Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-12-16

Maine, containing resolutions adopted by the
Legislature OF that State relating 10 tbe TIA.
fIl' internal improvements, Sc dSapproy
ing.
also, from the Governor of Delaware re
solutions OF The Legislature ofthat Common
wealth, concurring with PENNSYLVANIA. in
| her opinion relative 10 the Tariff of 1925 as
well as stndry other resolutions in relation
10 Public Lands-Antlrew Jackson--ths
surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Revo-
iution-and in relation TO the proposed a.
mendment of the Constitution ofthe United
states, offered by the States of Louisiana and
! Missouri. And ""N
rom The Governor of New HAMPSHIRE.
relaIi'e 10 the organization OF the Militia of
the United States.
ne Constitution OF our State has made Il
inc duty OF lhe Governor, "to communicate
! W Tue Legislature, at every session, the CON.
ultlon ofthe COMMONWEALTH. f" To discharge
inns duty, IL will he necessary for me TO call
your attention 10 our FEDERAL REI,A-
TIoNs. The deep interest felt by all the
states, IN the manner in which that part of
their concerns has been managed by the Fed
erai Government, 10 which they have dele
gated certain defined and limited powers.
would make me highly culpable if failed TO
hollce them, or omitted 10 speak Of them 10
you as they deserve The General Assem-
by have never failed 10 keep watchlul eve
over these rights which were reserved 10 the
States and the People by The compact or
Constltution-when The several States, for
their own benefit and convenience, created
the Federal Government
hat Government, merely the agent of
the States, and only allowed to exercise those
powers which were intended TO operate en-
lernal!y, and upon nations, foreign 10 those
composing The confederacy, has TOO often
transcribed The limits prescribed TO il, and
erinccS an increasing disregard 10 the rights
OF IRE States, by the passage of unconstitu-
tinnai aciS, and by propositions for others, if
II ne possible, OF still more unwarrantablc
charsc'er The complaints, memorials and
protests OF some OF the sovereign States of
inns conieGeracy have been unnoticed or dis
regarded, and the Constitution seems about
10 De merged in the will Of an unrestrained
majority. No one can now doubt the ten
denCy OF that Government or the numerous
eYlls which must ensue, unless speedily ar
rested IN lis downward career. Ifthe wiIIof
'ha' majority IS unrcsirained and that Gov
eminent lSpormitted 10 search through their
own RECORDS Tor precedents, upon which to-
found their claim 10 power, and thus melt a
way The solder Of the Federal hahn, hy max
ing That constitutional now, bet ause hereto
lore the same acts have been done by them
selves, II Is equivalent To the actual destruc.
tion OF that instrument, anil the substitution
OF government unrestrained in its powers
ana un iimted in its sway II is even now
sirnngiy mSnuated that the States cannot in
terpoSe 10 arrest an unconstitutional mea-
sure. III So there is already no limit 20 Fed
erai power, and cur short experience has
SHOWN 10 us the utter insulliciency Of all res
trants upon parchment.
Virginia resisted the usurpations of Eng
lana, ana encountered The hazard Of war for
P"!'lcal existence, and sought 10 guard n
GainSt oppression, that her citizens might
enjoy the liberty which belonged TO them.
ana appropriate 10 their own use that which
Their labor had earned. The Tariff Law, OF
winch all the Southern States so Justly COM
PLAN, IS calculated TO take from our citizens
the nroft fhev have -~..' ~ 'i.~i.. ;-I4s-
try, ana IS, also, violation OF the Constitu-
ton. Not only has this been done, but laws
have been passed, appropriating the public
money for purposes foreign 10, and unwar-
ranled by, The Constitution. Agents havs
been appointed 10 negotiate Treaties without
ctnSul'lng the Senae; and propositions have
been made TO seize upon the surplus reYenus
IN the Treasury Of the United States, 10 bs
divided among the States according 10 repre-
sentation, tLoueh some Of them export moth
ing, and consequently contribute little 10 that
iund-which is in reality reducing the States
to the condition Of vassals and pensioners
paid by funds Illegally eXacted from them.
II these laws, these aCts, and this claim 10
power, be constitutional, the constitution Of
the United STATES has been misunderstood,
and IS insufficient to accomplish the objects
for which il was designed, that ofpreserying
ourlihcrtes and our rights-if they are UNI
constitutional, The Federal Government has
usurped the rights ofihe States, and by con-
StluiinE iirci the sole judges of lis powers,
has created new political sy stem subversivs
OF Iha! towhiCh allegiance is duo.
Il Legislative expediency is to tri-
umPh over constitutional rights and the obli-
cation ofoaihs be disrcgarded, then all bu-
man means FOR The security of liberty will a.
vail US nuiling, and freedom IS gone forever.
We may see these laws continued by
States, combining to advance their own To-
cal interest. and using their power TO Cypress
The minority, which would then ba without
redrcss-lhccc considerations ought not 10 be
disrogaidod, at least by The Southern States,
who are The minority, but the produceTsand
exporters oi tbe products which bring into
The Treasury the wealth, 10 obtain which, oil
nc safeguards a liberty are about to 10
crumO!cd 10 pieces no State has made 70
many sacrifices for this Union as Virginia, 10
which she has been so much devoted. She
las calmly awaited tho period when a ~
turning sense oijusiCe would lead TO On al
deviation Of her burthcns, and an nbandok-
mcnt o. those unconstitutional measures -
Calling as The oppression las been under
which VIC have luboted we have been coz
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