Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-09

order TO arrive at their true sense and aing the whole
must be taken together the parts must be constuedin re-
ference each other. The two resolutions Just cited,
them be considered in connection with each other
The Orer asserts the right OF the States TO intPose for
maintaining The authorities rights and liberties dPper
tanning 10 The respective States. But in what manner,
by what measurcs these rights and liberties OF the
States to be maintaineda The latter oil the resolutions
gives the anSwetby necessary and proper measures 10
be taken 10y each for operating with Virginia In main
tanning uuinpared the authorities, rights aud liberties
served Sc. The were be only
~ dnd proper, but such admitted OF cooperation
measures to be "taken by each for cooperating with
Virginia in maintaining SC This language obvi-
ously excludes all measures, which have their JH and
complete effect within the limits OF the respective States
Kentucky could NOT, example, Cooperate with Virgil
MIA in by which Virginia should nudity alsw of the
United States, within her limits, because, there, the
measure would receive its full and complete effect by the
separate and independent action Of Virginia. Such
suros, therefore, have been plated by the
solutions OF Virginia, although adopted separately by
each Of the States IN the inception yet have their
final effect beyond their respective limits in being direct
ed TO object, for the attainment OF which the
States could cooperate toih each other. That object, in
the OF the alien aud sedon acts, the repeal of
the obnoxious laws anl the measures by which 1t was to
be sought were TO be legislative protests against their
constutonaty Instructions to the representatives Of the
States ia Congress direct Inconsistencies TO Congress- and
such other modes of nterposiiion might be deemed
most eligible TO bring the public opinion OF the States 10
bear, with united weight the councils OF the Union
! The important question which has arisen the Vrg
nia resolutions OF 9S is What nodes OF redress might be
JuSuhSoe ~ exuene cases and on The principles OF naur
al right but what of State interposion
deemed To be consistent tcih the constitution Itself Be-
sides evidence this point furnished by proper at
tenon 10 the resolutions themseive', just explained
the question is soncs~iveiy stied BY lie subsequent
port oi go which known 10 have been drawn by the
OF Mr. Madison, then member OF the Virginia egisla
tue the previous resolutions OF '93 also from him
! though he was not then member ot that body The
port in reviewing that part ct the 18th solution alre
Cited which refers to the necessary and proper measures
to be taken by the States Tor operating with each other
in maintaining their rights specifies the various
OF that hch deemed to be toithin the limits IF
the constitution" After insisting that declaration by
State legislature of the notwithstanding OF
Congress and appeal 10 other States to concur in the
declara on il measure OF State interp0st0n cithin
the limits Of the coHstiftti0n-the report also me nons
as being OF like character, direct remonstAnce of the
legislatures OF the States TO Congress instructions their
respective Senators TO propose explanatory amendment
OF ie constitutions and applications from themselves TO
Congress for the call OF convention At the end Of this
specification, the report adds these several means tho
equally eligible in themselves probably to the
States, were all conStitionoy open for consideration
As the occasion called for ull exposition of the
oil Stale nterpOsion deemed TO be "wilhin the limits
the constitutions" SIC specification here made must be
considered, according TO well known rule Of inerpreta
ton, erciudngs in the minds of the writer aud those
who adopted the report all others not specified from the
class OF Constitutional modes Of Stale interpostion. II
there he passages IN the report expressions in the
solutions then, which seem to contemplate other modes Of
redress resov able Into these they must be considered
"srcleng TO those extreme coSesot governmental abuse
or usurpaton which would justify resort original
rights paramount to all constitutions.
Srh has been sometimes tdttingiy said, that ifhe Yir
GINA resolutions meant nothing than right
OF nieposon the part OF the States by declaring c
act Of Congress unconstitutional and f0Lndag thereon
appeals to the other States tce to the general GO
u1nneht, the able reasoning OF Mr. Madsons report
very uselessly expended in maintaining right which
would contest But, sir this right formally aud
explicitly contested by all the States which returned
swers TO the resolutions OF Virginia, with the exception of
Kentucky only. Let gentlemen look atthe Civ
Ell by the Legislatures OF Delaware New York. ConnecIi
cut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,, New Hampshire
Vermont aud they will see that this right boldly denied
by them athat they all contendcd that the right OF pro-
nouncing on the consitutonaty of acts of the General
(,DVpr sIy Tho
dicaryj that declaration by State legislature, such
yirgnla had made OF the unconstiuonaIy OF act of
Congress, unwarrantable Interference with the
constituted authorities of the Union.
AuemP have also been made, sir decry this right
utterly ID and worthless in practice lhave already had
occasion to remark that the exercise OF this right in '9s
and 99, 10y rally ing public opinion 10 the principles
Of the Constitution, and embodying lis expression
posing organized irrns was found adeqna'e not only TO
correct the particular usurra ions OF The lien and seiion
acts, but 10 produce an entire and fundamental revolution
in the administration OF the government The striking aud
still progressive changes OF public opinion in various quar-
ters OF the Union on the subject OF the arii which
have also had occasion nUCe bear continued esmony
TO the eicacy OF the constitutional remedies. Sir,
III system ike ours, founded on the moral force Of public
opinion, ii is remedies OF this sort, / persuaded, that
will be found most eectual, while violent and unconsitu
ona modes OF redress, like that Of South Carolina, will
be attended with danger Cfreacon excite prejudice
confirm the obslinacy OF power and raise up obsa
cles in the way OF relief.
sir Onld appeal gentlemen from the South, who
profess attachment TO te cODtu nal doctrines which
cherished in that quale OF the Union and ask when
occasion OF the
ultimate ascenddncy OF sound public opinion! When
have umphs been for the OF State rights
aud of limited constitutional construction, than during the
last four years. by the patriotic Chief hisgisiTa in
whom the public opinion OF This country has found
firm and uhfncing organ? Has he not, sir, by the
rageous exercise ct power which had hitherto almost
lain dormant in the constitution, snnihiated the earliest
oachment of federal powerhas he not, in like
arrested The wasteul torrent OF public expenditure for
ncOnu iOna Objects, and has he nobly used he
is still using, the high influence, with which the confidence
OF his country has invested him. TO relieve every portion oil
that country from the burthens of The unequal and oppres
siv0 system OF taxation of which complain? Sir,
fer 10 these top cs with wish awaken any UNI
pleasant recoilectons OF past contests, here else
whore, but simply TO remind gentlemen who from
that portion of the country where the political princi-
pies to which have alluded generally prevail of the
rapid progress which those principles have made under
the auspices OF the present Chief Magistrate, towards
settled ascendancy in the public counci and 10 ask them
fhere less Tor the friends OF those princi
pies distust the peaceful influence OF opinion and by
flying extremiiies, hazard only their triumph but
the existence OF our institutions themselves.
will proceed now, Mr.. President state very briefly
my ideas OF what called upon do In the present
circumstances OF the country. 1t were to separate
without doing something, and something efectual too
10 yindicate the despsed authority o the laws, the
Government and the Union would be thenceforward
virtually Dissolved. Our oaths to support the Const-
tuonour highest duties country, (Which, hay-
iag right equal laws entitled also TO an eqaaI exc
cuion Of ihcm) dcmand our hands proper and e1e ua
provision Tor the execution Of he laws in question My
plan, them would be simply this-l would take up this
code OF nul icaton, would examine in all lis in
venlions, and apply TO every ois devices eecua
couneracioD Whereas, notification provides that goods