Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-14

ces, and peoned Tor redress! Is there difference be-
tween such solemn proceeding, and the getting up and
sending in few petitions in the informal and cleo
uoneerng way in which such things are too often one
Another mode Of procuring redress by exercising the
rght @ instruction According TO the Presidents account
OF the duties of member OF the House of
1t would be his duty TO obey for the local interests his
constituents would be brought in conflict with other
interests IL is well known that the Legislatures OF the
States claim and exercise the right TO instruct their Sepa
tors But one oil The ablest politicians Virginia pro-
duced positively denied this right be in the Legsla
lures. He contended, that it belonged TO the peopie of
the States and not to their deputies His doctrine in eff
feet denied the exclusively federal of the Sc
nate, representing the reflected sovereignty of State
governments instead OF the sovereignty of political
munties. With this exception, man has questioned
the repubicanism OF VIM. Il. Giles
There is provision of the Constitution Ist Art 4th
Sect OF which the AntiTariH and Internal Improvement
States might have avaled themselves, checked the
urpations OF which they complain: The times places
and manner Of holding elections for Senators and Re.
representatives., shall be prescribed in each State by the
Legislatures thereof but the Congress may at any time
by law make alter such regulations, except as TO the
places OF choosing Senator'S Congress has not as vet
interposed it's superior authority this subject Now
suppose all the Southern States in some OF which, tariff
and internal improvement aud Authoritarian men have
been elected from particular Districts had abolished the
dtcf system OF election, and adopted the general ticket
plan, according to the known practice of Georgia. would
any OF the Objectionable laws have passed. which were
carried by bare and small maorties? Virginia members
OF Congress have voted for these laws, contrary the
known opinions OF great majority Of States and has
not tins been the in many other States! Ii is true
That the general ticket plan would disranchse several
change The vote in Congress such subecs-lor
the majority of us would take care to put no man on
the ticket who does not think do, who would
represent us July by voting with the other members,
as TO give an undivided vote. If the Legislature really
hk mat the government is strictly federal i'm all
parments, that il has national popular feature i'm IL
men, 10 he consistent and 10 carry their principles
they ought to disfranchse every federal or hy district
and adopt the general ticket Much has been said about
'he rights OF min0ities here is constitutional MAJORITY
rlgh, the exercise Of which may possibly save the
Cn'on resored TO by all the aggrieved States. And
should have that effect, il is probable that the aggrev
cd d'SfF'ctS might acquiescc for time. | do not re-
commend this measure. only point it as a blank
page in the book of consistency. maintain the rights of
the people to the greatest they can be carried and
esteem most, the popular features of our Constitutions
AS an advocate Tor State Rights | would cling to the
federal feature IN the general government although puts
tne controlling power over nearly ten millions of inhab
tants into the hands OF rather three millions All our
ideas oil justice and equality would revolt al such feature
IN government either purely popular entirely national
ut the Constitution OF the u s. is the result compromise
and conclaon This peculiarly in branch of the le
gsaVe department is the price paid TO the small States for
cedng so many OF their original and sovereign powers TO
The common government The controlling power of the
Senators representing the States, States not confined
to the enactment of law; for they are made part of the
Executive, who can make treaty with foreign nations
without the concurrence OF two thirds OF the
Senators The jealousy of the States satisfied with
me ra'liyng votes OF mere majority, and thirds
were required The President is elected by the peope
at large, according 10 federal numbers and to strip him of
me power OF abusing the immense patronage lodged
MS hands, The Senate is clothed with authority confirm
or reject his nominations to office the exercise OF which
bare majority may This view of the subject partly
illustrates the brief but description of the
government given by Mr.. Madison in the Virginia Con
venton and quoted pretty fully in my first number:
Thus iii OF complicated nature, and this complication
trust will be found TO exclude the evils of absolute con-
sohuatlon, as well as OF mere coniederacy."
Those who claim the right of a single State TO nulfy
law OF Congress- after it has passed through these three
checking and revising branches of the government and
been even sustained by the judiciary those who think
that State may peaceably violate her solemn engage
mens with her sister States and secede her own will
nj al he ri of tho
ness OF the rest, cannot object the moral Injustice of
electng their members OF Congress by general ticket
The practical operation OF the one, is that of DnoIify
and oil the other that OF mGjorityrigh Both are re-
sorted TO OF redress protection and must be
iounded presume, on the idea, that NECESSITY light
90 hand in hand The Acknowledgement of nnor,ies il
thing in this land of liberty In the election
OF President and Vice President the general ticket mode
OF voting which siences the voices of heavy minorties
is resorted to in every State in the Union except
i've. In Maine and Marylan the people vote by dis
tncs But in Delaware, South Carolina and Louisiana
the legislatures TO be afraid TO trust the mao.
pie to vote even by general ticket, and they exer.
else the suffrage in their legislative capacities and ac
corung 10 tne mig" oehes's Of their own political pre-
ierences, whim or personal feeling! The vote of the
Legislature of South Carolina for Governor FLOYD TO he
President was, perhaps unexpected the people OF
that State as to the people of Virginia; and
the leading nullers had recently concurred in the pro-
priety and necessity Of -eecing Gen. Jackson
Inc Constitution contains yet another mode by which
abuses and usurpations may be corrected Ii provides
way by which 1t may be amended-C Congress nav pro
pose amendments to be ratified by the States or they are
I,puis
Iaures OF the States, TO call General Convention Ic
the spirit and the letter of the Constitution have been
so oppresSvey and outrageousy violated by the prac
ucal government, that disunon and civil war are
even preferable to longer acquescencc, WHY I ask
have not all these peaceful and constitutional modes
oi redress been rcSoed TO? Why have not the agrrieved
States consulted together and decided upon the most
BILE mode and of redress! Why have thew no,
moved together in some one of these peaceful ways!
south Carolina after proceeding to the extreme measure
oil nulilcaot and put the OF war now asks for
The call OF General Convention If she be sincere in
that CALL will she not pledge her faith To abide the deci
sion oil majority OF States when assembled i'm Conven
uoh! But IS there not great, extreme danger i'm GOING
INTO Convention in the present state of parties and Sybe
the elements Of conflicting interests and warning ab;,;o
are wrought up to an unexamped height of conmo,ion
what hopes have the southern States of beinO abe n,
amend The Constitution at this time so as 10 secure
interests, and TO strip Congress Of the powers which in
several Instances, they have unquestionably surpe? And
u hey Is TO do so in Convention, will not our condito
DE made worse Than II is Tony mind the danger even
greater Than this! May not the disputed powers no ev
phcily incorporated into The Constitution? Nav not
batch OF other powers be granted the exercise Of
we cannot submit for single year But i'm either If
heSe cases WIZ not the Convention break ND in anger and
comnolon VIII not the glorious Union to which I've
owe so uch happiness and prosperity, be at once broken
in'o fragments! An irretlevabe disruption must follow
carrying lnits consequences dire disasters which no
can tell, nor pencil paint may be- that Immediate
VIII not follow; but, come il soon will Three or fonr
separate considerations, dictated by aliles and
OF interest, VIII immediately spring up The bate and
jealousy o each other and the disputes about the pune
OF 'he present. Union, will presently lead to war And
men, now long VIII we be enabled to escape the actual
horrors OF military despolisn Not the die sro,is Of 80
may expect TO be free from the iron rule nj conc ge
rOpean Prince Potentate." who unt r,I;n, H. a.,