Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-20

Sous m how many is no declaration Of mo-
i've made Admit this doctrine and YOU give
10 the STATES an uncontrolled right to dec de.
and every law may be annuiled under this
pretext. III, therefore, the absurd and dan
gerous doctrine should be admitted, that n
state may annul an unc ttutional law, or
ono thai II deems such, il will not apply To
the present case.
The next objection is, that the laws in
question operate uncqually. This objection
may be made with truth To every law that
has been or can be pasted. The wisdom of
man never yet contrivod n system of axation
That would operate with perfect equality. II
The unequal operation of n Law makes IL I'M
constitutional, and if all Jaws Of that de-
scrirtion may be abrosated by any State for
that cause, then indeed is the Federal Consti-
tntion unworthy Of the slightest effort for its
preservation. We have hitherto relied on il
as the perpetual bond of our Union. We
have received il as the work ofthc assembled
wisdom Of the nation. We have trusted 10
u rs The sheet anchor Of our safety, in the
stormy times Of conflict with foreign or do
nestle foe. We have looked to il with So
cred ave rs the palladium of our iibe rites,
and, with all tie solemniiics Of religion, have
pledged to each other our lives and fortunes
here, and our hopes of happiness hereafter,
IN its defence. Were We mistaken, nv eoun-
trymen, IN attaching this importance TO the
Constitution OF our country Was our de-
votion paid To the wrctched, inefficient clum-
sy contriyancc, which this new doctrine Would
make IL! Did We pledge ourselves TO the
support OF an airy nothing-a bubble that
must nc blown away by the first breath of
disailectioni Was this selEdcstroying, vision
airy theory, the work Of profound statesmen,
the exalted patriots, 20 whom the task OF
! ~ MT, fufi n
name Washington sanction did the States de-
liocrately rstify, such an anomaly in the his
tory Of fundamental legislation No. We
were not mistaken. Tho letter Of this great
instrument ~ free from this radical fault: its
LANGUAGE directly contradicts the imputation !:
it, spirit-its evident intent contradicts it
No, we did not err, Our Constitution does
not contain the absurdity Of giving now
cr 20 make laws and another power 70 re-
sist them. The soses, whose memory will
always he reyerenccd, have given US a prac-
tical. and, rs they hoped, n permanent con-
stitutionai compact. The Father Of his coun-
Try did not afhN his revercd name To so palpa-
bic an absurdity. Nor did the States, when
they severally ratified it, do so under the i'm.
preston that n veto on the laws OF the Uni
ted States was reserved to them, or that they
could exercise il by implication. Search the
debates in all their Conyentions-exauine the
speeehes oil tho most jealous opposers of Fe-
deral authority-look al the amendments that
were proposed. They are all silent-not a
syllable uttered, not vote given not a mo-
tion made, tn correct the explicit supremacy
given To the laws of the Union over those of
the Statcs-or to show that implica alton, as is
now coBtendod, could defeat IT, No, we have
not erred! The Constitution is still the OBJ
ject of our reverence, tho bond Of our Union,
A.fas -.
prosperity in peace. II shall descend, as we
have received il, uncorrupted by sophistica al
construction. la our posierity; and the sacri-
fees of local interest, OF state prcjudices, OF
personal animositics, that were made 10 bring
1t into existence, will again be periodically
offered for its support.
The two remaining objections made by the
Ordinance to these laws, are, that the sums
intended to be raised by them are greater
than are required, and that the proceeds will
be unconstitutionally employed. The Con-
sutution has given expressly To- Congress the
right oil raising revenue, and of dcte rniinirg
the sum the public exigcncies will require
The States have no control over the exercise
Of this right, other than that which results
from the power Of changing the Representa-.
tiycs who abuse il, and thus procure redress
Congress may undoubtedly abuse this discre-
ticnary power, but the same may be said OF
others with which they arc vested. Yet the
discretion must exist somewhere. The Con
sttution has given it 10 the Representative.
of all the People, checked by the Representa-.
lives OF the States, and the Executive power
The South Carolina construction gives il 10
the Legislature or the Convention of a single
state, where neither tire people Of the differ.
ent States, nor tl'e States in their separate
capacity, nor the Chief Magistrate elected by
The people, have any representation. Which
Is the most discreet disposition Of the power
do not ask you. fellow-citiZens, which /,
the constitutional disposition--that ins,ru
mcnt speaks a language not TO he inisnnoIer.
siood. But IL you were assembled in gene.
ral convention, which would you think the
safest depository Of this discretionary powe
10 the last resort Would you add clause
giving 4 to each Of the states, or would YOU
sanction the " ise provisions already made by
your constitution If this should be the result
OF your deliberations when providing for the
Future, arc yoU-can yOu-bc ready 90 risk
all that We hold dear TO establish, for a te m.
porary and local purpose, that which YOU
must acknowledge TO be destructive, and even
absurd. a. a general provisions Garry oui
tie consequences If this right vested ia thc
different states, and you must perceive that
the crisis your conduct presents nj this daS
would Tecur whenever any laa Of the Unitri
states disPieased any Of the states, and thai
&C should soon cease 10 be a nation.
The Ordinance, with the same knowIcsgs
of the future that characterize q former ob
lection, tells you that the proceeds Of the Tar
viii be unconstitutiOually applied. n thr
could DO ascertaiDed with certainty, the OF,
lection would, with more propriety, be re-
served for the law 20 applying the proceeds
/ bat surely cannot be urged against the law
lcvying the duty.
These nru the allegations contained in ~
. ordinance. Examine them seriously, my Gel
! low-oiiizeHs- judge f1r yourselves. IapPca
20 you 90 determine whs;hor they are q
, clear, 40 convincing. ne % leave 40 dogh
b uf their correctness and even if you Shout
I come TO THIS conclusion, how far they juslif
b The reckless, destructive course, you are ii