Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-01-24

depend upon so nlany contingencies, are So
directly opposed TO the known opinions and
interests Of the great body oil the American
people, as 20 be almost hOpeless'o oil attain
rhent The majority OF the States and Of
the people will certainly not consent that the
protecting dates shah be wholly abrogated.
neger TO be re enacted at any future tune
or in any possible contingency. As little
practicable il is to provide tina! tbs Same
rate of daty shall he i0;posed upon the nnpro-
tected," which, moreover, would be severe
iy oppressive TO the poor, and 10 time OF war,
would add greatly to its rigors Aud, though
there can be no objection to the principle.
properly understood, that no more revenue
shall be raised than is necessary for the con-
stiinlional purposes of the Government
which principle has been already recommen
ded by the Executive as the true basis OF
taxation, yet IL il very certain that South
Carolina alone cannot he permitted to de-
eide what those constitutional purposes are.
The period which constitutes the due
time IN which the terms proposed IN the adj
dress are TO he accepted would seem to pre-
sent scarcely less daIpnl'y than the terms
themselves Though the revenue laws are
already declared to be void Ia South Caroli-
IA as well as the bounds taken under therb,
and the Judicial proceedings for carving
them into effect, yet, as the full action aiid
operation Of the Ordinance are TO be sGs|cIi
lied until the LIST Of February, the interval
may he assumed as the Time within which II
Is expected that the most compiicate portion
Of the national legislature, a system Of long
standing aud affecting grea, interests ~ the
community is 20 be res .nded and abolished
II this be required, il IS clear that a compli
ance IS impossible "
With respect to the allcdged right Of SC
cession. as well as qualification" the views
of the administrator are given as follows:
"By these various proceedings, therefore,
the State of Soath Carolina has forced the
General GeyernnieRt. unavoidahly, to decide
the rev and dangerous alternative of permit
ting a State 10 obstTuct the execution Of the
laws within its limits. or seeing it attempt to
execute threat OF withdrawing from the
Union. That portion of the people at pre-
sent exercising the authority Of the State
soemnly assert their right TO j, either, and
as solemnly announce their determination TO
do one or the othe..
Gin my opinion both purposes are 10 he re
sarded a revolutionary in their character &
tendency. and subveTsive 10 the supremacy
of the laws and Of the integrity of the q
mon. The result Of each is the same; since
a State IN which, by an usurpation Of power,
the constitutional authority of the Federal
Government is openly defed and set aside
wants only the form, to be independent Of
the Union
The right cf the people Of single State |
to absolyc themselves a; will, and without the I
consent Of the other States, from then most /
solemn obligations, and hazHd the liberties
and happiness OF the millions composing this !
Union, cannot be acknowledge d - Such au
horlty IS believed 10 be utterly repugnant
lJ,h e. he principles upon which the general
government IS constituted aud 10 the otiects
Fhlch 1t WAS expressly formed to attain
Il galnst all acts which may be alleged TO
the constitutional power Of Cox.
Fnment, or which may be inconveuieut or
oppressive IN thei! operation, The CousiitBti Yn
tseif has prescribed the nsidss of redress Il
$ the acknowledged attribute u free ln.iila
ions that, under them, The empire Of reason
md law IS substituted Gr the power q! the
word. TO no other sogtee can spgesis for
imposed wrongs be nna3e eoa sistcniiY With
he osiiEafsoas Of South Caroline. 10 no 0
Ter csu s,&eb Appeals be made with safety al
~ 'iuss; and T. their decisions, when con.
.'sigftsasily pronounced, il becomes the duty
10 lsse u 'he public authorities than of the
2eopse, ia every ease, 10 yield patriotic
.a'lTTssstea
That State, or any other great portion
u the people, suffering under long and intol.
cradle oppression, and having tried all con.
.iituti0nai remedies without the hope of re
dress, may have natural right, when Their
happiness can be no otherwise secured and
when they can do 50 without greater injury
to others, to absolve themselves from their
obligation to the Government and appeal TO
the last resort needs not, on the present oc
cason, be denied.
The existence of this right, however,
must depend upon the causes which may lus-
tify its exercises 1t is the ultima ratio, which
that the proper appeals 10 all o.
Their means Of redress have been made in
good faith, and which can never be rightf1Ily
Tcsorted to, unless il be unavoidable Ii is
not the right OF the State, but Of the indiVid.
uais, and Of all the individuals in the State.
II is the right OF mankind, generally. 10 Sc,
cure, Try all means in their power, the bles.
sings OF liberty aud happiness; bat when,
Tor these purposes, any body of men have
voluntarily associated themselves under a
particular form Of government no portion of
them can dissolve the association without
the corretatve right ia the
remainder TO decide whether that dissolution
can be permitted consistently with the general
happiness. 10 this view, il is right Deepen
dent upon the power TO enforce il.