Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-04-08

lthese resolutions and consider them as an authen
tic statement of those opinions, upon the great
constitutional question, by which the recent pro
cecdnss in South Carolina attempted TO be JUS
tilted.
These resolutions are three in number.
The third seems intended 10 enumerate, and to
deny, the several opinions expressed IN the Pre-
sident's proclamation, respecting the nature and
r.owers Of this Government OF this third rcsou-
'ion PROPOSE at present, To take no particular no
tee
The two first resolutions ofthe honorable mem-
her affirm these propositions, VIZ.
l. That the political system, under which we
i've and under which Congress is now assembled,
IS op0fnoct, 10 which the Pcopie Of the several
states as separate and sovereign communities are
tie parties
, Thnt these sovereign parties hOves right TO
inJse, each lor itself, of any alleged violation OF
the constitution 10y Congress and, ~ ease OF such
violation 70 choose eaeh for itself, ITS own modo
aud measure of redress.
II Is lrue SIR that the honorable member calls
ihls +" constitutional compact but still he al
firms L Ia be IA com ,ao bsireeH SortfeiBh SfdfrS
Whal precise meaning, then does ho attach to the
term constitutional When applied to compacts
between sovereign Suites, the teln constitutional
at'ixcs 10 that word compact no definite idea
/ Were we 60 hear of u Constitutional league or
! treat. between Englandand France, or cordiia-
! ti1uai e. sSenton between Austria aud Russia W.
should not un1a stand what could be intended 10y
! such league such treaty or sucha conventpb
IN these come Mons, the word Is VOID OF all mean
IN, AID yet, SIR 1t is easy, quite cnsv, 10 see Why
the honorable gentleman has used il IN these reso-
! lurlans lie cannot open the book and look upon
our written frame of Government, without seeing
thnt IS called a constitution. This may well be
appalling to him Ii threetcGs his whole doctrine
Of to,7p1ri and It's during derivatives, nnA3tcdf'oa
and setesHo4, with instant coniutatlon. Because,
II he admits our instrument of Government bo
conSi,fgfo~ then, for That very reason, II is not
: rompar, between soverei@ns constitution o1 20
vcrnmett aud IA compact between sovereign Pow
crs, Nn, things o>sentaiiy un!in IN their v'ry ma
ur,s. aud incapable ofcver being tie Same YET the
word ems iHftoa - on the very font the IN
,trifment lie cannot overlook IT, lie seeks,
! therefore, TO compromise the matter, and to sunk
all the substunal sense Of the word, Uhlle hr.Fe-
: t.ins resemblance Of its sound. He introduces
! new word OF his own, VIZ. compdtt, os importing
the principal idea, ana deslg ncd To play the prlncl
I pli part, and degradrs foHNuRfira INTO nm lnsle-
niG-t,nt idlc eFiih't attached TO compact The
whole then st1nl. rs a Constitutional com
paci! - And IN this way he hopes top'ss oil u
plaushle sloss as satisfying ia" words OF the IN
,,rument; but he w'tl hnd h!msei disappointed
:ir, must say % the honorable gentleman, that, IN
our American political grammar, CONSTITUTION Is
a noun sub s'nntivr Il imports dlslnet ana clear
idea II itself; and Il is not to lose It's Importance
aud dignity, II is not to be turned into poor, anoi
euous. sensersS, unmeaninS affective, for the Pnr-
nosc o: Accommodating any uew st of political
notions Sir We Will reject his ueN rules OF syn
tax nltneerhcr W. will not give up Our forms al
pnitica speech Ia the grammurians OF the school
! Of nnIlicaton Bv thu constitution, we mean not
IL top,fjfuhonaf c0mpa l. but SIMPLY q directly
NE constitution, the fundamental law and 1t there
! TO one word in the llngnage, which the people Of
the United 81 ties understand. this Is that word
! We know no moro of Il coHSiihaion" e5mPdct be
tween sovereign Powers, than We know OF n com
luliniionni ndenturc ofeeparme, ship. n cohsiifa-
tionai deed of conveyance o. II e'HIHW'oh"i
bill of exchange But we knoe wnhtth eon1tf"-
! fion IS we know whit the rlamly written inn-
d,menta, law Is " !-now WIN, ;he bond of ent
Union and the sc,nr.' " IF or lheril = aud W
m an to maintain and % defend i, ~ Is Piain scasc
and unsophsticated meaning.
The sense of the seniemons propostll'n, there
fore is no, a, all aft ctcd way or The other by
the use of this word That proposition still IS,
that our system of Government IS hut u compact
between the people Of separate nd sovereign
i States.
Was j, Nrabe,nl. Mr. President or Whit other
muster Of the hnmnn passions, TO has told us that
words are things They are indeed things, and
,hngs of mighty Influence. not only IN addresses
to the passions and hgh-wIough feelings OF man
! kind but IN the discussion of LEGAL and political
n,icstons ulso because jus, conclusion IS often
avoided or a f4lse one reached, by the adroIt sub
stitntion Of one phrase, one "ori' for another,
/ Ofthis we have think, another example IN the
+ i,,i, uS