Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-12-13
Ae document desired. This request however
the President declined complying with, for
reasons assigned in that correspondence


er to London for the record, which at one
time was feared wosld become indispensably
NECESSARY, to request him TO make full aud
complete search, ia Maryland aud 10 the pubic
offices Of Acomack, Northampton, Norfolk,
and York, where many public documents OF
importance were said TO haze been carried
d. ing the Revolutionary War, 10 secure them
against The wapton destruction Of the British
forces.
z That gentleman has performed the duty
assigned him, with great ability ana boeil'y'
as will be seen from hts luminous report on
that subject herewith presented to you a re-
port which clearly shows that our right 10 the
Territory in question, can be sustained IN
satisfactory manner, even Il we hDaiiy iaIi
10 Obtain the desiicd document.
In my message TO you al The opening oil
ycnf last session, you were informed lhat
numerous incendiary papers and pamphlets
or tracts, printed IN boston, New York and
Pennsylvania, had been circulated amongst US
for ;he purpose no doubt, OF lnclting our slave
population TO rebellion aud acts OF violence,
ADD that ! had lelt il duty to open cores
pondence with the Governors OF those States
demonstrating against the cenduct OF their
citizens, aud requesting that the guilty might
be punished
4 hope was long cherished that SOME
commune alton would be from the chiefs of
those Governments, stating that either they
had granted request SO reasonable in itself,
or assigning some satisfactory reason why It
was declined. From the Governor Of Massa
chuesetts | received a reply, dohbting the
existence of any remedy but the Enactment
of some police laws and their rigid execution;
bet from the governors Of New York and
Pennsy Nv ania no reply has been received.
We owe, il is true, allegiance TO the constitu
ton Of the United States, but none to men or
to sister state, and our first duty IS to pro
tect this commonwealth in the full enjoyment
of her sovereignty, and our t zens in their
persons and property. That these govern
ments have been Careless of our complaints
may be Justly inferred, and that indlyldus
int rest themselves in those States to disturb
our repose and destroy the valne oil Tins pro
perry OF our ci,izens, The documents hereto.
fore laid before you sufficiently prove, nor is
il without foundation believed, that societies
are formed to encourage deseIiIou; the recent
attempts on the Chesapeake Bay, and by sea
furnish Some evidence OF the fact. These
things call for energy and decision, or in a
shor, space of time, the property of our in
habitants on the seacoast, " Ill be worse than
vaiueless.
an sorry that have it not in my power TO
communicate to you something more cheering
20 animate your hopes and upon which you
might found just expectation that the gloo-
my period of our affairs had passed, and that
the Federal Government, for which Virginia
has sacrificed so much, would retrace its
legislation within the bounds prescribed to IT
by the Constitution, aud leave the citizens OF
Che different States to reap the benefit OF
their own labor.
The late Tariff with its oppressive exac-
tons, has been replaced by another hardly
less injurious, which only mocks our suferings
by assuming he shape of modification.
Heretofore Virginia has watched her iibe-
ty with sleepicss care, and her reserved rights
the sleeping thdnder Of the State. with an
anxiety which Bespoke the nestable value
she placed upon them. Ought We TO be less
on our guard than 1t any former period? Per
petua vigilance is the price we paylor liberty.
DO we not find the defenders Of those viola
tons of the Constitution, increasing in num-
Der and in holiness Of their measures Con-
shtutlonas are intended to protect the rights
OF the minority, 10y restraining the ma Iority
from doing that, which to the minority would
be rulnous, but if the majority be permitted
to become the interpreters of their own pow
Sio, 'h'i SCdoSo W VIC Guy " wv
eminent
The southern States have long and earn
estly protested against the assumption o
constructive power by the federal govern
ment, as leading ultimately to difficulty ant
danger, as founded in the conviction that m
ceurse was safe for that government to pur
sue, but the pointed out by the resolution
of Virginia, adopted in 1893
South Carolina, a prominent and distin
guished State in this conlederacy, in despai
Of any beneficial modification of the tariff b,
Com ress, has thrown herself upou her SOW
reignty, and called Convention of the peoph
TO take under their revision all the laws o
Congress, upon that subject, with view Il
pronounce upon their constitutionalty. Ihi
naturally brings before the cnnlederacy tn,
whole question. The situation Of our siste
state is new and interesting, and ii is not tn,
time to discuss the question whether the pro
ceduFe on her part, he premature or tardy
J our deliberation will be looked TO by on
people with intense interest as our own 20
sluon in relation 10 our sister state aud th,
Union, is one of novelty, and calls for pfu
dence and wisdom.
That you may be successful in every cffor
TO benefit our country, is the sincere wish OF
gentlemen, your respectful fellow citizen.
JOHN FLOYD.
Wednesday, Dec 5:
The Speaker appointed the following com
mittee III pursuance of the resolution of Mr.
Nash passed Yesterday for the arrangement