Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-22
MEETINGS OF THE PEOPLE.

At a meeting of a respectable number of The citzens
OF the county OF King & Queen, at the Courthouse, on
the llth of March, 1888
William Robinson was called TO the Chair. and Rohsr,
Pollard, appointed Secretary. The object of the meeting
was explained by Edwin u pshaw, and on motion oC 6rchi7
oa'h IL. harwood, the following named gentlemen were
appointed a committee TO report to this meetinp. viz. Ed.
win Upshaw, Archibald II. Harwood, David p. W,igI,t
John w. Robinson, Robert Pollard, Robert b. Waller
1ooert Davis Samuel UpshdH, Doct. Epperson, Isham
bagby, James Govan, William Todd, John Gaines, Rob't
Pollard, jr, john ID. McGiU, Alexander Fleet, Carter -,
Fogg, Robert Boyd, Robert Bland, and, ON motion the
Chairman was added TO the committee. who. HAVING r.-
urea a short time, returned, and MIR. Upshaw, from fine
committee, reported the following preamble and resolu.
lions:
Feeling, in common with our fellow citizens generally.
a hveIy interest IN the great political questions which at
this time agitaie our beloved country, and threaten the
existence oil that excellent government, under which we,
anu our fathers, have so long enjoyed the blessings of lber-
" and regarding the popular movements in many parts
OF our State, as by no means expressing the voice Of
' virginia. but, on the contrary, tending TO pull her down
from Tie high elevation on which she stands, by repre-
senhng an utter abandonment Of her principles, and a
sacTihce OF consistency At the shrine of a popular Execu-
i've ana being unwilling that the whole Commonwealth
should be identified IN public estimation, with a portion.
whose feelings and interests are essentially different from
those oil the great mass Of her populations; we, the people
OF the county Of King and Queen, in the exercise Of a
right not yet JoTci6ty denied, adopt the following rosolu-
tons:
1. ResoiUed, That the Federal Union is A political COM
pact, formed for certain specified purposes, by entering into
which, Tie States, as sovereign parties, did not divest
themselves OF any portion Of sovereignty, but merely
suspended the individual exercise of certain powers. -,
long as the objectsof the compact should be promoted.
resefving to themselves the right to resume the exercise
OF those powers whenever the objects of the compact
should be departed from.
z. HesoiUed, That the Federal Government, i'm all its
departments, legislative, executive and judicial is but the
agent OF the sovereign parties TO the compact, charged
with the execution OF certain duties enumerated i'm the
charter OF its creation To permit that government, there.
lore, 10 be the sole Judge Of the measure Of its powers
upon all doubtful points, would violate the settled prinri-
pies upon which all agencies depend. and be utterly de-
structiye Of the very nature and genius Of our insdtu.
tons.
- HtsofDed, That whenever the General Government
shall idil to promote the great objects for which it was
formed, to vii; the happiness aud prosperity of the peo-
pie, the protection Of the weak against the natural en-
c%roachments and usurpations Of the strong, the party aq-
gneved has The indlienable right TO demand OF the co-par.
ties, such amendment OF the Constitution as shall supply
the defect, and, IN the event Of a refusal on their part, TO
Withdraw from the conleder8cy.
4. ResOiUCd, That while we regard most sacred the
right OF The several States to resume the exercise Of SOW.
relgniy, whenever IL may become necessary, either on
account OF the unconstitutional action Of the Federal Co
vernnent, or~becaUse that government is found 10 be in
adequate TO the purposes for which it was created; yet we
would dePrecaie The exertion OF that right on the part Of
any state, unless the ioiiiion Of the Constitution, i'm the
one case, had been fragrant, ~paipsble and contnuous-or
the action OF the government, in the other, utterly de-
stuouye Of The iuterest Of such State; and that, even