Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-20

IN par~nasee Of this resolution, 4 appointed a.
agent or commissioner, Ch.r3cs }. Fsuikser, Esy.
OF berkeley county, 20 pesfovm the duty rcquir-
ei by the latter clause Of the resolution, and sf-
ter fully asccrtaiuipg that the document referred
to in the resolution YES NOT 70 be foaad in the ar
sAives Of this government, the agent vas request
ed to become the bearer Of letter from to the
President Of the United Stss<s, requesting him.
agreeable Co him, 10 direct his secretary of the
minister picnipoteutisry NJ the court Of 81 James
TO request OF that government IN authenticated
copy OF the document desired- This .equcst,
however. the president declined complying 9TH,
Tor reasons assigned in that correspondence, here
| with communicated.
Under these eirrumu.pees "a was deemed most
prudent, before s-uding commissioners to
London Tor the record. which NJ one time vas
feared would become Indispensable necessary, 20
request him TO make fun and complete s-srsh in
Northampton, Norfolk, and York, vherr many
public doeumcni, OF importance we're said TO have
been carried during the revolutionary war, to So
cure them against the wantou destruction Of the
invading British forces.
That gcnticman has performed The duty as
signcd him, with great ability aud fidelity will
he sccn from has luminous report GA that subject,
herewith presented tn you-s report which clear
~ shows that our right to the territory ia qucs-
ton, can be sustained in q satisfactory manner,
even II NC haaly fail 10 obtain the desired ,ocu-
mcnf.
In my message 20 YOU nc tie opening Of YOUR
last session, you Informed that bum-rou, is.-
ccudiary papers and pamphlets. or tracts, printed
IN boston, New York, and Pcnesy iv.nia, had
| been circulated amongst us, for the p,,rpose no
doubt, Of melting our slave population to rebel
lion and acts u violence. ard that hal felt IL n
duty TO open . correspondence With the Cover
nors ot those States, demonstrating: against the
conduct OF their citizens, and requesting that the
Nraaa ssa.I.a L. ~
hope ~ss long eheri >b-d that some eosninu-
nieation would be received from the chiefs OF
those governments, stating that either they had
granted request 10 reasonable In ITSELF or as
signing so,nc satisfactory rrason VII, IL was de-
eiincd Prom the governor Of Massachusetts.
received reply, doubling the existence Of any
rrmedy but the enactment of sonc police laws,
anal their rigid executions; but a. ON the governors
OF New YORK and Peans, i,.nia no reply has been
received.
We owe, is true, allegiance TO the eonsti,r-
ton Of the United States bu, none 10 men or TO
sister State; and our duty is TO project ,is COM
wealth in the fll ioy rent OF her sovereign
~. and our citizens "a their persons aud properly
ihAt those governments have becu careless OF our
complaints, may be justly inferrstI and that insli-
siduais interest Themselves In those States 10 dis.
turo our rcrosc, and destroy the value Of this
property OF our citizens, the documents hereto
lore lad before you sufficiently prove nor is il
S'thout foundation believed, thst societies are
4
tempts on the Che sspeake BAY, aud by sea. fur
nish some evidence of the fact These things
esn Tor energy and decision, or in n short space
OF u'ne me property OF our inhabitants on the
sea coast will be worse than yaiueicss
In acyerting to our federal relations ! am sor-
~ that have it not in my power 20 communicate
,oyoa something more cheering To anin,ate your
hopes, and upon which YOU might found a Just
sHPsetsuon tina, the gloomy period OF or affairs
nag passed., and that tile federal government, for
1 IN ha &c.
trace IFS steps, aud once more confine its lryi,.
Ton Shhin those bounds prescribed 20 it.by the
constitution and leave the citizens of the differ
cut states to reap the benefit OF their own lsbour
Inc tate tsr'ff, With Its oppressive exaetions,
mas been replaced by another hardly less injurious
which only mocks our sufferings 6y assuming the
shaPe OF modification.
Heretofore Virginia has watched her liberty
win sieePiess care, and her reserved rights, the
] sleeping thunder Of the states. with n, an.ir,,
which bespoke the iuestinlabIe value she nIacrd
upon them. Ought we To be- less on our x,l.rt
than nj any former periodp Perpetual vigilance
Is the price We pay Tor liberty. DO Nc not find
me defenders OF those violations Of the eonsiitu-
non increasing M number, and the holiness Of
their measures Constitutions are intended 90
protect the rights Of the minority, BY restraining
the majority from doing that which 10 the m,uor,-
" would be ruinous, but il the maiority be per-
m''ted to become the Interpreters OF their Own
powers, there ceases to be any iimi, TO the 20
vernment. o.
Ihe southern stAtrs haze long and earnes,l,
protested against the assumption Of eonstructi,,.
power by The federal government, as leading ul,i
mneiy TO d's'eaity and danger, and rs founded in
the conviction that no was safe for that 20
vernment to pursue. bat that pointed on, by the
resolutions OF Virginia in 1888
SCUM carolina, prominent and distinguished
state IN this eonfederpey. in despair of sy hcne-
heiAi modification Of tl'e tariff by Congress, ha.
thrown herself upon her sovereignty. and called
convention Of the people to take under ,heir RS
n.son All The laws Of Congress upon that subject
Snh we. 10 pronounce upon their constitution
ATTY This naturally brings before the confr,lc-
rscy the whole question. The situstioo of o,,r
SISTER State y new aud interesting, and /, is mo-,
INC "me TO discuss the question whether the pro-
Sednre Oh her part be Premature or Lar,ly. Your
deI'oera,ions will be looked to by our copIe viii
"'ense interest, IS our own position, ia reIalion
70 our S'sier State and tIe Uuion one of noyeI
", ana calls Tor prudence and wisdom.
+, That you may be sueecsSfui ia every effort Go
benthi our country, - tie sineerr wish, yeu,Ie.
mch' Oi your respectful fellow-eitizen,