Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-03-07
POLITICAL.
F,lom he Charlottesville Aduocate.

From he CbatioYeSutHe Adrocdte.
MfssRs EDlroRs The painful anxiety, which
tn, present critical state of Our federal relations has
universally excited, inparts a peculiar interest to
those important questions of political rlShl ana con
stitutional law, which ARE prominently connected
with the snbiect of these fatal Embarrassment TIE
character aud stability ofour free institutions, are
in all human probability, to be speedily tested by
an unwisr and hastv effort on the pat oi a sister
Stat. to withdraw herself from the onii2atioi's OF
a solemn compact which she deiietrAteiy ana 'or-
mally assumed, by herown voluntary ael. us
cor,rnted and FESTIVE under the operation of a par
/ al and oppressive law. whose hufthe''s nave ii
LON with equal weigh, upon our own citizens, she
las YET outstripped the veteran opposition o. 'hF
old Dominion, by actually placing herself IN an
a,titude Of opcn defiance, aud declaring her intcu-
ton to oppose by her legislation, ard, il n%ecessary
by her arms, the regular action of that govern
ment. to which she only became a party through
her own ratification of It's constitution. The fcdc-
raj Executive, on the other hand, IN the conscien-
tious discharge of high and lmpellous duties, has
formally proclaimed, in the firm and eloquent Ian
onace Of excited patriotism, q fixed determination
TO support the laws, enforce the practical restraints
Of the Constitution, aud preserve ut every hazard.
the integrity Of that invaluable Unlon,o on winch de-
ponds in an essential manner,'he pcrpetaallon oioul
civil liberties. Under this alarming aspect OF our
affairs, and the fearful prospect oil some unhappy
conflict between those two antagonist principles,
which | had fondly hoped were harmonlously IN
corporated in our present system, 1t becomes impor-
tant for every individual, however humble, to AID
IN the dissemination Of correct views OF the innda-
mental principles and character of our social polIiy
Il is under the plea otthis civil obligation, and pro-
found conviction Of the urgent exgencles OF the
crisis, that | venture to obtrude myself IN a place
to which have been so rarely admitted as TO the
columns of newspaper. 1t Is my man purpose
to bringto the attention, and to the re
Election of your readers,a subject OF important bear
ing upon the threatened dissolution of our federal
Union. ! mean the alleged right to secede pedcea-
| BIN from the Union, without The consent of the 9th
er States, at any time when she may choose to
pronounce the federal constitution to have been
DalpablV violated. need scarcely observe tina:
this point, in fact, presents the whole matter OF sub
stantial enquiry, in relation to the novel attitude
| assumed by South Carolina for she has IN antIcl-
| patton declared her intention TO Seceds If the federal
Executive will not passively acquIesce IN her re-
| sistance to the laws of Congress. Under this CON
s%truction, all the pomp Of naH,fc0ti0n becomes a
mere idle and amusing prelude; If It's iancltuI
and absurd projects arc resisted, CO. enAidAt', 1oI'
lows secession. Hence n State, wishing, either
from the impulse of caprice, or the sober sugges-
tons o. reason. to break her bargain, or violate
her plighttd faith, has only to declare the Const'-
tuition ~palpably invaded, and TO pass in Convention
the appropriate formula ofsccession, and hencetorth
she is quit Of oil the obligations which she con
tracted 10y her formal ratification Of the Federal
Constitution. Whenever she promulgetes her de-
clnration of secession, she Immediately becomes a
foreign nation, in relation to her co-states and re
suaics that portion other sovereignty with winch
she had previously ported, IN he most s'lenln man