Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-20

tects to remind those by whom coipae formed hefe
below, that they are not angels but men, that their
Judgments, when most conscientious, faibe; and
that one tneritobe consequences OF this lbiiy is
occurrence of tchic the concession of yiph
on me one side or the other MUST take place Such
case Is presented by every conflicting judgment by any
two OF the States Of this conederacy in relation TO the
powers which have been delegated the Federal Co
vernment One has Just the same right denticav that
the other has, to insist its Judgment Both
cannot be coniormed TO- concession of rich by one or
the other OF the parties inevitable This may
be made aincably, or contest Of force may decide on
which side II is to be- Come 1t must. later,
the side or the other.
1t altogether unnecessary point out on which side
the concession musf be- 10 offer any hope of the conn-
ancc OF this Union Of any Union that can possibly be
formed IL must ever come from those members of the
Union who agreeably to the distribution of Nautical
weight In the ordinary direction OF the government
which was agreed upon by the compact find themselves
Tor the time being in the minority. Let be borne in
mind by those TO whom every such made
well as those by whom it is made that it is concession
OF right and let il also be borne in mind by the latter
mat dHhough concession oil right yet, in every case
where The honest judgment OF the opposite party differs
from the judgment Of the party by whom the concession
Is made 1t is concession, the only and inevitable alter
native to which, is the of right of the same
mature, from the opposite party This an alternative TO
which the falibity of The human judgment subjects
~ party TO every compact which possibly be formed
between parties who recognise superior Its
one OF the immutable laws TO which we are subject am,
The thought OF escaping from il vain as the thought
OF escaping from the law Of gravitaiion, or from that
| by which the millions who exist will be made TO
yieid their places for the myriads who are TO follow IL
is little the dictate of wisdom TO close our eyes N Ills
law, as II Is 10 close them against any other In of our
lure The part oil rational beings recognise it, and
to shape their conduct with reference to ito study its
operslon'-'o ascertain how the necessary evil which
entails upon the human family be reduced TO the
smallest possible having exercised our rea
son Tor tins purpose 10 adopt and ine xiby maintain
course winch promises the least injury happiness
Let this law, which pre- ordained as one of the laws
oil Our mon, be never lost sight by the
Ties TO the compact by which it formed Let il be
revoved in the mind of every citizen who constitutes
Il
become as familiar to him, is any those laws of his
oeg wi'h reference TO which his be shaped
as he would avoid life of wretchetness and of woe
Let no State OF this Union forget that she has acquired
rights as well as reserved rights; aud so has every
other party to the compact Let her bear in mind
ha' she mas Tue same right, identically maintain the
former that she has TO defend the latter aud that so has
every other party 10 the compact And consequence
oil these truths let her bear in mind that con, in
the impossible case, (or there the assertion of the rr
would never be thought o where the judgments of the
oher Farues accord with hers, secession can nepe be
PEAcEABLE right Ii nothing more, nor less than the
TtShf Of WAR IL is right, the assertion of which must
inevitably lead 10 war; unless each of the ether parties
70 he question see ut TO relinquish right of the same ma
lure ana Same iorce as that which the secession is
placed
That these truths present to the mind of Mr.
Jefferson is manifest from the whole tenor of his writings
In when writing to f. Caring on the subject OF
the rights aud obligations of the States under the articles
OF considerations he says, with regard to the right of
copuison over the several parties, 'H not ecessn
ry 10 sUe them that pOtcer erpresslv then hare IL by
me lac Of nature. When ftoo parties make a com,
Puct' mere feSWtS 10 each potCer Of compelling the
oher TO execute it, The word r0,cer is obviously used
here, as II often is by writers international law in The
sense OF right OF what possible use could this right be
how could be practically asserted unless ,vore
me right oil compelling the other execute it," as I'M
"erstood 6y the party asserting the right of compH
SUOMI His letter to Mr. Giles, (Dec'r, 1920 shows as
does every opinion ever expressed by him on the subject
mat me last resort ever contemplated by him. pre-
servaon OF the States from consolidation under govern
ment oil unlimited powers, the dissolution of the
C'i0 lhls was the only alternative that ever present.
ed itself TO his mind, the acquescence of every marty
10 the compact, under the exercise any power that the
government might deem itself invested with But even
last resort ana only alternatives viewed by
nm as peaceful remedy. He never forgot that when
two parties make compact, there results to each pow
er oil compelling the other execute it," Accordingly
In hs letter TO Mr. Giles, after deporng the course of the
eCerai Government, when he speak of seua-
rating from our companions, he exclans, fire IRE
men To STAND TO OUR ARMS, with the hot eor
giaiE NO THAT must be the last resource not TO be
thought OF until much longer and greater sueipes mi
every infracuon OF compact of many parties to be
resisted AZ once as dissolution IF it, none cen ever be
formed which wonld last year. We must have pa
uence and longer endurance then with our brethren while
under deiusioh; give them time for reflection and exDe
renee OF consequences keep ourselves in situation
poht by The chapter of accidents seDarafe G,n oir
companions only when The sole alternatives left, are the
dissolution oil our Union with them submission 10 go
vcrnment without limitation of powers"-Can anv man
read this passage and say he believes that Mr. Jefferson
right?
Having offered this view of the nature of the relations
established by The compact 6etceen the States who are
-
in another number offer some remarks Oh the relations
which the States have, by this their act established he
e1ch VI themselves ana their conmOn agent-ihe
eoeTa government ONE OF THE '9S SCHOOL.
SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE PROCIAMATtDN
~,, 70 TIE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
GenHemen-l have seen the proceedings of Sou,h Ca
oina, and The Proclamation OF the President and know
nol "hieh has hIled me with most concern together
they are Calculated, think 10 shake the whole doctrine
oil STATE Rights, which Virginia roa 1890 has thought
$ uled, at least in HE Southern States.
nave been confined at home since these important do.
cunents have met my eye. and know not how the pub
&c Pulse oeats but unless the Legi Iaure and peope o
Sha can Oe induced TO believe that the President can
40 cT0nS, (o which have my ears) we mus; consder
he Genera Government hereafter as consolidated
In my humble opinion, the Legislature of Virginia
ought 10 lose no time in saying South Carolina (ness
as he Iesiuen' Inmacs, II is your irish for which
you oh'y want Pefert, 10 separate the Union al
u" eOehS) You have been ash and premature in your
movements, and have been unmadl Of not To saw too
disrespectul ards the opinions of your
are embarked with you in the same cause and eoualv
determined with yourselves TO obtain ultimate redre.
on have mistak en- the Virginia doctrines bev are
IN substance these: Tina: when the people of State have
oorne up under pdipdbie uiOaton of The Constitution
he edera G0' ernment, until redrt is hopeless and
we eVls consequent thereon of such nature as no
longer to he borne the State Government has right 10
sfcede from the Union, the least of two evils: hat
s ACT OF TIE sovereign State absoves her reope and ALI
her 'unconaries from their egiance to the Federal Go
VeIhInent' they have no longer but one Government,
ana one set OF laws 10 obey II this be cause OF war
vi '9e pd' OF me Federal Govcrnmen against this indie
pendent naoD (Which the Virginia doctrine denies bo,
war must be declared by Congress not by the President
zap ives III that war prisoners of toar according 10 M
usages OF CIVILIZED nations 0i traitors But so long "a
Slate remains in the Union, no power within fhat State
can 'ooWe me individual members from their allegiance