Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-20


and one the language Of mild reproof Sou
Carolina and 10 the General Government so far mus
you and no farther" BY doing you will receive In
thanks OF every true Virgnan The principles of 9S an
99 were not established speculative theories 1
be laid on the shelf in times of difficulty aud danger b
they were established by of the wses OF our father
rs rules OF action TO govern i'm periods like these: No
to be proclaimed nmouthed when they were not dis
pued bu, TO be asserted in manly tone, defended
needs be with an arm OF strength and energy when dis
puted assailed. Now is the time when our princinIe
have been misconsrued and perverted from one quarter
and condemned and rainped on from another Tor Virgin
TO come forward and say what those principles are and
manifest in way not TO be mistaken he
present adherence to them and her mistaken determine
ton TO uphold aud maintain them.
That the present portentous cloud which overhang
our beloved country, and threatens overwel in on
common ruin our political institutions and liberties
may soon pass away and restore more the sun
shine OF individual and public prosperity is the arden
wish OF your most obedient servant, HALIFAX.
THE RIGHT OF SECESSION. S''''i-"'
OF all the questions which this crisis forces upon ih
public attention, that which relates the right of Stat
to secede from the Union is perhaps the most vitality i'm
Por,aht AS Just opinions depend upon just knowledge
80 ooes just practice depend upon just opinions. Aont
the conscientious, this is al,oays true and in relation
pouca questions the practice OF the of the people
Is Arrays CONSCIENTIOUS. They cannot have any sinister
interests, conflicting with the general good; and the
conduct be in any adverse it, can only be be-
cause their opinions are OF This truth an
ever memorable Illustration is about be afforded i'm the
course which OF the South may take relation to the
right OF secession. OF the great and practical
OF this point, many manfesily fully aware and every
one viii be, when he considers that the continuance OF
our edera Unon so tar it may he affected by his
acts and the part ne may take in the
upon the judgment which he NAV form with regard tbe
rghtin question In the view of this subject which has
been taken by many candid minds and which there fore
may be taken by many more, there is lacy which has
led them TO believe that the right of peacea6e secession
Gas 1t has been erme is deducibe from the prncnes nj
our school; and that there is alternative but TO actn
euge 'hat right, or to surrender those principles The
ailacy oil this belief need however, but be pointed
out, TO be generally acknowledged.
Before proceed examine closely into this error
let besow moments consideration OH the dis
position or affection of the mind from which has sprung
Those whose affections have been enlisted in favor of the
rights oil the States, parties federal compact have
from obvious causes, been led conine their attention
exclusively, almost exclusively TO one branch of those
rights Ever vigan to defend the reserved rights of the
STATES as well against the particular entertainments TO
"hcn they were oil necessity constantly exposed from
our federal agents, as against those general doctrines
which TO all practical purposes would have long ago an
minated those rights, and consolidated us into one ma
uonhe defenders OF State rights have to a great
been made iorgeul of the fact that the rights aeored
oy me States under the compact State rights
than those which were reserved; and that TO maintain
tne latter belongs no less to the sovereignty the
raj parties TO the compact and is less the duty of the
guardians Of State rights, than to defend the former As
euzen OF virginia, assert her right be exempt from
the exercise OF any powers by the Federal
other than those delegated 10 il: hut assert No Ios.
strongly her night to the fulment by each of the other
paues 70 the compact oil every obligation which con-
Taced towards herr and for which she gave full eoui
vaent by contracting the obligations towards them
rlpht IN ind
ior hefse III the stresor of the and extent of
the obligations contracted by the parties to the comnact.
aght 10 Judge OF those obligations not only when view
eu as oogaons contracted or her. but also when
as obligations contracted tOUdrds her-no only when the
question Is, tchdt her Reserved righf3 but aI.n
wnen he question Is, Dhdt are her rights
o ooM hese questions assert the right of that State of
which am citizen--as acknowledge that of every
other Stae-to Judge in the last for herself and TO
oe as her honest ud gmen Dictates her right not only In
DEFEND her reserved rights judged OF by herself but
TO MAINTAIN her acquired rights, Judged of by herself
In the language OF our text book il is ga plain pnc
pie, founded III common sense, illustrated Inv con,mon
practice, and essential the nature of co,nnacts tbat
where resort can be had TO tribunal superior TO the a
oy OF me parties the parties themselves must be the
righul Judges in the last resort tcheter he boroojo
mdae has been pursued v0idted" Is Virginia or is
she NOT, the rghu judge for herself in the last resort
wne.'er Ie bargain made has been pursued violated
oy any one or by all OF the other parties? To my mind
mere seems no less absuriy in the notion that she
Is pound 10 let each Of the other parties TO the bar
gam Judge for her what rights she gc0,tred Iv t,a
bargain, than there would be in the notion bai sbe
Is bound TO let them judge for her. what rights she
FsSerUed by the same bargain Both these classes
o rights are but parts of whole; and 10 decide what
rights are comprised in one of those parts is decide what
rights arc comprised in the other The acquired riohIs
oil virginia are that each of the other parties to the COM
pact snail submit TO the exercise by the federal agent of
those powers which haze been delegated 10 II Her re-
served rights are that she shall be EXEMPT from tho
else by that agent of all powers which hay, moi been
delegated O 10 The compact out OF which this division
o powers arose, was necessarily attached-becase il was
from the nature OF things sepdrable from 1.-THE rob TO
70 maintain The one, as well 10 defend the other-o
maintain the one by force if necessary as well az to de-
lehu the DINER by FORCE, Unnecessary ANY assertion
Wcung with this truth involves the absufdy that the
only sort oil rights which the parties TO the compact
sess, are their reserved rights that the oniy right which
he parties to bargain have, is The right OF each not
10 De bound beyond what the agreement sipulates-
10 assert that Of the parties TO the Union has
gh 70 seceue pedee06ty Chat is without interference
from .e resp rather than submit what sle may iudge
TO be an usurpddon by the federal agent is 10 assert hst
ue oer parnes nave no right TO Judge for themselves of
to oossuons Whch were recprocally contracted Such
an assertion at open with the very esseca NJ ali
covenants or agreements, whatsoever NAV be ic nature
oil me parhes and by whatever name the aereenen no
caeu whether II be bargain compact league frenfv mr.
Sy opSr 90 lar from receiving any counenance from
ueear1"os or eXposions Of the creed of 0S il meets
Poneu contradiction from the principle which every
tenet oil that creed is founded well as Gron tho
tone OF us most distinguished jealous andn6eyibIe
porlcrs wherever, i'll MIR. Jefersons writings the
car assertion ny one OF the parties the Union of her
70 Judge Tor herself OF her obligations and to SEPARATE from
her companions rather than submit to government nj
unlimited powers Is contemplated the idea If roRcE IS
tnvdTId6iy connected tch IL. His mind was loo familiar
with the nature Of cOmpacts 10 permit hin, IN oso i,
Ior moment OF the truth that the right of every one ol
he parties 10 Judge for herself and insist on her do
en as 70 Wha are or what not the obligations of the
conPSc, ldencan its nature il is in its basis and
hd ue submission by State the exercise of pow
er judged by her not to be among the delegated no,vcrs
be Gas uis) concession of right on her mart Tic ci
cence by any ono Of the parties in the yyitbdra,o NJ
onoI rom "hat She judges TO be the obligations of te
So"PdcJ IS no less concession Of right on her mari
dch party mas the same right 10 maintain her rigbs bv
49,, wa" he olher has; and If force be not resoTed TO-
" can only DC by party making concesson III III
Just as strict as that 10 which the il mad
remains 10 be seen, if detect wherein lics Tho
Iadcy OF he notion, that party 10 the Union la.