Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-08-28
POLITICAL.
From the Augusta COnstituiionalisi.I ]


your paper few communications, designed TO shew the
ruinous effects of notification government if
that the effects of the tariff is sufficiently injurious, OPP
pressve, uust TO justify in indulgng de-
sire Tor resorng to such remedy As your corespon
dent "Ogethorpe has already satisfactorily argued the
unconstutionaty Of notification, aud the consequent
possibility ofs operating peaceaby, shall not make the
vain attempt throw any additional liz lat on that branch
Of this subject and shall pass il by, simply referring Your
readers to re-perusal of that article. For the purpose
of my argument shall consider it granted, that nuliica
ton constitutional and pcaceable remedy for the evil
effects OF the mpoiic tariff; that it is only necessary for
the aggeved state by herlcgisare, convention, orOthcr
wise, TO pronounce law OF Congress unconstitutional,
unwise and oppressive, 10 make il obligatory Com
gress, TO repeal modify such law 10 the perfect sasiac
ton OF the state aggriSved; and until such alteration he
made that state shall be relieved from the force of the
law This Ipresune, will be acknow lodged be as cor
rect statement Of the doctrine of nulhhcaOn be
male from the conflicting opinions OF the propagaors OF it,
With this suppositon of power possessed by each OF
the Union, check upon the federal power, shall
proceed TO an exposition OF the effects of this power il
ercised which undoubtedly would always be the case;
for no individual nor state possessing power would with
hold the exercise OF it, whenever belief entertain
ed that would be productive of good; and thus prove
the excessive Ignorance Of the trainers OF Federal
Constitution. And:
L. If this right nullify be exercised il would often
be inconsistent with spirit of nobleness Gberatv and
justice. The feelings which would be necessary in
state, TO permit TO remain in the enjoyment the bless
ings oil the General Government, without sustaining
equal portion OF the burdens of it; and of sending cga
tors to enact laws to govern states submissive, while
she refuses obedience TO the laws enacted by egs
oil those states, incompatible with noble
And such is the tendency OF notification To render this
truth obI ious, apply that remedy of South Carolina
TO the Tariff and observe the consequence. II South Ca
roina nuhes that act OF Congress- and demands
of that law, such modification OF will meet her
views of poprcty, before she will TO submit 10 lis
requirements il is at all probable that the Tariff
States which the majority by far, will disguised to
make such concessions, will in the least satisfy Carroll
ma that law will always remain i'm her judgment multi
fed By which means, she will become exempt from
paying all taxes paying nothing into the national
sury receiving foreign produce without the incumbran
OF duty, for her consumption and transportation
other parts OF the Union partakng of the evils
and Inconvenience OF the Federal Government and vet
continue equal with the other states, in the enjoyment
its immunities and advantages protected by its army and
its navy facilitated in her foreign intercourse bv its am
bassadors and other agents secured from internal noes
taton by its officers and its powcrsCarona would thus
be participating i'll all the blessing and pote of 90
vernment, the expenses and burden of which she will
suffering TO be borne by others. Aud could she possibly
brook such condition OF continuing the Union? feel
confident our proud and independent state
Then let her not for moment think OF avAiing herself of
the advantages OF notification il the right he possessed
let her rather give preference to dsunion-wihdraw
peacea3y from her sister states, il she thinks is a
grieved that we may enjoy our own blessings and bear
our own burdens.
g This reserved right of the States would weaken and
destroy The power Of the Federal Government. The
Union Of the States would be but name-the govern
ment would possess power beyond the voluntary sub
mission OF the Staes-the Constitution and the assem-
bling Of Congress to enact laws would be mere form
the sembance Of power-its laws could never be oh-
gaory, while the States possessed the right
them; il the States submitted them, il must he bv vo
untay Submissions. To attribute power TO such eov ern
men would be great perverson of language as TO
style individual manufactures because he receives
manufactured goods in payment for the product of his
labor political economists would have MS believe
To illustrate the effect OF notification the power of
the general government, we will suppose be de-
cared by Congress against foreign power and laws pass.
ed carry it into operation few of the States profess
ing belief that the causes for declaring war were moi
sufficient and ii successful would be partial i'm its benefit:
and that Congress had transcribed the Spirit of the Con-
suon in making this declaration OF war; rcsorting to
fI,,tr .pNyah rnlts IlaU attllt
States, protesting belief that the law for direct
taxes conduct the war, unjust, partial and
oppressive, and consequently in violation OF The spi-
rit of the Constitution, they nulliiy that act. And
other states, protesting belief, like Carolina relative
to the tariff act that the duty borne unequay-and that
Congress- in arranging the ofimpost on different ar
clcs influenced much mostly, even entirely by
desire for protecting domestic manufactures: pronounce
this law 10 violation of the Spirit of the Constitution
and the right of the states TO nuy is made TO act upon it,
by that part Of the Union These professions of belief of
the different states which have nuied the acts of Con
gress relative to the supposed may be insmcere; but
in charity, grant them to be fully honest and in
their belief the nullifers OF South Carolina arcs c
ecs the power of the federal government would be the
same their aid in men and money would be withheld
With this plausible in view, permit to ask the adj
vocates for nullicaon how is Congress 10 conduct this
war, which il has been empowered TO declare? Shall il
call Convention of the States, remove the objections oil
the dsaeced states relative to the supposed unconstu.
onaity of those laws? And after these objections shall
have been removed by the convention and dispersed
may similar doubts of cOnsluionaly arise in those
states which previously satisfied or even i'm the
states on DINER laws OF Congress Tor conduct
ling the war? Shall another convention be caed
And another? Aud another !! Will the nation, agains
which war may have been declared, delay her operations
until the United States shall settle all doubts OF the con
situonaly of her laws No; she would be vigorous
in her attacks, and rejoice at the nbecty of Republic
This is correct illustration of the blasting effects which
notification would have the power and proceedings
the Federal Government have shown the effect it wouc
have by single example, but the reader readily con
the similar benumbing influence ii would have
other proceedings of Congress. There no other power
given to the Federal Government, hut which would be
subject to equal embarrassment IL the States
to themselves the right which the nuiers contend hey
have and if such right has been retained by the States
then is our federal compact unmeaning instrument
and the power which is therein delegated to The General
laid PROSTATE, by that sugc ght which has
been reserved by the States, who created The
And our represenves, who annually TO Congress
are only acting the part Of schoolloys who paid 10
tend there TO learn defamation and political intrigue.
this right be reserved by tie States, depving the federal
government Of All power obedience to lis laws is only IA
be expected from those states, with whose views Of pro
pretv and consttuhonality they may accord II this RE
be reserved by the states then driven to the be-
lief that our revered statesmen, who framed the COnsu
ton were as deficient IN knowledge and political sagaciy
as our government is Of power " such be the fact,
constitution should he Immediately amended tho Union
Dissolved. "a the government under which We live would
he totally destitute Of power. To explain away these diff
r 6cuItes we are told that the right in GUILTY.
only possessed and only be exercised, in cases
where Congress in its laws has transcribed us c0nsu
Gona limits not only in Of pdipGbic Uiolo0ns, bu
ri also in cases where state may think the law in violation
orthe shirt ote Constitutions as for example, the opinion
of S. Carolina on The co5situtionay Of the Tariff II
on this ground Of spiritual construction Of the Com
tuition that maintain and II be satisfactorily proven