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

House Of Delegates to-day:
REPORT
TIKI
COMMITTEE OYFEDERAL RELATIONS
Tho select committee, TO whom " ere referred
the relations existing between the state of
South Carolina and the government of the u
nited STATES, the consequences likely To result
To each, and 10 The commonwealth Of Virginia
especially from an ordinance and other proce ed
ings adopted Ivy convention recently assem-
bled in South CarolinA-a proclamation by An
drew Jackson, president of the United Statcs
consequent thereon, lately addressed to the cit
zens of the UHited States, ard the cotnmunica-
ton Of the governor Of this comtnonw ealth on
the snmo subject, have carefully examined
these various documents, and devoted to the
important subjects involved, their anxious re-
lection aud profound consideration and tn Y
recommend 10 the general assembly the adort-
ION Of tie following resolutions:
] Rcso!rcd, That painfully impressed
with sense of the difficulties aud dangers as well
as the responsibilities and Importance of the i'm.
pending crisis. That VIC deeply doplorc tho occur.
renee of recent events in precpitate succession.
which Of alarming Import, and threaten alik
the preservation of those rights of the states as
political communities, which we can oban.
don-the stability of that union, which wo cherish
with ardent attachment, essential to the prospe-
rity and tranquility Of all-and the peace and hap
piness of our common country. That W lille we
dcplore the existence of this porilous emergency
and tho extremties which, on either hand, have
been unhappy approached we feel called upon by
every consideration which can influence patriots or
phianthr opists, those citizens who love their
country and its hitherto prosperous institutions, or
regard the welfare of the human race, with its un-
born generations, on whom the great experiment
we making of free, representative government,
must operate, to make every effort in power to
avert the impending danger, and lull into repose
the storm which threatens to sweep from the earth
in its course of desoaton, the fairest fabric of
miring world.
q Resoloed, That merit to tho blessings of civil
liberty, TO which the union of these states
was originally formed, appreciate tho blessings
and advantages Of that union. That so far from
desiring to impair it. we most anxiously desire TO
preserve it, by the only means, which, in our OPT.
Mon, can ensure its proseryation--by keeping on
one hand, the general government, instituted prin-
cipaly with reference to our exterior relations
and interests, and tho oihor the governments of
tho several states, constituted with view to their
interior and local concerns, and made tho resdunry
dcpoSItaTcs OF every power not conceded to the for
mur, strictly confined, in the discharge Of their re-
iatIvc duties, within their constitutional limits
That regard any alteration from the prescribed
sphere, by which either shall attempt unautho-
rzcd accession Of power, as weakening to both,
and injurious TO all. And, therefore, that NO can
not, without anxious soiIcitudc and alarm, witness
any attempt, by individual state, to assume to
herself rights unwdrranted by tho political compact
to which she is party, inconsistent with tho rights
OF the other states, and with tho existence of the
Union; nor, the other hand the assertion of
principles, the usurpation of powers 10y the &C.
neral government, subversyc Of tho rights of the
states, not guaranteed by the constitutions and
which, if silently acqu:esced in, might soon be
erected into tho authority of preccdents, and uti-
natcly lead TO other and more dangerous assump-
tions. That the former, if persisted in might end
in revolution and bloodshod, while the latter would
aYo the way to that result, not less disastrous in
its consequences, in which all efforts at FREQ 60
vcrnmcnt have hitherto unfortunately endcd--a
powerful consolidated goTcrDmont, and absolute
dcspotism. That NO look on tho alternatives with
equal Pprehension-anarchy on tho ono hand; I'M
limited power on the other.
g. RcsoLoed, AS declaration Of our principles
and opinions to the relative powers and duties
of these governments respectively, that we deem
1t unnecessary to undertake, on the present ocea
sion, any nov exposition Of the articles Of our po-
lltica creed, That they wore originally asserted,
after great dclibcraton, at an interesting and me-
morabc epoch III political history--that they
have subsequently, on various occasions, been sub
reiterated by our general assembly, as
The settled docttines and opinions Of Virginia.
and that no new assertion of them departing from
.hc original and conscorated text, could fail to
osc in strength simplicity and dignity, toth6 ex-
cnt Of such departure. That wo have carefully
eyised these several resolutions and the arguments
hen adducod to sustain the conclusions assorted !
md especially that celebrated report. made by a
committee of it's body TO tho legislature in 1899 |
I.Iat these important documents have been long |