Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-07

people OF South Carolina ami the common agent OF the
States. the General Government, but it is question
deeply involving the rights and interests Of third parties
to witt the other States But fit were purely question
between South Carolina anil the General Government,
South Carolina alone could not the powers which
had bees granted to the latter She is but out of
twenty four principals, who jointly granted these powe
and she can no more so far as constitutional right is
concerned by her single act, resume the powers thus
jointly granted than individual citizen Of State
resume the jointly granted 10y himself aud tile rest
oil the society 10 their State government Gentlemen
couiuuud the relation in which the peosle OF
state stand o the government of the Uuited States with
that in which they stand 20 their State governments
The people OF South Carolina may at any time
modify uhe powers they have granted to their State 60
veiuheni, because ia relation 10 that they form the
tire defeating body; but, in relation to the
OF The United States, 'hcy rebut ono twenty fourth part
OF the deegIng body, three iourths Of ch are by the
express tet oi the copac required TO make any alte
ration in the government
MR. Calhoun here said ha he had been
eel by the Senator from Virginia; at he had said that
the people Of State might the powers which had
ben granted to the General Government, but that they
had tight Judge Of the extent of those powers and
whether ihoy had been exceeded
MIR. Rivcs continued II was probable that the
honorable Senator amid the diversity Of doctrines
which had been preached, hal forgotten all that he had
SAID; The Senator from South Carolina certainly did
tend that the people of State might the powers
which they had granted to the General Government and
in tn' am sustained not only by my recolle ction,
nut oy The printed report OF his remarks, which
nave been very carefully prepared aud presume under
lns
Mr. Calhoun again explained lie had contene,I that
State should resume the powers granted 10 the Gene
RAJ Government such resumption would only be breach
OF compact Tor which the State, comInunity would
be responsible. and not its citizens individuality
Mr. Rives replied IL, Mr.. President il be admitted
'hat an a'empt, on the par! OF State to the
powers granted by IL and the other States the General
Government would be breach Of compact then il
sarily follows that State has right under the Consti.
Iui0n, to mako such resumption. In other words no
State can have constitutional right 10 break the Const.
fulton In regard to the effect of such an
al act Of State reference to the OBLIGATIONS of i Gill
shall lu
IN any manner disturb the regular elton the
Government on individuals
but, before do permit remark here az ain up
on that conioandng of things entirely distinct their
lures, oil which we have had many examples in the
course OF tIs discussion could not but observe the
day that Tie honorable Senator from Kentucky (AIr
Bibb IN developing the principles of Senator from s.
Carolina had appealed the Declaration Independence
III support OF he right OF The PEOPLE OF ate 10 resume the
powers granted 10 the General Government Now sir
does not the from which he honorable Senator
rived ihs RICH fix its true character being revolution.
airy, and not constitutional What, sr the Declare
hon oil independence! Was II declaration Of ma ura
not OF conventional rights of revolutionary not of cuns
uona rrned es Of remedies not founded on, cousisen
"ih' the continuance OF the Constitutions but springing
III existence from such fundamental violation OF is
gu"rancs as 10 amsunt To virtual dissolu OF Cover H.
men! Sir, should be the last deny or 10 mpair
" scteu rgh OF resistance TO oppression which
secrai"d hy he Declaration of indie endence-the riph
OF every people, whenever their government shall prov,
obstructive Oi those great ends Tor which all eovernmen
Wa hSl ued, throw of such governments and TO pro
vide new guards Tor their future sccur "" But .ir this
met ground on which South Carolina has her
sell She seeks To throw off, not the governments but the
ohgion' imposes to enjoy its ptoeciion but TO ycIt
40 o6edcnce-io participate in all its benefits but bear
no share al s bnrheHS And all these contradictions are
To be reconcied by tho taismanc opposition OF State So
YER ign
Now, sir, let how this i. to he done Tho oron
meht OF The gentleman from South Carolina is this that a,
Tie citizen was originally bound obedience TO the Gene.
raj Government by the &C, of h' State sovereign ca.
Pacy ike act OF his State may release him from tina
o"Igauo'hai II the actol Ste, absolving its citizens
from obedience to law OF the United States should he
preach oil The compact with the other States is the
state alonc which is responsible and that there s thence
forward, no light on the part the General Government
20 execute The law by acting the individual citizens
the State. Sir, this argument is plainly founded ON loa
msconcepon OF The nature Of present political sys,a,
ccS ne differences between AID the ar
OF the present Constitution direct relation is created be
tween The Government OF the United States and the CHI
zen The authorities Qfthe Union no lon re act tIro ~,
states by requiSiIio under The articles Decentralization
but directly on persons aud things by its own intrs Tb
great object OF the change Of sys was to render the go
NeTn"ent Of the Union entirely independent the actor
OF States in the performance OF its high nc
IONS for lhS purpose, ii was not only invested with Tho
pow OF making fdcS but oil executing them, by regular
al" executive organs, aud by the physical force
OF me country also, II need be- Tor it will not he forqoe,
mat among the powers expressly vested in Congress
mat OF providing for calling forth the militia IN erec,
INC ldtDS oil the Unon To mark still more uneouivocaI
~ the intention OF the Constitution TO place tho co
vernmcnt of the Union in the exercise of IFS movers aby
ue control OF individual States it is expressly dcc,re
mat the " Constitution and the laws Of the United States
whch shall be made in pursuance thereof &C. shall b.
'' '"' VI 'Ie ldhu, any thlHS In the COHStitU
non or idtos IF any State TO the contrary
ing
Now, sir, would not all these Characteristic f.aturos .
me new Constitution be utterly ehaced by the docrn,
81 e gentlemen from South Carolina, and should we no
ne brought back by At the fatal weakness and incl
hcehcy OF Tie articles OF confederation? Would not tue Gov
erhmeh he superseded in its direct and auho alive ac
ton Oh indirdais the vital principle of the present Con
stuon, not lis iG,CS become mere
SUBJECT at any time, TO be defeated arrested at The viii
OF STATE! Would not in short lose every character
suc property oil g0UeInment and become mere Isg0ue
Nch sir, are the inevitable eert and fatal tendency
The doctrines now broAched-to subvcrt bv refined con
srucons, the present Constitution of the United States
an" TO set up again, in its place. the abandoned article
Of confederation
/ DO we not already Mr. President, hear the Constitu
lion OF the United Stalcs in various quarters and in th
grdvcS manner, dcnominated league fre1fu 0f nIi
dhce 0Hd c0HtedeTd0n2 IL with great regret sir
thdt heard my worthy and honorable COLLEAGUE iMr
lyer) Tie other day, cali it in express terms league
anu insist upon The close resemblance and identity il
many respects which he supposed to exist between
IT, and the articles OF confederation Sir 10 me I'M
two systems as opposite as light and darkness. -
The articles OF confederation were true IenS,te CON
shiunnS common consultative body for all the States
hut depending entirely the sovereign will and
OF each stale Tor the execution OF its measures Thu
present constitution creates gOUeTnmenta government
u IS Tue resting on compact between the States and lmi
ted by the terms OF that compact but still to the extent
ITS granting powers, possessing all the and organs
efficient action completely az any other governent nm
der The sun. Compare the instrumc nts sir and bei
very form adnonishes YOU once Of this radical differ
ence. The one rs, In form in substance fTe1fv h,
which "ihe States severay enter into firm le1eite n
DTtendship with each otheT The other il ga coeffI
ton ordained and established by the people of the Unite
States Tits true, that you will find i'm the articles
0rln Ter Ffar.a