Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-08-15

always, that they exercise that RICH. consist
entity with The rights Of the minority. Il fol-
lows, Q Jerfiori, that they have n right 70 In
terposc to prevent the minority from usurping
upon fAeir rights. II, then, this DO the mean
ing Of the resolutions, they employ Q very
useless solemnity in affirming mere truism
Besides, IL ~ idle to suppose, that the inter
position either Of all the States. or OF v,s;or;f.
Of them, Is iutendod TO be asserted rs a rirhf.
when the object Is TO correct the adaptations of
that rery majority itself Certainly those who
do the wrong, not only have a righf 10 redress
II, bat are in duly bound To do so. Do the Re-
solutions, then, contemplate plural number
less than a.majority' II so, a single State NAV
act for itself upon the same principle for
there Is no rule, either in ethics or politics.
which measures the rights OF minority, by
the mere number who may happen to com
pose IL. Indeed. that the action by single
state, Tor itself, was contemplated, is mani
fest enough, from other considerations In
the first place, the language imports il, and will
be so understood by every reader, who is not
prone to look for refinement and subtlcty in
every thing. Moreover, il is the particular
object OF the written constitutions to define
and limit the powers Of the Government to
guard against usurpations 7; 10 protect the ,reak
against the strong; 10 guard the right, Of the mi
orifs against The encroachmenfs Of fhe majority
The States, when they formed the compact.
brought To that work, their entire sovereignty.
and all their rights. ifthey did not then sur
render that sovereignty, and those rights al
together, they must have designed to reserve
to Themselves, the task Of projecting them
case may very well arise, in which an I'M.
constitutional law may affect the rights of n
single State only; and it would be moe king
OF the very name Of State Rights, 10 say that
in such case, she may not protect herself In
what other course can her safety" be "pro-
vided" fors IL twenty-t three States should
unite In cutting up every right which apper-
tains to the twenty-foarth, has that State no
redress except that which q maiorityn of
her oppressors may choose TO granti III
this be the meaning Of the Resolutions, so far
from affirming aud protecting State Rights,
they affirm that no single State has any rights
at all. Besides, the Resolutions speak only
Of the reserred rights Of the States; among
which reserved rights, is that which autho-
rizes State interposition, to arrest the usurpa-
tons Of the Federal Government. Now, how
are these rights reserved ?" Does one State
= reserve" its own rights to another State, or
any number Of other States. This seems 10
me to be grant, and not q reservation Of
right Zach State, then, reserves its own
rights 20 Itself, and the Re solutions affirm, that
the right 10 refuse obedience to an uncon-
stitutional law, is among those reserved rights.
Again IL the State may not act upon its own
decision, until the majority have sanctioned
u, the rights TO decide, is, as to all prac-
teal results, IN that majority. and not in the
State. The State has only the right 10 srprss
ITS opinion; which opinion, although involv-
ing her " safety" and her very existence,
goes for nothing until approrsd By others. This
IS, indeed, meagre State Right, Mr.. Richie.
Besides, sir, Is there not some contradiction
IN the positions that State may declare law
to be unconstitutional, and yet that il is bound
To submit TO that law, for some given time ?
What difference - there, in principle, betw cen
an obligation 10 submit 10 an unconstitutional
5Rw for one day, and an obligation 10 submit
- Il for one year, or foreveri confess
that can see none at all. Finally, sir-for
the subject was really not worthy Of even
these few practical and popular views of it
suppose that the other States should refuse TO
say whether the particular State which un-
dertakes TO pronounce law unconstitutional,
Is right or wrong' There are no means Of
compelling them TO decide, and Of course, n
majority Of the States, upon your superstition,
or II be yours,) have only TO stsRd mule, in
order To deprive all the other States, and
eonssitufiOnafiy too, Of every right which ap-
pertains TO them. Nay, even IL the other
States should be disposed to act upon the sub
ject IN good faith, the right which the iDdi-
VIduai State interposes to protect, may be
such as 10 be Loaf forever, Sntsss 10 Be prosspiIs
asserted. Our slave population will at once
suggest to you such case. The very delay,
therefore, Of this previous appeal, may be IA
tai TO ihe very existence Of the right can
scarcely think that II was the intention Of the
Resolutions Of 1898, to produce any such re-
suit as this.
An6 49, IL -. 4. a
dilemma. The resolutions OF 1873, approved
by you, acknowledge the right Of South Caro-
lima, TO pronounce tho Tariff laws unconstitu-
tIonaI; and do not require that she shall for
bear TO act on that decision. until II shall be
affirmed BY majority Of the other States
South Carolina has pronounced those laws
unconstitutional, aud you have over and over
again declared that she is right in that respect
Hoe fhsB cav yoH eOuaieHaaee the Prssidenf and
Congress IN sisbjecffHg hST people 10 the sseoyd,
for MT obeyiHg fhOss ts,ss1 ! would, " re-
gard for deeorum did not forbid IL, dsfy you 20
The answer. You ought 10 give u, and plain
y and satisfactorily too, or else you ought 10
change your course. You are encouraging
The President IN making war upon South Caro-
lima. u y war, sir, however YOU may dis
guise it-eirh WR--with all its uunumbered
train Of suherings, tears and sorrOws A
husband and father who eontempIales this
result, must have nature m0ss c&iious than
take yours 20 be, n he can admit INTO his
calculations, either the "feelings' of POI
liticai fayOrlte, the success Of party objects.
o. the poor pride o. opinion. You can, II you
choose, arrest The vide spreading desolatiOn
with which our whole country Is threatened
bescech you 60 reflect that Il u AZ least poa-
sible, that you are permitting innocent blood
70 b. shed, when Il ~ w your power 10 pre-
vent e. Shalt u not, hereafter, be required
81 your hands,
know, sir, ihatyou have too much respect
Tor public opinion and for deeeBcy, 10 urge
on the mad measures % this administration.
Without, az least, 81 attempt 70 justify your
course. J read Jour paper constantly, yst
seldom, - late, without modification and sor-
sow. lhave sesa upon What grounds Il is
that you ere willing 70 eonsiEn tothe sword
asRord That WIS neveF knoWn 10 spare--a
people o. as generous and lofty character