Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-21

4
cessary now, and at this pcrilous crisis wo do re-
gard thai, our boundcn and solemn duty to
assert aud declare TO sister states, TO tho go
vcrnment OF this greet confoderacy, and to the
world, our firm and unalterab adherence To
these principles and resolutions.
4. Resofeed, as our deliberate conriction, That
the acts of congress, usually dcnominatcd the tariff
laws, SO far as they were passed papably and uvow
euiy tor tho exclusive protection of particular spe-
cics of industry, not only unequal in their epe,
ration, oppressive, and consequently inoxpedient,
but are contrary to the spirit, true intent and
Ing OF the federal compact.
>. ReSoiced That never acquiesce in the
present system of duties, as the settled policy ofthc
government--,hat we will by all constitutional and
proper means oppose its cantinuatIon-and that we
sincerely believe TO be due to spirit of con-
citation and harmony, to proper respect for the
opinions and interests of large portions Of tho com,
munity, and essentially necessary to the preserva.
ton OF the Union, that it's burdens should be era.
dually but speedily abatod to the Imposition of such
duties only, as the exgcncies of tho government
may require for its ordinary revenue.
y. ReSolred, That we will cordially operate
with cnr brethren of South Carolina, and of the
ether states more immediately operated on injur
ou'y by this oppressive system, in otccting, by all
proper means, It's abatement to the extent which
NO believe was contemplated Ivy those who form.
ed the federal compact, and the understanding Of
the states who were tho parties TO its ratification
Z. Resolued, That whilo with
our brethren of South Carolina In reprobating
this policy, must sincerely regret and de-
porc the measures thcy have recently adopted
to obvi,ts its evils. That cannot approve the
remedy which that state has resortcd to, and
still less tho precipitatc measures she has adopt
| ed to enforce it. That we cannot but regard that
remedy as compromising the true rights of the
states MS sovcreigns, by asserting them under the
sanction of the federal constitution, and
obviously tending, if persisted in, to political
| dcpoIo the principles assumed in tho ordinance
of her recent convention, and tho measures
which her legislature seem likely to adopt to
carry them out into execution AMI we regret
especially tho prcciptancy manifested, in prccrb-
ing early day for it's execution, without
| having previously resorted to and exhausted every
! constitutional means to obtain redrcss-without
having communed with her sister states
whose interests identified with her own, whose
sympothics are cordially excited by common wrongs
and suhcrinSs, and who are attached to her
| by ties as strong as ever bound communities to-
| gcther. That we regret that carly period has
been selected, because it practically excludes that
very intcrposi,ion of the present congress which
| she invokes tho necessary time for deli
bcratc action is not allowed to that body were it
disposed to redress her grievances by reduction
of the tnrif-bccauso it excludes the possibility Of
the intcrposition of the other states, by of
| general convention, or their rendering that me-
diatiou from which the happcst results might fair
| ly have been anticpatcd-and moro than all, be-
| cause it not deferred beyond the period ut
which the next congress Nigh be assembled, which
we have many reasons for believing would he better
| disposed than the present, to tho Drills,
which have led TO all these difficulties.
8. Resolved, That We have observed, in the re-
cent proclamation of the president of the United
States, principles avowcd, and powers assumed
| for the federal government, which we feel il to
be our solemn duty to dsapprove and protest
! against. That regard them as violating the
true construction and spirit of the constitution
and as inconsistent with the doctrines which this
state has repeatedly asserted. That VIC hailed
the communication of tho president TO congrcss,
at the commencement of it's scssion, with acnra-
ton, tho harbinger of better times, recalling
the government to the objects for which il
originally constructed, leading the way TO
| removal of the OF all existing difficult
ties and as containing an exposition, az just as it
was able, of the true principles which ad
mirable political system was intended to be found
ed. That feel called to express our dis
appreciation of the principles of the recclt pro-
clamato, lest our silence should be
and the known appreciation of Virginia Of other
measures of tho present administration, should
| bo regarded sanctioning opinions which
we sincerely believe 10 be Of dangerous ten
dency and which, if admitted, would oblitcrate the
lines which separate the states and revolutionizc
tho character of our government q con fcderacy.
hat although the people Of these United States i.
true, asseDted to the present constitutions and are
bound by all laws made in conformity thereto; yet
wc regard it equally true, that it a confcde-
racy formed by the states such ratified by tho
states such, and OF which the states as distinct
political communities, are now the members That
n
| dividual state which voluntarily entered into this
political association for indefinite period, to
| withdraw herself peacefully from it, when causes
| shall occur, WHICH in her Judgment shall render
such secession necessary. That while, however,
| we regard state as having right to scccde from
the Union, ",chen The sole alternatives left are The
dissolution Of the Union 10Th them, or submission
to a government Without Limitation of po,rers." We
think that prudence dictates that no state should
resort to such acrn ative until the last ex
tremty has been approached, and every consttu
tional effort has been tried, and every peaceful ex
pertinent exhausted, to obviatc the supposed injury
That in of "a deliberate, palpa6le, and
dangerous exercise Of other Po,oers not granted
by the said compact. the states tDho are parties
thereto, hare the right, and are in duty Jound
10 inferPose for arresting the progress Of the
cell. and for maintaining Dithin their respect
ire limits, The authorizes, rights and liberties No.
pertaining to thepl."
That a consequence from this principle, as
serted In 1898, wo recognize the con
sluSion assumed in the proclamation, that a citizen
OF state which has pecccably withdrawn itself from
the confederacy, who in discharge of the allcri-
nncc lie owes his own state, and in obedience to
her laws and mandates, violates law of the r.
naming Union, can thereby forfeit his life as a
TRAITOR. That VIC view with regret some of the
doctrines held forth in the proclamat as 10 the
origin OF our government, as involvnga moro lailu-
dinous construction of the federal compact, than
was ever commended for by the ancient federal mr.
~ in our country, and we awfnlly fear that their
tendency will be, unless happily arrested 10 accoI-
lerato the very catastrophe their FORMULATION was
Intended to rePress.
3. ReSolred, That earnestly dcprccate the in
prevention OF arms on either side 10 settle the pre-
sent unhappy disturbances, as calcuIa ed inevitably
TO excite and produce the most disastrous of oil
national calamities-a dissolution Of the Union
and a civil war That We therefore affoctionstoly
and with all that fraternal sympathy we feel car
nesty entrcat our brethcrcn of S. Carolina to pou,o
in their career, 10 suspend the ouerJtior nj Il,;