Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-14
Twenty-sccond Congrcss.--scss. 2
IN SENATE Wednesday, F,6. G, 1888

power given it, punish treason agans, tho United
States First, let them look 10 the definition offence:
"Treason against the United States shall consist only in
ievying war against hem ia adhering their enc
mics Sc.
Now be woNll put this case Suppose this feature had
not been introduced into the Constitution not evident
that would have the power to punish the offence
designated anG that therefore must 20 unpunisbe Who
could punish il? Could Massachusetts, Could Virginia,
Couti any other State? No. 1t must have gone nnpu-
ntshed unless express provision for its punishment had
hscn inserted in the Constitution And AZ il was ncces
sary to strike at all enemies to the Constitution both TO-
reign and domestic. this provision inserted.
But let them take case OF treason against State.
Could the General Government punish that under this
provislon' Suppose OF treason against State should
oeeur-ha the majority of ono in the States should seck
to overurn the minorty-could the General Government
punish this rs treason? No Because this would he mere
~ an nsurrection. IL Of treason against the
state, affecting only the State, and affecting the Con-
stuton or stability OF the Union; because matter
OF no consequence TO the ". States wha, which party
was the ascendant in particular State And yet by the
laws oil The States treason was as punishable it il
committed against the IT, States
lie thought it would puzzle the powers of logic, Gnd
he know he should be followed by very alb logicians1
10 show how State could commit treason Against
whom could she commit it! Was il against the T. Si.es
ut 50 happens that she herself those States
andt was impossible he took it for granted that any
State could commit tire against herself
He feared howe he had detained Senate TOO lone
on these points. he would now 90 TO another.
IL seemed 10 follow equeuce OF this doc rine of
amsgNnaton, that he that floor a repYesen-
tatve OF Virginia, but OF the United states. Now this
appeared him TO rke at the very that vital pn
representatives. II he represo NATIVE of Vir-
ginn what right had he TO lisen her instructions any
than the nstruc ions OF Rhode Island or Masachu
sells! he argument that lac was there representa-
tive Of the whole United States, could al the utmost
prove but fhis. That because he (lr IT, presented
virginia he found 10 advance The interests all the
Union, inasmuch whatever advanced the interests
all the States advance the Interests OF Virginia: and
whole u. States.
The plain effect of the whole of these doctrines TO which
ne had alluded was to convert the States into pro-
vnces, and to make the President the common arber
over all claims OF the States and all the rights
States Ii would give him the power to veto all State
Iaws-not merely 10y his word his PEN but by the
sword and the bayonet 1t would place him al the head of
the regular army, arayed against the States and would
invest him with more than dica,oral powers-He might
punish when he pleased consgn to the halter whom
~ thought proper, ansgressors the rights of the
great sovereign power of the United States In short
the consequence would be that the country might al
once be changed into aggregate mass living under one
consolidated Government, instead of combination of Sc
Parae and independent communities
But before lac vested the President with powers like
These ne should like to know If he might do il with safe
~ He did not speak then of A. jackson Ill was deal
ing in gcnerahies Could they cntrust President
such powers;
Ith. case OF Georgia presented to one President
they might hear of suspended obligation" If TO ano.
Their, Georgia might possibly he pattcd on the back and
smiled upon in the face, aud told that her proceedings
were not only just but mertorious He did not mean TO
cast reProach on either President But lac could not con-
sent to live under such system 1t was irrational These
were matters on which all Presidents ought 10 be required
to think alike |, said Mr. T. might be indangcr of be.
defending
under one President Another might say, WHY really
You are clever fellow you have acted well YOU have
done your duty Instead OF hanging you, here * a gold
medal for you or something OF that sort Such yara-
ole, uncertain state OF the law as this Mr. r. said was
worse than the law of the Medes and Persans which
atereh not"
But how those doctrines again chosen at the pre-
sent time. They overturned in eighteen hundred
lilo had regarded them absolutely dciunc it appeared
however, they were only in of torpidy. In 1900
after hard fought battle the democracy was victorious
and had tramped in the dust the power and claims of their
opponents And now, afei lapse thirty years these
doctrines had crawed forth again bask in The sunshine
OF the Presidents Proclamation
TIE Senator from Maine had said, that he had found
strange bedfcows; that he could account how such
change as had happened could have 10 pass Well
1t was true; there had been strange changes He Mr.
IT, mad night to say when he found himself in oppo.
suon 70 the administraono which he had once As was
oeeh supporter as lar as any rational man could
be; and found the Senator Maine an advocate of IFS
measures An association had been mentioned, having
Usen Rhed IN nes by-gone IL consisted, far he,
Mr. I understood, of James Madison Felix Crundv
John Holmes, and, IL he might mention the name of the
otne party, the devil! IL seemed that there had been
dissolution Of the bond and the parties had called or
division Of capital lie did not know by whom this dis
solution was brought about however. The honorable
gentleman from Tennessee had now told them that he he
longed 10 Andrew jackson & Coz and said that he had
nothing to do with his Satanic majesty. He, Mr. r..
"sheh 10 know what had become of that eminent part
ner Of the broken firm?
Mr. Holmes having begged to explain Mr. Tyler gave
MIN the ioor. Mr.. III. said there some mistake in
e statement oil the partners u The firm alluded TO- The
original concern was James Madison Felix Grnndv and
tho Devil. The Senator from Tennessee had inserted
MN (hr. H. into The coparnership by way Of set-oG
N ms Satanic Majesty II the gentleman from Virginia
wished to know what had heroine Of his Satanic Majesty
no could merely state what the general belief and
that was, that he had gone over to the nullifiers
Mr. Tyler resumed. lie had concluded, before receiv
ing the Information just given him by the Senator from
Maine that his Satanic Marsiy had allied himself will
another party and lending his potent aid in another
quarter tor when lac (Mr. To- took up the bin before e
Iouse-when lac looked into ts contents and ronctn.
plated It's probable consequences he could not hep uk
ing That the evil spirit had bad influence i'm yenera
ing and maturing ms provisions
WIN regard to The idea which had entered into this die
custom OF JOINT stock company, and the gb of one of
ihe company 10 withdraw, hc would al that time sev no
thing Sufficient Tor tie day is the evil thereof ri
le'sy upon t. But he would not then even as an hum.
Die individual, express his opinion upon that point lie
Woul rather iOllOw the course which had been ,do,tc
by his own state, which when il came TO disruss lie PFC
touched. '''''" VIZ
But this he would say: the President Of fine limited
states had declared that he did recognise the ri f
secession the part OF State. he (Ir r would no,
allow the President 10 decide Tor hita or for bs STATE mi,
on this ioregonc conclusion. Should South C.roli,, 80
eedo the President of the United States has already dc
cd'I h he VIII control her aud compel her 10 remain in
me Union hy force when ule question came up q, Lc
hef u was proper 10 mako against s. Caroins and 10
restrain neF achohs by military regulations ia would then
De tme or them 70 consider the subject and decide upon
w. Bat he would Tor the present rest nm the p,dofisn
o South Carolina, hat II che were not sbsolstv Jriye
TO ~ she would not scccdr.