Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-14
FoR THE NHi0.

The crisis has arrivcd-the issue i, now fairly
made up between South Carolina and the General
Ovcrnnent, and il will be determine ID he Their
the States are Sovereign in their character, or arc
mere Corporations, the internal affairs of which,
may be regulated 10y that Government ACCORDING 10
the uieCS Of tTpcdiency which ii may entertain. The
present position of the parties 10 this Messr..
Editors, must he source of the most painful solicit
tuGc 10 every Patriot.
Ii We look to the South, Disunion with lis fright.
fu features seems To stare the face. Ii
oar eyes towards the North, the still more horrible
image OF Consultation is presented TO view ir
oil MS hidi0ns deidrmy. The heart OF the true 10.
yer at his country siCkens al the prospect, and lie
would gladly close his eyes the scene, if by do
ing 50" the difficulty and danger of our situation
c"u be removed But this cannot be; the crisis has
arrived anu must he mct:-met too with ErmHesS, or
the dearest Interests OF our beloved country NAV ba
irrc;rievahy lost. Let patriot shrink from the
responsibility which rests upon him. Let the fear
less and the firm openly GUOlc. and Joldiy maintain
their principles and let the hesilang and the timid
if there be any such, endeavorto screw themselves
up 10 tie proper point, although il may he at the
hazard of their popularity, and may SUBJ the m TO
the censure OF those who claim TO be the directors
of public opinion Their country demands whate-
yer sacrifice may be involved and let not him tho
refuses TO make IT, claim place among those who
deserve 10 he honored as patriots
hl"ssrs. Editors, have read with feelings Of pain
ful emotion, the Proclamation of Chief Alagis
trate the subject of the pres position of South
Carolina, and whilst cannot approve the course
which that State has pursued, l can but rcprohate
some nt The sentiments which the President has
a
rcprte with herosy, and one which sets forth ultra
derdL doctrines
That South Carolina should hnve precipiiated
hers If into her present attitude seems 10 me most
unfortunate. A due respect for her sister State.
should nave induced her 10 the proper means
OF obtaining convention of all the CO. States Ii
must he conceded that she has acted rashIy and
unhdvssdIy; But that she has the inacnahe right
To resist opprcssIon from whatever quarter il NAV
proceed, aud TO Seccde if she thinks proper do So
is a doctrine on Which Virginia has acays insisted
| no wi npypr li,.lI
| am no advocate of Notification. do not believe |
thai any State ha: the right 10 refuse submission
T." the Laws OF Congress SO loEg as she continues
member OF the Confederacy; or, in other words
do not think that she has right TO claim the
benefit resulting from the Union, whilst she re-
fuses to bear the bur,hcns which her situation in
the Union imposes on her. | reject tho doctrine
o. Notification avowcd by John G.. Calhoun g.
his followers, but | feel bound to contend, to the
last extremity Tor the right of secession. Without
this right, the States would be shorn cf their go
vereignty and left i'll the exercise of only few
municipal powers, which would not be worth pre-.
serving.
The Proclamation Of the President is a stab
aimed at the vital principle of State sovereignty
and unless the People fix thct seal OF their reproba
ton it, we shall soon hear no moro of tho CON-
JederGcy-and if tho Unien is preserved at ALL we
shall be cursed with q Grand Consolidated Go
vernmcnt with unlimited powers, whose only rule
Of action wilt be found in their uncontrolled and
uncomfortable thirst for dominion and rule
The principles contended for in that Proclama-
ton, such as tho States never WELD but at
;hc sacrifice OF all that they have over held dear
The President, in speaking of Tho allegiance which
the citizens Of each State owes to the United
States, graycy asks how it can be said that State
Is sovereign and independent, whose citizens owe
obedience TO laws not made by it. lie speaks Of
the unity NJ the G0rerHmeHt, and says that unity
Sh1U be PrcSsrUedj in short, he openly avows that
the States are not soUcrsigH in their character and
plainly intimatcs that he shall feel it be his duty
to subjugate South Carolina by force Of arms iFshe
thinks proper TO exercise one of thoss sovereign
powers, the denial Of which is founa, not in the |
Constitution of the country, but in his mani |
TcSfo.
D. l admit that Gen. Jackson is bound By his oath |
Of Office and his duty to the nation, TO see that the
laws of Congress en- forced throughout the |
length and breadth of the Territory Of the Uni |
ted StGtes, in South Carolina, well as else. |
where. But the moment that hat State, in tho
exercise Of her sovereign power, breaks her con
nsxon with tho other states, sio ceases 10 be n |
part ofGcncral Jackson's dcminions, and he cannot
rlgltluy raise a finger against her. lie has no
right to carry on hoStllitios with a foreign State
without the intervention Of Congress. In the case
tuPpesad, South Carolina would be TO all intents
ana purposes, foreign power, and unless Congress
fh"uil thnk thafthc safety Of the other States i'm
p'ri7usIy required the suhugation Of that foreign
PD"cr, y 2hcH'd make Il formal declaration Of war
ag"n,t ier huwu'y opprohcnd that it would be-
"boiJ beyond the constitutional competency of
the President 10 march his troops into her terrific
~ Congress and Gen. Jackson would have tbo
same ri..t 10 reduce South Carolina 70 snh
2 an. Frlnoc vr Great Britain, and irI