Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-03-25

acknowledge the independence Of any one of the
States, and to ,rea, i, an independent power. 1t
follows, necessary consequence, that secession
is no, constitutional or a reserved, tu, revolu-
tionary right.
4. We never ye, hive heard single argumcn,
showing tina, the ight of Secession does properly
belong to the States. II the speeches and essays
OF those who contend for the existence of tho right
he examined it will be found that they nl tend to
show that Secession ought 10 be among the reserv.
ed rights Of the States; not that ii u.s. We would
remind the gentlemen that such arguments might
of the federal constitution, and they were so ur
gcd but the constitution having been adopted,
withcu, recognizing, bu', on the other hand in SO
mary words, regulating this right, il is too late in
The day 10 contend for its necessity The fact
that Is repudiatcd by the constitution put beyond
all question by contemporary evidence. We beg
leave 10 quote little of it, and we will begin with
documeot, which strangely enough, is relied upon
by our advcrsares to sustain the right of Seccsson
Iii the act OF ratification appended TO the federal
constitution by the Virginia Convention which
adopted i, aud which &c, is as follows: -
intention, he sald To ndve.t to all these misrepe
sensations, but there some SO well calculates
to mis- cad the mind as TO the real character of TIA
controversy, and hold up tic State in light O
f diou3 thai he did not feel himself justified IN per
| mlttng them to pass nnnotcod
Among thcm, one Of the most prominent was tn
false statement, that the object oil South Carolng
| l.r .,t't b.,
/ lie burhens, while she participated in the adva,
tages Of the Government. II the charge were uu
Il If the State were capable Of being actuaed b.
such low 4 unworthy motives, mother as he coas,l
cred fcr he would not stand upon this floor 10 vr
! Il a'e her conduct Among her faults, and faults h
Tn ecedcrs contend, that, in the foregoing nc'
ct ra''hc"t'on the people of Virginia expressly re-
served the right Of Secession We OIL the contrary,
say, they expressly renowned it. "Thc powers
granted under the constitution, isays the act be-
ing derived from The peopIc RI Tic T. States. NAV
be rcsnned 6y'-whom the people of each Of tn,
States Ne: II it had said So the question would
have been settc'i-bu,by them, the people of tn.
United States, from whom they were derived. Can
any thing be clearer 7 II there be, we know no,
what is To our minds, i, is as palpablc tina, the
Pc PIE o.re United Sta,es rcferi cd to n, those
WHO may resume" the powers gran,edby the fed.
ctal constitution, il those powers be perverted to
their injury or oppression" as that . and . ore
equal to ,. II Is, IN truth indentica with provi.
SION in tho Virginia Bill Of Rights, in which in re-.
latior to the State government the same reservation
ofriCht is made to the people ofthe State.
But again-L.uther Martin, who was a seccd.r
| Of the most genuine stamp-a lawyer of grcn, abil-
| ny, member of the Convention which framed the
! constitution, and one of its most determined and
| vlolen, opponents after it submitted for ra,i-
icaton to tie several Stntes, pits II beyond Ill
loubt, that Ear from the trainers Of that insru.
mon, having n,esdcd to recognize Secession as
among the reserved rights Of the States an effort
made by himsclfto procure that recognition was
| defeated by deliberate vote Of that BODY He
saw that in the change about to be effected in the
modns operaad Of the federal laws, that the States
could not, under the new constitution, shield their
respective citizens from their penalties by the in.
terposon ola sovereignty which they had solen,nlv
surrendered. But anxious TO secure this point, he
Ppl"SS an nnlendUcN 10 tne cons.lIuIC0j IN me
following words " No act or acts Go.!e by one or
| more fthe States against the United States, or
by any citizen of any Of the United States, un,
der the authority of any of,he said States shall
DC deemed treason, or punished uch."-Ths
amendment was rejected-from which fact only
one Inference can be dra wn-an6 that is, that a law
Of Il State cannot shield citizen from the penal
ties Of treason, it would DO if Secession were a
reservedrlsnt In one word, then, Secession in.
stead Of being reserved right is a forbidden rem
edy. But they who turn a deaf ear to Moses and
the Prophets, will not be convinced though one rise
| from the dead
Chapman Jotnson.-The Washington cores
pondent Of the New York Journal OF Commerce
speaking ofthe Supreme Count Of the United States,
remarks have heard several of the most pop.
ular and eloquent counsel!ors in several suits now
pending; among whom Webster, Writ, Jones,
1 81