Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-22
Virginia Legislature.
HOUSE or DELEGATES.
Thursday, Dec. 20.

RELATIONS.
Mr. Brodnax from the Select Committee to whom was
referred the Message OF the Governor relative certain
proceedings in the State OF South Carolina &c. said that
after anxious and elaborate of the
which had been submitted to them, they had decided TO
make the report which he held in his hand-and in
presenting to the House he could not but express hope
that the measure which should grow out Of it would be
considered as peace Offering. both brethren OF
South Carolina and the Government of tue United States
lie should now that the report be printed; aud he
was bound TO state that the committee, anticipating what it
was well known would be the order OF the House, had
caused the report be printed, aud waiting that
order to be distributed among the members As soon AS
members should have given their attention to il sufficient
iy, he should move to call it up.
Tho Report is as follows:
REPORT.
The select committee to whom were referred the re-
lstons existing between tine state of South Carolina aud
the government OF the United States, the
likely to result TO EACH and 10 the Cononw OF
GINA especially, from ordinance and other
adopted by convention recently assembled ia Ca
iolina-a PROCLAMATION by Andrew Jackson, President OF
the United States consequent thereon lately addressed
to the citizen, OF the United States and the communca
ton oil the governor OF this alth OH tho same
subject have carefully examined these various
and devoted to the important sutect, involved their
tous reflection and profound consideration: aud they re-
commend 10 te general assembly tbs al OF the fol-
lowing resolutions.
Resoived, That are painfully imp .essed with
sense OF the difficulties aud dangers, well the
sponsibli'ie and Importance Of the impending crisis
That we deeply depore the occurrence oi
III precipate succession, which OF alarming import
and threaten alike the preservation OF those rghs the
states, as political communities, which aban-
ardent attachment as essential 10 the prosperity and tran
guilty oil all and the and happiness our COM
mon country That while deplore the existenca OF
this periious emergency, and the eXircmes which. OH
either hand have been unhappy approached, we feel
called upon by every con Iteration which influence
patriots phanIhropsts those cLeus who love their
country and Its hithcro prosperous institutions, regard
the welfare o. the human race, with lis unborn
on whom the great experiment making of
preventative government must operate, TO make every
enlr in our power 30 avert tho impending danger and
iu Into repose the s' IN whicl threatens TO sweep trom
the earth, in OF de ISOLATION the iaircs fabric
world
Resoiued That the Die ssings of civil ibery to
secure which, the Union OF these States originally
formed appreciate the blessings AMI that
Union That 80 Tar from desiring TO inpir it, mos,
ahxoay desire 10 preserve 1t, by the only means, which,
III our opinion, can ensure lis prcscrvalionby keeping,
on one hand, the general government Instituted princ-
paly with reference our exterior relations and inter.
es and ON the Other the governments of the several
States, constituted with view 10 their interior aud local
concerns, made the residuary depo,arie of every
power not conceded TO the former strictly confined in
the discharge oil their relative duties, within their cons,-
tuiona imts.-That we regard any alteration from the
prescribed sphere by which either shall attempt
thorzed accession oil power, weakening TO both, aud
luxurious to all And therefore. that cannot, without
anxious suciuie and alarm, witness attempt, by an
individual State, to assume to herself rights
by the political compact which she $ a party ncon-
sstont with the rights OF the other states and with the
scnce of the Unsn the othar hand, the assertion
OF principles, the usurpaon of powers by the general
government, subvcrvc Of the rights OF the states,
guaranteed by The constitution and which, if silently
quiesced in might be erected into the authority of
presidents aud ultimately lead other and danger
assumptions. That the former if persisted in might
end in revolution and bloodshed, while latter would
pave the to that result less disas its conse
quenccs in which all efforts at free government have
hitherto untortun uely endei-a powerful go
vernment, and an absolute despotism. That look on
the alternatives with equal on the
one hand, unlimited power the other.
g. Resouea, As declaration of our principles and
opinions as to the relative powers AMI duties of these GO
vernmeus respectively that deem it unnecessary to
undertake, the present occasion, any exposition of
the articles Of oar political creed That they ogi-
nzy asserted, alter great deberaon, interesting
AMI memorable epoch in political history-that they
have subsequently, various OCCASIONS been substantial
~ reiterated by our general assembly the settled
trines anl opinions OF VrginaAnd that assertion
oil them, departing from the original and text
could iail to lose III strength, simplicity, and dignity,
the extent ofSuch departure. That we have carefully
revised these several resolutions, and the then
aduced To sustain the conclusions aserledand especial
ly that ccebraIei report made by committee OF its body
to the legislature in 1872 Tina; these important docu-
mehtS have been long bsJrc the people OF the United
States, AMI cannot have failed attract general Interest
aud aItenion-s0d that therefore, regard only
cessay now and at this peous crisis we do regard that
our bonnien aud Soennduy oreasser and declare
sister States, to the government OF this great conlederacy
and TO the world, firm an unai,erabe adherence
these principles and resolutions
4. ResOiUed as deliberate conviction That the
acts OF congress- usually denomnated the tariff laws
far as they passed pipably anI avowcy Tor The
elusive protection OF particular species of industry
only unequal in their operation and consequent
ly inexpcdent but contrary the spirit true intent,
AMI meaning of the federal compact.
o. Reso!Cea' That We never acquesce in tue pre-
ment-that we will by all constitutional and proper
oppose its coninuA;ion-dnd that sincerely believe it
to be due to spirit of mutual Cancellation and harmony,
TO proper respect for the opinions and interests OF large
portions oil The community, and essentially necessary
the preservation of tie Union that lis burdens should be
gradually but speedily abaed, 10 the imposition OF such
duties only, as the eSgsnces OF the government may
quire for its ordinary revenue.
q. ResOiUed That will cordially operate with
brethren of South Carolina aud of the other
immediately operated on jurousy by this oppressive sys
tem in cicc'ns, by all proper means, its abatement 10 the
extent which believe couemp lated by those who
formed the federal compact and The understanding OF the
states who the parties 10 lis ratification.
z. ResOlCed ThIt wdi'e with brethren
oil South Carolina in rcprO5dting this policy, sin
cerely regret and 9cplUe the they have
Iy adopted TO o5yatc its evils. That approve
the remedy which dat state has esorcd 10, and still less
the precpitae she has adopted enforce
That we c1snot but regard tia, remedy compromiitng
the true rights OF the soveregns by asserting
them under the sanction of c federal constitution, and
obviously tending If persisted ill., political convu and
civil war That we dcpreca,e aud deplore the principles
assumed in the ordnance Of her couyeion aud the
measures which her legislature likely adopt
ny them out into execution And regret especially the
precpitancy manifested, in prescribing early day
for IFS execution, without having previously resorted
60 and exhausted every constitutional obtain
redress-whOu having conu,uneJ with her sister states
whose interests identified with her own, whose SYM
pathes cordially excited by wrongs and sui.
f0rngs, and who attached TO her by lies strong
ever bound communities ogc,er. That regret that 80
early periol has been selected because il practically
excludes that very interpoiou Of the present Congress
which she nyoke as tbs necessary time ordeberdle