Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-02
Virginia Legislature.
DEFERRED PROCEEDINGS Contin
Thursday, January l7th, 1888.

Thursday, January l7th, 1888.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
Mr. Jones rose and addressed the House follows:
Mr. Speaker,-I have hitherto been prevented by dis
ease under which, with less severity have la
boured for four weeks, from submitting the House.
solitary remark, of the questions in
VOWED In the subject of our Federal Relations and feeble
asmy health stills apprehensve that shall not be
able to stand sufficiently long even briefly to present
views in support OF certain doctrines, which have bee
denounced in terms OF unmcasured and unqualified alb
florence by all the gentlemen of all parties who have
participated in tho Debate. ! hope MIR. Speaker, that
the motion indefinitely to postpone the Resolution of the
gentleman from Amelia, (Mr Bookc will not prevail
Tor one, am desiroms at this critical ncturc of soenny
recording the Journals OF the House. my name i'm IA
vor OF those great fundamental principles ofConsitona
law, o1 wmeh, IN my opinion, the pcrmanence of our
ties OF the People OF the United States depend hope
the motion to postpone will not prevail, because wish to
ascertain beyond doubt by decided expression of the
sense OF the House, whether The Repre- cntaives of the
people OF Virginia now ready and willing abandon
without struggle, the Reserved RIGHTS of the St,tes
with which essentially interviewer the preservation of
the public freedom and the security Of the public in
terests.
shall vote Mr. Speaker, against the amendment of the
gentleman from Fauquier (Nlr Wallnce0 because be-
eye that the Convention and Legislature of South Caro-
lima have, by their Ordinance Of Notification and the
laws enacted to carry II into effect put the true nfeTpre
ramon on The doctrines announced by this General Assem-
bly, in the Resolutions OF 9S and the Report oil SO Sir
those Resolutions and that Report when fairly construed
can lead 10 no other conclusion, than that Modification
is their legitimate offspring, than that IL is the "riphtGl
remedy, as is asserted in the Resolutions of KentucL
that period, in all cases 'whee powers are assumed
nave not been delegated to the Government Of the Uni
ted States. "
One of the Resolutions of '9s Mr. Sneaker exnIici,I
declares that the General Assembly of this Commonwealth
views the powers o! the Federal Government as result
ing from me compact to which the States parties; as
limited by the plain and intention of the nsr1-
ment constituting that compact; no farther valid than
as hey are authorised by the grants enumerated i'm that
co"Pact and mat In case Of deliberate, palpabe and
dangerous exercise OF other powers granted bv the
said compact, the States who are parties thereto have
the right and in duty hound 10 nterose for arrest
for it,tai
Their respective llm' the authorities ghts and ibei tes
aPPer'amng them Sir, appears me, that no Ian
gusge could be used 10 convey more clearly and rch
the solemn opinion OF the General Assembly that in he
event OF an nsupa'ion OF by the Federal Govern
ment each State in the Union either through the inter
Venhon OF ITS ordinary Legislature, in its original
sovereign character, not only may but is under a ga.
cred oDigauoh TO ITS citizens TO counterfeit and re-
ss the nischie aud fatal consequences which iobt
otherwise result from the exercise OF sach usurpation
within its jurisdiction Unless this be the sound and cor
rect exposition OF that Resolution, entreat gentlemen
TO inform me what redress has against the most
lawess abuse, or the most agrant and unwarraned as
sumption of power? That the States have yesepeJ bI
IS conceded by all The Constitution itself, expressly
recognizes every right retained by the States
lively which is not specifically enumerated in that in
sTunent When these rights inirnged, what is the
remedy Tor right without reedy is obviously an alb
surIy IN terms. 1t is solecism i'm national az well as
municipal law, to say that right can exist without anv
means OF asserting It when violated. What then is the
remedy 10 which State for the preservation of
It's TeSeTUed rights?
Gentlemen say you inay appeal to public opipon- Won
may change your representatives in Congres-you NAV
petition Congress Tor relief, remonstraie-and Lastly
you may call General Convention OF The .atps in bic
me con'roverted power may finally be settled by an
amendment OF the Constitution II these be the onIv
modes OF redress then the people of The United States
are not heemen but slaves; and am ready TO appea IN
the sword TO recover those lberies for which throurb
the trying scenes OF the Revolution our orefalhers cal
IanIy fought and bed Sir one OF lese remedies
eords me slightest security for your iights-hey are all
utterly inefficient AMI unavoiling That never can lie
teemed remedy Tor wrong which depends upon the
WIN ana pleasure OF bin who commits the wrong and be-
sides, 600Teyou can influence public opinion bef,re Won
can charge your repFe-eniav s,beiore you peti
he next Congress for repeal of the obno xious law mr.
demonstrate against hbefore You can assemble and mr.
game General onvenuon-lhe dreaded blow NAV be
srnck-ihe arbitrary and yanuca edcts of the Fe eraI
Government may have swept away The last yestipe ot
your liberties, and sacrificed your dearest interests 10 pu
me InsltIae avace of ruling majority ongress Sir
II that body should issue its mandate that iL, General
hsSe9oy shou.h never again cnveue; hat slavery
should forthwith be abolished thfoug bout the eupre NJ
"hat av'i, would I've your appeal to public opinon-of
"ha' Ndll would be change in your represe tatonof
what avail would be your petition, or refnonstrance
what avail would he the call Of General Convention,
Sir, is an insult to the common sense of the peopl, nj
this land to tell them thai the 80 are rem edes a0srt nm
preston that these the only means of redressn
.ne grievances or repairing their wrongs. NO Sir, The
remedy must be which more promptlv he apoied
ana which, VIII prove mere e1cctual, or we arc moi
As then the remedies indicated by gentlemen will no,
enable IS successfully 10 resist tyranny and uisrnle uc
quo'n recurs, what the proper and suitable s,rce
eS oe adoPteh HE state, sir, must throw itself on
NC sovereignty and exercise IFS right OF prcseyUaOu
IN such manner as may deem best calculated to ro,eci
hseli from aggre'sion and its people desruction-
rgh derived TO St'ies, as wa" as TO individuals from
The great Author Of our being sacred ubt i
an poihcal communities, which neither be sIieped
nor DESTROYED The state has tc right 10 "in'cpose for
areshng the progress Of the evir'-cther bv seeding
ron INC compact aogeihcr--or by remaining i'm the
Omon anu hhy saying To Congress, you have trodden
uhder 1901 nose limitations upon the powers conGJrd to
you for the public safety and welfare YOU have yio,e
'he Constitution your acts null and void and shall
not be enforced within the hms Of the Commonwealth,
Gentlemen may call this "exercisc" Of our reserved gi
STATS tNTERPostTtoN If they plcasd au not f,.tid
ions about terms, but call IL NULLtFGcArtoV. and IL,
point Of Tact They md fIe same in her mode of
operation and prcccly The same in their effects and con
sequences. WI
ne remedy produces fc rired aud intended resuIts
ehecuhy controls aud restraints ldwless power: II 81
ecusy Rnalds i'i. p"Ii, hb-r'rs and care not vhr.
Tier 'he world cr|eu NpWIcauon or state Inferposi-
don.
u err h'. 3, s'u". .- ...a ',1 con.eniibg. nogcl