Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-05
AMELIA NETTING


William Egglcson having been appointed Chairman aud
Armsead 7. Towns, Esq. Secretary; the following pre-
anble aud resolutions subnitted for its
and after animated discussion. were adopted by large
majority:
Whenever the peace, happiness, prosperity of free
community is endangered, either by the turbulence of
faction the arbitrary acts of government il is the duh
as it is undoubtedly the right OF the people, i'm their pr
mary assemblies, give free aud full To ,be;r
sentiments, IS rule OF conduct 10 their
Such crisis has unfortunately occurred Ia the public al
fairs OF our country crisis which cndangers the exist
ence OF the Union,whch threatens with all the hor-
ors oil civil war;and which demands the collected wis
dom and energy of the whole community Tn, Eederapl
having passed several acts, commonly called
the Iari acts which are believed by many of the States
forming this coniedeacy, TO be in open and papabe vio
aton of the constitutional compact-to be totally subyer-
svc OF their reserved rights and destructive Of their dear
est intcestso States, thus aggreved have repeatedly
complained OF these u'upaons, protested against their
authority and petioncd Congress TO relieve them ,
their unjust and oppressive operation.
Their complaints and petitions have been either
with contempt, wholly dsregarded. The acts com.
planned OF have been altered, only TO he rendered more
injurious and oppressve-for, although be admitted that
at the last session OF Congress- of the a
preaching liquidation OF the public debt, the people were
necessarily relieved from portion Of the burthens inn
posed upon them by these acts, yet the remaining bur
thens have been sill unequay distributed and the
aggrevcd States aud particularly the lower classes in
those States have been made TO bear much weigh
y and more unjust proportion OF them. IL, Therefore, at
the last session Of Congress- these acts thus
ed less cruel and oppressive TO the whole community,
has only been that they might be made more unequal
more unjust, and more odous to the Southern States.
Under these circumstances the State of South Carroll
ma, despanng OF any relief from the General Govern
nen has, in Convention Of her people, assembled in
heir paramount, sovereign capacity solsmny declared
that the Tariff shall longer be of any force or cf
ect, within the limits OF her territory. In consequence
OF this declaration the President of the United States has
issued Proclamation, in which he calls in question the
sovereignty OF the States, and forth other views of
their relations TO the General Government which deny
to them right nterpose for arresting the u.rpa-
mons OF a government, or "tor maintaining within their
respective limits the authorities rights and liberties an
pertaining 10 them II these doctrines are 10 be carried
into effect is evident that the rights Of the States are AT
an end and that Federal into
consolidated desposm, Of the FORM and with the
most unlimited powers. Yet the President, in his Pro-
camaton has expressed his determination toenorce these
doctrines upon s. Carolina at the point of the bayone
and, II is believed that for this purpose he is under the
authority OF the General Government already assembling
an armed force within that State.
We thus have the awful prospect presented 10 us of
bloody conflict between of the States of this contede
racya sovereign party to the constitutional compact and
the General Govennent-the creature of that compact
and the agent OF the States-in which conflict il is
apprehended the last their reserved rights NAV
be forever subverted the dearest interests of the
Southern people forever destroyed To remain tile I'M
moved spectators OF such would be impossible
To look on in silence would be 10 disregard most sa
cred right and TO violate the obligation of highest duty
Under the influence OF these ons-che rhinq
still warm attachment TO the Union but determined n
aid in preserving the rights of the States d OF the people
as an expression OF the sentiments of this meeting in re
gard to the present unfortunate Sid awful crisis in our pub
lie affair--Thereiorc r.
Resoived That the act Of Congress approved tile 10Th
day OF May 1925 and the act approved the 18th of July
1857 altering and amending the several imposing d
ties on Imports deibcate papabe and dangerous VII
oiaions OF the Constitution of the United Statcs-tbat
arc unjust and unequal in their operation the different
sections OF the Unionand cruelty oppressive the peo
ple-of the Southern States
RESOLVED, That the late Proclamation of the President
Of the United States contains views the Federal Con.
uhon entirely inconsistent with the principles which
Virginia maintained from the formation of the Union
ana Whcn If carried INTO effect must convert the Fedo
ral Government into consolidated and unlimited despo
ism.
oI,rJ
and dangerous exercise of powers by the Federal
ment, not granted TO by the constitutional compact the
States, who are parties thereto have the right and are In
dy bound TO inerpose for aestng the progress the
evl', ana Tor maintaining within their respective limits
the authorities rights and liberties apperanug to them
ReSOlred, That whilst we condemn the precpisa,cv
with which the State OF South Carolina has acted, vet we
sympathse deeply in her wrongs aud believe that er
acts have been dictated by sincere attachment the
Constitution and Union Of the United Sates-by pAtr.
oc regard to hor own rights, and by devotion to
the of liberty.
Resolced That, if unfortunately the present awh,l cr
s should eyenuate in civil strife and dsunion, the sin
should be visited upon those who have perverted the Con-
suton, and oppressed the peoplenot upon those who are
making NOBLE though perhaps rash effort relieve
themselves irOa ntOerable burthens regain their
violated rghts-upon the oPpressos upon the oppress
de.
Resolved, That in case the General Government, should
attempt, by military force, to impose the present tariff acts
to be unequal and unjust and believed to DO
arbitrary and UNCONSTITUTIONAL upon the people of South
Carolina, nnst the sovereign Of the Sate il will be-
come the duty OF Virginia, from sacred gard her
iere as well as to her principles, resist such attempt,
by peaceable means, ii they may be successfully war
like means II the necessity be imposed upon her.
ReSoIred, That any which the Legislature OF
Virginia may in its wisdom, adopt calculated TO carry into
effect the sentiments contained in the foregoing resolutions
will obtain the cordial assent and APPRECIATION of this meet
ing.
ResOlued That the foregoing Preamble Resolutions
he signed by the Chairman and Secretary, that they
tie forwarded to the Richmond Enquirer tile Constitutional
Wing, and the Jefersonian and Times, for publication
WILLIAM EGGLESTON, Chairman.
ARMGsTEAD T. Towns, Secretary.