Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1832-12-20

/
| GOVERNORS COMMUNICATION,
The following Message was sent 10 the Leg sla
ture by the Governor.
EXECU TIVE DEPAR TMENT,
/ DrcrmprR ~, 1889.
| To The Senate 4. House OF Delegates;
| have received from the Governor of s. Carolina
with request TO lay IL before YOU, an official docu-
ment, containing nm Ordinance adopted by Coz
sention ofthe people of that Sate--acnyencd aecor
ding to their constitution and laws to take under
consideration all the Tariff Laws, passed by the
Congress ofthe u s. for the protection of certain
species oilabor, and 10 determine upon their con
stituionality.
| twill be perceived from the documen, presented
| toyou that :. Carolina, acting IN her sovereign
capacity in that Convention Of the people, has now
declnied those laws unconstitutional, and not law,
and by various cnactmenls Forbidden the attempt
on thu part Of the Federal Government to carry
them into execution within the limits Of hor terrific
| ry after the first day Of February next
Before taking that step, sister State repeated
| protested aud pressed her memorials upon the
| consideration Of Congrcss--eornestly cntreatng
| them 10 abandon laws, SO unequal and unjust in
| their operation. presenting ~ tho cG?rest and
most VIVID colots the scene Of utter ruin nod desc
| lation which must ensuo to her, # they persisted
IN building nPa system So unequal and oppros
site.
A this has been disregnrlcd by that body /:
winch, from hrjng the deputies or agents of the
States, ASPIRE to control their principals, and TO
limit their own power only by the construction
the majority OF their own body may think proper
to give TO the Constitution
During the war Of the Revolution which made
the States OF this Contetoracy free and indopen-
dcnr, and gave them q name and rank among III,
| nations otthe earth South Carolina, the land O
Sumper and Marion, stood firm, and displayed IN
the field fbattle deeds OF ,aor, which have shefs
blaze Of glory over her name, gaining renown foi
her heroes and Immortality for the wisdom Of her
Legislators. She has takon this step Just fled NJ
she AYERS, ny the Constitution which, recognizing
| her as a sovereign party To the instrument guar
aniecs TO her virtue Of her reserved powers as
such, the right to Judge OF the nf,aclvns of tho
compact, and the mode and measure OF redress.
Many questions of deep impor. hive heretofore
astaed these States but none have cquallcd this in
Importance either in the interest it ought to excite
among the people, or in the effect it may produce
upon this Coniedorncy. A sovereign State has
spoken her sentmentd in relation to this subject,
| and las pronounced those laws unconstitutional -
Should force be resortcd to by the Federal Govern
| ment tho horror Of tho scenes hereafter TO be wit.
messed cannot now be pictured even by the alright
| cd mag naton.
The genius and spirit Of our institutions are
wholly adverse 10 such q step, and ought not to
permit the mind OF any to look in that direction
for what surety has any State for her existence us
| n sovereign, If difference OF opinion should hc pun
| ishedby the sword MS treason Surely civil war
| rs not a remedy for wrongs IN country where the
people arc recognized sovereign, and each indi-
vidoa has the right to the full and free expression
| ofhis opinions.
The moment has arrived when you are called
on 10 speak, and If possible, once more sustain the
| lbcrtles of the country. In Government OF linn
tied powers like TINT Of the United States, acting
| upon communities so distant from each other and
of sueh variety of interest It is not % be wondered
a, II the legislation o'the majority should solne
tunes press tncqualy upon The Interests OF the mt
| nority In all such eases due regard to justice
should prompt that majority 10 IN investigation OF
the causes with view to a redress OF the grey
mce Blu, when this is denied on the part of the
majority aud their right to persist in sucha course
oflesslm;on is solemnly PVT in issue by the &c
en ofonc or more sovereign States, II seems to
me the part of wisdom not to appeal to the sword,
for the settlement Of such issue, bat that nm AMIGA
bic reference should 10 made to the great hibunhi
which formed aud adopted the Constitution, name
y, the PEoPig'of the States themselves. 10 re-
fuse this, would be to dissredt ihc fundamental
truth which lies at the foundation OF all our instu
tions-that the people are capable OF seltgovcrn-
ment. Such course Is due to the interests OF AL
to the harmony of oil, TO the Constitution, to the
Union, md what is the end and object OF these, 10
Liberty itself
On you depends ia high degree the future des'
tiny Of this Republicit is tor You now to say,
whether the brand Of civil war shall be thrown in
to the midst Of these S'atcs-and our ilrc.sdc affairs
bathed IN blood or whether, trusting TO the WISDOM
and integrity Of the people, you will appeal TO the
| States OF the Union, for the maintenance oil that
harmony and those State Rights in which they
have an eqnal interest with ourselves, and avert II