Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-07

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Constitution, or in other words, throwing oa-and not
part only but the wholeior said in the Report
OF $50 in reference 10 compact "a breach OF part may
be deemed breach OF the whole; every past being deem
ell a condition OF every other part" When State had
resorcd 10 Nuihcation, any other measures TO compel
the co Estates to execute the compact according her
construction of it, she must either be treated OF the
UDiOn and by making this her natural right,
he considered having freed herself FROM subsection
the Constitution, for The purpose OF cocrcing the oher
States, elsI her citizens must be liable TO the penalties
Of treason and the irregular, unconstitutional action ol the
organ OF her severe igu,y be disregaded.
II resulted. he ssd rOm the character Of the Federal
compact aud OF the parties 10 it, that when a State inter-
posed in this extra constitutional manner, and by the pre-
minary steps he had referred to. spread the panopy
her sovereignty over her citizens she could then be
reached only in her collective capacity. Under the
federation, the Congress had 10 compel the States
to perform their engagements, maintained by Mr.
Jefferson and denied he becv ed by any one The
evil that the laws of the Federal Gov ernment could
only he executed through the Intervention OF the State
Legislatures, and if requsou for revenue for instance
were made, and the State failed TO act in raising it, there
was no mode OF compelling her but by the application of
force sgains her in her collective character This
NEEDED by allowing the General Government TO act di-
rccy the persons and property OF the citizens OF the
states, without the necessity Of intermediate legislation
Under the confederation, compliance failure
to act on the of the State defeated the
Congress Under the Federal Constitutions the operation
suve inerpostOn and resistance OF the State This could
not be done without the concurrence Of majority Of the
people, avowedly appealing from the Constitution, and
when DONE the State would he precisely the
uaton as If under the confederation, had refused in its
sovereign capacity TO obey the acquisitions OF Congress-
The power OF military coercion admitted exist in the
one case would DO the same in the other Each State
had laid open its bosom to the action of the Federal Co.
vernnen aud in closing for the purpose of coercng the
States by notification otherwise, it resorng
measure beyond the Constitution and which, while il
attended with all the hazards of secession or even
greater, could not be justified by less papable degree of
injury and oppression Modification, in the only
which he understood it, in fact far dangerous
than secession, and led certainly hostile COLI
sion By seeding simply, State renowned the compact
altogether-by multiplying she sought compel the
Tolerate States to revive IT, and observe ii according 10 her
views The co-staes might permit secession and be
tent TO preserve the of the Union; but nuicati
conld be mot only by forco submission II dis
guised the garb OF peace and persisted in inevi-
taby lead 10 fatal consequences He had already OK.
pressed the opinion that the curious and devices
with which armed in South Carolina might prevent
collision Tor Time but when its authors had succeeded in
showing it to be an clIGctual means of enabling them
ENJOY all the benefits of government, and yet disregard
ITS laws, they had furnished the conclusive proof
that il must end in anarchy
Modification, he said, neither constitutional re-
medy, nor peaccahle remedy; and he thought it of
much Importance that ITS true character should be expos
ed Many might be willing TO seek redress through any
amicable meaus who would revolt the idea
oil dSunion bOodShcd, If them with
II was false light to lure the people with the promise
oil peaceful contamination, until they had reached
point at which the appalling horrors that opened before
hem were less TO be dreaded than the humiliation of re-
treat. And yet Virginia said to have promulgated
ibis as constitutional remedy. Kentucky too, in her
resolutions attributed to the pen of our lanented Jeer
son, said TO have subscribed the same doctrine
But the language was too plain TO admit OF doubt In
of the resolutions, the expression used the CO.
states recurring to their natural right in made
Federal, will" SC. Again it said, ." that where
powers assumed which have not been lega,ed
notification of the is the rightlul remedy; that every
State has natural right, in within the com.
pact, to nuly of their authority all assumption of
power by others within their limits. Who could doubt
that Modification was here regarded natural right,
and that recurrence TO it was appeal from the Con-
stution rather than 10 IT, And in what mode, he would
ASH could sovereign States coerce another other than
by measures OF reprsa retaliation, parakng
of the character Of Some gentlemen excaim against
the right OF the coStaeS under any circumstances TO
coeTce single Sate but would they at the time,
contend for the right of State TO the other States
by Modification otherwise? Ii a State should nufy
the authority OF the Federal Government in any one
part then, every part being deemed condition of
ry other part, OF the compact i'll the language of the
Report oil 50, lie supposed that Government might multi
ty much OF the Constitution authorized such State
TO send Representatives to Congress and this would
effect, drive her from the Union. When the conrover-
sy was carried beyond the pale of the Constitution, il
could be settled only by neGoiAonhy Tho
tythree States cocrcug the ono the coercing the
-threc--by the secession OF the State from
the coSates the secession Of the from the
one Stale The arbrament Of General Convention
a provision Of the Constitutions IL should pre-
cede, not follow Nullilcaon and was not designed to
decide appeals from the Constitution.
Mr.. ID. said he knew it the opinion of some, that
although the doctrines Of South Carolina were erroneous
yet as she was engaged IN lighting the battle OF the whole
South, the means by which she sought accomplish the
object ought not TO he too closely scanned severely
condemned But hc trusted Virginia would never be in.
ucnced by such consideration III wished her on this
every occasion, TO in manner worthy of the
reputation she had long enjoyed for Justice and dsnte-
RESIDENCES. lie wished her maintain her rights TO the
fullest extent and at every hazard, but to maintain Them
by proper and constitutional means-or it, unhappy she
should ever be driven TO beyond limits of
the CONSTITUTIONS TO disclose TO her sister States her
poson and tearessly abide the issue. He said the in
huence which Virginia enjoyed in this conederacy
owing as much, more to moral causes than her ply
steal power She amongst the first asserting our in
dependence and had borne glorious part in its defence.
She had given away principales enrich the Union,
4 q aIng NIL apHa Door.
she might be- aud feeble in comparison with some OF the
younger and more vigorous States she still respected
for her generous sacrifices and the magnanimity with
winch she had adhered through good and through evil
the principles OF justice. Let her sioop this exalted
attitude, to catch the transient benefits expedency and
her honOred brow would be stripped once OF half its
dignity She had rst promulgated those principles which
all protested to hold in much reverence and surely
her right and duty declare the true intent and mean.
ing Of them. If, instead of disownng this spurious doc
rine OF notification, she allowed it, without contradiction
to be ascbcd to her, and participated in the advantages
such they might be, OF its present exercise with what
grace could she hereafter dscan it, when turned per-
hapS against her bosom 1t notification were con
nivrd now, il would grow favour instead
OF "ihe extreme medicine OF the State become daily
bread" IL easy, this time, ioresee cases
in which notification, il acknowledged as consti-
uiiond remedy, might be successfully pTacsed. More
than fourth Of the States, had similar interest in re.
gard to the public lands and, il could negative law
Of Congress- applicable TO that subject sustained by
the others until overued by three fourths of the States
there would be end Of the power Of Congress over
follow from the identity Of situation Of many States in re-
gard 10 the Indian tribes and ii these and other conbina.
Ons, which might readily he pagined were carried out
at TIE same time, into acts OF notification, the operation