Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-22
Virginia Legislature.
FEDERAL RELATIONS IConI;,,,,o,

FEDERAL RELATIONS-(C ontinuedJ
SPEECH OF Mn. KNOX, Of .Heckienburg, delivered in
Committee Of the White, The state Of the Relations
6et'oeeh the United States and South Carolina, on
Ih"sfdy, the 3d January -IConchdedl
Inc General Governments Sir, as have attempted
10 SHOW, Is federal compact exercising by virtue OF
It's delegated authority, certain e. powers which
are obligatory upon lis members. Among others thai
distinctly enumerated, Ih, Oh, article or Tho C,,
stuiion declares that the laws the United States tina,
shall he made in pursuance thereof and all treaties made
or which shall be made under the authority Of the United
States, shall be the supreme law the land From which
itwGui seem to me- Mr Chairman, that any law enacted
by the Congress OF the United States i'm pursuance of his
power must be supreme nS operation and obligatory up
on each State 50 long il shall continue TO sustain lis I
deral relation. Establish the principle, that State has
the hight To put its veto upon The laws Of Congress and
you strip the General Gpvrrutucn of the prescrv,tive
power that i essential 10 very existence For if one
State has this tight, will denied that each and
every State Ia the Union possesses the privilege
what then, SIR let us enquire would be the consequence
ItSuung 10 '' uh'o ron HE exercise OF such prero
gave upon the part OF the State? Ia The iirs, place il
cannot he carried INTO execution by member OF the
coniedcracy without manifest injury and oppression to the
rest oil the States Each and every State in the Union
have consented to be bound by the laws aud treaties thai
may be made 10y the Congress Of the United States: and
whenever one State refuses submission 10 law cmaustinp
from this department of The Governments not only VIC
IateS the agreement which it has entered into with the
oher members, but might many tAnces expose them
TO the most serious OF Quenccs. For instance SIR
the government of the United States might form a COM
nercia treaty with Great Britain or any other power r
Europe that would advance ne interest Of the country
generay-but The little State of Delaware not possess;
ing wlhin her limits hundred thousand inhabitants
from her peculiar situation, other cause, might
conceive 10 her interest obey its pro, ,os and
accordingly, declare II void as herself All this Mr.
Chairman, would he very well pro,.d The consenncn
ces were 10 stop here. But, Sir the first nlracton that
Delaware should make against the provisions this trea.
~, would according to the law OF nations constitute
Just cause OF complaint against the United States Govern
mehL III would be no exemption the part of this gov
ernment TO say, that Delaware had assumed the right of
releasing herself from the obligation of the treaty it
Nopd oe IHe to urge such defence because if admitted
1t would place it in the power of any State in tie
Uhon to violate at pleasure, compact entered into By
tins Government; whilst on the other hand the a.
reign power would he strictly hound adhere TO il,
provisions Such breach OF faith would not only DESTROY
the treaty. together with all The advantage. that the other
member" OF HE conlcdemcy mghthcryc from its CON
nuaHce' out would subject The government to the
sity OF rendering compensation 10 the amount or Injury
Which mad been sustained by lis violation, the still
worse consequences OF The evil, Sir would not
stop mere The possibility OF securing advantage Gus
reia'lon with foreign powers, would be desOyed-tor no
nation OF Europe would form treaty of commerce ALI
ence or any other conventional arrangements when il
should be known that this Government had not the power
20 comply WIN lis engagements; but the contrary,
maj each and every State in the Union, had the rght to
t'ol@e, al VIII. any compact which it might form. But,
IeaVg, SIR these supposious cases that for the honor OF
my country hope may never occur, let trace some
OF the consequences that must result from the practical cx
pertinent that : Carolina is making upon the theory of
our Governments Experiments, Sir in philosophy if un-
successful may end in the loss OF cruchle or retor: the
long cherished hope OF the dlchymst may be dis,pated i'm
vapour; but experiments of this character made upon
the fundamental principles Of Government, when they
valuable IN The social system. IT, Sir she has The right TO
nuy the tir laws she has the inherent and incont,o
verhble power to dissolve the Unionor, it is admitted
even Dy me disc0nened spirits Of that State that Con.
gress has the right under the Constitution, to pass re.
venue laws commensurate 10 the and necessities OF
Tie Government; but this veto put upon the whole law
without any Determinations destroying at one blow the
entire system Of duicsa- well those that have been inn.
posed wh view to protection as that which is absolute
~ necessary for purposes Of revenue The effect of this
measure, sir would ne render Charleston 4 free mort
ny winch the power OF raising to supply the &C.
iuaI demands OF the government would only be para
IyLed Dut utterly Frustrated. Let Charleston, SIR be de-
cIdred free port, aud custom house officer would be-
come as use less an aPpendage TO government, fifth
wheel 10 coach Every sail hat now floats upon n,e
bosom OF the ocean, would be trimmed tor this pIacc--eye-
ny commercial power in Europe woull seize the advan.
lagc and IN less than three months tic country would be
deIuged with every commodity that tho necessities or
fancy OF me community could require II Ibis sir were
submitted To upon the put OF the General Governments
her ehre system OF revenue would he defeated because
by so doing she would have surrendered her constitution
at right To cniorce lhc low i'm any other port within the
limits Of the United Sttccvery other section would re-
iuse 10 pay The duty upon nporiaous, aud il would be
vain Tor her TO resort 10 Judicial process in order cause
compliance with the Laws Tor, the eighth section of the
constitution declares hat all duties mpOsis and excses
sh1il be uniform throughout he United States and having
suffered Ibis niracton, not Of The law, but Of The Cons
tuition seIi. lie violated spirit of Ills article i'm the com
pact would hc pleaded 30 bar The mauecd remains Of the
Constitution would be hclI up hose who should at-
tempt 10 administer Boz w- an avs iul evidence of IFS
parayzcd power. Asuo uJ gucut them Sir could be OBJ.
tanned in The judicial department of the Government
against those VITO should refuse to p,v the duty is IL not
manifest th1 his act Of Modification would amount not
only o suspension OF lhc Laws but likewise TO adesruc-
ton of The constitution i,if; SIR IL would be- impossible
Tor mc "oyenwcui 10 continue h., operations under the
exercise "i such powers 'he part oi ihc States for
would bc 1000 effort superior TO the genius OF legislation 10
enact any Idw cH.cung the general Of the coun-
Try, That coui hy possibility operate equally n all re-.
specS upon community diversified 40 tlrif pursuits
And hence Sir under hc effects OF This negative system,
ihe "o'crnmcW might have every law upon ne statute
book imperative boo pIrfs oi zoe Uniou Thus siu
aied, Sir Requires bot hui' comprehension IN pcrceiye
that o. would sopl dWodr into inefficient representa-
tive Of nc uglf., le power sud glory OF these States
Having $3.50 . niuch Mr. Chairman, upon This branch
OBJ the subject alioy iue, -lr ~ invite fhc The
committee irH iey moments Co fhc consideration Of the
seventh k.-Hiunol u wa against die, SIR that the
gonIem'n 'r'm Rock ridge, (Nir Moor directed much
OF his arcUmcn; .nI Iom 'hc tender solcitudo which
he seemed 10 wWinl nr fho ceilings OF Ue President.
bad supposed, sir 'ou.c re sngu,ge common among
he political 1""'soso. o. DE Day, Dat De was 40 OIL