Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-05

ourths OF the States for the purpose OF ceeng amend
mens IL would therefore, TO be consistent with its
character that the number, and less should be
qnlrcd for its abrogson However this NAV be in
lhco>y. am persuaded that whatsoever majority of the
States shall concur in wish 60 separate, severance of
the Union will be the practical effect The principle that
majority should govern, is interviewer with all our
sentiments ot right, that would prove Irresistible We
had an illustration of this truth in the Convention lately
assembled in this State. The former Constitution con-
tanned no provision for amendment alteration. Year
after year. efforts made 20 call Conv enon without
success. because there evidence that majority of
The people in its favor; but that majority
became apparent Convention was assembled e,,I ~,
Constitution abolished. BY what authority did that
Convention Subyeit the established order OF things and
make so vital an alteration in Fundamental law; By
that principle which lies at the root OF all free govern
ment-the right OF the majority. What other principle
could prcva Maiorities may be wrong, aud often are
so but they have the physical strength can enforce
their decisions. IL idle therefore talk of any other
rule Hence am free TO admit, that whenever majority
oil the States shall so determne this Union must be given
up Nay norc, sir, whatsoever large minority OF the
peops sbaA be impatient OF restraint, and shall desire to
secede, IL will then be question for the of
the reshluc whether the Uuon be worth preserying LIS
value then indeed be calculated. NV own mart
am ready TO DECLARE that il the affections of a large
proper ton OF the people shall have been and
the Union only be maintained by the strong arm of
military power; no dement, can accrue from effort
preserve it, Whensoever disastrous a situation shall
pedency; and II will he fortunate il the mischief shall
tall, where the guilt will surely he, upon the heads Of
those who shall have aenated the public mind
The gentleman from Albemarle, in arguing against null
Ihcaton exposed its absurity by showing that while
roina, for example, multiplying one obnoxious law
every State in the Union mig Int be ID i'm
other, which, for different reason had dspleased
herr and thus the hole Legislation of Congress would
come nulli'y Sir will ask ii secession be not open TO
the same objection One State may in disgust retire
one cause, another Tor another; and thus while
crcising what is deemed right in her particular case the
whole fabric OF the Union umbes into ruins. IL this
theory be true condition is less than un
der the oil confederation The bond which connects us is
indeed rope OF sand.
MIR. Chairman, willing concede, in its utmost
latitude, the right of any State, any portion of the
people by iorcibe secession otherwise n,oer
bic oppression; but il is right conferred by the con-
situton, nor resulting from it, Ii il right derived from
nature, and paramount TO all constitutions admit that
sin Of papable Deliberate and dangerous exercise
OF powcTsll0t granted by the constitution the right
duty OF State 10 interfere and progress the
evto arrest it by force il necessary; but the remedy
violent one admit the right of forcibc ress-
lance, IN cases OF agrant abuse OF powers which are
granted by the constitution. The grinding tyranny
might he praciised without violation OF its forms and in
execution OF its acknowledged powers The whole
nue. OF the w. States might be collected in the shape Of
direct tax-nay OF expiration tax. Each power of the
government might be made an engine OF oppression Who
can doubt the right OF resistance, but il would be res
lance by force an exercise Of natural right II is right
which may be resnrted when in the course OF human
events becomes necessary for one people 10 dissolve
the political bands which have connected them with
anoher:' is a right which our ancestors asserted
and which they noby vindcated Ii is the glorious ght
oil revolution The sword alone-to the emphatic Ian
guage OF The gentleman from Albcmarle-thc alone
can cut the Gordan knot
This furnishes satisfactory reply 10 the gentlemen from,
Dinwidie who gave full scope his imagination in sun.
posing cases oil violent interference by the
ernmcn Imagine, said he, that the President of the U
States order this Assembly 10 rise-wo,,iJ 90 .
obey his mandate! Suppose the Congress were 10 PASS
act Tor selling all our negroes more very wives
aud children. What would be our course? | answer
prompt and universal resistance In like manner might
imagine, Mr. Chairman, that some future Assemble oC
Virginia will suspend the law proceedings in Dnwie:
will direct sale of all the negroes in that county and
violate the dearest domestic ties Does any ono appre-
hend such an occurrence! Sir the thing either case
impossible We have security in the character of our
nstutions-in the responsibility Of the representative
IN the identity OF his interest with that of his
which precIudes the possibility OF such an abuse Of
power. The security derived from written constitutions
and from The representative principle the boast of mod
ern times Ito not place sole, chief reliance
upon the virtue of the individuals whom our affairs
be ntrused we have adopted that FORM and those prin-
cipes oil government which, from their nature are most
likely to just and wise administration we dis
card the tdlacious sentiment of the poets
T6a Which SS %Gn f lGS Cs.
MIR: Chairman, have shewn that right to dissolve
this Union, by seeding thercom under circumstances
winch single State may deem sufficient not follow
as consequence OF the sovereignty enjoyed by the States
when the Federal Constitution adopted; that by the
ratification oil that instruments the people of the several
states Transferred large portion of their sovereignty
The General Government; and that there but two
modes in which dissolution can be Embellishments nj
the parties, or violent disruption.
great deal has been said the reserved RIGHTS oC
the States but is apparent that the right of peaceabe
secession from tile Union could have existed he fire
formation OF that Union and therefore cannot have been
served TO the several States. do not mean TO deny that
there is large residuary rights reserved r. the
states, nor that there may be iniractions OF them by the
exercise oil powers not granted 10 the General
The first question TO he decided is-IVho shall doe Of
these i'vTdctOns? Upon this subject | am aware that
any observations OF mine would have no effect upon This
committee. The next enquiry s-Uhdt ren,edy shall be
| dPPtieH 10 the gentleman from Albemarle mir G. \
who diIaed upon this subject, and who claims for each
State the right TO judge OF the infaction as well AZ of
the mode and measure of redress, listened with inter
est in order TO learn what remedy he would suggest Has
State right to pass declaratory resolutions said hep
Every individual has the Can State Judge of the
niracton! OF what avail, said he Il the right TO Judge if
unaccoInpaned by the power 10 actl-Can a State pro
ltes-remOnsra e? slave may do the same What
then the remedy to which State may have recourse
listened with GREATNESS expectation for a solution of the
dhculty but unfortunately at this precise point OF his
argument, the gentIemans ingenuity failed him He de-
clined to say what State migh 90 in such an emereen
cy. Here Mr. Gmer addressed some words 10 MI Mar
SHALL The gentleman says, She may do what she
peases Sir, this Is precisely the conclusion 10 bich
have aboredto bring the committee The State must
NINE, when all peaceable shall have be- Exhaust
co. whether the nfracon of her rights be such as to JUS
ty an appeal to
III State TO claim and assert the right of
Die secession what advantage would she gain and i'm
what respect would her situation be improved unless the
right were conceded by the other States The same
consequences would follow in one case as in the other
II the right be denied by the other States an atempt TO
exercise 1t would be resisted by force; can no d
renee, IN elect, between forcible
secession resisted by force.
This discussion has given rise some mportan
II has been asked-Can State commit treasoncan she
be punished capially? Whether State can commit
eaon II IS not necessary 10 decide; but there no
Guilty in answering that she cannot be punished capallv
zens the individuals OF State are ameDable 10 the Con
siituion and laws Othe lo