Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-04
THE CRISISn


THE CRISISn
al have the patriotism and good .ene OF
The several parties in tho United States
s ss sa o. , s Sts as as s..n
mrroar rnr rrnon fno now rs NOT TO IAIn
AND nLro IN ms eav,r ,s,,s n or
aSth isa probably aSseS o. M sre, I'Hs'e letter Of Sept
1t scarcely necessary for say that from the
moment this paper the light it has been the de-
voted friend ofthe Rights ofhe States 1t has SIM
ported them amid good and amid evil report-and it
has indicated the of free trade with all of tho
little ability which possesses We are opposed TO
the abominable Tariff system-and we can never
acqulesce in its mpostons. 1t is against the genius
oil our Tree institutions-the spirit of the Constu-
hon-opposed TO the lights of the age, and opposed
to the interests especially of young and agriculu-
raj country. To submit such system MS this
cannot be expected of the citizens of Virginia Wa
Know our countrymen well and we know that they
never will yield their support TO such an encroach
inent as this They will unite with the agg7iered
STATES, he they North or be they South. They will
confer with their brethren as TO the best means nj
arrestng it-unless the legitimate operations of tho
Federal Government should promise us an effectual
relief. We think we cannot be mistaken i'm the sem
uhehts OF our State-we know we express our own.
80 much for our view of the subject-.So much Gor
the crong Of tchich ice complain We have so often
however, touched upon this branch of the matter :
thai 1t is unnecessary for to expatiate upon it,
But as to the remedy, we equally opposed to
the course which South Carolina has taken. We
regard Notification, and by one State as an absurd
ana dangerous heresy. What would become of
tins blessed Union, if any of the tcenty four con-
JedeFdted States, at any time that it oppress-
ed, or thought itself oppressed-w without confrriuo-
toi her sister States without consultation ,cii them
without first erhduSting euery dmicaJIe erpedie,f-
without appealing all of the constitutional means
Oh redress-should rush into Notification? How
long 'coutd this Union last-how long could il last
II at any time, in peace or in war, any one State
should determine TO throw itself upon what peases
10 call It's reserved rights absolye its citizens from all
allegiance to the Federal Government, and punish its
own Citizens for not flying in the face of the OBJ
noXious federal law? The Union would scarcely
be worth rope of sand 1t would dissolve in
IT'S own weokness.-Every politician knows, stbat
me Constitution is in danger of being shpwrccked
III TWO ways Ii may be dashed either upon the
Scyiia OF consolldaton-or the Charybds of Multi
hcaon.-The United States may lIsurp SO much
power as TO compel the States to secede-(and wo
DeheVe that this is the greatest danger 10 which
IL Is -or the States may resist its laws has
THY, haEshy, without due consideration or consulta
uoh WIN the other parties-(and this is the danger
10 which South Carolina is now exposing itl-aIm
thus the Union the sheet anchor of our peace and
our strength, may fall TO pieces.-Vrgna has done
all III her power TO arrest the encroacIents of tho
General Goycrnmentsand this sill constitutes the
great Shibboleth of her political iah-But it now
becomes her To warn her sister of the South, of
The eXremities 10 which she is rushing i'm the other
dlrection-as she once warned her against the very
encroachmeni, which is now calling down the ven
geance of South Carolina in her ordinance of Multi
iicaton.
We dislike this remedy of Nullfcation not ONLY
IN itself; but dislike tile mapner tie time.
tie circumstances under which it is to be EMPLOYED
Inc manner OF its operation is sngulurly harsh
ana alarming Ii is TO make il renal upon any man
WHO shall attempt TO collect a revenue under the Ia
rlit laws ltthrows the whole subject into the State
C"urts-and either supersedes the federal tribunals
or brings the two Jurisdictions into direct collision
1t partially DISTINGUISHES a blow more than third
oil her own cItizens-annhating every commission,
whether civil or military, which may be now held
ny AN Union man, who will not sacrifice his consc-
ence to his ofiice-and' declaring that no such man
shaIi hereafter hold any such Office, who will
take particular test Oath-a proceeding, which il
somewhat of kind with the forfeiture of properly
and the ancient attainder of blood 1t at once thrca-
tens secession from this Union! But WY should we
ehun,'rate the extremities 10 which this measure
may be carried through? The message of Cover
nor Hamilton, from which make the following
copous extracts, suggests some of the machinery
SUUO volunteers are to be accepted from Charleston
-lO,OUOa to be raised in other divisions of tho
Sthte-arms and ammunition are to be procured
and this is the peaceful and constitutional remedy
over which we have heard such fine pdnegyrics
pronounced
And under what circumstances and at what time
are these harsh and violent expedents to be atlop
ed. Has South Carolina appealed, MS long and as
strongly as she ought, TO her sister States? Has eve
ry amicable expedient been exhausted Has every
constitutional remedy been employed? She profess
scs to justify her proceedings upon the Resolutions
OF Virginia i'll '9s'9S and upon the opinions of Mr..
Jefferson We hold, ON the other hand that our re-
solutions of 09 do not justify nulIifcationa that
Mr. Jefferson does not maintain it in solitary line
OF his most intimate correspondence with his
friends. On the contrary, his tone is essentially diff
ferent. But, has South Carolina consulted with her
sister States, he proposed in his Kentucky reso-
lutions? No. Has she appointed committees Of
conference and correspondence to confer with
others-in fact, something the plan of Southern
Convention? No! Has she exhausted all the con-
stitulona means, which the last page of the cele-
broted Virginia Report developes and enforces?
Not one of them. And is it thus that single State
OF an extensive coniederacy ought towards tho
RESI-? But why is South Carolina rushing with
such fearful rapidity? Under what eirc,nstances,is
she proceeding TO nullily the Tariff? The whole
system, Fictitious and oppressive as it is, had been
gradually growing upon us. Mr.. Calhoun had been
its ardent friend in 10 Even the worthy and admir-
ed LOwndes had consented TO lay its cornerstone.
But it had gone by degrees from 'l6 TO '20y
enarging the sweep of its encroacbnents, and gath
ering large investments of labour and capital under
its wing. Was it to be expected that this system
was to be annihilated IN moment Would it have
been Just towards those whom your own laws,
ubiquitous laws as they certainly arc,l had tempted
to invest their capital in manufactures? The reduction
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