The Arkansas advocate., 1831-09-28

and that if VIC should absurdly attribute to the former, the exclusive right of construing the constitutions, there would be ii fact between bbett eefiii tic tic sovereign and subject, under such a government, no Constitution; or at least nothing desery- ling the name, or serving the legitimate object of so sacred an instrument.
 How the States are to exercise this high power of interposition, which con stitutes so essential portion of their reserved rights, that 1t cannot be dele gated without an entire surrender oi their sovereignty, and converting our system from federal into q consoldat- ed government, is 3 question that the States only are competent to determine. The arguments which prove that they possess the power, equally prove that they are, in the language of Jefferson, '.the rjghtful judges of the mode and measures of redress But the spirit of forbearanee, as well as the nature of the right itself, forbids recourse to it, ex- cept in cases of dangerous infractions of the Constitution; and then only in the last resort when all reasonable hope of relief, from the ordinary action of the Government has failed; when if the right to interpose did not exist, the al- formative would be submission and op- pression Off .one side, Or resistance by force on the other. That our system should afford, in such extreme cases, an intermediate point between these dire alternatives, by which the government may be brought to pause, and thereby an interval obtained to compromise diff ferenees, or, if impracticable, be com pe!led to submit the question to con- stitutiond adjustment, through an ap- peal to the States themselves, is an evi- denee of it's high wisdom; an evidence not, as is supposed by some, of weakness, but of strength; not of anarchy or revo- lution, but of peace and safety. It's gen. eral recognition would of itself, in great measure, if not altogether, super eede the necessity of it's exerclse, by im- pressing on the movements of the go- yernment that moderation and justice so essential to harmony and peace, iii a country of such vast extent, and diver sity of interests as ours; and would if controversy should come, turn the re- sentiment of the aggrieved, from the sys- tenn to those who had abused it's powers. ia point al importantly and cause them to seek redress, not in revolution or oyer- throw. but in reformation. It is, in fact, properly understood. a substitute where the alternative would be force, tending to prevent, and fl that fails, to correct peaeeabIy, the alterations to which all political systems are liable, and which, if permitted to accumulate, without cor rection, must finally end in general ca tastrephe.
 I have now said what intended in re- I1erence to the abstract question of the relation of the States to the General Government, and would here conclude, did l not believe that more general statement on an abstract question, with outincluding that which may have caus- ed its agitation, would be considered by many imperfect and unsatisfactory.-- Feeling that such would be justly the case, l am compelled, reluctantly, to touch on the Tariff, so far at least, as may be necessary to illustrate the opin- ions which l have already advanced. Anxious however, to intrude as little as possible or the public attention, will be as brief as possible; and with that view will, as far as may be consistent with my object, avoid all debatable topics
 Whatever diversity of opinion may exist, in relation to the principle, or the effect on the productive industry of the country, of the present or any other Ia rift of protection, there are certain po- iitcal consequences flowing from the present, which none can doubt, and all must deplore. 1t would be in vain to attempt to conceal that 1t has divided the country into two great geographical divisions, and -arrayed them against each other, in opinion at least, if not ;n- terest also, on some of the most vital of political subjects; on it's finance. its con- merce, and it's industry; subjects calcu- lated, above all others, in time of peace. to produce excitement, and in relation to which the Tariff has placed the sec tions in question in deep and dangerous conflict. If there be any point on which the { was goingto say Southern section. but to avoid, as far as possible, the pain ful feelings, such discussions are caIcu- lated to excite, shall say) weaker of the two sectionsis unanimous, it is that its prosperity depends, in great meas.