Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-26
VIRGINIA DOCTRINES OF ,os.,oo.

'h"i urlNelcf ana ScrNlle SNCOphant of MIR.
Calhoun, the Editor of the US. Telegraph. 1t isl
mastery reiutation. Not another word is necessary
to clear up that branch of the subject.
we seize this opportunity, however, for noticing
the assertion put forth in Mr.. Hamilton's Report
rom the ommitte of 81, on the Virginia Media
ton. lie again claims the resolutions of 'gS. as n
shelter for The Modification doctrine of South Caro-
INA. When Virginia asserted (says this Report)|
that IN case of deliberate, ~palpable and dangerous
exercise of other powers, not granted by the said
compact, the States who are parties thereto have the
right, and are in duty bound, to interpose for arrest
ing the progress OF. the evil, and for maintaining
within their respective limits, the authorities. rights
and liberties appertaining to them, we conceived she
has done nothing more or less than announce the re-
medy which South Carolina has resorted to, through
her State interposition."
Here Mr.. Hamilton contends, that Mobilization
was the remedy announced by Virginia. Is this the
iact' is this the form Of interposition which Virgil
ma intended by her resolutions ? Far from IT,. Is
1t etther what she actually did herself? or, what she
says she might ultimately have called upon the
other States to " cooperate" with her i'm doing? Let
us touch both these questions.
Isl. Ter o,on drOWdt.-The quotations by FINDER
show what her real object was. She does not point
TO any thing like force, violence, resistance TO the
laws, nulllficatIon, or even secession. But let us ira
vel beyond the record, and go into the other proosf
ms best expounding her intentions.
what said MIR. John 5Iercer in the Legislature,
winch adopted these resolutions ?
"The plan contained in the resolutions anpearod IN m,
Mercer the most advisable. Force tcds not thought of
" any one !he preservation of the Federal Constitu-
non, the cement oil the Union, with its original powers.
was the object of the resolutions. The States were equal.
~ concerned, as their rights had been equally invaded
and nothing seemed more likely TO produce a ,onnor ~
Congress for a repeal, than a declaration similar 10 The
one before the Committee, made by a majority of States,
or by several of them.
"Their object in addressing the States. ia 70 obtain , =;
n,fdT declaration Of opinion with respect TO several late
acts OF the General Government, which seem to violate
some OF the most invaluable rights secured by the charter
oil their own existence; and thereby to obtain a reuenl of
measures unconstitutional in their nature, and hateful in
their tendency"
What says the celebrated John TAILOR of Caroline?
che proceeded 10 apply these observations TO the threats
oil war, and the apprehension of civil commotfon, towards
which the resolutions were said TO have = tendency. Arc
the Republicans, said he, possessed of fleets and armies ?
u not to what could they appeal for defence and support?
10 no hing ercept public opinion. IL that should be
against them, they must yield; if for them, did gentlemen
mean to say, that public will should be assailed by force ?
! ! So should a minority, by the help of the powers Of
Government, resort TO force for its defence against public
opinions; and against a State which was pursuing the only
possible and ordinary mode of asceriaining the opinion Of
theirs ?' "S
But what says Governor Monroe to the Legisla-
lure OF io0o, when he refers to Mr.. Madison's Re
port OF ~ which was written for the express pur-
pose OF supporting his Resolutions of '9S:
"As soon as the requisite number of copies Of tbe Re-
port oil the Select Committee of the last session on the am.
swers OF several of tho States to The Resolutions of the
General Assembly, which passed at the preceding session
relative to the Alien and Sedition Law, of tbe Tni,oi
States, and the instructions TO the Senators of this State 10
u congress oil the United States, were printed, the Ex-
ecutive FASTENED TO distribute them among the several
counties OF the Commonwealth, in compliance with the re-
solution of the goth of January last. Ii is believed thai no
puchc documents Illustrative of public transactions, how
INer H,'1rcS'lhg' were ever TNore generally read or
thoroughly approved, than those were: nor can il he doubf.
ca that the hight which they communicated on the very
important subject TO which they referred. tended ~ in.
crease IN a high degree the confidence of the good people
oil ms Commonwealth, in the wisdom and policy which
governed ihe General Assembly. In connection with that
SUBJECT, tits proper TO add, that since your last session the
SedItion Law, one of the acts complained of. has been car.
ried into effect in this Commonwealth bv the decision If q,
Il eueraI Court. notice fhiS a. van NOT NTH H. -.
censlring or crl icNng il. The transaction has gone to
the world, and the impartial will judge OF it as it deserves.
l hohce 1t Tor the purpose of remarking, that the decision
M"s executed WIN Inc same order and tranquil submission
on the part OF the people, as could have been shey n bv
mem on a similar occasion, to any the most necessary, CON
su.h'onaI ana popular acts OF the Government. The con-
stituted authorities and the good people of this Common.
wealth are attached to the Union, and cherish it with their
iondest wishes. The colonization of their ancestors in this
western world, was generally from the same country. AT
the same time, and produced by the same cause. Tbev
alike groaned under an oppression which rcpresscd their
grown ana checked their prosperity; they fought and bled
IN lhe same battles, in defence of the same rights. and
nave since experienced, with unexampled harmony and
unhnimity, a variety OF interesting occurrences tpbicb mi.
moniSh them, they still are and ought to remain fore,ey
united The General Assembly, and the good people of
TINS Commonwealth, have acquitted themselves to their
own cohSclences, ana 10 their brethren in America, i'm sup.
port OF a cause which they deem a national one, bv the
stand which they made, aud the sentiments they EXPRESSED
OF nose acts OF the General Governments; but Mev hare
foohed TOR a change in that respect, 10 a cuANGr IN
THE PUBLIC OPINION, which ought to be free. NOT TO
MEASURES OF VIOLENCE, DIscoRD Avn D,suvro.
WHICH THEY ABHoR."
"ln January, 1901, they adopted another preamble and
resolutions, IN which they express their "decided nppro.
Dalon OF The resolutions Of $500, aud the report of 90
l5oo, repeating their solemn pr0testation" against the
oedi'ion Act-a report which had their decided approba.
uoh, mot only because Of the perspicuity and Irresistible |
iorce OF the argument which it contains, but because n
dLSPoSiton to promote mutual respect, confidence and
gBecf'on among The mem6ers Of the Union, is uniform.
W PTesTued" They refer also to the enforcement of ue
Sedition Law, as realizing all their prebensions- md
they accordingly instruct their Senator's, &c. "fo oraII
mensefpes OF eUery opportunity to obtain a repeal of
Sdtd .dct 81 congress, and TO oppose any law or resolution |
containing a recognition of said doctrine (viz. that tho
Common Law is the law of the u. sly
There cannot he n more satisfactory commentary
on the Resolutions of 9S. Wherein do we find that
Virginia intended Qualification, violence. disunion9
But let us touch the I'd point-the form of the CO.
operation which she expected from the other States.
zen. Hamilton has quoted the above passage from the
ulHrd resolution. But we must take this Sd resolution
an connerlon with the Sirh; because itcontains expres-
slohs similar to the memorable phrase i'm the Sd Reso-
luton ON which he emphatically dwells. This 9th
Nesolntlon% "solemnly appeals to the like dispositions
III me otbeEStates, i'm confidence that they will concur
with this commonwealth in declaring, as il does here
by declare, that the acts aforesaid are unconstitution-
al; and, that the necessary and proper measures will
he taken by each, for cooperating with this State.
w maintaining unimPdired, the authorities, rights and
HOert'eS, reseUed IN the States respectively, or to The
people,"
And now what says the Report Of 90 on the ,poo-
neT OF " maintaining the authorities, rights. and liber-
tIes, reserved IN the States respectively, or to tile peo-
Ut s lastly ODE seen whether the confidence expressed