Delaware gazette and American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1837, 1832-12-14

pose) commenced with its very existence. Under
the Royal Government we had no separate charac-
ter our opposition to its expressions began Unit
ed Colonies. We were the United States under
the confederation, and the name was perpetuated
and the Union RENDERED more perfect by the Fed
eral Constitution. In none of these stages did VIC
consider ourselves in any other light than as form.
ing one nation. Treaties and alliances we've made
in the name of all. Troops were raised for the
Joint defence. How then, with all these proofs,
that under all changes of our position we had, for
designated purposes and with defined powers, Great
ed national Governments-how is il, that the most
perfect of those several modes Of union, should
now BIZ considered as a mere league that may be
dissolved at pleasurel 1t is from an abuse Of
terms. Compact is used as synonymous with league
although the true term is not employed because
il would at once show the fallacy OF the reasoning.
1t would not do to say that our Constitution was
only league, but, ii is aboIed to prove il COM
pact, (Which in one sense it is) and then 10 argue
that as league in a compact, every compact be-
tween nations must Of course be league, and that
from such an engagement every sovereign power
has tight TO reccde. But it has been shown, that
in this sense the States not sovereign, and that
even if they were and tho national Constitution
had been formed by compact, there would be no
right in any one State to exonerate itself from its
obligations.
So obvious are the reasons which forbid this Sc
cesson, that it is unnecessary only to alude to
them. The Union was formed for the benefit of
all. 1t was produced by mutual sacrifices of in.
terests and opinions. Can those sacrifices be re.
called? Can the States, who magnanimously sur
rendered their title to the Territories Of the West
recall the grantl Will the inhabitants of the in.
land States agree to pay the duties that may be i'm
posed without their assent by those on the Attain
tic or the Gulf, for their own benefit Shall there
be free port in one State and onerous duties in
Inn No. Ill. A. =.
in single State TO involve all the others in these
and countless other evils contrary to engagements
solemnly made. Every one must see that the other
States in self defence, must oppose it at all haz-
ards
These are the alternatives that are presented BY
the Convention: A repeal of all the acts for rails
ing revenue, leaving the Government without the
means OF support; or an acquiescence in the dis.
solution of our Union BY the secession of one Gifts
members. When the first was proposed, il was
known that it could not be listened TO for moment.
IL was known if force was applied to oppose the
execution OF the laws that it must be repealed by
force-tbat Congress could not, without involving
tseli IN disgrace and the country in ruin, accede
to the proposition and yet if this is not done in
a given day, or if any attempts is made TO execute
the laws, the State is, by the Ordinance, declared
TO be out OF the Union. The majority Of a Conven.
ton assembled for the purpose, have dictated these
terms, rather this rejection Of all the terms, in
the name OF the people Of South Carolina. Il is
true that the Governor of the State speaks of the
submission of their grievances to a convention of
all the States; which he says they sincerely and
anxiously seek and DESIRE" Yet this obvious
and constitutional mode of obtaining the sense
Of the other States on the construction of the
federal compact, and amending il if necessary
has never been attempted by those who have
urged the State on TO this destructive measure.
The State might have proposed the call for gen.
eral convention 10 the other States; and Congress-
If sufficient number of them concurred, must
have called it. But the first Magistrate of South
Carolina, when he expressed a hope, on a re-
view by Congress and the functonaries OF the Gen.
eral Government of the merits of the controversy
such Convention will be accorded to them, must
have known that neither Congress nor any func.
tionary of the General Government has authority
to cause such Convention, unless it be demanded
by two thirds Of the States. This suggestion then
Is another instance Of the reckless inattentioD TO
the provisions of the Constitution with which This
crisis has been madly hurried on or of the at
tempt to persuade the people that constitut iona
remedy had been sought and refused. 1.-THE leg
slatuTe Of South Carolina anxiously desire. % n
General Convention to consider their complaints
why have they not made application for it in the
way the Constitution points out. The assertion
that they earnestly seek" it is completely nepa-
lived by the omission.
rms then, is the position in which we stand
small majority of the citizons of one State in the
Union nave elected delegates to State Conyen-
tior: has ordained that all the revenue laws of the
United States must be repealed, or that they are
no longer member of the Union. The Governor
OF that State has recommended to the legislature
he raising OF an army to carry the secession into
enect' and that he may be empowered TO rive
ciearahces to vessels in the name Of the State. No
act oil violent opposition to the laws has yet been
committed, but such state of things is hourly an.
pretended, and It is the intent of this instrument 10
PROCLAIM not only that the duty imposed on me by
the Constitution 'sto take care that the laws he
faithfully executed" shall be performed to the ex.
tent OF the powers already vested in me by law, or
OF such others as the wisdom of Congress shall
oevlse ana enlrust to me for that purpose but 10
warn the citizens of South Carolina, who have
neen deiuded into an opposition to the laws. Of
,he danger they will incur by obedience 10 the H.
legal and dlsorganizing Ordinance of the Conyen.
t'on'.~to exhort those who have refused 10 sun.
IL. H..