Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-21


avowed the sanction indeibly stamped upon these reso
utons, did not strike with much surprze, as old age
nd and seeks quiet, removed from the agitatons OF
political crisis This disavowa may obscure the brigh
disk OF ms fame; but does mpeach II can never i'm
peach the doctrines contained in the Resolutions of 1898
The principles too distinctly announceI the
too explicit TO allow escape from the true rpreta
ton of them.
The leading principle avowed in those re solutions, and
sustained by report. exhibiting power Of reasoning
rarely equaed and surpassed is that The Cen
" era Assembly OF this Commonwealth views tho now.
ers Of the Federal Government as resulting from The
compact to which the States parties, limited by
the plain sense and intention OF the instrument consti-
" tuting that compact no farther valid, than as they
are authorised by the grants enumerated in that com
pae and that in case OF deliberate papable aud DANCE
rous exercise OF powers not granted by the said
pact the States who are parties thereto, have the right
and in duty bound nterpose for arresng the
" ana ior maintaining within their respective limits. the
authorities rights and liberties appertaning 10 them
ne only remedies now claimed by the author Of these
resolutions, the right OF petition and and
rst being addressed to the the last suppose
the Tears OF the States The first have, presume,
in common with the inhabitants of Poland and the Low
ing subjects OF Austria and Prussia And was il TO es
absh these remedies, that the Ancient Dominion rose i'm
her giant strength and shook oil the incubus of Federal
ism and tyranny, as the lion would the dew from his
name. The bare statement Of the proposition carries
its answer along with it. When institutional
law shall have been passed by majority Of It's H:ase
oil Representatives and Of the Senate OF the United
Staes and shall have been sanctioned by her
~ would require too great stretch Of creiuv for man
TO believe, that majority OF three fourths vi the sstse
States in Convention assembled, would reverse the sen.
ence oil those had only their
WIN In the passage OF the law What would have been
The issue OF General Convention of the States upon the
h"eh ana Sediiion Laws? Aud what would il now be
upon The Tariff laws! That remedy therefore could NOT
nave been, and not contemplated by the oIutons
oil vs. The only two remaining remedies are l. Seces.
son. oy which State claims her right of withdraw
ing peacefully from tue Union; whenever il shall be her
deliberate opinion that its evils more than counerbasnce
It's benehts-and 2. Modification, by which a State de.
edres an unconstitutional law be vo and
mat shall not be enforced within her limits The Pre-
sueht oil The United States in his late has
denounced both these remedies; and declares all persons
attempting by force exercise either of them the
reueral government whether by the authority of the
o'ae or ohcrwse to be guilty OF treason The Legisa.
lure oil virginia has responded him ia discarIing Mil
caon; and they are in favor Of Secession they have
MOI ueemeu prudent 10 say To be sure, thew have
rearned The doctrines OF 90, and have said IN soft
phrase, that part of the Proclamation is i'm conflict with
then: But when, how, or where thew have not
thought proper 10 mention. Perhaps is that the Pro-
cana;on does not sanction in explicit terms the RICH, OF
petition and remonstrance.
IL Is plain, that the General Assembly of Virginia in
their resolutions of 1898, looked something more Than
Secession, to redress their grievances when hey decla
ed that in case of deliberate papable and dangerous
exercise OF powers not granted by the compact the States
who are parties thereto have the right and are i'm du,v
bound TO mteTpoSe for dTTesting the epi and for ,n
lauihS w,thn their respective limits the authorities
rights and Liberties appertaning them They were for
Gaining the benefit OF these very rights authorities and
Dertcs; and did not be deprived of them and of
tne advantages oil the Unon by the usurpation OF the
FEDERAL Government; did they mean by Secession,
10 run dicGy TO avoid this usurpation Thev did mean
then, IN my humble opinion, that they had right law
iully 10 annu an unconstitutional law. They did mot
think II necessary prescribe the precise mode of opera
ton, but left that TO be determined by the occasion
south Carolina has given great advantage to the Fede-
raj government in attempting TO annu the revenue laws
oil the United States. Congress having unreasonable
power to pass these laws and Judge of the amount of
revenue to be raised, the only proper objection TO them
would be their gross inequality, injustice and
nat they VIII Justify resistance, the part of the South
ern states II continued much longer and that they will
ne eecualIy resisted in form or other 10 man oC
common observation will deny. In fact il seems that an
awise Providence perhaps for SINS and for purposes
10 us unknown has decreed the dissolution Of the Union
OF hese States and the unhoy passions of men are bu
instruments in his hands TO accomplish this end Who
III me common course OF events, could have imagined IL
de confirmed by the practice Of nearly four wears of his
that suddenly he should have reversed all
ms principles aud opinions and should have sent forth
document anniilating at one blow, all the authorities
rights aud liberties OF the Staes;-lke balefu Comet
spreading desolaon and ruin in its train His previous
services and the popularity Of his name eaa6led him
to accomplish mischief by this one act tan could
be compensated by long lie of the most faithful servi-
Adams, that auy real danger is be apprehened; but
when their principles aided by power and are
united III the person OF Hamilton or a Jackson then in
deed, the liberties OF the Republic are in danger
JOHN HAMPDEN.