Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-03-13
WARRINGTON, eb. Eth.
Mr.. BELL from the Committee on the Judiciary,
made the folio wing

WASHINGTON, Feb 9Th.
MIR. BELL, from the Committee on the Judiciary,
made the folio wing
REPORT:
The Committee the judiciary, to whom was
referred the message Of the President with the ac-
Companyng documents, rel}tivt to the controversy
between the Federal Goyefmdnt and the State Of
South Carolina, have bestowed on the subject that
anxious consideration whicits Importance so impe-
rously demands, and now fport a bill, as the result
of their best reflections.
In preparing dis bill. No psoyision has been made
or olothins the execctire WHY any power in addition
to that which it aready hal vof the purpose of exc
cuti,g the laws liz no view which the Committee
baye been able to take Of the Subject oan they re-
concile it to themselves to provide the employ.
snest Of military force. Tfsy thatin sus-
costing the r6priety OF providing these exraorpa-
~ means tle President did not contemplate resort
TO theiponly when the laws Constructed by I'M
laval combinations rendering the collection of the
d.es Impracticabe," When their execution is OPP
9,sed by the actual employment of military force by
the authority of State. Yet it is respectfully con-
sidsred that the existence of this combination, and
its unlawfulness, as well as the nadequacy Of the
meaus provided by the existing laws to it,
should be first ascerained and established by the
ton of our courts.
As to the employment Of military force by South
carolina, the most positive assurances are gwen, that
nothing OF this kind intended, unless in repeng
attack from the Federal Government. Bydeaying,
then, any measure which could indicate such an iI-
tention, we avoid all provocation, and furnish no
pretext to South Carolina to prepare for such an ext
gency.
The committee are fully sensible that the attitude
assumed by South Carolina may seriously enbarass
the operations of this Government; yet they main
tain, that il, in controversy between the General
Government and OF the States resort to the mil
ltary and naval power of the Union even be JUS
tiled that resort should only be made in the last
trcmity, and after every other mode of adjustment
has failed. While can forget that the Con
stituton was founded the free and voluntary
sent OF the people of the several States, and that it
was the result of compromise, we equally con-
scious that 1t can only be preserved by spirit of
roncl'iation and forbearance What would be the
consequences OF employing force for the purpose of
terminating the present unhappy controversy, it is
impossible to foresce The interest in the question
from which it has originated, not limited to single
STATE but extends to an entire section of the country
and among the unhappy results of the application
OF force there is reason to fear that. from controyer
sy between the General Government and a single
State, it would extend to conflict between the two
great sections Of the country, and might terminate in
the destruction Of the Union itself.
But, independent of the danger thus apprehended,
and even admitting that the dreaded calamity refer
red to might not result from the employment Of force
as contemplated, still it would produce throughout
the southern country state Of feeling towards the
Government, and deep and settled hostility against
the other sections of the Union, which every patriot
would deplore, and which every statesmen should
earnestly endeavor to prevent Influenced by these
considerations and anxious avoid, if possible, even
the hazard of civil war OR bloodsbcd, your commit
tee, in the bill which they herewith submit, propose
enlarge the powers and give additional strength to
the process of the United States court, in the hope
that the energies Of the Government acting through
the judicial tribunals, may prove abundantly compc-
tent to the emergency.
Ours is essentially government oflaws and their
enforcement must mainly depend on enlightened
public opinion. So long then as these laws mild
and Just in their character, and equal and impartial
in their operation, we need other guarantee for
their execution than the virtue and intelligence of
the people. When, therefore, a law is made by the
Government SO oppressive and destructive to the
interest Of the people OF of these States as to
determine them to resist it, at epery hdsard it is evil
dence Of the justice ofheir complaints which should
not be diregarded and it is the bounden duty of the
Legislature, instead Of devising rigorous means to en-
force it, to modify the obnoxious law.
Such is now the case with South Carolina; and inl
addition to the unanimous testimony of her ownl
people, and Of very large portion of the people of
The southern States, as to the injustice and
of the tariff laws, she is sustained by great number
of our iellow-citzens throughout the Union The
President, too, in his message, at the commencement
of the present session, earnestly impressed on Con-
gress the justice and importance of altering and mod