Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-22
FOR 1HE ENQUIRER

DEAR SiR-Recent appearances in the political amos.
phere seem to indicate that the arguments exhausted
hher against Modification, would be ndrrare EabaDs
sWdo. But that docirine or what remained Of it, has
oeeh so completely demolished by tie Presidents P,ocla
inalon,' that there is glory in attacking IT, Indeed
he has 20 entirely covered jhe whole ground that there is
nov ie' 10 plant cannon upon lac has link,
borne down somewhat too hand upon Stare rights and
leaned too much 10 the side of Federal power hui n
There he weak poiut in that paper have the t.mo-
fiy, III had the will, 10 make assault upon it, NV
present object is rather make myself better understood
by the estmabie conductors Of this journal, than TO
attempt TO throw farther light upon this. me, dark
some subject So delicate is the line OF separation be-
tween Federal and State power, except where is dis
unetiy drawn IL the Constitution, that find it a difficult
matter 10 arrange my ideas each side OF it, even TO my
o~n saisaeon and much more 10 express them
RAKE iht in'eigble TO others The use designed 10
MAKE oil me words We the people" in the preamble
e constitution, was, that the trainers of hat instr
meant TO denoninate us one people, or nation i'm
TO other nations So in tie Deca, alton Iud pc ndencs
Tue words Tor one people Ia Dissolve, Sc have the sarac
effect And give Up the idea that although The
people did not in person form their Government they
were conseniing TO through ueir and to
Tue extent OIL the Obligations aud oil that
Government, may be considered as living under tho
same social compact lis idea is think farther JUS
tined by the terms OF the 9Th and IUt Articles OF the
amendments: The enumeration in the Constitution
OF certain rights shall be Construed TO deny or dispa-
rage others retained by the People, 1.-The powers not
Delegated c are reserved ~ the States respectively or
To me people, Ii just strikes for the first Tine
and the idea being may be erroneous, that The true
distinction between Federal and State SOVEREIGNTY nav
be found in the different OF the terms polper aud
right IN the Constitution. The grants 10 the Federal
Government in lis different branches are, pOtvers: tho
reservations arc almost universally of rights and these
reservations, TO the people generally and not TO the States
The ioriner, are OF course sna but before at
tempted TO show no, the less vereign their cha
racter' when In possession oil the people, they were
righs-when transferred the Federal Govern,nen nj
hey became powers The sovereign power Of the States
Is built upon these original rights not on
~ the residuums III the 9th and 10Th Articles OF Amend
ments' but the enumerated rights Tina, of the Federal
Government is granted potceT, simple defined limited
I'm
pose these two sovereign powers differ upon the question
whelhera law passedby the is authorized by grant
ca power Ii was necessary 10 the of the Multi
hers OF South Carolina for them gard the right to null
lily as constitutional rather than natural right lit
Is neither the other il is nothns-and such be-
heve 1t to be- 1t is not constitutional right, because it is
not 10 be found among the ed, enumerated rights
OF me Satesnor can it be supposed that the trainers of
the Constitution intended leave among the residuarv
rights, one that was totally inconsistent with granted pow
ers, especially with the power 10 pass laws which
they declared TO be supreme laws of the land They
would not either expressly by their silence provide the
means Of its self destruction work executed with so
much toll, and such wonderful wisdom They proy;dsJ
Tor its alteration, but for its annhilation-ts If thew
permitted themselves 10 look forward it, they wisely
lett TO that resisIleSs OF which could be
ioreseen or confronted. The right Dully cannot DO
considered natural right The natural rights Of
The States, can only those rights which belonged to
them before they entered into the cocdeIa cy and were
not parties with or such as belong any sovereign pow
err la that condition they would resort TO nuliiyng
IGto TO protect themselves against law of another State
or power which protested TO jurisdiction within
Their eriiory-thcy would null and pulh by
immediate lorce any attempt 10 enforce execution So
when State OF This Union thinks proper Put Itself up-
on as Sovereignty IN opposition 10 the Federal Govern
nent there l. occasion Tor defensive lar il stands
upon higher ground; the natural right 10 which il re-
ours is the right OF SeU protection The law is null ac-
coTtlnP TO tIe argument and needs not another law 10
make II so-such law is pretext, indeed dero-
CATION OF Sovereignty; and 10 put upon the footing Of
natural right, Is perve of ter,s-s much as 10 call
constitutional right, because it is fact lt cut of
the Constitution according 10 the address, supposd 10
be included III the resjuum Of rights This supposifo,,
does not, think, make il part o the Constitution.
Should yoh Sir, any else have taken the trouble
10 turn aside from the interesting contents of this paper
10 read these letters you may feel curiosity 10 know
whether the writer means 10 deny remedy the State
asgleVed y what 10 believe be most oppressive
and clearly inexpcdent md unconstitutional law or series
oil laws Imposing protecting duties. answer no. When
that Slate can conscentousy declare sisters OF the
Chloi' " have tired every means Afforded sanctioned
ny Inc Constitution OF country obtain relief lrou
preston; have endured it ill feel that endurance Is
puslliaimy have discharged every obligation of honor
to adhere to The Union and sense Of Justice 10
myself requires that should dissolve il by inv own ac-
Them say she may declare herself absoved from the conn
pact oil government and all her rights Of sove
reigny. Had South Carolina done these things She
would not have vented fast friends in the utmost csr.-
NIFTY aud arlemty hope she will think it now too
late 10 do them.-Adeu
Your friehd SC. ARATOR
This document bills recently brought forward in tho
Legislature oil south Carolina, did before first letter
was put in the mail. - 49, ~
EDOWHATAN FEMALE SEMINARY. Tile exrr-
~ ciscs of this Seuiuarv will /,