Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-08

reserved 10 the States and to the rope By the eo,rn,e
or Constitution when the several States for their own
benefit and convenience created the Federal Government
nat GOVERNMENT mcroly the Agent Of the States on
~ allowed to exercise those powers which were intended
composing the eofedcsacy has too often the
limits prescribed IT, and evnccs an disrec ard
,oa e ns" ., the States by the passage Of unconslit
uona aeS anu by propotiens for others II Il be possible
OF still more understandable character The complaints
memorials ana protests oil Of the sovereign States
this e9fdcracy have been unnoisccd or cgared
the Constitution about DC merged IN the will of
an unroStrancd majority. Mo one can ro,y toubt The
tendencyo that the numerous evi which
must ehric. unless speedily arrested ia its downward
career. III The will Of that majority is unresrained and
that government suffered to search through their o,y
records for presidents upon which found their claim 10
power and thus melt away the solder Of the Federal chain
10y making that constitutional now because heretofore
same acts have been done by themselves il i; equivalent
TO The actual destruction Of that instrument and the SUBJ
suu'ion OF government unestrained its powers and
unlimited in its sway Ii "a strongly insinuaed
that the States cannot ntcrposc ron
al measure IL So there Is already limit Federal pov
er and our short experience has shewn the insult
iicicncy OF all restraints upon parchment
Virginia resisted the usurpaions of England
tered the hazard of for political existence soueh
TO guard against oppression that her citizens might csjoy
the liberty which belonged them and appropriate 10 their
own that which their labour had earned The Tariff
law, of which all the Southern States so Justly
is calculated TO take from citizens the profit they have
earned by their industry and is also violation OF the Con
only has this bee done hut laws have Leen
passed appoprating The public money for purposes foreign
TO, and unwarrantcd by, the Constitution. Agents have
been appointed to negotiate Treaties without consulting
the surplus in the Treasury of the United States
70 be divided among the States according representation,
contribute little TO that fund-which is in reality re-
iucin the States TO the condition of vssals and pension
cr: paid by funds illegally cxactcd from them.
IL ;csc laws, these acts and this claim pow er be con-
sGutona the Constitution of the United States has been
misunderstood, and insufficient accomplish the o. ecs
for which was dcssncdhat preserving our liberties
and rishsif they arc unconstitutional. the Fcdcii
Government has usurped the rights of the States by
constituting itself the Judge its powers has crea-
a % In vvh
allegiance il due
II legislative expejscncy to triumph over constitution
al rights. and the obligation Of oats be gare
all human for the security Of liberty will avail
nothing, and freedoms gone forever.
Wcnay these laws continued by States combining
10 advance their local interest ard using their power
TO oppess the minority. which would then DO without
dress These considerations ought be dsregarlcd
alca't by the Southern States, who the minority but
the producers and exporters OF the products which bring
into the Treasury the wealth. to obtain which, all the
guards OF liberty about 10 be crumbcd TO pieces. No
State has made many sacrifices for this Union Fr
ginia to which she has been much devoted She has
calmly awaited the period when returning of JUS
ticc would lead alienation of her burthens and
abandonment of those unconstitutional measures Call
ing the oppression has been, under which have la
bored we have been content 10 make situation known
through members in Congress, and by Legislative
solves Heretofore the public debt has the prcex for
this oppression Now however, il upon the ofex-
tnction. when for the sake OF union If not Justice
hope change in these fatal mcasuresBut, fear, DOOM
cd TO disappointment, must prepare 10 combat a
scheme which has been suggested and has enlisted is
likely to enlist, strong interest in It's support refer
the scheme OF distributing tire surplus
States The Legislatures of of the largest States have
already expressed for their approval; and the President
the United States has recommended Congress in his
two last annual messages No scheme could he devised
more ruinous TO and the other Southern Satos than
this Should it be adopted all hope OF relief from this
oppressive system of measures will have vanished
each year will show results which will present the
strongest alurcmens their increase those who con
butte least will be tempted to urge forward the most
oppressive expedients TO increase their portion of the
spoi-wle those who pay most, nj best receive back
but small portion Of what themselves contribute;--
thu &c
the smaller for local purposes, and draw money from
the pockets OF portion of this confederacy enrich
another. All other questions which have already agacj
Congress and the people will be Lost in this terrible
all and calculated 10 appa the stoutest mind udicou
Tariff will then that system which will lead 10 the
creator eXacons upon The South and must pcrscvered
in lead the subvcrsion of The entire
should again be disappointed il will rest with The people,
and with hcir representatives, adopt such
may he deemed necessary To guard them against the
evils oil system nos only unconstitutional but unjust op
prcSsve and riinousnor will YOU be deferred BY threats
from quarter from pursuing the which duty
qurcs- The strong OF power viii be able
crush the spirit OF fcemen deter them Gsn exercising
hcr rights andn'erpoing barriers to the progress of
: patton.
Wishing you pleasant session and happy issue TO al
8 your deliberations, am: gentlemen,
Your Fellow Citizen,
JOHN FLOYD.
On motion of Mr. Carter of r. the Message and Docu
nent: were laid upon the table, and 6Q9 copies ordered
be printed.
The Speaker laid before the House the following Con-,
munication from tic First Auditor:
{ AUoproR's OFFrcE, 5.h Dec. 1881.
Sr,lmmcdjatcly after the adjournment OF the las
General Assembly, proceeded o,cXecue the duties
u CURED OF Inc by the concerning lands returned dcn
D qIent for the payment of taxes and hasten the car
hest opportunity to communicate the progress made in tn
WORK, and TO oer respectful suggestions the lie
> gislaurc, which deem of the highest Importance.
The Act referred TO- having arranged the lands into class
cS and having subjected TO absolute forfeiture the
January next all that situated west of the Allegha
ny Mountains and returned delinquent prior 1921
the lists for that portion OF the State that period wcr
= FIRST completed with as much dispatch as possible.
The lists Tor the Valley Counties, and the Counties all
Iacent TO the Blue Ridge, the Eastern SIDE embracing
the same period o tmc have also been completed am
generally circulated. The execution of the work has bee
attended with extreme difficulty and extraordinary Labor
and although great pains have been taken render il ac
curac, yet the imperfect official returns aud the rcnssnci
OF former Collectors for the arrearages take.
y have occasioncd innumcrablc errors.
The Act OF the last session authorizes these
corrected, application to the Courts of the Coutie
where the Lands situated and IL contains various
dial provisions which would be highly beneficial, il IN
persons Interested had time TO resort 20 them Ii utter
ly impossible that the spirit and intention of the C
referred to- be fulfilled unless the period oricitur
= Is extended beyond the first OF January.
The printed lists have many of them been rccoulr
circulated, that yet they have fallen into the hands
lew directly cOnccrncd and when CONSIDERS
that besides the necessity of collecting evidence, the
mality OF application to the County Courts is required
which in most will he attended with delay
= expense, il must he perfectly obvious that longer fine
Rod OF forfeiture, for the purpose of rectiying mistakes
dischargng arrearages. will not ssary conflict wild
The policy OF the Act in question. The constant
laiion OF taxes and damages the large w
render less and less probable that the holders under Juno
= grants will be disturbed in their occupancy. The