Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-11-16
. pe c oNa::tut!nMal GGgbsC.
LEGISLATURE OF YENNhSSEE.
HOUSE or RErRESEN rATIVES.

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
thIr,i, Oct. 10.
Tbs select co,nwit'a, ,y whom was referred The
COMMUNICATIVE @: Me,:rN kuuS, hss of South
CaroEn1, havo had tao sym. uro'r considerations
and respectfully beg i,'Nc &" present me io'o"mg
report:
Sal communication is made by han as u dele
gate from ,.- loium and St&', Rights Party OF
Spu,H C4ic'ns .oI.riiu g ,hc LrG'sia'uro OF Ten
pHrASc &" coo p"rat" "''h "'*'r'' o'EtF states OF
the .or t >rHatu. representatives 90 - Ia, they
call "a SOs, ,..4 t.",.n,..." mic. Ctuiu1,y c.r
cu,usunce. th,y believe that mo- LEGISLATIVE sCtion
should be prcIicalou Un tnc Pc cN,,n II any self
constituted BODY or party a. ~ =. a. SEOWn TO and
urrccoguized by the laws Of Sister Stale. Bu,
the Intrinsic Importance o. ti,c SAB Get matter ~
tire communication, cCUfru"a II ly The public
history y! tho p"litlc, y, tiUt State, has induced
TINS committee to waive the un"iNcii! character of
MIR. King. and, respectfully to all parties concern
ed, 20 make known their opinions "m tho import
Ant subject Of his communication. The committee
cannot disguise L. their oon hearts, and will not
attempt 10 t.S.Yise to the General Assembly, that
IN ther opIi crisis has arrived d ticnt
and dangerous, than any that has occurred since
Ihc ad"plion OF the Federal Constitution.
In the history of our country heretofore, all
..rJg..cs for psif.~Jf pJ"cr, all conflicts of fac
t"us and II! contests 100 or .ucip!c, have passed
=. iaa people IN their institutions, le>scming,
any degree, that devoted attachment to tho Union
and their common country, which hus eminent
~ distinguished the citizens OF the American Re-
pubic. Your comnittee has observed with pain
and modification, that this has not been the result
o the contest about tho Tariff of 1928. Since the
passage OF that act, growing spirit OF disconicnt
deepening INTO less of confidence in the capacity
OF our institutions to project the interest of the
minority, and disnffuctiou TO the Union has ma
infested itself particularly in the South, and in
sone, though in very small degree, i'll the South
west. TINS Gisaifcctlon has shown Itself chiefly
IN the and dangerous doctrine of Nni-
LITIGATION, by which SOath Carolina claims the
right, whilst remaining mcmber of the con!cde-
r,ry I" rcnGor void and pf effect, within It's Ii
iOIts. the tarIif avs of tho general government
Your committee believe that under the cons to
ton no such right exists, and that if it did, the
eAis'ii'g laws on that subject tutnish sufficient
occasion for exercising i,-more especially since
the recent legislation Of Congress, and the known
wishes of the present administrations still further
reduce the amount oil the duties to the ordinary cx-
Pohditurcs otth~ government it is pructi-
tole To do Waist thus GstiHctl, declare our
dissent from this dlngerou. doctrine, cannot
frain from expressing liv.est sympathcs fer
tho suffcrngs OF South Carolina, and our earnest
hope that she VIII calmly review its tendencies and
that she VIII do nothing (at all events at the pre-
sont) calculated TO endunger the integrity of the
Union.
AS 10 the proposition of the Union and State
Rights Party for the call of Il Southern Convcn-
ton; your committee ofopinion that Il Conven-
ton ofHll States is the only known the con.
situation US authorized to be called 10y the Legis-
lituTes Il" the different States, and they believe
sufficient cause for extra constitutional action has
yet occurred. Conventions, though cmanuting
fT".n the people, IT not provided for by the Const-
tuition, as they confer power without imposing re.
sponsibility, ought not to be frequently lightly
convokcd. Yet your committee admit that,
should convention of tho States aggrcvcd by
the protective system be convoked. Tennessee
can hardly remain unintercstcd and careless
spectator, Her position. hor feelings aud the pr
suits OF her population. ali constitute her essenti.
ly one OF tie Southern States, and nothing mater-
ally affecting them fail to be more or less in
curious to her. Hence she will always feel that
her destines are embarked in the same vessel
with theirs, and that the storms and tcmpcs,s that
wreck them, will most probably destroy nor. 1t
Is TINS very intensity of interest which should in
duce us to act in concert in calling a contention
oil the States agreraby to tho Constitutions and adj.
monish each member and partner in suffering, not
10 N"iuc SInC!v and alone upon a contest " hch
must ultimately result in the discontinue fall.
Whilst We thus decline recommending TO the
Legislature to appoint delegates to the proposed
INVENTION, we do Uot mean 30 commit con-
ttituenis fIom sending thcn, on tuu further devc-
iopments OF events, II ihcy S.o"id think proper
to do so, on call OF su"n convent, hy the other
Southern atcs. We have no authority so TO
commit them. Nor do wish to be regarded s
lnscG Inc I" tuu pure and pa, &c motives of the
C""" par y /" Haai"F '".s application to this
Gcncr"l assembly. D.lt-t:.g g.,iv rs 10 the
means, rust heartily concur ,tn taein in
the end aud purpose o. -, mis- .Ion--,ho pre-
servation of our heretofore n"pPy nd glorious
Union.
Your committee, entertaining these opinions
recommend the adoption o! The following resou
ton:
EesOired by nc Gs.,,H issen6iy NJ tile .Sfafe OF
Tennessee, That 81 Iii, they day appreciate thu pa
tri"tic motives OF 'I.o Union and State r. ghs par.
~ OF Souh Carolina, AID in common with them
doprecate tie publication nov inculcatcd by the
d"niHnH. ?uTty o. that Statc-yct they do not be.
"ve Il to rs proper, and therefore decline the p.
F2ntmcai d dcl1gH'cS by this Legislature to attend
said proposed convention.
Al which Is respectfully submitted.
&. DUNLAP, Chairman.
no a99No :cPaIt WAS accepted, and the rtsolu-
'lon adopted, ~ nearly unanimous vote.
Head Quarters of tie Army
ADJUTANr GENERALs OFFICE,