Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-13

est may differ in their construction somo parts Of
the Constitution: but there others which dispas-
pears to &c the assumed right Of secession IL rests,
we have seen, on the alleged undivided sovereignty Of
the States and on their having formed in this sovereign
capacity compact which is called the Constitution, from
which, because they made IL, they have the right TO
cede BON oil these positions erroneous, and oi
he arguments to prove them have been anticipated.
The States scvcraly have retained their entire
rcign,y Ii has been shown that in becoming parts OF
nation, not members vi league, they surrende red
many OF their essential parts of sovereignty. The right
to make treatcs-dscsre variety taxcs-exercisc
cu'ive judicial and legislative powerswere all OF them
functions II sovereign power The States then, Tor all
these Important purposes were no longer sovereign The
allie glance Of their citizens fcrred in the first
stance TO the Government of the United States--,hcy be-
came American citizens and owed obedence the Con-
sttution of the United States and 10 laws made in con-
torty with the powers it vested III Congress. This
position has not BEEN aud be denied How then
that State be said he sovereign and
whose citizens obedience TO laws uade by it, and
whose magistrates are TO disregard those laws.
when they come in conflict with those passed by another?
what shows conclusvely that the States be said
bave reserved undivided sovereignty is that they ex.
pr sly coded The right punish 'reason not
Their separate power but against the United States
Treason is an offence AinSt sovereignty, and
" must reside with the power punish il. But the re
served rights oil the States sacred the
have Tor their interest made the General Co
verhment the depository OF these powers. The unity
oil our political character Gas has been shown for
announcer purpose) commenced with its very Existence I'm
uer ue royal Government we had 10 separate characters
our opposition TO its expressions began as UNITED COLO
MES We were the UNITED STATES under the couic-
uera'o ana the nam perpetud,ed aud the Union
dered more perfect by the Federal Constitution In none
OF these stages did we consider ourselves la any other light
IMAM as forming naton Treaties and alliances ere
made in the OF all Troops were raised for the Joint
defence How then, with all these proofs that under All
changes OF Our positions had for designated purposes
ana WIN deiiAed powers, created national
now Is It, that the most perfect of those several modes OF
union, should be considered as mere league that
may DC dissolved at pleasure lii from abuse terms
compact used as synonymous with league although the
true term Is not employed because would once show
The aiacy oil the reasoning 1t would do say that
our Constitution only league, but il is ,borcd IN
prove ii compact (Which one sense il s) and then Ia
argue 'at as league is compact every compact be.
tween nations must oil course be league, and that ou
such an engagement every sovereign has rnht
secede But 1t has been shcwn that in thi, sense the
states are not sovereign and that il they were and
me national Constitution had been formed by compact
mere would be no right in any State TO exonerate il
sell from its obligation.
So obvious are the which forbid this secession
ha' 1t is necessary only TO aude to them. The Union
was iormcd t>r the benefit OF all was produced by
mutual sacrifices OF iA,eress aud opinions Can thosr
sdcTihces lie recalled! the States ho naL an.
~ sure ndered their title TO he Territories the West
recall the grant, Will the inhabitants OF the inland State
agree TO pay the duties that may be imposed ilon he
assent 10y those on the Atlantic the Gulf for their own
bench: Shall there he port in one STATE and our
Gus ia les in anohe' No believes that any rpht en-
ISIS in single Stae TO involve all the others in these and
countless oIher evils contrary TO engagements soemuly
made Every one must that the other States i'm
defence, must oppose II at all Ii yards.
These are the alternatives that are presented bv IN,
Convention repeal OF all the acts for RAISING
leaving the Government without the means of Snnoort ~
an acYuescehce III the dissolution Of Union by the
secession Of one of its mambers. When the first was
proposed, 1t was known that it could be listened to for
moment Ii was known if force was applied 10 oppos.
the execution Of the laws that il must be repeleJ Lv
lorcelat Congress could not without INVOLVING itself in
gface ana The country IN ruin, acccde the PROPOSE
on and yet Ii this is not done in given day or if auv
attempt is made TO execute the laws State is bv The
Ordinance, declared to be out OF the Union The nao.
rity of Cow assembled Tor the purpose have dica
all
name OF the people of South Carolina 1t is true that the
Governor OF The State speaks OF the submission of their
grievances TO Convention of all the States which he
says they sincerely and anxiously seek and desire
ct this obvious and constitutional mode of obtaining The
sense OF the Other States on the construction OF the federal
compact ana amending 1t, II necessary, has never been
attempted by those who have urged the State ON 10
TINS destructive measure. The State might have
proposed the call Tor General Convention IN ,ba
other States; and Congress- if sufficient number If Them
concurred have called it, But the first Magistrate
oil South Carolina when he expressed hope that ON
review by Congress and the unctonarcs of tie General
Government OF the merits OF the controversy" such
Convention will be accorded 10 them, must have known
INA. neither Congress nor any iuncuonary OF the General
government has authority 10 call such Convention un-
less 1t be demanded by thirds OF the States This
suggestion them another instance the reckless naten
on TO the provisions of the Constitution with which this
crisis has been mady hurried Oh; the attenp TO
suade the people that constitutional remedy had been
soushi and refused II the Legislature of South Caro-.
INA anxously desire General Convention to con.le,
Their complaints, why have they made application m
II in the way the Constitution points out The assertion
t'"' ey earnestly seek IL, Is completely negatye by
the omission >
This, then, is the position in which we stand small
majority OF the citizens of State in the Union havs
elected delegates TO State Convention: that Convention
has ordained that all the laws of the United States
must he repealed that they are no longer member Of
the Union The Governor of that State has recommend.
ed to the Legislature, the raising of army 10 carry the
secession into effect and that he may be empowered c
give cearances to vessels i'll the name Of the State Ne
act oil violent opposition to the laws has vet been commit
ted but such state OF things hourly apprehended and
is The intent oil this instrument 10 proclaim not only thai
INC duy imposed on Inc by the Constitution "to take care
That the laws be faithfully executed shall be performed
to the extent OF the powers already vested i'm me nv law
or OF such others the wisdom Congress shall devise
anu chust 10 me Tor that puTpose but the citizens
OF South Carolina, who have been deIuded into an
uoh TO he laws, oil the danger they will incur by obed
ehce 10 tDe Illegal AMI dlsorganizng Ordinance OF the Con
veniion,-o eAhon those whs have refused TO support
TO perscverc in their determination TO uphold tlc onsG
tuition and laws oil their counryan TO point ONT to all
ic perilou5 situation into which the good people of ta
State have been ledand that the course they are urge,
pursue Is one OF ruin and disgrace the very Stat,
whose rights they affect TO support
Fellow citizens ofmy native Stae-Iet Inc not ONLY adj
mon'sh YOU as the first Magistrate of our common coun
try, not to incur the penalty of its laws but use the in
huenco that Father would over his children whom he
saw rushing 10 certain ruin. Ia that paternal anouaoe
with that paterna feeling, let tell YOU nv counlrymen
mat you are deluded by men, who either deceived
themselves wish deceive you MARI under ,yb.,
preences you have been led the brink of nsurer
ton aud treason on which you stand First dimnu,or
oil the value OF your staple commodity, lowered by Owe,
production IN DINER quarters and the
IN the value oil your lands, the sole effect OF the ad
laws The effect OF those laws was confessedlv inurous
Du' e eVi was greatly exaggerated by the uniounded
IN proportion TO your exports to your copsumpon n
imported articles. Your pride was reused nv Inc ,s