Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-24
VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA
The following is the report of the COMMITTEES
on Federal Relations made to the House OF De-
legates, on Thursday last.
The select committee, to whom were referred
the relations existing between the state OF south
Carolina and the governmsn, OF the U. states
tn. consequences likely to result TO each. and
10 the commonwealth Of Virginia esprciaiiy, from
an ordinance and other proceedings adapteeUy a
con, sntion recently assembled in south Carolina
- proclamation by Andrew Jackson, Presiden.
Of the United States, consequent thereon. lately
addressed to the citizens Of the United States,
and the communication Of the governor OF this
common ealth on the same subject, have cafeiui
~ examined these various documents, and dsSot.
ell 20 the important subjects involved, 'neir snA
ious reflection and profound consideraton' anu
thew recommend to the general assembly the
adoption Of the following resolutions;
I. Resolved, That we are painfully impressed
with sense Of We difficulties and dangers, a.
we'll as the responsibilities and importance u
the impsGding crisis. That we deeply dePiore
she occurrence of recent events IN preclPitate
Succession, which are Of alarming import, and
threaten alike the preservation of those rights OF
the States. as pcliucai communities, which we
can never sbandon-the stability Of that union,
which we cherish with ardent attachment. ses-
sential to the prosperity and tranquility OF all
and the peace and happiness ofour common coun
try. TIA, while we jeplore the existence OF this
perilous emergency and the extremties which,
on either hand, have been unhappily approached,
we feel called upon by every consideration which
cas- influence patriots or Phianthropsts, or those
citizens who love their country ana IT'S hitherto
prosperous institutions, or regard the welfare OF
the human race, with its unborn generations, on
nal N ~ nj
representative government, must operate, TO
make every effort in our power To avert the I'm
pending danger. and iull into repose the storm
which threatens to sweep FROM the earth. in ITS
course uf desolation, the fairest fabric of human
lberty abich was ever exhibited to an adniring
world
.. Resolved, That nerf to the blessings OF CT
vii liberty, to secure which the union Ut these
states was originally formed, we appreciate the
blessings and advantages OF that union. That
so far from desiring to impair II, We most anx-
iousIy desire to preserve II, by the only means,
which. in our opiniun, can ensure Its Dreser'a
tion-by keeping, on one hand, the general 60
vernment, instituted principally with reference
to our exterior relations and interests anu Oh
the other, the governments Of the several states,
constituted with view to their interior and To-
cal concerns, and made the residuary deposisa-
ries of every power not conceded to the former,
strictly confined, in The discharge OF their reia-
tive duties, within their constitutional limits
That We regard any alteration from tie prescr
ed sphere bv which either shall attempt an unsu
thorized accession OF power, as weakening TO
both, and Injurious to all. And, therefore, that
we cannot, without anxious so'c,tude and Alarm
witness any attempt. by an individual state. 10
assume 10 herself rights unwarranted by the po-
litiral compact to which she Is party, inconsist
eut with the rights OF the other states, and with
the existence Of the Union; nor, on the other
hand, the assertion Of principles. os the usarpa-
ton of powers By the general government, sub
rsive of the rights of the states, not guaran-
tred by the constitution. and which, ii silently
a. uuesc.d in, might su0n be erected into the au-
thurty OF precedeUts, and ultimately lead to
other and more dangerous assumptions. That
the former, if PERSISTED in might end in revolt
ton and bloodshed, while the latter would pave
the way to that result not less disastrous in its
consequences, in which all efforts at free gov
eminent have hitherto unfortunately ended-a
powerful consolidated government, and an abso-
Lutte despotisu,. That We look on the alterna-
ti,es with equal apprehension-anarchy on the
one hand; unlimited power on the other
8. ResoiUsd, As a declaration OF our princ.
pies and opinions as to the relative powers and
duties of these governments respectively, that
we deem il unnecessary to undertake, on the
present occasion, any new exposition Ut the ar
tices OF our political creed. That they were
originally asserted, after great deliberatlon, at
an interesting and memorable epoch in our po-
itical history-that they have subsequently, on
various occasions, been substantially reiterated
by our general assembly, as the settled doctrines
and opinions Of virginia-and that no new as.
sertion Of them, departing from the original and
consecrated text, could fail to lose in strength,
simplicity and dignity, to the extent Of such de-
parture. That we have carefully revised these
several resolutions, and the arguments then adj
duced to sustain the conclusions asserted-aud
especially that celebrated rsport made by COM
mi'tee % its body TO the legislature in 1899
That these important documents have been long
bef,ae the people Of the United States, aud can
no, have failed to attract general interest aud at
tentlon-and that, therefore, We regard it as on
ly necessary now, and at this periious crises we
dc'egard that. as our bounden and solemn du
~. to assert and declare to our sister states, to
the government ct this great confederacy, and
In ths ,yo, ID MIR firm and unalterahle adherence