Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-22

10 supper, the principles upon which the President has
heretofore administered the government? No. sir but to
advocate the ultra federal principles of the Proclamation
that Irgard as the vital stab that has ever been
gwen To ue liberty OF the people, the Constitution of
Their country. No man, MIR Chaiuuon has lent To the
present administration more cordial support than
MYSELF none has regarded With more admiration the
great principles upon which it has been administer
cd. But, SIR the doctrines confined ia the Ptoclama
ton OF the President. Stike the OF our political
institutions, and it sustained 10y the American people,
must forever blight the fair prospect OF constitutional Ii
berry, that opened before hat, SIR are those
doctrines and what the consequences which they lead?
We oll that each State, having parted with so many
powers. constitute sugle nation cannot under any
co"ctiNaOe circumstances, exercise the privilege OF with
drawing from the Union. To sustain a position so in
compatible TO the very existence OF The Staesso desrric
uVs To The rights and liberties OF the people, elaborate
theory upon the character OF the Government has been
set ort that is not only in relation to the facts
connected with its history, but equally faacous in it's
conclusions This luminous exposition of the nature of
The government asserts that the unity of our poitical
character commenced with its very existence, and that
under the royal government, the States had separate
character; from which iii attempted to be proved, that
we are one and mdviSibc-or in other words consol-
dated Union This, MIR. Chairman must have been adj
V'nccd without regard to the political history the coun
tryi Tor, upon examination 1t will be found, that so far
from having no separate existence the States were rs
distinct in their political characters is possible for
nations TO be-each governed by laws of its own
enactmen the laws Of were not obligatory upon the
other or was there any other tie than that which existed
through The British CrOwn.-rracc it little further on
the error Is rendered still more manifest. We did not
commence efforts in the struggle for a.
united people By reference sir, TO the annals of that
period, it will be found that Virginia on the wentvnn
june lII6 in the preamble TO the Constitution which she
then adopted renounced her allegiance to the Crown Of
L. Bntan-by which act she only dissolved her poit.
Cal connection with the mother country but likewise the
collateral tie that had existed between nd the oher
Colonies, through The crown. In this situation she was in
dependent oil the colonies OF Britain and the wor-Trace
II s further, sir, and the assertion that the union of our
political character commenced with its very existence he
comes absolutely absurd compact of some description
would nave been necessary suppose, form Union
thcSe States No one would contend that mere under
standing among the States, would have been sufficient to
give them the character OF nation But where sir il
the evidence OF any compact between these States at the
commencement Of hO>ilies against the mother country
II, sir il existed il had been reserved for the eve oC
those who III IN the councils of The sanhem il has ne
yer as yet been presented the view of the American
people On the 9TH of July, l776 the States united in
the declaration OF herndepeucncc but no one has ever
yet cohiehued mat this was compact, imposed any
restriction whatsoever. And far from the States hay-
ing been united in their political character, conenIed
'o III c ffocanalOn, they were not united by the
ces OF confederation until November l777; period Of
more Than twelve months after the of on.
position TO the mother country. From these facts sir il
Is evident that the assertion forth in the Proclamation
Is not sustained by the events OF political history and
cannot he regarded in any other light than bold attempt
10 assume powers that have been granted IT, Mr.
Chairman, II should be admitted as | am persuaoed il
must That this Is cOntederatcd republic seems 10 me
that the ahorcd conclusion hat has been drawn i'm The
Proclamation, upon different view of the fact must fall
to the ground Admit the posiuate in the Pro-
caina'on, and the conclusion is perfectly correct But
the nature of our Government being so entirely different
from that forth in the Procamaton the conclusion il
by means Just when applied to our present situation
1t then remains TO be determined how far what mode
State would be authorized IT. nterposing its authority
IN order to unconstitutional and oppressive act of
Congress lie gentleman from Rockbfdge NIr Moore
has told ", that State has the right under such circu
stances TO peuhon, to apply 10 all the tribunals OF the
country and if not relieved may resort to the privilege Of
eXp"aion This latter remedy, sir, struck being
hconYenient 10 carry into xecutonas literally
To others that noto Of"
Nor could help caing the mind to the disa rous ccni
/ ,I,a
shores Of Troy TO seek refuge in another cme-Cr as
ms Late undoubtedly was that of the oppressed people of
South Carolina would be still more amentable Whene.
yer they might embark in such enterprise where sir
could they ind Thracc certainly in the old world
lhey could not land in the United States because tbe
proclamation has declared them traitors and the Constu-
ION makes 1t treason TO aid abet the enemies of the
government But, throwing aside considerations of this
character, can II be supposed, MIR. Chairman, that the
sagcs who framed the Constitutions whose bosoms were
glowing with the and devoted feeling of patriotism
That had been kndlcd in the struggle Of the Revou,ion
would have asserted The right of nerponon on the part
oil State IN cases of deliberate papable and dangerous
exercises OF power by the General Government? Had
they not conceived that the States were empowered TO do
So the high aud elevated justice OF James Madison and
those @hO associated with him on that occasion
would have recoed at the idea of involving the country
IN The consequences OF fatal error Think you sir
that they would have bourcd in the contest of 9s TO es
tabsh privilege that il TO the subjects of the
most despoic governments on earth-the riohI humble IN
peuon No, sir, they laoured to draw The great line of
distinction between the State and Federal authorities
which were then sought TO be broken down; and the re-
ton OF principles which the right the States to
nefpose in Of papaJle niractons of the Consit
uon Blng the question: sir, directly home Suppose the
General Government were to pass law manunting the
slaves IN the State OF Virginia Here would be- as all
must admit gross and PapabIe violation of the Cons.
luton Ana yet, according the theory Of the gentle
man from Rockhridge should have no remedy in such
case but the glorious right Of petition, or the flying phi
viege al eXpatrdton I'm such instance as Ibis Tir
gina a member OF the compact, according the prin
clpIes contained IN the report to which 1 have alluded
would nave the right 10 Judge OF the intraction that had
been made, and relieve herself from the operation of the
law, by declaring the compact void 10 herself #
the States have not The right decide i'm such an *
rcmity Ibis; then, in the language d Mr. Jefferson
II is clear that the discretion of Congress- and not the
constitutions would be the measure of their powers
And can you imagine espolsm cloihed with more ter
rOrs than the General Government might assume when
ever shall be admitted by the people, that there is no
check upon its power if the States have not the right 10
arrest its unconstitutional acts? There is no other mode
known 10 the institutions of the coustrv by which il can
be controlled: hence the Congress would become omnipo.
tent, and there would be step by which the peopIe
could relieve themselves from oppression but in the eff.
fort OF revolutions which would destroy the entire fabric
OF the Governments No one, Mr.. Chairman would ro.
greet more than myself the necessity that should induce
any State in this Union TO secede But surely sir when
two evils are staring in the face IL becomes the part of
wisdom to select the least Close the door TO secession and
you at convert the General Government into con
sodated monarchy, under which there can be no relief
from oppression, but that which may be obtained by the
sword. The gentleman from ROckbrlge dwelt upon the
great Inconvenience that would arise from secession-he
supposed the OF Louisiana that had the govern
inCn i,ecn millions Of dollars. The inhabitants of Iou
SIata, SIR not tenants Of the General Governments
they have long since paid the Government for cverv
foot Of soil upon which they tread; and for the navipa-
7 N NN AlHH ..N.