Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1832-12-27
THE SOUTH.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE L
STATES BY SOUTH CAROLINA.

STATES BY SOUTH CAROLINA.
To ths People Of Massachusetts, viyyinia, .Ns,c
York, Pt"asgiraaia, North Ca oiina, .sfsrr,-
land, Coaaeciiest, Vermont, .Nsw Uampshirs
Maine, .Nsir Jersey, Georgia, Deiarars, Rhods
Island, ksnfs.eky, Tennessee, Okio, Louisisns,
ind'ara, .ai's'ssipPi, i:.imois, .7is5dssa, aad
Missouri: =
We, the People OF South Carolina, assem-
b!cd IN Convention, have solemnly and de-
hberatcly declared, in our paramount soye-
reign capacity, that the act of Congress an
proved the 18th day of May, l52s, and the
act approved the l4ih July, ls32, altering
ana amending the several acts imposing du-
Ties on imports, arc unconstitutional and
therefore, absolutely void, and OF no bindin.
force within the limits Of this State; aud, for
tho purpose Of carrying thi, declaration into
fuii and complete effect, We have invested
the Legislature with ample powers, and made
IL the duty Of all the functonaries and all the
citizens OF the State, on their allegiance. 10
cooperate in enforcing the aforesaid declara-
ton. a,
In rcsorting to this important measure, to
which We have been impellcd by tho most sa-
cred Of all the duties which free people can
owe either to the memory Of their ancestors
or to the claims Of their posterity, VIC feel
that Il ~ due TO the intimate political relation
which exists between South Carolina and the
other States OF this Confcderacy, that We
should present clear and distinct exposition
OF the principles on which we have acted,
and Of the causes by which we have been re-
luctantiy constrained to assume this attitude
OF sovereign resistance in relation To the
usnrpatious Of the Federal Government
For this purpose il will be necessary to
state, briefly, what we conceive TO be the re-
lation created by the Federal Constitution,
between the States aud the General Govern
ment; and also what we conceive To- be the
true character and practical operation Of the
system of protecting duties, as il affects our
rights, our interests, and our liberties.
We hold, then, that on their separation
from the crown Of Great Britain, the several
Colonies became free and independent States.
each enjoying the separate and independent
right OF self-government; and that no antho-
rity can be exercised over them, or within
their limits, but By their consent, respectively
gwen as States. II is equally true that the
Constitution Of the Cnitcd States is a oom-
pact formed between the several States, act
ing as sovereign communities that the go-
vernment created by Il is joint agency OF
the States, appointed TO execute the DO wcrs
enumerated and granted by that instrument ;
that all its acts, not Intentionally authorized,
are OF themselves essentially null and void
and that the States have the right, in the
same sovereign capacity in which they adopt
ed the Federal Constitution, to pronounce in
the last resort, authoritative judgment on the
usurpations Of the Federal Government, and
30 adopt such measures rs they may deem ne
cessary and expcdicnt TO arrest the operation
OF the unconstitutional acts Of that govern
ment within their respective limits. Such
we deem TO be the inherent rights of the
States-rights, in the very nature of things
absolutely inseparablc from sovereignty =
Nor - the duty of State to arrest an uncon-
stitutional and oppressive act of the Federal
Government less imperative, than the right is
incontestible. Each State, by ratifying the
FEDERAL Constitution, and becoming member
OF the Confederaey, contracted an obligation
10 protect and defend" that instrument. as
well by resisting the usurpations Of the Fede-
raj Government, As by sustaining that Co
vernment an the exercise Of the powers actu-
ally conferred upon IT. Ahd the obligation oil
the oath which IS imposed, under the Consti-
tuition, Oh every functionary OF the States to
"Prescrvc, protect aud defend" the Fedora
Constitution, az clearly compartments the du.
~ of protecting and defending it against the
usurpations OF the Federal Government, a.
mat Of protecting and defending it sgainst yio
Iation IN any other form, or from any othcI
quarter.
It is true, that in ratifying the Federal G. on
stitution, the States placed large aud i'm
Portant portion Of the rights Of their citizens
Under the joint protection Of all the States
with view TO their moro elfectual security
but IL Is not less true that they have rescryeo
portion still larger, aud not less important
under their own immediate guardianship, ant
IN relation TO which their original Obligation
to protect their citizens, from whatever quar-
ter assaulted, remains unchanged and undt
minished.
But clear and undoub;ed as we regard IN,
right, and sacred We regard the duty O
the States TO interpose their sovereign powc
for the purpose Of protecting their citizen
from the unconstitutional and oppressive act
Of the Federal Government, yet we are a
clearly OF the opinion that nothing short o
that high moral and political necessity which
results from acts Of usurpation, subyersive o
the rights and liberties Of the people, shout,
induce a member Of this eOnfedcracy To re-
sort 10 this interpretation. Such, however. i
the melancholy and painful necessity undo
which we have declared the acts of COngrcs
imposing protecting duties null and void with
In the limits Of South Carolina. The spiri
and the principle which animated your ar
eestors and ours IN the councils ard IN ~.
fields Of their common glory, forbid us {,
submit any longer 90 a system OF legislation
now become the established policy Of the Re
deral Government, by which 40 are reduce
10 n condition Of colonial vsssalage, in all u
alPtCta moro tutrlfFapf ttN oppressive thal
that from which our common ancestors. ~
lieved themselves b. the war Of the rovolu
ton. There Is no right which enters NOR
essentially into a just conception u liberty
than that Of the free and unrestricted use q
the productions Of our industry. This elerr
ly involves the right u carrying the prodnc
tons Of that industry wherever they can b.
most advantageousb exchanged, whether Il
foreign or domestic markets. South Carolin
produces almost excilsisoly, agricultural sta
pies which derive tioir principal value fron
the demand for them IN foreign countries
Under tbsso circumstances her natural mar
kets are abroad snd restrictive duties Im