Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-31

wouh occur 10 render this discussion unnecessary ho
would be willing 10 put II oil for u month 20 give dme
Tor such TO n,erpose but he believed tbs, no
lay would DC long enough 10 prevent IL altogether He
should vote against the motion for Monday week and most
assuredy against the proposition for Thursday as being
altogether too short postponemeDt We should by fix,
ing on the earliest day. tie precptaed into the
and 20 into discussion before a single document could
DO examined. lie was sstonshed when the Senator iron,
ennsy lvenia (hir WIKI nS) made his proposition He
should give his for the proposi ion made hv IA, Sc
major iron Kentucky (Mr. lay) tor by that time the
senate Nond in all probability, be prepared to enter upon
the sutjsc'.
Mr. Calhoun on rising, sad that not agreeing with the
Chairman OF the Judiciary Committee, that the
proposed Ia the bill were OF ordinary Character and
such were sustained by precedcns but on ih contra
ry FULLY according IN the declaration Of the Senator from
Mississippi, (tr Ponde xer that il would in fact, he
repeal oil the Constitution, should receive the sanction
Congress he had risen TO offer three resolutions with
view OF testing the principles which the bill rested
io hau nrswn them with great care; with scru.
puious regard 10 the truth Of every assertion they
contain, which he believed one who valued his cha
racter Tor canor could contradict and that no impartial
jury IN Chrsiendo could on issue, refuse 10 render
verdict in their favor; and he hal been equally scrup
lous in making deductions but what were by
the ciearest aud most demonstrave reason.
Mr. G. said that though the bill was couched i'm gene
raj term' and made applicable to all the States; and
though 1t referred, apparently its face 20 cases only
oil Instruction. orlaw resistance Of individual force
yet II would not be Gcned that il intended to be an.
Piled particularly TO the case Of South Carolina and with
the intention not OF putting down the lawless
OF individuals in that State but the authorized opposition
oil The people OF South Carolina 10 act which, they
coneientously believed unconstitutional aud
and as such exercising the right which belongs TO her in
the last resort as sovereign member of the coneder,cy
she has declared 10 be null aud void Whatever ress
lance then, may be made in the State of South Carolina
resistance by the Srte ITSELF authorized by her sove
reign authority, aud the resistance of l,wl,ss
nation Of individuals 1t is 10 put down this resistance
that the before the Senate has been repor
cd, AMI IN this Character il is wholly
there is no example of the kind 10 be found On o,r
book.
Here then said Mr.. c., is presented the great he would
say the awiully important quesOn-has Congress. the
right 10 pass this bill There two views of our Con-
suiion, going back TO its fundamental principles one
contained in the proclamation and the message of the Pre-
sent which have given birth to the bill, and the other
In the ordinance and proceedings of the people of S. Ca
rona AS the one or the other OF these view, may be
correct the bill must be pronounced be constitutional
or unconstitutional. IL il be true stated bv tho Pre-
dent that the people Of these United Staos arc united OH
the principle OF social compact az so many individuals
constituting one nationif they have transferred 10 the
General Government their aegance-if they have port
ed with the right OF judging, in the last resort what
ers are reserved aud what delegated indeed ,j.
states are without sovereignty, without rights, and no
other objection can be made TO the BILL but what might
be made to its expediency. But it, on the other hand
these positions utterly false-if in truth the Con.,n
ton The work OF the people, forming twenty four
unc political communities, when adopted il formed
union OF States, and not oil inviduasi the States have
not surrendered the right Of judging in the last resort az
to the extent of the reserved and OF course of tho dele
gated powers-then indeed there is no, shadow of foun
daon in the Constitution, TO authorize the BILL but ON
the contrary, II would be wholly repugnant its genius
sin Of the highest characterised the delegated acting
against the sovereign power-cf the creature earring
against the creator 70
In making these assertions Mr. C. said he had tho 80,
thorty oil the President Of the United States himself
He had tacitly acknowledged that il the views of The
constitution on which the State OF South Carolina has act
co. De correct then neither this norany other Of
force could be adopted against her On no other prncpe
could the long and elaborate Argument land false he was
competed 10 say as long and elaboatc contained in the
proclamation, ami In the message, be explained. Well
might the President feel that unless the doctrines on
which South Carolina had acted could be successfully re-
Slsted would be impossible for the Government 10 aopt
any measure against her: which presented the great and
solemn quesion-are they no' on which he pro-
posed to make few remarks; with the intention that the
senate might duly and deliberately reflect on them I'm the
short interval between this and Monday next (The dav
hxed Tor the discussion OF the bilIO
lhe great question at ISSUE is where the paramount
power mhere the sovereignty in this complex but
uiu and admirable system iii Well undet sootD Is lodged
Tor where the sovereignty there too must be the nara
mount power lew PLATA and simple, and inconrover-
uOe positions will detei mine Ibis point That the peo In
OF the States as constituting separate communities formed
'he ohsution as unqucstonabe any historical fac,
whatever stands upon the most durable and unques-
ohaoe record as much so as the records OF any court i'm
The universe; and that the Unon of which the constim
lion compact is The bond is union between States and
not between OF individuals res ON autloriv
not less hghen the Consi ulion i,se hch expressIy
declares In the article OF ratihcaon-hs il shall be bn
log oefUeer the States rdtDyng the same-woE,Is more
explicit he would lay technical could net be devised
yet as certain as these facts are they cannot be admitted
WITHOUT admitting the doctrines for whch South Caro,ina
contends they, by the most certain and direct
concinSVeiy wi" shew where the paramount pow OF the
system IL; where its sovereign liori;y resides
No one viii pretend that the sovereignty is i'm the Go
reTnmen 10 make that assertion would be TO go back
20 The Asiatc idea Of Goyernment- IS scarcely Euro
pean the most intelligent writer's in that section Of he
loOe long since traced sovereignty TO higher source
NO, the sovereignty not in the Government is in the
people And other conception utterly abhorent 10 .
ideas OF every American. There not particle of
regnty in the Government IT, them it be in the peope
which cannot be denied, unless by exnguisbing the lights
Of political science Tor than two thousand wears tho
only possible question that can remain is i'm what neo;
In The people OF the United States collectively as
oi individuals, or III the people Of the twenty four States
as forming distinct political communities confederated in
THIS Um0n The facts already established decide this 0ues
uon aud prove the sovereignty 10 be in the people OF the
several states no such community existed as the
people OF Inc " s. forming collective body OF individuals
ono naon and the idea that they united by the pre
sent CONSTITUTIONS as social compact ged bv the Pro-
camaton is utterly false and absurd To call the Cons
luton the social compact is the greatest possible abusc
u language No two things are more dssimilar. hcro
snot an expression in the whole science of politics. more
perfectly definite III its meaning than the social conpact
IL means that association OF individuals founded on the
nph'd assent oil all its members, which preccdes all
government, and from which Government or the cons
uilona compact springs and yet the President in the
iaDg attempt TO put down federal system has ven
ured 10 cononnd things totally dssimilar The sove
egny them Is in the people OF the several States united
ID s federal Union 1t IS not only in bem but in them
ot particle resides in the moi
one particle in the American people collectively
The people OF the States have, indeed delegated nor
on oil thelr sovereignty TO exercised conformity by
General Government, and have retained the residue to be
exercised ny her respective state Governments But 10
leega'e Is het part with or impair power The dele
gated power IN the agent, Is much the power of the
principal as 10 1t remained In the latter and nav as be-
tween him and his agent be controlled or resumed ai
pleasure Now marx the consequence.