Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-22
SPEECH OF GOV. HAMILTON.

duty TO this deeply interesting theme, il I con-
cluded, without saying nj lcast one word on the
mode us well IA the right Of resistance. Ii is but
n fruitless effort of human genius to speculate
on great public wrongs, if we are destitute Of all
means Of redressing them. The abstract right
of resistance is limited by no other boundaries.
in arbitrary governments, than the phy steal pow
er OF the subject to resist If the Janssaries can
only muster n sufficient force master the house
hold troops, the bowstring il an easy implement
Of public Justice. The mere physical right of
resistance or revolution. 1 shall put out of the
account, in considering this matter. In the first
place, deny that we have created any master,
against whom we are TO robel. WORSE indeed,
than useless. absurd, aud miscellaneous in the ex-
tremo, would have been tho work, If the general
agency for oil the sovereigns to the compact,
which we instituted under the name and title of
the United States of America, wac a government
''withou, limitation of powers" and the injustice
Of which we should havo to resist by brute
physical force. ln one word, that the cord is
made tight that it can only be loosened by be-
ing cut with the sword. This Confederacy was
all unknown problem to tho celebrated leagues
Of antiquity. ltsprung up i'm high and palmy
state Of political philosophy in tho world. and il
will have greatly belied all tho promise of it's
blessings, it, in its organization, il did not con-
tain, not only tho elements of reform aud rono.
walton, hut these conservative principles, nv
which all probability of revolution and blood
shed, IN ehecting these changes, may he set ut
naught. When this special agency was created,
the sovereign parties To the compact wisely alb.
stanod from creating a common umpire, To de-
cIde on any questions of political and ultimate
sovereign power among themselves. To the
Government created by the compact, they could
nor, aud did not, delegate this power, "sinc.
tn's would nave made its discretion, and not the
constitution, the measure gifts powers" The
moment It is admitted, that each party to the
NIL 4, b.,yc
not been delegated to the General Government
u io,lows as a corolldry, as true any thing in
Euclid, that over those powers not delegated, Int
60 nomtne expressly reserved, it has an unques-
uohahe right To Judge, aud in the last resort, to
determine how far they have been infrac,ed
anu TO Judge of the mode and measure Of re-
dress"
vast point has been gainedin human liberty,
and III The promotion of human happiness that
IN our Coniederacy, new conservative check
has been recognized, by which the abuses of
power may be arrested, without n resort TO The
ultimate rights OF revolution. IT is something
TO us: in the unequal struggle we have had to
wage, IN the assertion of this right, to be able tn
CLAIM, as or authority, the man, whose appa-
rently inspired pen, drafted the Declaration of
Independence that he who, in I766, declared
that these STATES are, and of right ought 10 be.
free, sowrign, and independently" should also
have SAID, SHAT IN case Of the abuse of dtlega
n,enf being chosen by The people, a change bp the
people, 'ooutd be the constitutional remedy; but,
ichtre pOtcerS are assumed, tchich hare mol been
delegated, a NULLIFiCATTON of the act. is
The raghDut nmedy." AS for my single self.
gentlemen, would not give II tobacco stopper
no, not one OF the entities or quidiiies of tho
mas AquInas-to have it determined, whether
this lie Il sovereign or cons itutiomal remedy. II
Is sufficient for my purpose, if it be remedy:
and II 1t, pcaceably and eficctually, with the
least possible harm, works cure, and leaves
the system better than IT found it. 1t is almost
n subject OF mrth, 10 observe the pious frie hts.
when some, doubtless good, hut very hystcrical
patents nave ieIt az what they are pleased to
call the porentous discovery Of this ,nIscheiyous
heresy-paclfc gentlemen, who vastly prefer
the mud specifics of gunpowdcr and steel IN
tins heterodox compound. To hear them talk.
one would almost think that we had not only
dug up, but e-animned the bones of the tabled
Centnur-that some friShIul monster was about
TO stalk abroad, and desOlate the country with a
breath instinct with pestiIence aud death. A
common observer would scarcely believe that
this old and approved remedy, had been sole,nuly
asserted, as matter Of right, by at least eleven
States in the Union, and practically enforced by
hve, and that the patriotic and public sprited
State, across the river, is actually taking an af
terDoon sIesia under the broad shude of nuiIifica
ton, as regardless of the brutum ful,nen of the
General Government, as it would he of n Ckuse
OF the Cham of Tartary. In fact, notification
is nothing more, nor less. than the old common
la" right, oil abating the nuisance in the Bali
wick.
But, nil badinage aside, gentlemen, l know
that, aithsush the principle is the same and the
power identcally the same. by which South
Carolina Claims the right, if need be- of nuIIiv-
ing The tariff within her limits, as that ~ mich
Georgia has exercised, in nuliIying The decree
OF the Supreme CourI, the subject matter unou
winch THIS power Is To- operate, is different
one. Georga exercised this right, on an inte
rest strictly local, which, although il creates no,
title difference as TO the right ITSELF il makes
ne' ertbeleSS, on our part, the exercise of the
power matter Of greater decacy and impor-
lance, if not of difficulty. IL beloved us, Then.
TO have talked long, and thought well, even az
the expense OF the rebuke, that Gcoreia nets
while South Carolina talks. We strike over
one OF the main arteries of the federal system
we run across the great money power of the
government. Every interest allied TO and fed nv
'he bounty OF The government, when we inter
pose the cbeckmatc, is arrayed against ma. Ian,
III despite of all this, il The Tariff is botl, an n
surraion and abuse of the taxing power, our
right stands beyond all exception; precisely ON
me ground, that the right of Geoi Sn To do wha,
sbo has done, is not to be impeached. The do
crees OF tho Supreme Court Of tho United Stntes.
reversing the decision OF the Supreme C.urt NJ
Georgia, and declaring null her laws respec,iop
the Indians, are just rs much the SupreTn, 4, ~
of the land, ne the tariff and lust as ohIio.,n,v
ON her, as the Tariff acts arc on u.s. provided ., .
believe, what we solcmDly and distinctly affirm.
that these laws are a violation If the co,unac,
lhe difference between the theory OF South
Carolina BullIhcalon, and the practice of Gcor-
gia qualifications, IS the difference. in the gems
and species, OF two briuded hefers which han
pcDcd to have been cdlved by tho same mother
nm nj Ia -, III.