Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-07-06


bly, obtain their foreign supplies through Charleston. As
almost the whole fiscal OF the government
derived from the custom house. is evident that there
would be nearly total failure OF the revenue Other
evils equally great would ensue Every hOlderot duta
BILE articles purchased under the tariff would find them
duccd in value, TO the amount OF the duties which had been
paid or them. Ship-owners land holders, merchants,
usans all the inhabitants of Uhcc large cities, who
their prosperity subsistence 10 foreign commerce.
would be exposed to ruin and hgHry. All the depeI
dent agricultural districts would participate in tie shock
In the money market, which is sensitive TO every poI
cal and commercial vciSSitu'e, confidence would be
stroyed, private credit would be suspended public credit
would be menaccd-enblrrasS and bankruptcy, would
pervadc the laud Is reasonable pect the other
numbers OF the CO.. ieGeracy will permit such OF
things to contnu', 20 commenced II every party
TO the compact 'has equal right Judge for itself
well OF inrs ctions, of the mode of redress
surely til sisa case in which the majority would not fail TO
exercise their privilege Even states in the minority, de-
preceding such wild career of political innovations would
at least not dsapprove the by which it
rested According 10 the latitude ol choice conceded by
the fundamental principle OF the nulifier the majority
might IN these circumstances, adopt any mode of proceed
ing, which seemed most expedicnt The reasonable pre-
sumption however is, that the obvious, gentle, and
ctIcctual plan would be sclccted-that OF immediately
blockadug all the ports which had been made free. II
the multiplying state did not then submit, it must resist by
force. and the very first blow would be the
Of civil war. Ii is Supertluous enquire, by what
species of political agency, thu majority OF states would
in the present Instance perform this Indispensable duty
self defence. They would doubtless, without any refer
ence tangled theories through the instrument
tay Of the general government, whose direction is in
their hands. An objection from any quarter this mode
of oeraon would be unreasonable; but coming from the
nullhcrsthose who claim for all parties, equal right
to judge of he mode and measure OF redress, it would
be supremacy ridiculous
From the premises, think ourselves authorized to
conclude that the believers in the doctrine Of nullifcaon
labour under dclusionthat the pretension
any minority exceeding fourth TO impose its
ton OF the constitution majority, is in the highest de-
gree chiBericalthat those who TO notification
peaceful remedy, rushing bindfod into hosiities
The nuers have spoken OF the natural right of par
ties, each TO interpret compact Tor ITSELF il
constitutional right whose exercise is compatible with
maintenance OF governments; when il is palpa-
bly, in effect the privilege of mutual warfare. In
specializing the Interpretation OF the constitution, the
entirely forget that the states which ratified this inst-
ment, adopted chole, an! mach for the sake of
the powers, which they supposed il 10 confer the gen
eral government, for the sake Of those which they sup
posed it TO 10 the states individually forget
that the opinion OF any state, believing power have
been delegated is entitled TO much consideration the
opinion OF another State believing il to have been reserved
Finally they forget that in every disputed where
there variance in the original understanding the
parties the intentions of side the other must ne
ceSsdry be- J5WStFdtedj and that this unavoidable incon
veniencc may properly be endured by seven as by
seyenecn-by any minority, as by any majority.
When there is a material and irrcconciabe difference
OF opinion, between the parties to the Federal Compact
is manifest that secession is the only efecua remedy
the weaker II has Indeed been maintained that the RIGHT
of secession itself, is only the right of nuiyinr the
whole constitution and laws. Those who are rnsled bv
such assertion can have paid but little attention TO the
import OF the words. Modification il represented as an ac
performed under the constitutions aud compatible with the
continuance of the general government. Secession OH the
verninent, releasing those who secedc fOm the obga
tons OF the compact To call secession, therefore spe-
cics OF modification, is solecsm But it farther
urged, that admitting the two measures TO be essentially
different; the scheme of notification worst only
eventuae IN the other aud IN the time is gem
We IN us operation ms Is most pernicious tallacy
Whenever secession unequvocay proposed the pe-
pie, the data will be fairly before them-they will
choose with full know ledge of the alternatives
they will decide their destiny in open day. But
when modification is recommended to them, being in
fact OF the means of preserving the Union 2no
fhp
II they credit such representations they have the
true datd before hemthey deciding upon premises
absolutely false, and may precpiate themselves into
Yoluon when their purposes are dramatically opposite
The claims OF notification greater gentlencss of pro-
cess, are equally futile II the Southern States mpeed
by their wrongs should, through Convention, any
other manner, propose TO the majority, that the Union he
dissolved by common consents either those wrongs will be
redressed or heir proposition will be acceped for
uonal will cherish the desperate project retaining
them in the Union by force The parties would arrange
the terms oil peaceful separation The laws OF the Ge
neral Government would he respected by both sides
the moment of dsOluon and !Lon The ports of each be-
coming foreign 10 The other, their respective systems of
mpost could be enforced, without collision or ncOn-
venience We have already seen, how different would
be the. consequences of nulication We have seen
that the nulying State being still considered mem.
Der OF the contederacy, duties could be imposed
her coasng adethat her ports being free, she would
absorb nearly the whole importation the country and
distribute supplies TO every district of the Union-lha
this state OF affairs if acquesced n would failure
the public revenue and CONFUSION in commerce. which
must scatter dsnay and ruin, along the whole extent of
coast. The government could submit 10 such
evils lt would immediately ntepose, 10 its
peculiar interests, and those OF the community at large
committed to its protection. Forthe nuiiy ing State there
would remain only the two alternatives, of humiliation
and ci,
But while we demonstrate that open secession greatly
preterabie to the chmeras of nullcaon and that il is in
fact the only proper remedy when the policy of the gene
raj government longer endurable not be sup
posed, that contemplate such event with indine.
renee, much less with satisfaction. No! if finally
constrained TO such course, by obstinate injustice every
good citizen will adopt with the sincere reluctance
and profound regret Long! long, may the patriotism and
Intelligence of the American people defer that unhappy
day, when sordd cupdiy agiious ambition, shall be
permitted to destroy the magnificent system of Republican
Union, which has descended us, Consecraed by the
blood OF heroes, and the wisdom of sagesby the hopes
and the admiration of all civilized men.
Our task is ended, il not ompleed In this plain essay
the writer has endcavored to avoid all acctation of learn
ed teclncaty, rhetorical ornament, which could only
nave tended to obscure the subject His highest aspra-
ton has BEEN through the medium of a simple and persp
cuous style to transmit the rays Of truth uncoored and
unTefacted. OGIETHORPE
'u'VERFr Er-GnRnrbE q noe,