Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-08-03
SPECT ATOR.
Observation-Disclosures 3,
sTAUNTON CONVENTION.
WEDNESDAY, July Is.


he acted upon Ivy this Convention, reported
The following Resolutions
Resolved, That the tribunal provided by
the Constitution Of the United States 10 de-
cidc disputes between tho States and FEEDER
al Judiciary, 10 wit, the Supreme Court,
from the habits and duties of the Judges,
from the mode of their election, and from
tho tenure II their Offices is cminently quail
'ted TO decide the disputes aforesaid, in an
enlightened and impartial manner.
End. Resolved, That the members of Che
Supreme Court being selected from those
IN The United States who are most celebrated
tor virtue aud legal learning, moi al the will
ola single individual, hut by the concur
rent wishes Of the President and Senate Of
The United StniGs, they viii therefore have
no local prcluG'>os and partialities, and that
the tenure OF their Offices enables them TO
pronounce the sound and correct opinions
they may have formed, without fear, favor,
Or partiglity.
Sd. Resolved. That Inc principles con
tanned in the foregoing resolutions and which
wcrc solemnly sanctioned in tie year 1910,
by the unanimous concurrence OF both
branches OF the Legislature Of Virginia,
meet lie cordial appreciation OF this ConYen-
iioa.
9TH Resolved, That the solemn decisions
OF The Supreme Court Of the United States
upon questions OF Constitutional law are
binding upon the President of the United
States, acting in his Executive capacity, as
well rs upun the other departments of the
government
9th. Resolved, That the people Of every
slate IN this Union arc bound by the laws of
Congress which may have been passed in
conformity To the Constitution OF the United
States-that there is no middle ground be
tween OhedionCe and revolution and uhat tho
doctrine OF Modification is dangerous po~
liticai heresy
After some remarks, by several members,
motion was made 10 lay the resolutions on
tho table, which prevailed a few minutes
afterwards, however, the Convention deter
miEed TO take them up with a view to their
consideration Ar. Anderson, of Botetourt,
moved the indefinite postponement of the
first three resolutions, when the following dis
Cussion onsuad:
Mr.. JANNET, of Ioudoun, hcggcl leave
TO explain the views OF tho Committee. Ho
said the Committee did not wish to introduce
any subject which would occasion unneccs-
sary distraction in this body. But he tho't
that lei il affect the present election as il
might, VIC ought 10 express our sentiments
on the euhocis embraced in the resolutions
Their assertion at this time he co nsidcrcd TO
he OF great moment 10 the welfare of the
country; scarcely less than the election OF MIR.
Clay 10 the Presidency Tor no believed that
fGencral Jackson should be re- elected our
institutions were yet sufficiently strong 10
bear the shock He was therefore for a
manly expression ofour sentiments
In regard 10 the first three resolutions
which were proposed 10 DO postponed, he
commended that any other doctrine would
throw us back on the old articles ofconfede
ratlen-which bad been found entirely mad
equatc to our high national purposes and
the diamond OF our now happy Union once
broken could never be united again. He
had heard some doubts cxp pressed whether ;he
resolutions reported 10y the Committee
would no sanctioned by this Convention lie
could not entertain such doubt They as
serted doctrines which had the support OF
the illusirious MADISON, ono of the mos.
venerable and able eXponnders ofthe Con
Stitution. The first and second Resolutions
were approved by the Legislature of Yir-
ginia in 1910 The Legislature of Penneyl-
wanna had proposed another tribunal than
the Supreme Court ofthc u. States 10 decide
Constitutional questions. These resolutions,
in the courtesy usually observed by one
State towards another were referred 10 Com
mittee ofthe house ofDclcgates, which Com
mittec had reported those very resolutions i'm
the language in which they arc here pre-
sented.-Ihcy wore passed by tho house and
approved unanimously by the Senate We
are sustained abundantly (he observed, } in
these sentiments, by the palmy days Of the
Commonwealth. Is it moi right, then, that
we should bring forward these doctrines, held
and maintained by the wisest and best patri-
OTIS Of the Republic?
The third resolution he remarked, merely
expresses the appreciation of the foregoing
resolutions by this Convention.
in regard 70 the 9TH Resolution, we have
heard that the present President of the Uni
TED States has assumed power which Mr..
Jefferson says is the very definition OF tyrnn
ny itseiL The late Veto Message, paper
nearing his name Mt least, asserts that he
does not consider himself bound by decisions
ol The supreme Court We know that fOTo
oOHsCtcncig he - not responsible for the scnii-
ment, as nc is not the author but he i,
responsible for adopting il bv name The
idea Of the resolutions before us Therefore is
that 50 long az law exists, and il decide,
10 be constitutional by tho Supreme Court
the President is bound to enforce a Tb,
Veto nj essage asserts the roYerse-and Hi
Conventions calledon 10 declare its oppositio,
TO this most dangerous assumption Of power.
In respect to tho 9Th Resolution, som,
doubt has cen expressed about il not fo
the principles il contains but the prophet,
Gifts consideration here lie hoped chat ~,
Convention would disregard small thing
and march boldIyup 10 the point, and declare
as thoy must believe in their conscience
that Modification is a dangerous polilica
heresy. In the State where this doctrine j