Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-08

authority as they, in their wisdom may approve; and
h me mean time, sit is better TO forego the exercise Of
power OF doubtful authority, though admitted on all
hshds 70 De saluary in its operation than TO nct the
slightest wound on the Constitution"
d. Resolved, That the Federal Constitution Is comrac
originally formed between separate, dependent and So
yeregn States, whereby each State, upon the aud
oI the equivalents therein expressed, voluntarily ren.
quisned portion OF its sovereignty, TO be vested in
! common head and exercised by the joint will and
aeDerauons Of all the parties, reserving TO itself the
exclusive enjoyment Of the residue well as tho
nBh' 70 resume the part relinquisled, when perverted
rom the objects specified in the compact its injury or
expressions and the contrary doctrine maintained by some
that the Federal constitution results from the people OF
,ne States In the aggregate, and not from the States in
the sovereign capacity, is faacious and unounded
SUMPTION not warranted by the history of the formation of
ha instrument, opposed TO the true theory our govern
nent as expounded by the resolutions of this Assembly i'm
anu w. and would tend, in practice. TO the disas
uous three ourths Of the States
under the con'rou OF fourth consolidating the States
mo one nation and leading snavoidably the trausor-
haion oil our Republican system into single govern.
ment without Limitation OF powers"
D. esored That amongst the rights Of sovereignty re-
py The States that OF watching he measures
OF We Federal government expressing opinions respcct-
ing The cons,iuonay expediency oil its acts and in
etpohg Tor The projection OF their ciZuns against usur-
pauons ana abuses, by remoUsrance Congress
e offensive laws; by appeal 10 public opinion. calling
me attention OF the people the subject and inducing
mem 10 instruct or change their Representatives by an
10 he patriotism and good OF the other States
uecaring The unconStiuona y OF the in ques ion a,
iu'ing them 10 concur, through their ordinary epsIa
lures, in like declaration and finally nv pronos;no
amendments to the Constitution, in the mode pointed o
by that instrument all which remedies are within The
provision OF the Constitution. are recognised and
CLAIMED by The Resolutions OF this Assembly i'm 'gS and 9g
g. ReSored, That the States are parties TO the Com
suondl Compact in their sovereign capacitv and there
no common arber superior to the authority the parties
themselves as necessary consequence each party has the
right to decide for itself in the last resort the com
pact be vioaed and the actinn deemed of
magnitude the party aggrcved may either coinpsI the
other contracting parties fulfil their engayeniens or
treating the compact broken and secedng from the
Union, may enter into the po,scssion of ali H., i,'
] 4
rcignty
Resored, That this right of secession, which is not
derived from the Constitution, aud only he justified
on the ground that the compact has been broken and the
State abSolved from its Oblig ations, entities a State
a'er inc formal annunciaon OF its withdrawal from
tha Union, TO be treated a sovereign power sinh.
Ject to the laws of nations and not TO the pains
and penaesot treason but il does impair the cor
responding right of the other parties 10 udge for them
Selves whether the seeding State has failed ia its en-
g"geinens and 10 make in order to compel a per-
Torrance Of them, prudence dictates that extreme
remedy should he ressrted to only in intoerabe
oppression, essentially affecting the happiness of the party
alter The failure OF every constitutional of redress
and where The usurpaton is gross and papabe as TO
| kind. " " '
8 ResoUed, That if the case, whether affecting per.
sons or Matters be whereof the Supreme Court has
jurisdiction, recourse properly he made TO the ex
IRENE remedy until that Court intended as an additional
safeguard against unconstitutional laws shall first i'm The
exercise OF its functions have affirmed the act so as to pro-
duce concurrence OF all the departments in the usurpa
ton but in question where the Of the Federal Co
!
tuona rights OF the State its operation cannot no
brought within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court that
COURT upon such question: not constituted arber be-
tween tie State and the General Government and the
ultimate remedy may once be resorted to-
y Resolved That the alleged right of State not hav-
ing dissolved its connection with the other States and
claiming to be still member of the Union to n,.IIiG,
law oil the Federal Government believed by such State
| TO be unconstitutional, attended by obligation on
TIE part oil the Government TO the matter TO the
States by proposing Of the constitutions and
III he mean nne to suspend the execution of the law
doctrine not dervable from the a,itudinous con-
strucon OF the constitutions not implied from any of the
reserved rights of the State and Legitimate Inference
from the principles promulgated by the Resolutions OF
hls Assembly IN 9Sa and 99Jhut doctrine iucompatbe
with the efficient operation OF the Governments which
virtually, gives 10 the minority the control of The maiorv
which invites discord violence: and is in ia yboe
tendency dsorganizing dangerous and revolutionary
TO- Resoired, That State, continuing to be member
oil the Unon and subject to the Federal Constitutions
cannot absoive its citizens from their allegiance TO that
constitution or screen them from the penalties attached
by law to The orcble resistance of established auhoritv
an', Notwithstanding the assumption of right the part
oil snch state 10 nWVy law OF the Federal Government
and make il void and imperative within territories il is
the duty of the President of the United States TO give
force and effect TO such law by all the means con6Jed To
him by the Constitution.
IL. Resolved, That this General Assembly has witness
ed with deep regret, the assumption and continued ex-
ercse o power on the part of the Federal Governments
to pass laws avowe1ly for the protection of domestic mann
features, which in their operation and effects are UNEQUAL
unjust oppressive, and contrary the spirit of the CON
snion; And is due to the occasion, soemny to repeat
the admonilon, that the thus persisted in has
been productive OF general discomfort among the peopl
injuriously affected by it, and il abandoned must in
eVtaby weaken, and in the end, destroy their affection
for the Union.
H. RESOLVED, Tht his General Assembly. CONTINUING
hereafter as hereo 10 demonstrate against and oppos
The protective Tariff laws by all proper and constifiiona
means, VIII perSevere In seeking relief through the od
nary channel OF legislaon by reduction Of the din n
ne standard OF necessary revenue which on the ausni
cou occasion OF the eX ingmishmen OF the national debt
may be reasonably expected from returning sense NJ inc
ice on The part oil Congress, imulteG az douhtless il
will he, by the recommends ions and cordial
/ o the Executive ID partmcn; and in the inea n time
under revivng confidence that this fatal cause of die
affection will speedily he removed, end he action Of the
Federal Government restored 10 its original ncpes and
'lghul limits, this General Assembly holds il 10 be the
duty OF all gohd citizens 10 obey the laws of that Cavern
men' and acqniesce under its acts until shall he
wise ordained by The competent auhoi lies
10 ResOiDed That this General Assembly reoarIs tho
medatcd resistance by South Carolina the laws of the
Federal government upon the principles assumed i'm her
recent Ordnance as unconstitutional and dangeros and
hereby respectfully invites that State abandon
which threaten TO destroy the Union the States as well
As the peace and happiness OF the country and TO mite i'm
pacific means Tor eIecting repeal Of the protective
laws, by an application to Congress in the first instance
ana Ultimately necessary, by proposing amendments IN
the Constitution of the United States 10 which enJs b,
the foregoing means the steady and faithful co.opcraon
! oil this General Assembly is hereby pledged
IL. ResoIUed, That whilst this General Assemble. s
constrained 10 condemn the mode Of redress contemplated
by South Carolina, alike unauthorized by the Cons,it
ton, the genius and spirit Of Institutions and the die
taes OF sound policy; nevertheless from an ardent
70 preserve The Unon TO keep open every avenue IN re
concon and to afford 10 all parties authorities time
TOR reflection this General Assembly will not witness
without neeP sen'biy, me application Of force by the
Executive arm Of the Federal Government against The RI
hoy I.