Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-02-07

who are not, and cannot be responsible 10
Them, and over whose will there l. no con-
troll, ART claims which cannot be admitted. -
Thus all the safeguards Of liberty which our
fafhers thought they had constructed with 80
much prudence, wisdom and patriotism, would
be broken TO pieces and dissolved BY this
boundiess and ipsulphing claim to power,
mat Government has exhibited To the view Of
a,sonished millions.
Claim having been made to this unlimited
power Tor that government, q claim which
the patriot cannot contemplate without feeling
an indignant horror rush upon his mind-it
becomes the part Of wisdom, prudcntly To
take such measures will ensure the speedy
termination OF prctension fraught with so
which much evil To the Union and danger TO
our liberty. 49, @
The call Of general convention Of these
states would afford proper opportunity for
Them To place such guards upon their liberty,
and such barriers TO the cncroachments Of the
iederai government, rs will put To rest for
ever the questions OF disputed powcrs-the
agitation Of which, have, frcm time 90 time
created much dissatisfaction, and il persisted
IN, must al no distant day, terminate in ire
parable IN iurv
Al the moment when n sovereign state of
ms coniederacy, exercising what she deems
To De her right, has thrown herself upon that
sovereignty, and a such, has undertaken In
Juuge Tor herself Of the infractions of the
compact, aud Of the mode and neasur. ,S
redress, we find tho President of the Tinted
States, openly laying claim 10 this giran,ic
power, and charging state with treason a
gainst the federal government, which he
claims TO be sovereign, and carrying out
the principle, seems to endeavor TO make
the impression that the rights of the state
arc grants Of powers from thes government,
"h.nwe pursue that argument to its fipaI
result, We find ourselves enslaved by the de-
ciaration OF our independence, with no limits
10 The powers OF the new government but lis
own VIII, and we have no right left us b,,,
tho right OF revolution, whilst this goyernmen,
claims the antagonist right Of subduinr us h,
the sword. IL this doctrine be t,,c o.
fathers, intent upon securing liberty for
themselves and their children, greatly erred
IN not declaring themselves free and ,nde-
pendent OF their declaration of indie pendcnee.
DURING the middle ages, the European go
vernments were little eke than the miIi,srx
commands OF fcudal barons-thc king or
great baron OF all, relying upon his military
proves, disdaincd to hold his power AZ ,hc
giit OF men, and claimed 10 rule by speci,I
grant from Omnipotence. But this divine
right ot kings was disputed by the barops M
Ing and nj Runnemede, and a chartor for
their liberty wrung from the king. This was
truly great victory over tyranny. and no
iieyed To he discovery in government. which
at future day, compelled the executive or
KING, to consent 10 govern by compact. Yet
the great discovery or Improvement in ,o,
rernment, was reserved for our fathers who
aihrmed that sovereignty could reside alone
In the entire body Of the people that their
rulers were agents Of the people. chosen
fbau Tn
ties required Of them, and at stipulated neri-
DDS, To lay down the power which beIonc.d
alone 10 the people, and with which thew had
been temporarily clothed for certain nnrno
ses--that no error might be committed. ana
u prevent any from attempting to rule nv
military force, they perfected their govern.
ment, as we heretofore have believed. In m.
security Of written constitutions.
All the States Of this coafederaev. Ger.
family believed themselves sovereign. and IN
that capacity. and under that belief. virgins.
proceeded to form government for herself
anterior 10 The Declaration Of Independence
ana existed, until three years ago, under the
communion and form OF government then
e : "heo The sovereign people assem-
oied IN convention, and amended that con,,i-
tuition, which now remains the mooumen, Of
their soTereignty-tho basis Of their funda-
mental laws. '~'N-'-
How, then, IS il possible for Virginia IN
have received grant Of her reserved righ,s
from the Constitution Of the United Sts,cs
or the "single nation :" How the sta,es
could receive as grant, their reserved ri1ht.
Is difficult TO comprehend, but not Isss so
than That sovereign state cannot Gommit
treason! As early as the l2th Of June. I776
uss state declared, that "whenever any 20
Fernment shall be found inadequate 10 The
purposes OF producing the greatest degree of
happiness, majority of the people hath an
indubitablc, unalienablc and indefeaSibIe r;vb,
to reform, alter, or abolish il, ia such manner
as shall be judged most conducive 10 the Drb.
lic veal" Virginia has very lately reformed
and altered her government, and still claims
me " tndnbitable, ulalienable and indefeasi-
Ole right TO abolish It" whenever the maiori-
tJ Of her citizens may think proper To do .o
TO reform, alter or abolish a form Of 1ovsrn-
ment, are the highest powers which a sove-
reign state can exercise.
We have also On our statute book. n Law
pointing out the mode by which a eI,Ilsn
may exPetTiaie himself, and until he avail.
OF TIE provisions Of this act, in d.
Ves'i'g himself OF hrs citizenship, OF renOun-
&c ~ "y becoming citizen OF another state
OF 'nis a"'on, oE tho subject of sOme foreign I
prince, he -, wherever he nay be. a citizen
VI Nirsinia, and 10 her his allegiance i doe
The constitution or compact which Unit.
'hese states among otheV specified powers. has
gwen To Congress the right - 20 establish An
UNIFORM mode q naturalization, +" and no uaore.
because more was not necessary, as the q. /
states, had 40 citizens on whom q could ope- (
rate yet q was desirable that uniformity
on this subject should exist throughout the
eonicderacy, a. The constitution pros ides that
= the citizens Of each state shall b. entitled
70 all the privileges and immunities Of Ell. /
Lens Of The several states" and By virtue Of
ihls provision, a fOreigneg, who has been batu- !
raiiNed, and taken the oath Of allegiance 90 |
any one Of thsse states, may, ~ any time. /
andor this constitutional provision, transfer
his allegiance b. another state.
The United states then, being only che
union Of certain Interests Of tho,s sovereign
states, intended b. them 10 be used for their
oeneti, ~ agents appointed BY themselves, |
z nf1ffi not HaFe r. - L..