Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-17

EXECUTIVE DEpARrupy,,
December IL. 1888
TO the Senate and House of Delegn,s..
] nave received from the G,vs,n
Carolina with request to lay it before ~. s'''
official document, containing an Ordin,n.:: W.
ed by Convention Of the people Of th. ''s s .ag
convened according to their ,op,,,n,; 't'>
laws, TO take under consideration ali ~. ~ 4
Laws. passed by the Congress Of the + "' "a .si
fur the protection Of certain specir. r. sue
and to determine upon their con,,i,uG,n ~ HS
u will be perceived from the dOcumsn,N
sen'ed to you. that South Carolina. ar,;"';
sovereign capacity in that Convention IS :
pie. has now declared those laws uu,o,.i's
al. and not lay, and by various eu,e,ms".'s
Sudden tie attempt on the part Of ,hs g.l
Government to carry them into expcu,,o, s WE
The lin's OF her territory, alte. the frs S' '
February next.
Before taking that step. our sister Nh.
prated!y protested and pressed her men.
op"n the consideration Of Congr.,,-s,'s'p''
eutre ting hen. to abandon laws 80 unso,,,
~ 1r' "a their operation, presenting in ii, ~
esj tni most vivid co!ors, the scene Of n,.. '
in ani dr,olaiinn which must cnse ,nls'
the, persisted Ia building up system sa'.
quail and oppressive.
Al this b.. been diSressrded BY ,b,, hl
which, trom being the deputies or AGENT, =,
States. aspire % e"nifn; t'rir principals, and,
limit their o"n pn" e., only BY the cuns,,r,,.
thr MAJORITY OF Ter own body mas think r,,..
10 give 10 the Constitution FT
Dpring tnc war ol the Re,Oln,ion vb, ~,
the Safes Of this Cnniedcracy Zee and lna,rm
dent, aud gave them name aaG rank asnn,
! cations Of the card. Suu,l Carolina. ,hc l,oI
Sumpter and Of Marion, staod firm, and t,,rr,'
ed in the field OF battle deeds Of va nr, uhi,at':
she'd blaze of glory over her name, s,ip,o, ;,
nOw for her heroes and lmmortaIl,v fer no a.,
dom If her Legislators. she has taken iii. s.,
ius,IHed, as she AYERS, by the Constitution, afi,,
recognizing her as a sovereign part, 10 he n
| strument, guarantees TO her. ~ virtue # brrts
served powers as such. the right to pl.e # III.
mfr &C ion, OF the compact, AMI lie aUde aud au
| sure of redress.
Many questions Of deep Import have h-r.l.
fore agiIated these States; but none nave roe,N
ed this in importance, either in the Interest
ought to excite amons ihr people. or in the ,ft
it may produce upon this Conlederacy Am,
reign State has ,pnken her sentiments in rsiarl.
to this subject, and has pronounced those ia.,
| unconstitutional. Should force be resorted to b.
the Federal Government. the horror Of the ,cvn.
| hereafter to be witnessed cannot now be pi;la
ed even b, the afirisIlted Imagination.
The genius and spirit Of our institution, a,
wholly adverse to such step, and ought no, /
permit the mind Of any to look in that dr.crp.
for what susy has any State Tor her eIistsHu
as q sovereign, if difference Of opinion should |,
punished by the sword as treason. Surely c'i
wal is not remedy Tor wrongslu counlf, Hhs
the people are recognized as sovereign. aud cad
individual has the right to the full and free II
preston OF his opinions.
The moment has arrived when you are calls
on to speak, and if possible, once more su'a'
the iibertirs Of the country. In GovemaeS
Of limited powers like that Of the United STATE,
acting upon communities 50 distant from ach
other. and Of such variety of interest. it Is nolS
be wondered at If the legislation OF the najHl'!
should sometimes press unequally upon hs mic.
rests Of the minority. In all such casesa da,H
gard to justice should prompt tina, majority "'I
investigation Of the causes, with view nars
dress of tie grievance. But when tbs IS detr
on the part of the majority, and their rsht olsi
sist in such course Of legislation Is soeint'
put in issue by the actun Ut one or mare sm
reign States, it seems to me the part Of "'do
not to appeal to the sword, for the settlement
such issue, but that an amicable reierenc" sloi
be- made to the great tribunal Which 'orned q
adopted the Constitution, namely, the FEoPLt
the States themselves. To retu.r thu. "rU'd
to discredit the fundamental truth which 'e'
the foundation Of all our ips,l'utIons-'hai
people are capable of seIf.sovernment S'''
course ia due to the interests Of all, 10 the ha'r
ny of all, to the Constitution, TO the Union, q
what Is the end and object Of these, to L'O'
itself
Ga you depends in high degree the i'''
destiny of this Republc-lt Is Tor you gov
say, whether the brand Of civil war s'l.'
thrown into the midst Of these Stales-and
fire side affairs bathed in blood-or "te'n'
trusting to the wisdom and Integrity OF 'ne
pie, you will appeal to the States Of HE Nv
for the maintenance of that harmony ana w.
State Rights in which they have an equal u.
est with ourselves. and avert If possible 'ne
pending calamity of civil war.
That your deliberations upon tbs mPo',
subject, may result in friendly snd lna' ''''
ment of the limitations Of power, IN 'mP''O
new life and vigor to the Constitution ano
restoring the lost harmony of the Country. y
ardent and sincere wish, of YOUR Fello" or,n
JOHN FLOYD