Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-09

I
NEEDLES IT, indeed the constitution has within itself these
seeds OF inevitable destruction vain are our homes and
idle were the labors of the Fathers of that instrument
heretofore by universal CONSENT ranked among
and the best OF men, Identification secession be par,
and parcel OF the constitution, how puee the fears
oil Henry aud Mason How ignorant of the characer
OF their work were Madison and Hamilton If snrh
privilege did belong each State why did not the latter an
ply this JUNCTION TO the excited apprehensions of the
hen TO its adopuohs-ior, where its mighty Danger
each State at its own will au pleasure could Withdraw from
MS operaou How dil il happen that its Formidable State
frefogave was undiscovered? When Pennsy lvana in an
excited and unguarded moment nterpoed her sovereign
authority to arrest the administration OF the laws OF the
y where was the vigilance Of 5. Carolina then? So far
rom oJndcmning she approved Of the energy of the ~
- Government by which obtained a dis ngushed Fri
umPh OF the supremacy OF the laws of the u S over the
unwarrantable interference herewith OF State Penn.
syVaha complained loudly of the domino eng spirit of the
General Governmentcarried her complaints her sister
Staesinvoked their aid TO the General nj
In s tendency TO consolidation, Chat political
se"rScow) ny erecting new umpire to decide between
The States and General Government. They all replied
virginia among the rest, that the Supreme Court was
inly equal TO that high trust, and declined their CO.
operation Pennsylvania thus rebuked took counsel from
her accustomed good and patriotism and
in the decision of her sisters The law had its course
consolidation did not loow.-And il escape our re-
colecto that during the troubles and the war with
Great Britain not one only but several of the Northern
states became dissatisfied with the OF the General
Government and complained on just grounds certain
~ as 3 Carolina complains now-and pursued steps that
looked to secession Then South Carolina and all the
Souh and large majority every where denounced these
proceedings as diSloyal and unconstitutional
Can latitude change the character of political den-
quency! Treason to the North call it by what name
you Will in the South is treason STILL From all these
sderaons II is obvious that neither the trainers of the
constitution nor the opponents TO its adoption, the Wild
est Spectator in politics which the violence of success.
sve parties has produced, dreamed the
lately put forth by South Carolina and which if carried
h'o pracuce, must inevitably overthrow the Constitution
and dissolve the Union.
The American people the first to proclaim and
carry out in practice the sublime TRUTH that was ca
pable OF sefgovernment that in the majority wonId
nr all
essential purposes of good government On this ba-
sis they reared their Constituton-ang care in its
organization 10 adopt every guarantee against the abuse
OF delegated power-reserving certain great and naen-
able rights TO themselves and EXPIRE sy inhihhing the
soveinmen' from touching them They ordained frequent
elections AMI thereby imposed speedy and eecua checks
on their iunconaries that law should pAs+ till il re-
ceived the assent Of majority ~ell all the People
as all the States; aud 10 guard against hasty impro-
per legislation they provided the further check of tne We
TO oil the EAecutve-and and above this they estab
lshe supreme Judiciary, with power any I'M
constitutional law aud 10 place this high tribunal beyond
the possibility OF temptation, gave 10 its incumbens
tenure OF oce which secured them independence alike
against Executive owns iavors OF the temporary ex
cemen oil even the people themselves. These were the
PedcgW securities the American ope provided against
the abuse OF power
III, which God in his infinite mercy forbid-C all these
securities Tail and majority OF the people become so cor
pt as TO sustain their representatives incng wrongs
on the minority inolerable TO be bornc-f the
sea appeal TO the oppressOr in vain, then indeed the in
Jured may OF right appea from the creature of the Con-
sutuuon TO that high Being who gave them the rights of
anu winch DeltAer time circumstances
cancel But 1t were mockery to understandings to
say that this extreme any thing approaching IT,
mas oea'ien these States Our prosperity, liberty and u-
eAamped happiness at home AMI respect abroad stand p
to rebuke such libel
But unfortunately, South Carolina though otherwise
she owed il TO her high character to her sister States
10 the Union, and TO free institutions, involving in
their course, the happiness of ourselves aud of the human
race to have calmly and dspasionaey appealed her
co-Slaes and exposed her grievances If her complaints
were well founded, they must, time have been redress
ea or republican government itself is mockery-and il
sue received no countenance from her sisters modesty
required her 10 acquesce In their decision, far least
as 10 leave her the influence of time and truth,
such was the example set by Virginia, when she thought
TIE Constitution violated. She indeed nteTposed through
her Legislature, OF the acknowledged guardians of the
Involabiy of the Constitution obtain repeal of the
Alien and Scdion Laws but her inerpostion was an an.
peal by argument to the understanding and patriotism of
the people OF the other States and success attended the
appeals yet South tarona that she is merely uni
tatng oar examples preensiOn wholly refuted as well
by The language OF resolves procedure thereon
and furthermore by the most satisfactory expana-
lions oil their true import by the author himself which
he has been fully sustained by the contemporaries of that
measure, members themselves of the Legislature that
adopted il.
indeed our Conederacy is to be dissolved and thew
say II is wonderful has lasted long, what substitute
do The politicians of South Carolina propose in its stead
IL surely oil the last Importance that should know
Wnat lies beyond the proposed ruin that however has
not been told We are TO be conducted by sounding the
alarm OF consolidation 10 the ghu precipce of dssou-
on We are not 10 stay the plague OF disunon already
al our doors, by suggestions OF the coming of distant
tuai Calamity; but when precipitated into the awful
abyss preparing for us by the measures of s. Carolina
whittier can we escape for safety 1t seems to us that
The do9r OF hope is at aud forever closed upon US
great experiment of free government which our fond
hopes had rendered immortal scarcely survives the last
sSner OF the Declaration of Independence. The only
Furvivor OF the Fathers of the Constitution, our own
Veneraed Madison, Is still spared TO Some of the
Heroes oil the Revolution yet live, among whom stands
conspicuous La Fayete.-In mercy them, as La
Fayeue has himself implored, let them go down in
peace and hope TO the grave, before commence the
destruction of that fair fabric reared by their patriotism
devotion, and sacrifices II experiment fail who is so
oolsh as to hope will again be successfully attempt
ed! What prospect does such of the future pre-
senE Desposm retiring from the earth under the inu-
ence oil our successful example turns suddenly
our overthrow to reap full harvest of vengeance And
in all after times if the patriot goadcd by oppression
shall prepare to strike for his counrys deverance our
late Ike an evil genius will present itself his
arm say then, in the language of the President the
UNION MUST BE PRESERVED.-And in our own
we say, may the parcide who plots its destruction reap
reward IN The scorn and deestaon of all the good
Therefore, ResoiUed, That holding the integrity of the
Union and the Distracted action of the laws thereof inds
pensable to our liberty peace and happiness are
Pened 10 declare the late of South Carolina
unwarrantable and full of danger
Res0iDed, 4hat we highly approve Of the determine
non OF the President sgnied in his Proclamation TO up
hold the administration OF the laws the integrity of the
Union, also Of his having referred this whole subject 70
Congress In times Of public peril this great National
Counci-the Representatives alike of the people and of
the States, is the proper department advise the
and furnish the means the occasion requires.
ResolUed, That have full confidence both in the
patriotism and the wisdom Of that body-we feel assured
they will take counsel neither from their fears nor their
passions but that looking with aeconate eye TO every
portion oil the Republic, they will modify their epsa
ton that while 1t oesimpariia Justice practicable
to a VIII take care TO maintained every where and