Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-07
Twenty-second Congress.--sess. q

ties on Imports, delUered ia Senate, Feb H. 1898
Mr. PRESIDENT; Stranger as | an in this body and
now almost stranger In my country though in spi.
rit and affection separated from it, feel that
owe an apology to the Senate for obrudng myself all
upon their attention. Sir do with great
and with deep OF the disadvantages under which
aoor Most OF the questions involved in the discussion
the bill now under consideration have sprung up during
The period OF my absence from the country, and the short
interval which has elapsed since my return has afforded
me neither the time the opportunity for detailed
examination oil them. | bring TO them, there fore,
other resources OF argument illustration than
lied principles and fundamental notions which rooted
in the mind OF every American citizen in regard TO the
Constitution OF his country
SIR the questions to be settled are of the deepest
import TO the desnies Of this country. They touch
the construction OF this that clause of the Constitution
only They so 10 the whols frame and structure the
Government and the vital principle of its existence Sir
should be ecreani to my duty on this floor the repre-
sentative OF State, which, under Providence had the
cmei agency In the establishment of this happy system
Government, If did not attempt however ieeby, the
preston OF my views such occasion.
\ am impellcd to this expression MIR. President, by
another consideration II is my misfortune TO differ from
my worthy aud honorable colleague well from other
honorable Senators coming rom the quarter OF the
Union as myself in several O. the views have taken
ms subject IL is due TO them well myself and
those whom represent that the grounds of this differ.
ehce oil opinion should be stated and explained And in
order 10 preclude all misrepresentation beg say
III e outset that no one is or has been, tho oughy
opposed to that whole system OF policy, usually denorn
mated The 3mericon system, than have BEEN and still
am My voice, sir, has been OF EN- and strenuousy how
ever Intellectually raised against il in another dvsi, o
this CAPITOL consider it unjust in principle inex2ed-
ent IN practice, and unequal in lis operation
short an abuse OF power contrary the genius OF
our institutions
But. sir, what is entitled TO far more confederation the
Stae which have the honor in part TO repre- ent has
pea'edly and strongly protested against this SYSTEM and it
Is out yesterday that her Legislature earnestly renew
her appeal 10 the councils of the nation TO mod y the
system as to remove the just of complaint which
had arisen against it, Sir this appeal and similar appea
winch nave emenated from the Legislatures of Other
States fortified by all those high considerations of patriot
ISM policy and justice which the crisis suggests cannot
ai to have their proper effect There every reason TO
believe that this attracting question will be settled, aud
speedily aud aisacoriy settled, ought To be- But
these grounds OF hope, OF the States
oil the Union has rashy undertaken redress her geis
by formal abrogaion OF the laws of the United States
within her limits She has declared the whole series OF
revenue laws from the origin OF the Governmen mt to the
present day TO be null and void has prohibited their exc
cuton within her borders, under high penalties and has
ordained various other with the express view
deiea ing anu arresing their operation.
In this state OF things called upon TO saw if the
Government of the United States shall acquesce in this
open defiance and violation of the laws Of the Union,
'' 'skng any step whatever for their enforcement
to support q" he rec & s tic de State. Id o 3
thus understand my duty my country or the in,erest
and the honor OF my own State What sir, will be the con-
on to nuy the E rcyen"e DC w6o" CPpo'i
mat uniformity OF mpostS, and that equality in the fiscal
and commercial regulations of the Union which are guar
Hnteed by the Constitution, be at abolished by the
arbitrary act OF South Carolina 10 her and
the detIiment of the other States Sir as representa-.
tive of Virginia willing that Virginia shall he
compelled pay taxes while South Carolina bv her own
illegal and unauthorized action is suffered go quit Of
them Yet this must be The unjust consequence of acuui-
escence in notification; otherwise, result still more
distressing 10 the whole country will ensuethe entire
commerce OF the country will be drawn 10 the free norris
OF South Carolina; the ports OF the other States with all
HE important branches OF Industry connected with them
VIII be consigned TO ruin; and, the time the " hole
revenue OF the milton will DC of and destroyed.
Bad as these consequences, any OF hem. may be
there Is yet another view The subject of still higher i'm
porance The example would iunut a mortal wound on
the Constitution. The Government would he theme, for
I iva Writ litr ,ticsnI
"ScK 'ho ,a' anarchy 'nd coniusio9 OF the articles Of
CoUederdiOn-it indeed, after uch exdmple of weak.
ness, the States should continue connected by any tie
whatever
For one, therefore, feel myself constrained by the
highest consderd ions Of duty TO give my assent TO such
measures may be necessary and DyoDer TO provide for
the execution OF the laws while they remain unrereaed
There provisions the bill now under conside
ration oil which do not approve shall have occasion
tosay more fully, when explain my own ideas of
The legislation best adapted TO the sis But we are
met at the thres Old with pre minary denial the ri t
OF the Government 10 adopt any measures whatever, Tor
the execution OF law OF the United States which shall
have been nullifed by the authorities of STATE Thi.
position has been mainained by both OF the honorable Sc
majors ON South Carolina, and especially by the honoa
bic Senator who spoke ST. (Mr Galhoun in he ren,.,Ls
made by him At The time 0i submitting his resolutions
which are now lying our table.
How, sir, has this extraordinary position been ATTEMPT
ed TO besusaned? One would have supposed that pow
or radically affecting the whole operation of our sys
tenn, as an absolute State veto the laws the Union
would have been, form or other in th
Constitution Instead Of this, find an Express ecl,ra
ton that the Constitution aud Laws OF the United States
snail CONTROL and be supreme over the Constitution and
laws OF the respective States Yet the honorable Senator
(Mr Cdlhoun) seeks to do away all Ibis by setting up
thdAneaphysiCal deductions and ingenious creations of his
mind IN the place Of the positive terms of the nstr
ment Itself Sir, propose TO follow the honorable Sena-
tor step by step in tile process OF reasoning by which he
has attained so singular result. Aud am anxous to
deal with his argument in all possible fairness will first
state what understood that argument be, ia order at
shall have fallen into miSapprehension OF any part Of
( u, the honorable Senator may set me right.
ttplar .fa.. The hnt ID a.
stating that the problemis ascertain here the paramount
power Of the system H. and that that pow er nus be there
the sovereignty H. he prOceedsby saying that cops
ton OF the United States, lis compact between the
states that these States only soveregu-a the Go
yernment OF the United States is sovereign because
according 10 The principle Of mod. IN political sci. nee
sovereignty not lhe attribute any COVER mentist il
rue theory Of institutions, il he people OF HE several
States y-thai II the people Of any Sse in The
Unon therefore, shall ia lis sovereign capacity, inter-
pose between is citizens aud the Government the u
states, the act OF sovereign being always binding on m
citizens the citizens OF hdt State longer owe obe
deuce 10 the Government ! the Uui'ed States or he
properly subject 10 its sctop but ha II the act Of the
States he violation Of the compact win the other ales
it's te state Only political community hdtis respon
sb'e hope, sir have stated e reasoning Of the ma
tor fairly, as have wished and intended to d.
Now sir, in regard the first proposition laid down by
the honorable Senator from 5. Carolina, (Mr Cslhounl
II gives me pleasure To say, that entirely Of accord
with hun Here we draw our principles from te sane
pure lOunain-the republican doctrines Of 0s lnd 80 as
asserted, at that time by the legislature Of my own State
Ifhere be any thing politics history resting on ground
OF incontrovoribe evidence and conclusive
1t H. that the Constitution OF the United States was apt