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

principles to be misconstrued by n too guarded 81.
lence OH her part. Such misconstruction may have
the effect of making our Federal oppressors more
unyisldng in their measures, by false conception
thai the friends of State Rights will acauesce in
their assumptions of unconstitutional powers.
have, therefore, thought it eIpedisnt to solicit an
insertion of the enclosed i'm your paper, at this tmo,
rs the opinions of State Righs man and Virgil
man.
For THE VINO.
TO VIRGINIANS.
Tho doctrines advanced by Gen. Jackson i'm his
late Proclamation, tho relation in which State
rtands to the General Government, and tho course
which he announces it his purpose to pursue, in
the portcntous crisis, which fear, cannot be
avertcd, even by the most providential me aBures-
the dangerous consequences which practical H.
Illustration of those doctrines will produce, and the
ruinous results which to flow from the rash and
unwise thus officially announced, call
upon tho friends of this country of every political
party, to decide the cosrsc that they shall adopt,
with the utmost circumspcction. If South Caro-
lima 10 c0crccd into an unwilling submission to the
cxactions of Federal power--if the high-toned ul-
raj doctrines of the Proclamation are sus-
,aincd by the Ant-Tariff States, L, with conf.
dencc, aver, that all that makes our Union valu.
able. all for which the friends of liberty havo
tonded, all tho cherished hopes in tho pcrpetuity of
our institutions, arc gone, and gone forever! Then
will tho voice of State Rights DO silent, or if it
speaks, be answered by the dcrision and contume-
ly of triumphant Federal power. Then will the
arm IT the patriot that is raised i'll defence of the
doctrines OF 10, DO plniOneu 10 MS Sldo. linen
will the Constitution be dead letter, and the will
of Congress, aided by concurrng President and
! servile people, be omnipotcnt. Then will the
weak and oppressed look in vain, for 4 redress of
their wrongs, to insulting and ruthless MAORI
ty-ruling Government and tho PROSTATE liberties
of our country be trampcd under foot.
| Fellow Ctizons, if these consequences like
ly 10 result from tho adoption of the doctrines and
measures proposed in tho Proclamation, and that
they are am convinced OH mature consideration
o bel y0u
| suffer yourselves to DO borne along current
which is destined, unless arrested, to overwhelm
your country in vortex of irromedable ruin2
lament no loss than you can, the alternative to
which have been (pcrhaps procpitatoly) re-
duced by the course which our sister State has
thought proper to pursue. But though you may
dePiore it, you cannot but approve tho manly spi-
rit which has dictated it, Y GU have not forgotten
the Protcstations of your own Legislature against
the very usurpation Of tho Federal Government
of which South Carolina compains-that your
hearts responded to every denuncaton of Fode-
raj right to the exercise of such power, and have
of.en swclled with indignation at the reception
which has been given 10 your memorials and pro-
tests.-When those assertions of your rights wore
made, were you not in earnest, and did you not
mean to maintain, we'll as to assert them7 If
you did, tand it the mercst trfing if you did
not) now is the time. Suddenly and une poet IDLY
as it may have arrived, and unwished for, at tho
present time, it has come, and if neglected, il
will, asSuredy, be afterwards too late. Should
principle of protection, which you believe uncon-
stitutional. be established, but the doctrine OF
ST ate resistance, uDdor whatever circumstances,
will be crushcd-annihilated;- mot in peaceablo
and constitutional manner but by the sword, g. at
the point of the bayonet!-FricnGs Of State Rights,
call upon You to arouse yourselves. Throw off
! whatever of prejudice the name of Notification
may carry with it, with which the exalted name
of Jackson may have invested you. Look to your
rights and determine to maintain them; or, at
| future time you may look in vain.
| With the pacific, would, if possible, effect our
purpose by pacific measures; hut when there is no
longer peacc-when the bristng bayonets Of Fede.
raj power arc charging thOso who arc suffer.
ing with ourselves, adjurc you by the spirit of free
mon, which was transmitted by your fathers and by
your hopes oflbcrty for yourselves, and your nos
terity, not TO yield your principles your right
but ia take such stand shall convince your op.
Pressors that you mean to maintain them, and no,
to see them sacrificed in tho pcreon of your sister
Statc.-The hour of trial has arrivcd.the hour
which il to test the sincerity your protestations,
and your devotion to State Rights. You can take
no neutral position. Inaction on your part, il
death to your principles. The cause of South Ca.
roiIna is your cause. If she sinks, you must sink
with hor. a FRIEND OF STATE Rrours.
HE CRiIs-REPoRr TO THE LEaIsLA-
TURF.-Wc most entirely concur in The opinion
expressed by our correspondent, that Virginia
ought 10 speak out or the doctrines Of the Pro-
danger menaces the public peace from tho con-
duct of South Car Dina is true that that con-
duct has not been warranted by the degree of
her oppression, VIC verify believe; but what
nre the dangers from that quarter in COMPARE
son with those threatened by the Proclamation
of Gen. Jackson! A State may nulfy or se-
cede-the other % States may continue to
move on, united, prosperous and froc-the dis
couteDted Stale would in time, knock for re-
| admittanco into the Union. All these things
may fall out, without enhangeriDg any funda-
mental principle Of Liberty, and with no farther
owl than temporary Inconvenience to legisla-
ton, q tho establishments Of precedent which
will not he dangerous, bee ause il is 100 hazard
Gus to DO rnshly followed. But, what nre the
dangers from Washington! If the doctrines of
tho Proclamation prevail, State becomes to
the u. States, what county is to a State
with no more Sovereignty with no more right
to resist iyranDy-a helpless and az impotent.
The right Of petition is left--thc voice Of her
representation may still be heard-but if pray