Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-19

FEDERAL RELATIONs-lCon,iuued

Committee Of The Whole, on The state Of the Relations
6eoeeH The United States and South Carolina, on
Thursday, the 81 January.
MIR. CHAIRMAN:-when submitted the motion on
Yesterday, for the Committee rise was done more
with the view Of relieving its members from the fatigue
under which they evidently laborng than from any
disposition my part to be heard upon the subject
underi It's consideration. But as be expected by
many, and required by others hope, Sir, that shall no;
be regarded asking much, in requesting the atten-
uoh oil The Committee to some OF the views that i,ayo
presented themselves TO my mind, upon the alcngioss
ing question: on which have assembled deliberate.
Perhaps, Sir, you will concur with in opinion, when
say that at period OF political history even in the
friends OF liberty 10 be alarmed, than noy cx-
lists IN the distracted state of our political relations The
new and unexpected position tha, South Carolina has
suined towards the General Government awakens i'm the
public mind intensity Of interest, which causes in its
operation, excitement OF feeling and prejudice that
threaten alike the Union and liberty OF the country 1t
Is in vain, Sir that would conceal the hurrid APP
Pang consequences hat are opening in rapid succession
be ore us: for have been hurried the brink pre-
cIpice, step from which may involve the people OF this
once happy confederacy, in all the untold horrors civil
dscOr the still disastrous consequences Of nation
al consolidation The fate Of this mighty republic is sus
pended upon the Ordinance OF South Carolina; such
SIR is the chaFactero our govenment-such the feeling
OF the people, and such the tie of interest by which we
united, that should she hcedesy persist in carving
lis provisions into execution, link in the chain that uues
the conederacy viii be broken, and severed not
even the otonng blood Of her slaughtered citizens
ever cement il. II, Sir, her destiny alone that
had TO fill the measure OF her misguided aud precpi-
tate course then, indeed, as some gentlemen have
inmated, might we sit with folded arms and boast
with indifference upon the ruin uat awaits her; then
might we without emotion, trace i'm the vision of
fancy her desoaed fields, her subugaed people the
mouldeng columns OF her greatness aud the ruined tenn
pies OF her liberty. But not so, Mr.. Chairman South
Carolina may TALL in the unequal contest that She has
waged; she may perish without the sympathy-yea Sir
amidst the eXultng Joy of memorable majority; but in
her tate, we may read the destiny of this Republic; her
name ana her race may be remembered in after time
the things that were but the decision, which the Amer-
can people may pass upon the principles growing Of
TINS controversy Will be handed upon the living page of
/
the rights and liberties Of millions who now TEEN in the
womb Of time, shall be determined Already Sir have
powers been assorted for the General Government, that
sweep into humiliation every vesge of State rights; that
limits the high aud commanding character of the Ameri-
can chzen to the guomiuious standard OF Russian serC
Already have we been told, that Virginia, in common
with her sister States, has rights opposed the will Of
the General Governments and she, too in time, will be
forced to yield all that is worth preservaon TO the
date OF its power 1t is time, Sir, for Virginia to awake
to her interest TO proclaim the principles upon which she
rahed the Federal compact forever hold her peace
1t will be vain for us TO be sitting here, quiet repose
looking upon the that raging with dcsoatnr fury
around the basement of our temple, sweeping i'm lis
course, all that is dear the rights oil lreenen and after
II shall have subsidized into the calm Of despoisn then
to proclaim principles. Sir, it would be worse
than valn Tor, the power that has dared TO insult
nation OF irecmen, would heed but little the murmur
/ OF slaves. Who could nave supposed Mr. Cnair.
man, at this early period of national existence
even before the mighty actors in the revolutionary
contest had LEFT the stage, that the character of our
government would only be doubted but its most es-
senal attributes denied and yet ST. strange as this
seem, unaccountable such fact would appear
when told to the plain and unsOpscated reemen Of the
country il is nevertheless an awful truth that is confirm
ed in the opposition that has been manifested to the resp
utions now under consideration. One OF the resolutions Sir
that You hold in your hand proposes the prn
cipes that av0wed by Virginia in l79S which have
ever been regarded by the Republican party throughout
the Unon the exposition Of the nature and mowers
OF the General Government But gentlemen tell us
that these principles not only n>nterp cted but that
the States have right exercise the power that they
claim. Ifths be the fact, Mr.. Charnan il the trainers
of the Federal Constitution have been mistaken and de-
US, he
ed III rauiyng the compact it we have beG moving on
under the delusve dream OF sovereignty when its
shadow has been withheld, then, Sir, agree with gentle
men, that is idle in TO be asserting rights that we do
not possess and claiming power ,hat never enforce
But happily, Sir, for the American people, happily for
those whose fate rests upon the success OF the experiment
that we are now making in the of free government
the title deeds OF their liberty yet in the possession
beyond the Efforts OF power TO destroy intrigue TO ella,
Let us then, Mr.. Chairman, trace these title deeds Tor t
purpose of a5ceraning 10y what grant Virginia has
veysA %ReDvcr gnty-by what delegated power she has
cloG - General Government with the omniro-
tencethaSk has assumed to WELD. 1 will not de-
tain the G'5bnuce Mr. Chairman, by detailing the
an mat the states were sovereign from the time Of
the declaration of their Independence up to The period of
rauIying the federal constitution 1t was this last fatal
act a gentlemen tell us, that deprived them of the
reign character they had acquitted throwing off the do
mnion Of the English To the roper understand
ing Sir of contract IL is sOmcEcs highly essential to
take into consideration the circumstances under which il
was formed the object that the parties had in view and
the mode by which was ratified What then ALLOW me-
these States entered into this cOnicderacy All
vercign AMI Independent powers has been admitted
at the tmc-odch with its cscutchcOn emblaZoned Will,
impehable glory, that had been acquired in lis contest
for reedom-hound by no alliance, acknowledging no
SUPERIOR unrosraincd i'm action aud voluntary i'm
its will. Thus situated, Sir would put il to the com
mon sense OF any rational man. 10 say, IL is reasonable
suppose, that they would have made voluntary rcln
quhment Of their sovereignty? Sir there was too much
OF pride and OF glory identified with the Inheritance thai
they bad acqnet had cost them too much of suffering
OF treasure and OF blood thus to surrender the prize Of
vereignty, and that too, time when their prospects
were bright az the fame That eushned them Not ,
cloud was 10 be sccnp0 spcck hung upon the disk
the political hOZ0nbut all calm the breath
the spirit when they entered into this alliance Sir vo
can scarcely find in The walks OF life, one so lot TO t
sense OF pride, 10 Ice willing make surrender Of h
independence bis freedom Of action, and right Of self
control. And it be supposed that these indepen
dent nations, tat had bravcd the battles fire. the bill
lows rage, and the tempesjs blast, In the cause o
freedom, would have been unuiindlul Of its value
rs to have given up all for which they had peued hci
existence, in consideration Of The Advantages hat are
be derived from this covenant, Of u non? what freeman
Sir In The hour Of dagger would his bcr
~ for the protection Of casc What state, Sir in hi
cJnlcde1cy would have ratified flc Constitution bad ti
doctrine then been announced hat hy Gong she wa
10 To rcnquish brewer her attributes of sovereignty! None
They would have rocolcd Of he decd virtue shrink
at ihe touch Of vice Tie object, Sir dat induced then
70 enter into this conieIeacy apparent scarcely
need alusion; il F couchcd IN the preamble Go The Cousi
b tuition: lu order = iOrUi m0Ie perfect Uniou. ~ wa
at once perceived thdt the foreign relations of the country
o the interest Of their and Increasing commerce. cou
be more conveniently promoted through I've and di
rectlon OF common agen-han could be expected for
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