The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-10-24

60 =.
STATES Of opHioa 'lal an iYidHa called on 10 execute
law may himself juigc OF lis constitutional validity lila,
Nudcation any thug more revolutionary than that The
President OF opinion tlsl Judicial interpretations ct the
Constitution and the laws, do bind the conscences and
ought not 10 bind the conduct. of Has Modification
any thing more dsorganizng than that The President is
OF opinion, that every officer is bound support the Cons-
tuition, only according TO what ought be- in his private
pnon lis construction Has Nulifcaton in It's widest
flight ever reached to extravaganza like ha2 No. Sir
never The doctrine OF Nulhcaon in my judgment
false dangerous aud revolutionary doctrine this that
the State State may declare the of the obliga-
tons which lis citizens under the United STATES in
other words that State by State laws and State iuca-
lures may conclusvey the Constitution for IT'S own
citizens But that every individual may for him
sel IS refinement on the theory OF resistance const-
tona power. Submaton of the right of being dislova TO
the Unon free charter for the elevation of private opinion
above the authority OF the fundamental law ofihe State such
as was never presented TO the public and the public as
constituent even by Notification itself Its first appearance
IS in the VETO Message. Melancholy aud amcntabIe in
decd. Sir condition. when at amoment of seous dan.
proceed from the Chief Magistrate of the Government Sir
cannot feel that the Constitution safe in such hands,
cannot feel that the present administration 6t and mona,
guardian. =
But let ask, Sir what evidence there is that the Pres
Gent himself opposed 10 the doctrines of Modification
90 hot say 10 the political party which pushes these
doctrines, but TO the doctrines themselves Has he any
where rebuked them Has he any where discouraged
them Has his influence been exered 10 pSnire Snec r
me Constitution, and to produce obedience the laws p
Has he followed he bright example his predecessors has
he held fast by the institutions OF the Country has he
uioeu GOOD ana the around admODshe
the Country that the Union is in danger, and called all
the patriotic to its support Alas Sir we have
seen nothing nothing, of all this.
Mr. President shall not discuss the doctrine of Nulfca-
on am sure 1t can have friends here. Gloss il and
disguise as we may it is pretence incompatible with the
authority OF the Constitution Hdec separation be
only mode OF operation, SEPARATIONS nevertheless its direct
consequence. That State nuly law of the Union
and still remain IN the Union that she may have Senators
and Representatives in the Government and be ber-
TO dobey and resist that Government that She may par
take nthe common councils and yet be bound by their
results that she control law OF Congress- that it
shall be thing with her while tits another thing with the
rest OF the States all these propositions be abso-
uley at war with common and reason that do not
understand how any intelligent person Weld the slight
est assent to them. Notification, it attempt
conceal IT. IS dissolution is dsmembement it is the
breaking of the Union il shall practically succeed in
any one state from that moment there States
IN the Umon no longer Now, think exceedingly
probable that the President may open rupture
with that portion OF his original party which constitutes
what is called the Notification party think ii likely he
Will oppose the proceedings of that party If they shall adopt
measures coming directly in conflict with the laws of the
United States. Buthow viii he oppose What lciH be his
course Of remedy? Sir wish 10 call the attention of the
meeting and of the people, earnestly this question: ho,c
cl the president attempt to put dOcR NnAifcation II he
shall attempt Il at all
Sir for one, protest in advance against such remedies
have heard limited The administration itself keeps pro-
found silence, hut its friends have spoken for it, We told
SIR that ne President lrW immediately employ the miag
force, and at once hocSgde Charleston military remedy,
remedy by direct begerent operation has been thus sug
gesed and nothing else has been suggested the intended
means OF preserving the mon. Sir there little
to think, that this suggestion is true We cannot be alto
gehe unmindful Of the past and therefore cannot be
altogether unapprehensive for the future For one, Sir
raise my voice. beforehand against the Unauthorized employ
mcnt of military power and against uperedng the aulhor
y OF the laws by armed force under pretence putting
down Notification. The President has authority TO
blockade Charleston the President has authority
poy military force till he shall be duly required so 10 do by
law and by the civil authorities His duty is, the
laws to be executed His duty is to support the civil
thory His duy is if the laws be resisted, TO employ the
military force OF the country, if necessary for their support
and execuiion but do all this in compliance only with
law and with decisions of the tribunals IT, by any nge-
NOUS devices those who resist the laws escape from the reach
OF judicial authority it provided be exercised ii
IS entirely cOmpetentto Congress make such provis
ions the exgency of the may demand. These pro-
visions undoubtedly viii be made With constitutional and
efficient head of the government. with administration
really and truly in favor ofhe Constitution the country can
grappe with Notification. BY the force Of by the
progress of ghened opinion by the natural genuine pa
roSm Of the country and by the steady and well sustained
operations of aw the progress OF Reorganization may be
successfully checked and the Union maintained. Let it be
remembered that where Notification most powerful, it is
not unopposed Let be remembered that they who would
break the Union by force have march toward that OBJ
ect tnongh thick ranks OF as brave and good men as the
country raise strong in character, strong intel
gence strong in the purity Of their motives and ready
always ready sacrifice their fortunes and their lives
preservation OF the Constitutional Union ofthe States five
relieve the country from administration which denies
the Constitution those powers which the breath of its
life if we place the Government in the hands of its
friends five secure it against the dangers of irregular
and unlawful and military force if be under the lead of
administration, whose moderation frmness and wisdom
shall inspire confidence and command repect, vet
surmount the dangers numerous and formidable they
which surround us
And Sir little prospect of overcoming these dangers
without change of men. After all that has passed. the
election Of the present Executive will give the national
ton 10 sentiments. and to measures which will efectuay
change the government which, in short destroy the
government II the President be reelected with concurrent
and cooperating maJoe in both Houses of Congress- do
not that in four years more, all The power which su
ered 10 remain IN the Government will not be holden by the
hand ho
down by power unconstitutional itself The revenues
viii be managed by Treasury Bank The of the VETo
Senate, if not cut down. will be bound down and COM
mandng the Army and the Navy and holding all places of
trust TO be party property, what will then be left Sir for
Constitutional reliance
Sir have been accustomed venerate the Judiciary
and repoe hopes of safety that branch of Govern
men Bu let US not deceive ourselves The Judicial pow
err cannot stand, for long time against the Executive pow
The Judges true hold their places byan independ
ent tenure but they mortal That which is the
LOT OF humanity must make il necessary TO renew the bench
es OF justice. And how will they be filed Doubtless. Sir
they will be filed by ncumbenis, agreeing with the Presi
dent in his constitutional opinions If the Court is fell an
obstacle doubtless the first opportunity and every oPporu-
nifty, will be embraced 10 give less and less the character
Of obstacle. Sir without pursuing these Suggestions
only that the country must prepare itself for any change
The Judicial Department such it shall deliberately
ton, in other departments
But SIR what IS the prospect of changed Is there any
hope that the national sentiment viii rs accustomed
tone, and restore TO the government just and efficient adj
ministraion?
Sir if there be something Of Doubt this point there is
also something perhaps much, Of hope The popularity Of
the present Chief Magistrate sprnging from causes not con-
necied with his administration Of the government has been
great Public gratitude for military has stood fast
him. in defiance Of many things ID bis civil administration
calculated weaken its hold AT length there indiea-
tons not 10 be denied Of sentiments and impress
sons Al length conviction Of danger TO important inter
ests and to he security Of The government has made its
odgment, in the public mind. AT length public sentiment
begins have is free course aud TO produce its just effects
fully believe, sir that great majority OF the nation desire
n hp admin ntfnns
for party organization or party denunciaon suppress the
effective uilerance of that general wish There unhappy
differences IT true about the fit person TO be
possible that this dsunon may, in the end defeat the will
of the majority But SO far agree together lei act
together Wherever our sentiments concur let our hands