Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-27

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
December l3,a, is32
siR-i enclose In you n commune alton adj
dressed TO the House Of Delegates, which yo,s
will please lay before them.
Respectfully,
JOHN FLOYD
The Hon. Linn Banks, Speaker ofise House y
Delegates.
ExEcrTIvE DErARrwEsr
December 18th, ls33.
/ To he House IF Delegates:
! lh.se received from the Governor OF che,
Commonwealth f South Casolina. With are
quest To lay IL before you. m official docu-
ment containing an Ordinance sdop,sd by q
Convention OF the people Of that State con
vened according TO their constitution and
laws, tn take under consideration ell the Ia
rin laws passed by the Congress Of tho Uni
ted States. for the protection Of certain .pe-
cies Of labor. and to determine upon their
| constitutionslity
! twill be perceived from the documen.
presented to you. that South Carolina, acting
IN her sovereign capacity, in that Conve Mt on
OF the people, has now declared those laws
4 unconstit utional, aud not law, and by various
enacfments, forbidden the attempt on the
part OF the Federal Government To c AIRY them
INTO execution within the limits OF her terri
tory after the FRS, day Of February next.
before taking that step, our sister State
repeatedly protested and pressed her memo
rails upon the consideration Of Congress.
earnestly entreatIng them to abandon Laws So
unequal and unjust in their operation, pre-.
sen,ing IN The clezrest and strongest terms
and most vivid colours. the scene Of utter
ruin and desolation y hich must ensue to her,
vt they persist in building up - system 90 un-
) equal and oppressive.
All this has been disre z arded by that BODY.
) which from beirg the deputies or agents OF
At 10
and limit their own power only by the con-
struction the majority of their own body may
think proper To give to the Constitution.
During the war of the revolution which
made the States Of this Confederscy free and
independent, and gave them \ name and rank
among the nations Of the earth, South Caro-
lima. the land Of Sump,er and OF Marion. stood
firm. and displayed in the field Of battle, deeds
Of valor, which have shed q blaze OF glory
over her name, gaining renown for her he
roes and Immortality for the wisdom OF her
legislators. She has taken this step justified,
as she AYERS, by the Constitution, which, re-
eoSn'zing her as Sovereign party to the in
strumenf, guarantees TO her. in virtne OF her
reserved powers rs such. the right to Judge
of the infractIons at the compact, and the
mode and measure Of redress
Many questions OF deep importance have
heretofore agitsted these States, but none
the intercs, it ough, TO excite among the peo-
pie. or IN the effects 1t may produce upon
this contederacy. A sovereign State has
bspoken her sentiments IN relation TO this sub
Ject, AMI pronounced those laws unconstitu-
honal Should force be resorted to by the
Federal Government, the horror Of the scenes
hereafter to be witnessed cannot now be pic
,ured. even by the aifrighted Imagination.
The genius and spirit Of our institutions
are wholly adverse to such . step, and ought
not to permit the mind Of any TO look in THAI
'fdrreetion-f0r what surety has any State fov
her existence a. a Sovereign. If . difference
OF opinion should be punished by the sword
as Treason Surely, civil war is not remedy
for SrongS.in Country where the people are
recognized as sovereign, and each individual
has the right to the full and free expression
of his opinions.
The moment has arrived when you arc
called on to speak, and f possible. once moro
sustain the Liberties OF the country In GO
'ernment OF limited powers, like that of the
4 United States, acting upon communities so
distant from each other, and of such vsriety
of interest, IL is not 20 be wondered AZ, H the
legislation Of the majority should sometimes
press unequllly upon the interests Of the mi
not,ty; in all such Cases. due regard to jus
tee should prompt the majority TO an investi-
CATION OF the causes. with u viewio . redress
ot the grievances Hut when this is denied
on the part If the majority, and their right
To persist IN such q course Of legislation 10
solemnly put IN issue BY the action OF one or
more States, " seems 20 me, the part Of wis-
dom not TO appeal TO the sword, for the set.
Element Of such issue, but that an am,cabIo
reference should be made to he great tribu-
nal which formed and adopted the Cons,itu-
tuition, namely the rIoPLs Of the States
themselves To refuse this. would be 10 dis
!, credit the fundamen's truth, which lies az
the foundation Of all Our Institutions thAa
tile people are capable Of self government.
such course - due 10 the interests Of all, to
the harmony 81 AL. To- the Constitution, TO
the Union. anal what X the end and object
Of these to liberty itself
On you depends in q high degree the fti-
iufe destiny &c this republic ~ - for Won
now 10 say, whether the brand Of eiv1 var
shall be thrown INTO the midst Of these States
and our hreside 0havs batbed ~ blood OF
whether, trusting 10 the wisdom snd intel rI-
~ 81 the people. YOU will sppesito the States
Of the Union for the maintenance e that har-
4 mony, and tho"e State Rights in vh,eh they
have nm equsl interest with ourselves, and a
vert. q possible, the impending calamity of
evil war.
That your deliberations upon this impog-
tant subject may result IN friendly snd RnsI
settlement of the hniistons at power. ~ IN
parting new life snd Vigof 10 the COos'isu-
ton. and IN restoring the lost harmony VI the
country, - the sfdeBt and sincere S'sh ~
your fellow-citzen. JOHN FLOYD.
n ~
We learn from the y ' Mercantile. q Deo.
g., thsts Great Union Merhng sss beld % sa-
tur,sy. u Tsmmsny Hall, TO take into eonsider.-
ton The let, Proeiaus,on Of the President Of the
tinted ststts Abraham Bioodgood in si,o
Char. Preserved fi.h and Saul Alley. Vice
rres,denis The following resolution, amongst
oihsr,, ~ss adopted
Eselrsd. That While ws sympatbise with
or ..MLharn hrrlLrru m IL ~. $3.50. ~