Southern planter., 1832-12-15
sOUTII-CAROLINA.
STATE CONVENTION.
ADDRESS

''y, and god lTHE PEOPLE or THE u. STATES
lh he Convention Of South Carolina
- lAe people Of Massachusetts, Virgmia, New
Boa oo.ceui % eGoi, vermont NoDhamp"n'ro ' ,' M'%e
IT'S. ss Jersey, Georgia. Delaware Rhode Island
sIsippi, Illinois, Alabama and Missouri.
cam Boz q. ,ns DeoOle of sou,b Ca,olio, ,ssonh,,d
Convention, have soemnly and deliberately dc.
N. in our paramount sovereign capacity, that
riof Congress approved the 18Th day of Nav.
Ia and the act approved the 18th July, 1892
sng and amending the several acts imposing
aon imports, are unconstitutional, and there,
absolutely void, and Of no binding force with.
elmits of Ibis State; and for the purpose Of
hrnp this declaration into full and complete ec
we have invested the Legislature with annie
q ue's' en and made il the duty of all the fnuction
". Aaa and all the citizens of the State on their allie
~ ia c to cooperate in enforcing the aforesaid dc
:, o0t u baton.
4t%S Do resoriing to this important measure to which
ihye been mpeIled by the mos sacred Of all the
,ss a. es which free people can owe either to the
oo p moy of their ancestors to the claims Of their
teyy,s beniy we feel that il is due 10 the intimate po-
lcrelaton which exists between South Caroli-
Re-, and The other States of This confederacy that
wv should present clear aud distinct exposition
HE principles on which we have acted. and Of
causes by which we have been Reluctantly con.
hned to assume thus attitude Of sovereign rcsis
Ate in relation 10 the usurpatiOns of the federal
fEmment.
Faiths purpose il will. he necessary to state,
-. what we conceive 10 be the relation created
lhe federal constitution, between Tie states and
general government ;and also what We conceive
be the true character ind PRACTICAL operation of
oan system cf protecting duties, il effects our
NJ % hs our interests and our liberties.
'SS ~ We hold them that their separation from the
"e44 own Of Great Britain, the several Colo lies be-
oO'' me free and independent States. each enjoying
separate aud independent right Of sell govern
XII Dent; and that authority can be exercised over
bem or within Il cir limits, nut by their consent,
bspectvely given as states. Itisequaly true that
he constitution of the United States is a compact
bmed between the several states, acting as sov
u'dg segn communities that the government created
avn b il is a joint agency of the ataes appointed to
2, necue the powers enumerated and granted by
hll instrument; that all its acts not Intentionally
'' w uhorsed. are of themselves essentially null and
I bd, and that the states have the right, in The same
~ sovereign capacity in which they adopted the fede-
bal constitution, To pronounce, IN the last resort,
Is authoritative Judgment ON the usnrpaiIons of the
FEDERAL government, and TO adopt such measures as
they may deem necessary and eXpedIent TO arrest
hh he operation of the unconstitutional acts of that
oas. government, within their respective limits Such
r We deem to be the inherent rights of the states-
rights IN the very nature Of things, absolutely in
oS @pafable from snverelcnty MOI is the duty of a
0U Siae To arrest an constitutional and oppressive
~ act Of the federal government, less imperative,
than the right is ncontestibe Elch state, by rati-
~ iyng the federal constitutions and becoming mem
l' ber Of the conledeacy, contracted an obligation to
"proiect and defend" hat instrument, well by re-
ssng the usurpations of the federal government,
1 as by sustaining that government IN the exercise Of
the powers actually conferred upon A. And the
: obligation of the oath whlch IS imposed, under the
Constitution. on every iuncuonary Of the States, TO
"pteseve protect auG defend" tho federal cOnsii-
tuition, as clearly comprehends the duty of prolec-
hng and defending II agalus The usurpatlons of
the federal government, as that of protecting and
defending against violation in any other form or
from any Other quartcr.
II is tue thai in r,inp the federal constitu
ton, the States placed % urge and important por-
ton Of the rights Of their citizens under the Joint
protection of all the States. with view 10 their
more eiectual security; bu, II is not less true
That they reserved portion still larger and not
less important under their own immediate guardian
snip, aud IN relation To which their original obliga-
non TO protect their citizens, from whatever quarter
assailed, remains unchanged and undlminished.
But clear aud undonbed as we regard the right,
and sacred as we regard the duty OF the states 10
n'erpose their sovereign power for the purpose Of
protecting their citizens from the unconstitutional
and oppressive acts of the Federal Government,
yet we are clearly of the opinion that nothing
short of that high moral and political necessity,
which results from acts of uslrpaton, subversive Of
The rights and Liberties Of the people, should induce
amember of this conederacy to resort 10 lfs in
terposluon. Such, however, IS the melancholy and
painful necessity under which we have declared
The acts Of congress imposing protecting duties,
null and void within the limits Of South Carolina.
The spnit aud the principles which animated your
ancestors and ours IN the councils and IN the fields
OF their common glory, forbid us 10 submit any
longer to system Of Legislation, now become the