Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-26

language. The people have ordained a constitution; can
they reject it without revolution They have established
a form of Governments; can they overthrow it without re,
volutiOn? These are the true questions.
Allow me now, MIR. President, to inquire further into
the extent OF the propositions contained IN the resolutions,
ana their necessary cOuseQuC noes.
Where sovereign cOmmunit es are parties, there is no
essential difference between a compact, a confederation,
aud a league. They all equally rest on the pligh,ed faith
oil the sovereign party. A league, or conledcrdcy, is but
a subsishng or continuing treaty.
The gentieinan's resolutions, then, affirm, in effect, that
'heSe twenty-iour UuitH states are held together only BY
a suosis'ing treaty, resting for its iulhlm,cnt aud contimu.
nnce on 40 inherent power OF It's own, hut on the ulirhte
ihh ct each State; o., in other words, that our linton is
out u league; and, ~ 4 consequence from this proposition,
they further affirm that, as sovcicisus aie subject to no si.
peror power, the States must decide, each tor itself. of
any alleged violation OF the league; aud if such violation
be supposed to have occurred, each may adopt any mode
or measure of redress which it shdl. think proper.
oher consequences naturally follow, too. from the main
proposition. Ii u league between sovereign powers have
no limitation rs 10 the time of its duration, aud contain no.
mlis making IT perpetual, it subsi,ts only during the good
pleasure OF the parties, although no violation be complain
eu Oi. H. IN the opinion OF either party, il he violated,
such party may say TINT he will NO longer fulfil its obiga.
ions ON his part, but will consider the whole league or
compact al an end, although il ntight be one OF its slipu,a-
IONS 'hat At should be perpetual. Upon this principle, the
Congress OF the United States, in li9s. declared null and
yoid the treaty OF alliance between the United States and
France, though it proiesscd to be a perpetual alliance.
III the violation of the league be accompanied with Sc
rouS injuries, the suffering party, being sole Judge ofhis
own mode and measure OF redress. has a right to iudcmui-
~ himself ny reprisals OH the offending member, of the
league; and reprisals, II the circumstances OF the case re-
p"Io IL, may be followed by direct, ayowed, and public
war.
The necessary import of the resolutions, therefore is.
m" 'he Chi eel States are connected only by a league:
,ha' IL is the good pleasure oil ever State TO decide how
long she viii choose to tcmain a membero OF this league:
that any State may determine the kent of her own obi
cations under it, and accept or reject what shall be Jecid.
eu oy the whole; that she may also de ,ermiue whether her
lighIs have been violated, what is the extent of the iniurv
ZONE her, aud what mode and measure Of redress her
wrongs may make it til and e~xpedicnt Tor her to adop,
ihe result OF the whole is, that any : ate may secede at
l'easurei that any Sta e may resist a law winch he her
sci may choose to say exceeds the power OF Congress-:
dhu ha', as a sovereign Power, size may redress her own
grievances, by her own arm, at her own discretion; sha
may make reprisals, she may cruise agains; the proper,v
oil other members OF the league; she may authorize can.
lures, and make open war.
IL, sir, this be our political condition, it is time the peo.
Pe oil the United States understood il. Let us look for
a moment TO the practical consequences of these opinions
u stare holding an embargo law unconstitutional, NAV
uecIare her opinion, and withdraw from the Union. She
seceues' Another, forming and expressing the same iudg.
ment on aIaw laying duties on imports, may withdraw
Also She secedes. And>as, in her opinion, money has
oeen taken out OF the pockets of her citizens ILLEGALLY.
dress their wrongs, she may demand satisfaction; and. if
refused, she may take it with a strong hand. The gen.
ueman has himself pronounced the collection of duties.
under existing laws, 10 be nothing but robbery. Robbers.
OF course, may be righuully di>possessed of the fruits of
hagiuous crimes; and, therefore, repIisals, imposi-
'lons on the commerce OF other States, foreign alliances
against mem, or open war;, are all modes of redress Justly
open TO the discretion and choice OF South Carolina: for
she Is TO Judge of her own rights, and to seek satisfaction
Tor her own wrongs, in her own way.
(TO be continued.)