Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-08-28

| "A lie
caauon oil opinion that the Alien and Sedi,ion Laws were
in which declaration they refused to con
cur
Amongst the best sources of illustration of any par,;c,
lar act or resolution OF public assembly are the Debates
winch took place when the subject under discussion
ihese frequently serve to- shew the motives by which
pubic men are aciuate discover the spngs
OF action, not apparent the face Of the measure itself
ne ueoa'es which took place on Mr. Madisons Report
na.e never peen pubished but those the resolutions
oil i'9o have been The volume which contains these de-
Dates IS accessible TO ALL twill be found that there is
perfect coincidence between the sentiments expressed BY
ne "u,ocaes oil The resolutions and those which adj
vanced IN them No person who took part in the debate
III support OF the resolutions, dreamed OF resort TO
or Noence Nothing was intended but appeal to
The public understanding, effort TO obtain the
perauon OF the other States in endcavoring effect re-
peal oil these unjustiablc measures.
The length OF the debates precludes the possibility or
making very large quotations from them | will boyeyer
insert parts OF the speeches Of three gentlemen who were
distinguished members of the Legislature the time and
VIII only aud ON this topic, that the whole tenor and com
pexon OF the debate, is similar the sentiments EXPRESS
cd In the extracts which will follow
mn John Mercer remarked, that ssthc State believed
some oil ITS rights had been invaded by the late Acts of the
Eenerai government and proposed remedy whereby TO
OBTAIN repeal OF them. The plan contained i'm the reso
utons appeared TO Mr. Mercer the most advisable Force
was not thought OF by any The preservation of the
reuera, constitution, the cement of the Union, with its
Ssin'I powers was the object OF the resolutions. The
States were equally concerned as their rights had bcen
equally invaded; and nothing seemed more likely 10 pro
uuce temper IN Congress for repeal, than declaration
nar 20 ,he one before the Committee made by a ma
Joty oil States or by several of them The States had
VIC power OF communicating together in procuring amend
hehtS 10 he Federal Constitution. proposion for this
purpose had been presented the Legislature during The
present session from the State of Massachusetts, and would
be acted upon before their adjournment /, ,pnaarcJ
strange, mat the States might communicate together
to amend the Constitutions were not perinit,ed 10
40 So In order TO protect the when aended thai
'ney uhght communicate together when they chose TO
give away their rights, but could not do il when their r
served rights wereinvaded And after quoting the n,ges
OF the tederais Mr. NJ says: "Here we see the opnion
ne resolutions so clearly admitted be considered
Pohicat driom an our system" The right of two diff
,erent states " TO communicate tch each other is
mere supported by the best defence which the Federal
constitution received: not only this riqb is do
Tended, but were the States "aopt regular plan or
opposition, in w ich they should combine all their ro
sources tins authority addressed the people al the
ume the Constitution under considerations would ms
uy me measure But no such wish was entertained bv
e friends oil The resolutions Their object in ADDRESSING
The States is TO obtain similar declaration of opnon
win respect TO several late of the General Govern
cu whleh seem 10 violate some of the most invaluable
rights secured by the charter Of their existence and
thereby TO obtain repeal of unconstitutional in
their nature, and hateful in their tendency; measures so
Justly obnoxious 10 The people, that they have found
lew advocates but for the vain pretence of their heinz
cessary to defend us against the attempts of France inca
sures, that have divided the community NJ ,noneni ,h
union oil sentiment is areny to be wished for In, ey
friend to the interest of his country'' 10y
1hT' lhotc nudge Daniel said, that "The objections
wmch that gentleman made TO the mode of "Reminiscences
uoPed by the resolutions had already been so handsome
y ana conclusivey answered by worthy member M
e'.l VINO preceded him in this discussion, that there
was ITO necessity Tor him TO give them any attention." As
70 The objection, that they improperly addressed 10
'he oher States, Mr. Daniel said, che supposed that This
houe was extremely eligible. Ii the other States b;nL
with this that the laws unconstitutional the laws
ne repealed and the constitutional question will he seoJ
s declaration oil majority of the States: thereby de-
soyhg the iorce OF this precedent and precludne from
any future Congress, who might be disposed TO carry The
prhcPIe 10 more pernicious and ruinous extent the
ce any argument which might be derived from these
laws IT, on the contrary, sufficient majority of the States
should declare their opinion that the Constitution gave
congress authority TO pass these laws the constitutional
question would SUI be settled but attempt might he
made SO TO amend the Constitution as to take from Con
ges this authority which opinion was SO pernicous
and dangerous"
Mr.. John Taylor, (of Carolne) proceeded 70 app,v
esS to the threats OF and the apprehen
SION oil Gvli commotion, towards which (he resolutions
were SAID to have tendency. Are the Republicans said
he, possessed OF fleets and armies If not 10 what could
they appeal for defence and suppor To nothing excenf
Pu6hc opinion If that should be against them tev mus,
ye,d ior them, ana gentlemen to say, that public
VIII should be assailed by force So should minority
e neP Oh he powers oil government, force
us uelehce against public opinion; and against State
wmch was pursuing the only possible and ordinary mode
OF asceraning The opinion OF two-thrs of The States bv
declaring its and asking theirs How could the 5i
article of the Constitution be brought INTO nractca %
even upon the most fragrant usurpations War or nsur
% .nereiore, could not happen, except Congress
could not be supposed they would ever do NOT onIv he
cause the VIII OF the people the sovereign in all Repub
ness but also, because both and the Will of tc Stac
were maze le constitutional reference in the case under
consideration Hence movement towards tis rcfronco
couu never be admitted as leading TO war or commo,ion
cAccP'h hose countries where armed and corrupt mi
noity had usurped the government and would of Course
oenod win abhorrence an abitrament of maiori,v'
Al the session OF 9S go the Assembly after they had
passed e resolutions adopted address 10 the PeoDe
explaining and nsyng the course thew had uursucd II;
relation 10 The Alien and Sediton Acts. This Address
passed the House of Delegates by majority of % and
'e senate by eleven Ayes five Noes and Is TO be found
puoiSled III The papers of that period The Address is
ohs 10 De inserted and many parts of are employed
I'D discussing the Alien and Sedon Laws and do NOT hear
on the Immediate objects Of the present enquiry There
are some passages OF it, however, which shall insert
po'. these and the rest of the Address, shew that the
LEGISLATURE had no view but to Justify an ATTEMPTED
10 e other States, and through the powerful agency of
ohioh 10 produce repeal of the laws complain
ca o. 90 lar from contemplating resort to violence or
revolutionary measures the object of the Legislature was
70 guard against state Of things, which would be caIcu-
lated to produce them The following passages are taken
rom the Address, which will be inserted and further com,
meh' Oh II Is deemed unnecessary
" Unwilling TO shrink from our sentative resnonsi
oy conscious oil the purity of motives but acIno
0"S"S your Hght 10 supervise conduct we invite
your serious attention to the emergency which dictated
,he suiy0ned resolutions Whilst we dsIan 10 alarm vo,,
~ ,Uu"ue" Jeaiousles, we recommend investigations
guided by the GOODNESS OF wisdom and decision
on nTness, but tempered with moderation II would no
eeous IN those entrusted with the guardianship of c
eae sovereignty and acting under the solemn oIl0ton
., 'ne IoiowIng oath: Il do that will suppopi the
constitution oil The United States not 10 warn VOL, oC en-
Iohchehs which, though clothed with the pretext of
necessity or disguised by arguments of expedjcpcv
yet establish precedents which NAV uItin,atev Joy,
generous ana unsuspicous people all the
OF usurPed power. Entertainments sprnoing f,o,o a 40,
fo"cH, whose organization be maintained with
ou INC cooperation Of the States furnish the
AIIehehs upon the State Legislatures to vatchiness
% uoses upon them the strongest obligation 10
un'mpaTed the line Of partition. The "Reminiscences nj
INC states under nfracons of the federal coinnact ,o
either begct speedy consolidation a.