Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-26
Virginia legislature.
DEFERRED DEBATE.-( Continued
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.-W edInesdau LannGrn

HOUSE OF DELEGATES, Wed,iesaay, January 6.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
MIR Campbell offered 10 amend the report of the select
committees by adding the following resolution, come in
alter the 9TH resolution
Whereas it has been asserted on behalf of the States
OF this Union, that each State has right peaceably and
without molesation, to secede from the confederation
Whenever breach of the compact shall occur which, in
her Judgment, shall justify such act OF secession
ResoiUed, AS the opinion Of this Assembly, That we
csDno, recognise such right upon any fair of
the Federal Constitution, among the rights respectively
reserved TO The States, to the people thereof
sung from the theory and split Of Federal compact
Mr.. C. said, ;he House would recoect that when on
yesterday he presented his resolution, il was avere
That State had not the right TO secede from the Union
its own viii and pleasure. II was also objected TO it,
That the friends OF the report had not, either in their
speeches, or IN The report ITSELF claimed such right
Although this assumption their part not directly
affirmed yet twas plainly nferrabIe from the CONNIE t.
oft friends. That there might not be any evasion f
the question, and to obviae those objections he had
changed the form Of the resolution aud now set forth
in the preamble the doctrines which those gentlemen had
contended Tor III debate. The resolution offered
and that now submitted substance the same and
differed only in form. Fills object was to obtain distinct
expression OF the House whether State had the right it,
10 her own judgment such an inracon OF the constu
ton, as she should consider sufficient provoc alton had
occurred, to withdraw from the Union, without any
right the part of the other States 10 prevent her with
drawsi,-Ihe admission Of such right would render
the Union liable to dissolution the will and pleasure
oil each OF the States. He wished the House distinct
~ 70 say whether II was it's intention, as it had re-
luseu 70 strike out the seventh resolution, affirm by
retaining it, the possession Of such right by the States
re Wished the people OF Virginia TO know whether il
me intention OF this House to establish the principle that
Slate could thus at her will destroy the Union or whe
'her such an act to be considered purely revolution
airy.
1T was unnecessary to go into an argument on the
doctrine OF secession which had already been completely
exhausted The right had been deduced from the doc i.
time OF State sovereignty, by which il was maintained
mat the States entered the Union independent nations
unite in league or conederacy. Such was not his
theory Of the formation Of the government Anterior to
the adoption OF the Federal Constitutions the people in
GUIDED within the geographical limits Of each State were
as community, unquestionably sovereign. In this cha
racter OF primary overegns they formed State Govern
mens clothing them with cerainspe and defne pow
ers The people OF these several communities acting as
separate communities, in forming and adopting the Cons
uion Of the United States created that government-by
mar act becoming ono pepo and the people Of each Of
nose communities parts OF one integral nation. Both the
governments OF the States and the government of the II
states are therefore the Of tie people each
limited 10 the powers delegated by their separate Cons
uons The officers OF each government are their agents
Tor separate purposes and in distinct cspaciiies-and was
worthy the consideration Of those who were .ekers Tor