Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-14

efficient, certain, and safe, the States; il fact
the sheet-anchor Of the minority.
IL is true, Mr. Madison has said i'm his celebrated
port $780, that the Supreme Court not the tribunal in
aSt resort, TO determine constitutional questions But
what is the Legitimate inference ou his expression p
Clearly that it IL the tribunal in the first resort the consii-
tuition OF the U. States itself has declared it TO re-
There is appeal in effect from this tribunal TO tie
States acting together in the prescribed hy the
constitution iOr amendments thereof ~ have stated be-
fore.
The human mind hardly devise tribunal in the Go.
vernment Of the United States, tnt wi be likely
TO give fair sound and impartial decision OF al consti-
tu,ton1 questions arising ia the Legislation of Cong
than the Supreme Cout The Presid, M OF the United
States who chosen ny the Feoplc dominates the Judges
OF the Supreme Court and the Senators who represent
the several States, co,ir reject such nomination as
majority OF them may determine. Thus each State great
or snnll, ia th Union, has fair and equal in the
selection Of these Judges, who pass ron the acts
Of Congress These Judges are sworn TO support the
Constitutions they can neither gain nor lose, by any judg
ment they may give; they hold their offices during good
behaviour, and their sal les be reduced during
their continuance in Office. What motive have they
violate the Constitution, or TO permit it to be vio-
la'ed by Others? They are citizens OF the several
States: every decision they pass must operate upon
their own rights citizens OF the States, well
upon the rights OF all other citizens of all the States They
removed far possible from all motive do " ong
and under the hest the most sacred obligations
do right But the minority repudiate this high and
impartial tribuna and what is the substitute they insist OH
Tor W Their theory is that each separate State great or
small IN tins Union, sa judge OF the nlractions of the
Constitution 10y Congress, and shall act upon that rd
men' Thus making all interested party, judge in his
MIR Chairman, the great evil in all The European Co.
vernments, ancient aud modern has been, that the minor
" have ruled either by or rcc The people of the
United States, they had thrown oil the foreign
yoke, adopted the fundamental principle as the only
Republican principles in all their Governments that the
majority should rule. This was considered cardinal
sacred principle The only check they deemed il proper
ompose upon the power of the majority, were a written
Constitution and Judiciary Department. 10 keep tho Lc
GESTURE within the limits of the Constitution But the
light Republicans reject this cardinal principle with
scorn They denounce the Government OF the majority
even though sustained by the Judiciary Dcpai as
deSpottSni. IL this be Repubcauism confess am 10
Republican Either the majo y the minority must rule
aud leave TO the people 10 determine which rule
III SAID, that the laws must be sustained by public opi
mon, and not by force What is public opinion? L. il
the opinion of particular neighborhond of single con
ty, or single State? No general law can be passed
that will please every body; general law can be
passed by Congress that will please every State i'm the
Union admit that law should be enforced which
Il bilious to the majority Of those upon whom is TO one
iate In fact such law would, and sh TO be repeal.
- immediately But IT is ruinous principle 10 affirm
th' no law shall be enforced which is opposed by force
II we can dispense with the enforcement of laws we
dispense with the laws themselves and leave men
10 govern themselves in their way. We all know
that this will not do in the present CONDITION Of mankind
w hcn NE Millennium comes, II do but until then
Ii seems to be apprehended by some that the President
going TO overun s. Carolina, and make conquest of her
Sir, II he would, he dare not lie has merely declared
lie will execute the laws This his duty to To- under
the solemn sanction Of his oath The people South Ca
rona are now tree aud safe from aggre as we
are IL they tCH oppose with force execution of the
laws OF the Union, they take the consequences m
they submit TO the laws, which is their duty TO do all
will be well. shall vote for the substitute OF the gen
ueman from Fauquier. II is not specific and decided
enough fer me- the opinions aud course of Virginia
roina. than the Report Of the Committee OF 81, and
therefore prefer il.