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


fer sir 10 those natural ghts and powerful OF self
defence and active resistance which the States possess In
their complete municipal organ aons civil and military.
is In this vie that all The discussions
the adoption OF the Constitution, The STATE Governments
constantly referred TO "s6o,dng, in erery possible
contingency complete security against nvasions OF the
public liberty by the Federal authority Fed No. 2S }
They 10 be ultimately not only the rOce. but
ssry the arm oithe public d conent-(Fe No 26 The
advantages they possessed through their civil and military
organizations, for combining all the OF the
munity in gular plan OF opposition of communicat.
ing with another, and uniting their common forces Tor
the protection OF their common hhery"-' for collecting
the public will aud directing the public iorce all these
advantages and OF self defence the part the
States, constantly referred to, and insisted on, de-
monstrang the extreme improbabiiy Of any serious
tempt by the General Government, upon the liberties OF
the people the States and the certain triumph the
public cause, should such attempt be made. The
NEEDLES here alluded clearly rerOtionGry- above
and beyond tho Constitution" They are such as [ do
firmly believe there never will be any OCCASION in the
progress OF system 10 call into exercise. But their
potential exis;encc is Of value giving certain efficacy
to the moral remedies which are ,chin the limits of The
Constitution, whenever those mder remedies shall be
resorted TO by any respectable portion Of the States and
II Is in that view now refer 10 them.
There is anoihe, eIrd- constitutional remedy for a e
ultimate vindicaiion Of the rights OF the States (wheu
they shall have been dangerously and persever y ss.
saled), hc also deserves TO bc lorne in mind ~ adding
to the force and efficacy OF those uioua remedies
OF which have spoken resting the moral influence
oil reason opinion This remedy ,e.erves TO be "a
much the considered in this conncc ior because
though exra-consii' uiiona il /. at the same time peace
ul and complete. One half Of the States. whenever fun
damena nva-ons ci their rights by the General Govern
men shall seem to them Justly il, may peacefully sus
peud its operations by simply declining perform the
function assigned 10 them OF clrcting senators az in tina
case the majority requisite TO utc quorum Of os
branch oil the Legislature ential the integrity of In,
Government, woull be wanting 1hi. opinion, at least
has been e1pressedb by the highest judicial authority tn,
Union. | refer to what said by the dstnguishc,
Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court in the famous c,s
OF Cohen Us. Virginia
With all these means Of ultimate practical CONTROL rest
ing in the hands of the States, be presumed tina
Their solemn Inconsistencies in the character Of sove
reign parties TO the constitutional compact woul be Ions
disregarded by the government of the Union IL il tr,
that neither the complaints the opposition of sin
STATE might carry with them decisive influence. Blu
IL the usurpaion the grievance complained of were
serious one the denuncaons OF would not be confined
10 single State Others would unitc-hcir concnrrn!
appeals, boomed on aud Justice, would be sus
tanned by growing public sentiment in the mass of thu
nation and TO this progressive moral power, enforced
strengthened as have shown by other considerations
inc councils OF the Union must always ultimately Weld
IL was thus, sir in the great struggle of 90 and so in re
laon TO the Alien and Scdion Laws which fell beneatl
the moral power OF the States the pioneers AMI organ
OF public opinion. The sautary efficacy Of that sam,
moral power has already manifested ITSELF in tho most en-
couraging manner in relation TO that system of polio,
which is the present subject of our circumstances am
complaints. Have seen, in the North the Iegis
laures Of Maine, of New Hampshire, AMI New York on
after another responding TO the argumeuiave appeals
the Southern States and uniting with them in demanding
an essential modhca ion OF the existing Tariff? In tn
centre OF the Union likewise the altered tone of Pennsyl
vana gives us assurance Of auspcons change of
MON already commencing there. In these results du
alone TO the moral force OF the and appea
which have proceeded from the Southern States we have
certain guarantee of the speedy the incquai
~ and Injustice OF which they have complained.
Let us contrast with this the effects which have bcer
produced BY the violent and illegal opposition OF s Carroll
ma Have we not all and felt that the attitude O
open hostility to the authority OF the Union, assumed b.
that State, IS the great obstacle TO the present adusmen
OF this dstractng question! Is it the objection con
stanty by those otherwise manifesnG best dis
positions for justice and conciaion The honorable Sc
nato from Kentucky, (Nr Clay) has told us that for
long time, he considered the position of South Carolina to
wards the Union, as presenting insuperlbe obs ace
any legislation OF relief during the present session of Con
greSs am most happy that that honorable Senator Ia,
al last seen cause 10 entertain other views and tina,
now feels the injustice of withholding relief from the ng
gleved States OF the South generally on account of In
violent ana improper proceeding sings of to IN
DO not, certainly participate in the indulgence whc
that distinguished Senator seemed to feel for the errors
South Carolina, when he assimlaed her conduct to hs
OF Virginia, in the OF Cohens and of Ohio toward
the Bank Of the United States. Sir, can see nothing
common between the referred TO- and the preseu
! attitude of South Carolina.
lMr Clay here said he had admitted That the arts
South Carolina were much more ohensive-lhc measure
OF ihe States referred 10, in principle the same
,homghln degree widely dierent-hc meant no,hing-h
ie!t nothing, in apology for South Cardinal
To be continued