Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-10-18
A VIRGINIA FARMER
TO TIE EDiToKs OF TIE Eyou,sre

TO THE EDITORS OF TIE ENQUIRER
Your correspondent Novius presents an enquiry of
much interest," in the que sio he proposes for Your so
ton The subject has laerIy claimed large share of
public attention. and sorry you were not prepared TO
express positive opinion The question: On The United
States constitute nation has become one of por-
lance since the period of President Jacksons
III was, anterior to that matter OF III tie what
people politicians thought the subject. But you are
reading the various exposons upon the theory 90
vernnen in order pn yourself in readiness to express
positive opinion. You do well to be cautious Sill
do not see how you Gu, the gordan knot by de-
rived from any OF fe exposors OF government The
writers OF "The Federaist present the best
oracles; but they in tquivocal terms-wh them
the government is in part national and in part federal
do not see that they have settled the question OF
preponderance. But Is the problem TO be solved with
reference to the theory Of the Constitution? Can we
not imagine such thing as a government construct
ell as ours is, by the united councils aud efforts OF
separate States, with whom some things
mon, such as language, but between whom there was
enough OF diversity in their interior social structure
such as laws, customs, and rights, well
subjects OF property TO constitute different distinct
communities? Are the land marks Of State sovereignty
the boundaries OF that tenacious right OF territorial j-
risdcion TO he swept away, for the vicious
sign OF startling with the Gorgon nation of the
Proclamation! That State paper, firmly believe, orgi
mated from the purest source, such consider the mind
our venerable Chief Magistrate TO be. The the
paper as far as he was concerned in its inception
arrest the mad career Of OF the heated and
consistent politicians, tina, exercised control in any
community do not to egrade the President,
insinua'ing that the Proclamation NOT his Procla
nation, II was, have no doubt substantially but that il
was re-iouched by labo ming the hsluci
ma ions OF the old Federal School, there is little doubt
feel IL received by Marshall and ebs,er and
others Of the kidney a iu and jus, exposition of
the doctrines OF their party. Is possible, that such
~ those have named have been guiled deluded o
the rapturons thought, that the most popular President
have had Tor twenty years, had proclaimed the doctrines
OF their party, not simply the principles which he
judged il his duty 10 administer his powers the on
ly aXoms consistent with the Constitution IT would seem,
indeed, that they have been deded; since the President
himself has been startled reckoning up the latitude
strange aud perous Latitude into which he had inc au,ous
y plotted the ship OF state wouid enquire OF you
the suiriency OF the explanation given authoa,v,ly in
the Globe! Does it nufy the oious doctrines oil tina,
State paper? Can look its face find in its
neamenis the beautiful figures and lines OF
reigny indebly fixed But, let return our first
subject OF enquiry The term kingdom, when applied
country by reason OF its government being regal go
vernment, gives 10 understand that the people are the
lege subjects of his majesty de Jdcto the empire,
when applied 10 designate the imperial form OF gov
informs that the people comprehendcd within The Ii
mits Of the empire, the slaves of imperial despoi
And now, would ask OF you such question ihis-II
The casusts should decide and prove saiisiaco
that the people Of the United States are one nation and
that the government must necessarily be national 90
vernmen or, uice rerSG, that the government is INA.
onal government and therefore the United States con
stitue one nation, i'll what way should ancient
Commonwealth dencan herself, should the National Go
vernmen at any utnre period indulge its national pro-
pensies at the cost OF her sovereign rights Surely,
IN such contingency, We eau resort 10 the theory OF
liberty contended Tor by MIR. Lucke and Others 10 wit
the implied right oil resistance the part OF the governed
when,oever the governors guilty of oppression; but
then, il we fail 10 triumph. become traitors am Oh
posed 10 this theory, because graduates moral actions by
The rule oil success or defeat; is however, The doctrine
of the Proclamation.
hope you will NOT Judge IL Of place. present he
lew careless thoughts, the subject Of That paper II
Is very disqHetipg paper TO my mind; and il de-
sirous oil the reputation OF being nj alter period
| regarded as prophet, l would risk my hopes on the
declaration, that ii this blessed Union is broken
i'll twan by mad ambition, the indignant throes and
spasnis of reemen the shocking catastrophe will he
brought about by attempt 10 carry in practice
the doctrines OF this Proclamation, through me
sure OF coercion against of the States The
object tionis
position that The u. States constitute one nation The ia
ton ushered into notice by the Proclamation almost re-
sembles those known TO antiquity, in its origin
cation OF military tribes winch constituted the basis OF
national org aizatioD in ancient times is but little de
ent in the aspect OF accidental from con.
vocation oil febellious colonies in arms against the mo-
her cOuntrysucl is the source of our nationality as
tailed IN the Proclamation But this branch OF e. ou
~. what says the spirit Of fearless truth! nay what docs
the Proclamation disclose, the bias OF the mind ina
furnished IFS historical facts and illustrations? Aware
the necessity OF searching where else than the
actual structure OF the Constitution, Tor that perfect
homogeneous character which constitutes nation, the
writer has seized hold Of the unity Oh action which dis
tnguishcd the period OF our Revolution, aud has substitute
ell u lor That plastic agent which is created by unversa
ty OF circumstances, and which, by lis generszinl
power makes and constitutes naon Motives Olacom
to he accounted Tor raOualy the principles of com
D"ne PeTicHW ct una sGIus, after undergoing eldbo
rate dscussIon, by the force OF high official sOpstr
condensed as II point and Orcbly combine
with the ederaiive policy of the States acting neverhe
less as separate ana sovereign communities, ia order
constitute nation, like the armed Pailds, eaping from ~
brain OF Jupiter TOnins snd prepared TO crush all
ssance toitsunauhorised aud unconstitutional Now
10 my humbIe comprehension nation, when ~ point
TACT " uOes exist, can he and acknowledged withOU
so much parade OF argument; and whenever II is seen
he necessary, IN order ew the actual existence Of M
supposed nation, by ruInmaging up every incident wic
The exgences Of past times may afford, II u proof 1T ia
threshold, that the supposed nation is but the
fancy or OF morbid excitement Of the brain. have eve
regarded the writer of the Proclamation standing in
theatrical relation TO the subject he discussing II
apology Is TO be found IN moment OF public exgenel