Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-04-05

'''''N 'NA Nv" ~ an uNn ItslNth : measures IL
every kind: SlrS, being a citizen OF the United States,
having known eXperimentally tile difficult means. the
nara suirHngS' anu the great hazards, through which their
Independence was obtained, and tie wisdom, the virtue.
and patriotism, OF our sage foreiathers, on which our blessed
Uulon aud Government were founded, whether a resident
or voter in any particular State or District, or not, 1 have
a night TO feel, and do feel, AN intense interest i'm their
preservation and support. These, | trust, will be a sufF.
cient apology for troubling YOU with subjects that so vital.
w concern the whole aud every part Of this great com
munty. OLD TIMES.
TO THE EDITORS or YHE ENQUIRER.
Permit me to return YOU my thanks for publishing "a
subscriber You do not exactly SEQ how his state
menu can come under the grave head of discussion" To
my simple comprehension, opposing statements of facts,
arguments and opinions, seem TO deserve that name. But,
as You say, "let that pass" 1 will not dispute about
terms nor contest with you the superiority of verbal crit.
eiSm' Myself a plain man, | am content TO convey a
PLAIN meaning in plain language: 1 speak to the under
standing OF the people.
Your correspondent, "Civis, has not thought fit totake
up ue gauntlet, thrown down for him, by "a Subscri-
ber." | admire his discretion. The statement rests upon
proof. But | have no desire TO convict the Speaker OF an
inconsistency, and willingly assume, that the '.sketcho
prepared 10y yourselves, with his assistance, - contains a We
li'hOie history. j affirm that this joint production-this
child of two fathers-can never receive baptism i'm the
republican church That rite is withheld from a prodigy.
For the present, | pass over the first paragraph OF the
Sketch, In which it is said, Mr.. Speaker protested "a
irm and unwaverng attachment TO the rights OF the States.
Snu reIerred TO me course Inc has pursued during the
whole OF his public life iii defending thcm-said he has
resisted every attempt to exercise doubtful potcers, and to
impair the reserved rights of the States by inIByoper Le-
giSidtiOn-and cited several instances of his eXertions i'm
thelr behali."-'l DO not remember that he cited among
these Instances, ms Approval Of the Force Bill! Perhaps
the omission was an accident, or, it may be, resulted from
'hat modesly oil nature, which forbade him to enlarge i'm his
own praise. l beg leave TO supply ii, as tits my intention
to review hereafter, the main features OF that measure,
anu ln eoh9eNion win that review, to press upon the peo-
PIE some oil the Speakers claims TO rcpublicani.m.
l come at once TO the third paragraph of The sketch, in
which the citadel Of State Rights is surrendered-I mean
the sovereignty OF the people !-.He stated. that nc had
uniformly regarded the Constitution as a federal compact
between equal, independent and sovereign Staies-crea-
Tea Dy the States IN their several State capaciues-hat
N Mates ne nDYfgg hat ,,,g. 80. - rJ
TiShtS ana sovereignty To secure The renaindeT! That
so lar As they had surrendered and given IN, then hat
~Se . NC SOcTs'Sh-that the Union provided the
means OF preserving the residue" Let us anaIyse this
GHidfgam OF absurdities-lst. The Con, uiution is uniform
~ considered to be a compact between equal, sovereign
anu independent States-2d. The States, as parties. have
gwen up a portion of their rights and soueeigntu. and TO
the extent OF that surrender, hare ceased TO be SoueTeion-
I'd. The Union provides the means of preserving that nor.
M mt a 10 Deen gwen up,
and the third exhibits a phenomenon in politcs@o 49,
reiSnty preserved by some other pouey Than IFS o,o ,
But | care not for Tie measureIess irrationaIuv If the nas.
sage l have quote1I lay no stress on its Inconsistencies
ioHuouuce reason aud harmony among its warning MEM
bers may be left rs an initiatory labor Tor am ambassador.
ihy business 10 with the principle here distinctly announc-
ca 10 'e people by this candidate for their fayor-That
t"ey "e "U longer a sovereign people that "there is a
uiStlhcion between the sovereignty and the government
mat The former resides in the people aud is inaIienable
from them; The latter in their servants and dgentsp-otbat
this sovereignty, this supreme, absolute, i1dipisibe and
uncomfortable authority, which, in despotic countries il
supposed TO be vested In the government or admin
lstrAtve authority of the State, here resides ouiv in
the people, is inherent in them, and inalienabIe from
" where the people are deprived of this
sovereignty, they are reduced to n state of cipiJ sin.
V'J' ana mat In such case, submission, punishment,
or SUCCESSFUL reUoH are the only alternatives THAT
ue nature oil any government does not depend upon
the checks and balances which may be provided nv
The Constitution, since they respect the farm of the
government only but it depends upon the extent of hose
powers which the people have reserved IN tben,seI,es ~
me sovereign j"-That 60 the Federal Government of the
United States rests, like the governments of the States
upon ihe Jree consent and suiirages OF the people OF the
several States, separately and independently taken and
expressed" ihese are all truths sanctioned by the au-
thority OF our fathers. BY some, the faith of hose fathers
may DC aDlured-their authority despised-lheir memory
forgotten i trust they are yet hallowed in the affections
oil the people. But, upon these glorious tru,hs-born of
the Revoluuon-thc President hurls his scofn and denim.
ciation--revives the exploded dogma, " that sovereigntv
and legislature are conyernble"-and seeks TO hide tbc
gianng iaIsehood under the following contemplate So
phlsm;-" treason IS an offence agdins, sovereipntv-
sovereignty resides with the right TO punish treason.S-
ne reuefai government can punish ~lreason-herefoye,
u IS Sove'siSHi Apparently this high example has not
seen ost upon Inc Speaker. He, too, declares that the peo-
PIE are not soVeTeIgh!-that their sovereignty has been
surrendered TO the government. IL follows, AS a conse.
qnence, that there Is no longer a distinction between Them
and That any attempt by the people to regain their sovc.
rsISh'y, ana 10 exert II Tor their own good, is TeUOlufiou-
dry-in other words treason, TO be punished by banginpl
Inc Fofco Bill IL founded upon THIS assumption of sove-
Teignty IN The Government OF the United States. IL there
iore Irea'sa member Of the contedcracy, clothed with the
tnS'gaid OF sovereignty, and exercising all its functions
as a Id"Ies' a'sociation-and confounds a national move
"on. WIN inc excuses oil n mob. The bill itself is the
Legitimate consequence Of fhe Presidents doctines-to
approve it, az necessarily followed from those Of the
Speaker.
But what shall be thought Of a statesman, who, in the
nineiechth century, and ia Virginia, believes that " the
government, and not the creator OF the government. is
sovereigh'-and with tina, declaration in his mouth, asks TO
be regarded as the friend Of free government and of popu-
Iaf nights! Charity will conclude, that he only speaks on
a subject he does not understand, aud uses terms TO which
lie aHiKes no Ineligible idea.
But we are told IN the sketch, (or a salvo, | supposed
:. lnat ontY a PORTION Of the sovereignty has been surren.
de'ed by the States 10 the General Government" VIII lie
anlnors indulge me 10 snquirng, where the surrendered
PofUon resides iii they say Ia the General Government.
which, therefore, - sovereign 20 | answer them with their
own implied admission, that part also exists in The States.
BON therefore, arc sovereign. II were a solecism to ask
"mch Of 'hesc soVereigns - superior-our allegiance, il
seems Is due 10 the two Kings Of Bren,lord.
" II be objected 20 this reasoning, tat although bv sur.
fshdef a portion OF the sovereignty is vested by the PEG
PIC oil ihe states 81 the General Government. vet 10 such
surrender has been made 10 the State Governmene-snd
uegeITe there are nOt two potential soyerc,gnGes. each
I inc same ZINE claiming the allegiance Of tie citizen-
J su'pect j shall enquire 10 vain, for tie substantial grounds
OF Wl' distinction. The two governments rest upon pre-.
0'''y we same foundation, with his difference. t,st the
gf'nis on power 10 ue Federal Government are restrained
by q specific uuncrduDn-whcreas the CousGf,t,r, ~,
the states contain 30 such enumeration.