Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-04-09

The South Carolina Convention has adjourned, aud their
new Ordinance of Modification is before the people II
this DO no more than staggering conclusion OF blus-
tering drama, ii will DO speedily consigned the
tempt OF an enlightened and patriotic public. We are
not sure, however, whether do contain the germ
future difficulties and OF purposes well calcuatrdi AVA
ken public vigilance. The speeches OF OF the lead
ing nullhers IN the Convention shew that they have
attachment TO the CniOn and that they have With i'll
grace but suspended the blow medtaed against exist
ence; watching Tor more proptous moment to deal it
with greater effect We have reason TO know that the
plan OF Southern eonJederdcy is OF recent concep
ton with Of those restless spirits who have raised in
South Carolina the storm which has subsidized into
may be, adeceitiu calm; and thai with the chief nufer
himself such scheme than three years ago formed
topic OF his constant and earnest esations On no
other ground can his papabe Inconsistency in all the pro-
ninent measures OF public policy be accounted for than
that he had lost all attachment TO the Government and
Union Through the medium OF premature aud disap-
pointed ambition, has always viewed Southern cOnfe-
derdcy as the inevitable tendency should
they f TO promote his elevation of which his
in the Senate conclusive proof To rule the Genera,
Government, TO become the chief of the new conede-
ration, constantly haunted his bcwiIched ambition and as
the former ignus tdtuus betrayed him nordsses he
has turned To the other trust, howev vet more de-
ceuiul-as less deusye guide-The jackie lantern of
Nulhhcahon however, plunged him deeper into Difficult.
ues lie had moved too soon, and the of the pat-
ouc South would not follow such light
Ho eagerly seized upon Mr. Cay's over ures and has
escaped ior me moment iro the consequences Of follow
lug out his scheme Whether those who have more non
es'ly e,poused the heresy oil notification and engaged in
resistance TO the laws Of the Union will quietly submit to
the terms OF exploitation, reuaiIs be seen IN the
me
OF the prominent OF the Conventions by which the
drawn sword of rebellion has been for the moment
sbeathed
L. They have declared that much of their Ordinance
of November and the laws pursuant thereto as null6es
he Tariff acts shall be of eaci except the laws re-
auVe 70 ne military organization Of the Sale, which are
10 remain in full force.
q They nuIliiy the law for the more effective collection
OF the revenue-and
3. They ordain and declare that the l tho c
zens OF the State OF South Carolina due 10 the State and
mat obedience only and not allegiance is due by them to
s"S oer power or authority TO whom control them
mas Oeen or may he delegated by the State and the egs
laure Is empowered to ordain oaths in conformity with
ms ordinance and binding the people this allegiance
III there be any distinction in this country between cal
egiance aud "Ubedicnce, il arises rather from this oi
nance itself than from any difference in reality but il no,
on mat account less significant omnous There per-
maps no such thing properly speaking the United States
as allegiance, there be, il is glance TO the peo-
PIE and not TO the State "Aegiauce" is the
ue or gament which binds the subject to the Prince or
King III return for that protection which the King affords
!" The suhyec-o subjects born il is incident nscp,-
r"oe' ana as soon as born they by birth ODE
ulehce 10 their sovereign This ~ the subsance-
ne name ana form is derived to the subjects OF England
from their Gothic ancestors Under the feola system
every owner OF and held them in subsection TO some
petor or lord from whom whose the tenant or
vassal had received tem and there was mutual trust or
confidence subssng between the lord that the
lord should protect the vassa in The enjoyment of the ter
rtoy granted to him, and that the vassa should be fih
iuI 10 The lord This obligation the part of the vasa
was caeu MS dehtds or edy and oath of featy was
required by the eOddl law be taken by all tenants
10 their landlords. Hence in kngly governments found
ed upon the idea, allegiance is due from the
to the King, and in England for upwards of 600 wears
and until the revolution the allegiance contained the co
dial promise TO be true and faithful the King and his
But IN the United States the Constitutions of Govern
mcnt are not grant from the rulers or the State IN The
people, but are ordained by the people for their
own government and their protection Here the
people govern and protect themselves and their aep
ahce, IL mere be such, is due 10 themselves. What the
people IN this country the Government or State E
country the true and only allegiance of American c
zen Ii more than this be required is tyranny and usur
patton, and those who shall be compelled to submit TO il
whatever they may be called Udssals and to all nten
placed under ieodal dominion.
The Ordinance OF South Carolina by DECLARING the die
uncuon does itself assert aud ordain that more conan
ed in this new oath OF allegiance than COMFORTS with our
notions OF the subject. BY it the niferS OF that State
are constituted feOddI lords invested with bngI o,
eTs and their fellow citizens made UaSsaLs to The Con
venon and the Legislature and the Governor The only
Characteristic OF ireemen is found their relations will
the United States in which only that obedience due from
free people to institutions by them voluntarily establish
ed, is eXacted. Obedience which is thus due from the ri
zen TO the laws must be determined by the character Of
the laws themselves; and paramount laws demand pa
ramount obedience, for the simple reason, that where
there 10 supreme law, paramount obedience is due
10 1t first and above all others. Now what is the
supreme law in the United States? Let The Con.u
luton itse proclaim, which declares that this Cons
tuuon, and the laws OF the United States which shall
be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made
or which shall be made under The authority of the United
States shall be the supreme law of the land: and tho
Judges of any State shall be bound thereby; anv ing in
the Constitution or laws of any State the contrary not
wlthstandng." Obedience TO this "supreme law
-Is Tho
paramount duty of every in every State of tLe
Union; and any law ordinance of any Slate which shall
declare II Otherwise and constitute their citizens vassas
Tor the purpose oil exacng different allegiance is NOT
only violation OF the Constitution but if carried inIo
erect, would be than declaration of ndenendence
ii U0uhd be treason!
For what purpose, them may be asked is the military
Pao the Ordinance oil November and OF the laws passed
IN pursuance thereof retained aud preserved in full
The Ordinance multiplying the law for the collection Of t
revenue is mere bTutum ftime and wholly
1t most efectually nulliled by repeating the Ori
nance OF November, which alone could have possibIv
called II into operation.
There is unhappy but answer 10 this question
he allegiance OF the people OF South Carolina is proclaim
ed and the military organization that State is presery
ed to hold that oppressed people in the State of ysssaae
10 which, by the Ordnance the Lords the Conyenon
have doomed them and to be prepared for open defiance
TO the authorities OF the Union soon as the plan of
Southern confederacy shall be fully ripe and the Union
may be successfully assaled.
Here, then, is Convention elected only N milf, con
tam Ianh acts, and among them that of July 1892 con.
rning and establishing those very acts and that of I
1882, with yet more odous aud oppressive provisions b
also aOsOIving the people from their duty to all the int
hons oil the Government and of the Union; exactinp
species oil allegiance unknown to Republican SYSTEM
ana PeTPetualng at great expense, military mower IN
coerce the people Of South Carolina into submission o e
usurPation. " Wv
We mistaken if in these recent outrages unon tbe
part OF the Convention OF South Carolina the people Of the
United States do not greater cause of ndguaon and
oil Just alarm and as leading events far more porten
than in the infant struggles Of this DESTROYER of Tho
". Globe. ~
SPRINGFIELD POLIC Y
me reckless, unblushing and infamous DISREGARD of
run snl hon0Tdbte conduct which il demonstrated bv
Tue course Of some OF tho National Republican newspa