Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-10


General assembly the ORDINANcE and other Docu.
'nents Of the late Convention Of South Carolina.
GENTLEMEN SENATE,
AND OF THE House. REPREsENrATIvEs:
transmit Tor your consideration certain documents
received OH the 10Th instant under from the execu-
tive oil South Carolina The first in the series is the
port OF the committee of twenty. the Convention OF
the people oil South Carolina the subject of the several
acts oil Congress imposing duties for the protection of do
inestic manufactures. The second is Ordinance by
Convention OF the State Of South Clrona nuy GER
tain acts OF the Co gress OF the United States laying
ties and inposs the impor alton of foreign commodities
The third an address TO the people OF South Carolina by
their delegates in Convention The fourth is an address TO
the people OF the United States 10y the Convention of the
people OF South Carolina
These papers, gentlemen, present considerations OF
grave import to the Legislature aud people OF Kentucky
ask OF you to give subject candid and dispassonaie
examination; il is of o,dinary msguituie; il pre-.
sents an epoch in the history OF government
Tx destiny becomes us all approach inv diving
the perpetuity OF Unon; cucula ed to test the
strength oil our rePub government.
You will discover from the ordnance that the conven-
ton assumes the idowiug ground: owe, therefore the
people oil the State OF South Carolina, in nlion
senbed do declare and odaD and il is hereby declared
and ordned that tile several aud parts acts Of the
Congress of the United e. purportng 10 tie laws oi
the imposing of duties aud npusS the importation OF
foreign commodities and now having ua operation nd
effect within the United States more especially an
act emit led act in alteration OF the iapos
ing duties on mpost', approved the Is May, 1898
and also enled, alter and amend the se
veIal acts imposing duties imports approved the
l4h july 1882 unauthorized by the constitution OF
the United States and violate the tue meaning and
tent thereof, and null void, and law, binding
upon the state, its officers, citizens; and all promises
contracts and oh ga"n- made tnrted n,o wi pur-
pose to secure the dics imposed by the acts all
Judicia proceeding, which shall he hereafter had in at
hrmance thereof and shall be held utterly null and
vod. " hat il shall be awful Tor any OF Tie cousti.
uted authorities OF This State u. Stats TO en-.
force the payment OF duties, imposed by lis acts, within
the limits oil this ate; but IL shall be the duty
gssturc TO adopt such measures, and pass such &C
may be necessary to give effect ordinauce and to
prevent the enforcement nd operation OF sad
acts"
The assumption of power by single State to declare
void The acts OF The ongress OF The ned St'ies,
bid their execution within its limits dsiIanchise all her
own CT liens, who will no Join in the crusade and punish
those who may all in sustaining Inc constituted authorize
oil the country and is minated, fine aud
the onlceTs oil The general government for obedience
their institutional obliga atoms and and to enforce
the whole, Is further suggested, by State army is
such papable nracion OF the federal con>ti ion so
destructive TO the union OF this republic and subver-
sive OF all good government that need not, am sure,
urge upon you the necessity OF prompt action your
part The advocates OF liberal principles throue hour
the world, will look with anxious soicitude the
suit. IL therefore becomes ourselves by ta-
king such steps will preserve the Union pcrpctuae
and transmit TO poserty unmpared constitutional free
dom and privileges, and demonstrate the world that mali
is capable OF self government IL is deemed proper that
sister State should know what the opinion OF the
pie OF Kentucky In relation TO the subject presented
soon as our voice can be made reach her public auor-
ties and citizens.
GENTLEMEN-Let us say to the people of South Caro-
lima, that we regret exceedingly the state of things hat has
arisen. That the people OF Kentucky will do all that
can, consistently with their honor Just view OF the
Constitution 10 allay the excitement That they will con-
tribute to amcable adjustment of the tariff upon princi-
Piles OF mutual orbearance and In fine, that
they will, as far they concerned, drain the cup
Cancellation before Interior measures taken. But we
cannot surrender and yield this fine fabric of
the result OF the wisdom of ancestors we
to contribute the harmony, happiness and prosperity
the Americanpe people cannot agree that single
has right, conslutonsly, TO nuliy of Cong
Whence is the right derived? II il be peaceful, I-
onal mode OF redessng wrongs, supposed or rel the
Constitution itself must il IL q lie
there? We think il cannot, by implication. To sup
pose that such right reserved by each OF the States
IS at war 18th the design ana object OF those dsng ushtd
statesmen who formed our present Constitutions is ncon-
sistent with the brstPrnciPes OF
to the laws made by the constituted authorities, and pow
eT 10 enforce that obedience when refused.
In vain did our ancestors grid their armour, march
TO the field OF battle and minge q cir blood with
of the valley it, when the struggle is over and COZ sii.
tuition formed the continuity Of the governmen is made
depend upon the will OF any Of lie twenty four
The government first formed Tor rule, con-
federation Of the thirteen union OF severe gnes
Experience soon pointed out the necessity OF change;
there had not been power conceded the government
the confcdefacy equal 10 its eXigencies he safes
whether large or small had equal voice in Congress
Twothds necessary 10 tie passage of laws. TIE
States required furnish their quotas OF money
men, &C., for the Of the naion but the general GO
verDmen had no authority 10 enforce compliance with
those demands. II may safely be affirmed that govern
thus organised could long exist The aes be.
came jealous OF each other New York unwilling 10
allow TO Delaware as much power as she had. The
States often delayed compliance with reqoisiions
Congress; did the government possess energy enough
10 command respect ~ home abroad Public credi
sunk, without the ability restore il. here uni
" Of action in the several States essential in ali govern
mPnis.
Thus with the defects in the administration of our owl
government the montory lessons derived from history, IL
relation the government fate Of the republics of othe
countries before them, the members of the convention
formed our present constitution with view avoid the
that had proved fatal TO the existence of othc
republics Happily, indeed, did they succeed. The an
archy OF democracy avoided; the corruption Of ~
aristocracy negatived, and the power Of monarchy
checked and confronted representative republican 90
Yernment was formed, with certain fixed powers deleea
ted 10 congress certain rights reserved the STATES,
organized in s various departments that each
check upon the other, and The whole controlled by the
majesty Of the peoples will
Among tie powers thus expressly delegated, we fn,
that "Congress shall have power 10 lay and collect
duties mposh and excuses 10 pay the debts and provide
Tor the defence aud welfare OF tho United STATES
In virtue OF that express power Congress has upon man,
occasions, commencing almost with the date Of tie Const
tuition up 10 the present year exercised IT, The laws thu
enacted by the constituted authorities Of the Union ara
now, according he views Of a Di0jDrfg nj INC Con
rcnti0n Of the state Of South Carolina, annued AMI mol
lifted, by ordinance of their Convention: and tl,e,
say, IN pe1cefn consiuirnI modc. To coscede tha
they have such riyh would be- admitting that the die
Guguished eJ'c.uru who gave tic Constitution, ha
prohuod bat little hy Tie history OF hri contedcacce.
would not have hren admissible under first mpcre,
association Of Siaies n me United Nc herdnds Stat
had right 10 pui negative upon questions presented f.
enactment We the states Gtusrtl, wss in the POis
Diej butti DO Ole l1utd be history Of he republic