Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-04
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Friday Ereasms. wee. Sd.
GEORGIA CONVENTION.

This Convention was Incidental and initistory,
that of South Carolina is deliberate aud final, aud
hence, interest in the latter, has superseded tc-
rest in tho former. Nevertheless, tho proceedings
at Millcdgevile, of too much Importance he
neglected, although we have delayed notice of
thom until we could be enabled to sketch the points
of leading interest.
The Convention Mt Millcdgoville assembled in
pursuance of the recommendation of tho Athens
u meeting in July last No legislative advice had
sanctioned it, and for the most part, those only
neem to have taken agency in choosing tho mem
bers, who friendly to those notification feel.
ings which prcdominated at tho Athens meeting.
The consequence was, that majority of the Con-
vention were Nullifyers, avowcd or unavowed; OBJ.
serving which, Mr. Forsyth, with a view to G nbar.
rass and arrest the action, of the Convention, mo-
we'd scrutiny into the validity of the titles of
beers to their seats, denying that the Convention
truly represented tho People, or that majority of
these had concurred in choosing them, This O.
ton was opposed, chiefly by Messrs. Berrien and
Clayton, who denied the truth of the facts assun
By Mr.. Forsyth, and commended that were it even
So, the proposed scrutiny was unnecessary, as the
Convention proposed TO do nothing 6iia but mere
iy to Indicate of resistance 10 tho
Tariff subject te the rejection or rati6catio
OF the People of Georgia. The motion was de-
rejected; whereupon Mr.. Forsyth, Col. Cumming,
and some forty others, Anti NuIlifyers, seeded
from tie Convention, leaving seventy -one Mem
bers behind them. Discmbarrassed of the presence
Of the Union Party, the Nullfyors (for SO we
must call them, although they cschew the name
like sone other polite people in these parts) pro-
ceedcd TO action and adopted series of resolutions
follows
l. Resoiped, That the Federal Government is
contederacy formed by the States composing the
same, Tor the specific purposes xpresscd liz the
Constitution, and for those alone.
2. That every exercise by the Federal Govern
ment, or ny any department thereof, of powers
granted by the Constitution, not" il hsta ndny it
may be under the forms of law, is i'll relation the
constituent States, mere usurpation
3. That Government of limited powers
have constitutional tight ;s,dge in the last re
sort of it's own abu Q, of the powers con
forred upon it, since that would be substitute for
the limitations of the Constitutional charter the
judgment of the agents who employed to car
nv it into eaect-to annihilate those limitations by
power derived from the same instrument w hich
created them.
4. That the Federal Government, is a Govern
-ment the powers of which expressly limited
by the Constitution which created il, and can
therefore have no constitutional right to Judge ia
the last resort of the abuse of those pow
5. That it is essential to a confader ated Govern
Trent, the powers of which expressly limited
by the Constitution which creates it, that there
snOuiu cxlst SoiucWncre power authorltatiVcY
to int rpret that instrument, decide in the last re-
sort, OH the abuse of the authority, which it
Nconfers upon the common agent OF the confcdera-
ting States: that such power cannot belong to the
agent, since that would be to substitute his judy
nent for the constitutional lmitation and that in
ahe absence OF a common arbi'er expressly desig-
mated by the CONSTITUTION for this purpose, each
State such, and in virtue of its sovereignty is
necessarily admitted to the exercise of that ght
g. That the several States composing this Uni,
on were, at the adoption of the Federal constitu-
finn frnp .xl...
they have not Invested themselves this
by the REIMBURSEMENT of certain powers to the Fed
eral government having associated it'll their sis
ter States Tor purposes entirely compatible with the
continued existence of their own original freedom,
sovereignty, and independence.
Z. That the act laying duties imposts passed
an July, 1892, well as the several Of which,
that act is amendatory in so far it transcends
the purposes of revenue, 81 is intended to operate.
~ does operate Substantially for the protection of
manufactures, is exercise of powers, grant
ed by the constitution, but plain and palpable
violation OF the trse INTENT meaning and spirit
thereof that tao said ects cannot be justified nder
the power of regulating commerce with foreign
nations, since to regHlnte is not to destroy: and
the principle of a substantive protection to domcs-
tic manufactures assumes. and in some instances
excrts the power of imposing duty, which eff
fcctualIy prohibits the Importation of foreign
sabrics # like kind with those which are thus pre-
tected, and TO this extcnt destroys foreign
merce, instead ofreg,tating it,. That they cannot
be supported under the power TO lay and collect
purpose OF enabling the Government TO raise "a
venue, which should be adequate TO its wants,
and Tie amount of which is raised
by these protective duties very far exceeds
the Legitimate wants of The Government
and that that attempt 10 vindcste the OK ercse of
power to impose a burthen the labor and indus
try. of portion OF the people the United States
for the benefit of another portion of the same poo
pie, under the power TO provide for the copnon dc
fence and general welfare of the United States is
even more alarming than tho direct results of the
system ITSELF because that to ascrbe Congress
power to do whatever in their ud gIDcnt ma
conduce TO the common defence and general wei.
fare and thus to invest the National Legislator re-
with unlimited, because merely discretionary
power over the rights and liberties Of the pc oplc oil
Georgia
8. That the people of Georgia ara sincerely at
tacbed to the Federal Constitution, and TO the
union c these StItes which it creates and ruar,n.
tees-that they consider it ss precious inherit
ance received frotL their fathers, which it is the
duty Of patriotism TO n,antaia and defend, and cs
innate it above all price, save that Of liberty that
they ready peril their fortunes and their
lives III its defence. aud would deeply deploro its
dissolution, event alike mats pcious TO them
selves, and 10 the of civil liberty throughout
lie world That actuated by these feelings, and
even amid the difficulties which beset them, not
desParing oftbo Republic, 4hCy viii still persevore
IN Tho uso OF every proper ord efficient means foI
the peaceful adjustment of llIs unhappy contro
Versy' winch may DO within their power ont
ol tue sovereign members of this confedcracy, oil
whIch may result from consultation and conference
WIN their sister Statec, having common interest
WIN lhou IN THIS matter That taking the pay
nep' o. the national debt, as She period after which
inc present tarh OF duti9s, far as it transcend
the purposes or revenue and * designed ror t,,
protection OF domestic manufactured can End n,
PiGusIDle pretext IN our cnnstLu tioaal barfer the,