Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-12

gh. OF the several States, by interposng their so.
power, to declare void, within their respec.
i've ooraors' any law which they may think un.
constitutional.
Thus understanding il, 1 am opposed to il. I
WIN endeavor briefly to state my doctrine upon the
'eoJoc'' In general when a quest ion ariris, who
ner al act OF Congress is constitutional not, il
10 the Judicial department to- decide it, bo-
e.sse IN general the question arises in case,
e'her IN law, equity, that 10 in controversy be-
decision. " '
=, Out "hen the question liz ono of political po,per,
.,,". oetween the Federal Government and the
states, whether the former has invaded tho re.erv
Gu rgnts OF tho latter, hold that questions of this
hina DO not belong to Judicial cognizanco. That
tho people OF tho States parties to she Federal
So"Pac', IN their character of States. That tho
SohS,tution has not conferred upon the Judicial
uePar.'nont any political power whatever. That
In relation TO questions of this character
,"ere Is no common umpire. And that consea ue MT
y, .ne States must decide for themselves. This is
"e ',xh'' but what Is tho remedy? My opinion is,
.na' the only rightfu remedy is that Of secession
ne argument which attempts to maintain the right
OF one State to nulfy and thus suspend the opera
t,on OF law passed according to tho forms of the
constitution until three fourths Of the States act
under clause providing for amendments, seems
10 me 10 be based upon this error. That in every
case OF a contested power, the question is, what
does the Constitution grant as il is? Whereas
uRcor an amendment proposed, the question ALWAYS
Is, not what the Constitution now is but W hat il
shall hereafter be. have said that hold the right
of the States to seeedo But this right consider
as the last resort. would say i'm relation To it, as
heretofore have said that i'm cases of physical
malady arsenic is never administered but hon tho
patient is otherwise utterly despaired Of so i'm those
OF political character, this remedy should bo ap
Piled only in cases of hopeless extremity Icannot
conclude this lotter without Offering fervent nrav
or TO him who rules the dcstinies of nations that
he would save our beloved country from this sad
catastrophe. For come when il may, no tongue
can adequately tel the evils which lilo hid in the
then mysterious future.
With sentiments of esteem,
Yours, respectfully,
p p BARBOUR.
Messrs. JOSEPH n. BRIAN, )Committee of a politi.
JOSIAH +; GNANDsHHr, zeal meeting at Shoe
mIhUcAN HUNT, >co Springs, n. G..
The following private letter from Gen. Joseph H.
Bryan, one OF the committee, to the Editor, accom-
panied the above correspondence:
OXFORD, Sept. %, 1882.
SIR-You will herewith receive tho correspond.
enee between tho committee appointed by the
Shocco meeting and the Hon. p. p. Barbour, also
accompanying IT two speeches delivered by Mr.
Harbour embracing moro Mt large his views on the
subject OF inquiry. l received Yesterday from
gentleman in Albany, letter informing inc that
the letter and enclosures directed to Mr.. Van Blu
rem had reached their destination, and had been o.
pened by Mr. .iahn Van Buren,, Martin Van Bu-
rem, Esq, being absent in the western part of tho
Slate travelling; that soon as il could be ascer
tanned at what peiDt letter could reach him, they
would he forwarded though it is likely he thinks
that an answer will be received in less than three
weeks. Under such circumstances, in Justice TO
MIR. Barbour we cannot longer withhold his an
swer from the public. have already had it in
possession two weeks, waiting for the reply of Mr.
Van Buren,.
Iou will publish it in your paper, and provide
each OF the other Editors with a copy and also
furnish them with the speeches, that they NAV
make such extructs as they may deem maierial--
have not seen Mr. Cranberry, but Mai. Hunt con.
ours IN the opinion that we should publish without
further delay.
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
JOS. II. BRYAN.