovereigntics 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 the
powers of the Federal Government,--no matter
from whom, from what quarter it may come
no matter by what preccdcnts sustaIncd--or by
what authority sanctioned-or in what terms Of
patriotism it may be disgused-w neither in q
judlciOuS Tariff, works of national utiiity or
distributions of surplus among the Statss
or national, or gorernment Banks.
We feel no disposition, it possible,
to avoid this engrossing question about the Presi-
dency. Duty and candour alike forbid that We
should be silent. We shall therefore speak frankly
and freely, but in a few words. 1t is a fact,
claiming the common assent of the intelligent and
impartial of al parties, that in the present struggle
for the Presidency there is actually no principle
involved. 1t is naked question of preference
as regards With such question we have
nothing to do. Our object is to support the old
Virginia prnciples-tbc Jelersonian doctrines OF
1898. We consider them to be in danger; fer
their deadlest enemy could not, in his malice,
have devised scheme dangerous to them,
than that of confounding all distinctions between
principles and parties in the reckless effort elevate
men When power smiles. and patronage invites,
and honours reward the traitor, it is not to be
derod at, if desertion become common vice. Per-
haps even now, it might with truth and justice be
said, that many who once claimed distng uished
places in tho ranks of the State Rights Party have
since quit the camp, and gone over to the enemy
won by the dazzling Of diplomatic distina-
tion, or Iured by the hope of Cabinet or SeDalo-
rial dignites In such times of party excitement,
the friends Of the Old Virginia Doctrines, have
much cause to guard their prnciPles-lost in the
inglorious scufIle for place and power they fall
sacrifice to the policy and ignoble ends Of
eye single to the preservation of those prnci.
ples-holding ourselves free to investigate the rncs
surcs of those " no in power, and the opinions
of those who would be.
AS regards internal concerns, the s'Tirneso
will be the stcgdllst advocate If ~