Daily Richmond Whig & public advertiser. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1833-1840, 1833-04-03
THE lelCMa7OND yVIilG.
PUBLIC ADVERTISER.
IN sENATE-TursDAY, Feb. 90, 1888.
SPEECH OF MIR. CALHOUN,
OK MS Rrsolrrlos,


Resolred, That the people OF the several
States composing these United States, are unit.
ed as parties TO constitutional compact TO which
the people of each State acceded Us a separate
aud sovereign community, each binding itself by
It's own particular ratification; and that the L.
mon, OF which the said compact is the bond is
an Union 6eiiceen the States ratfying the same
Resotrsd, That The people of the several
States, thus united by the constitutional compact,
In forming that Instrument, and in creating q
General Government 10 carry into effect the OBJ
Jects for which IT was fnrmed, delegated TO that
Govs!aaient. Tor that purpose, certain defrite
powers, 10 be exercised jointly, rcserving at the
same lime, each State 10 itself the resduary
mass OF powers 10 be exercised by its own sepa-
rate Government; and that, whenever the Gene
raj Government assumes the exercise Of powers
not delegated by the compact, its acts are unau-
thorizcd, void, and Of etiect and that the said
Government is not made the final Judge of the
powers delegated TO II, since that would make its
discretion, and not the Constitution, the mea sure
OF It's powers, but that. as in all other cases Of
compact among sovereign parties, without any
common Judge, each has an equal right TO Judge
for ITSELF as we'll OF the infraction. us Of the
mode and measure Of redress.
fesolred, That the assertions, that the peo-
pie OF these United States taken collectively as
individuals, are now, or ever have been, united
on the principle of the social compact, and as
such are now formed into one nation or people,
or that they have ever teen so united, in any one
stage of their political existence; that the peo-
pie OF the several States composing the Union
have not, rs members, thereof retained their So
vereignty; that the allegiance of the citizens has
been transferred 10 the General Government
that they have parted with tue right of punsing
treaeoa, through their respective State Govern
ments; and that they have not the right of iudg-
ing in the last resort as 10 the extent of powers
reserved, and, OF consequence, OF those delesat-
ed; are not only without foundation in truth. but
are contrary 10 the most certain and plain hsto-
rlcal iacs. and the clearest deductions ofreason;
and that all exercise of power on the par; Of the
General Government, or any of its departments,
deriving authority i.om such erroneous assump-
lions, mnst Of necessity be uncons itutional;
must tend directly and inevitably TO subvert the
sovereignty OF the States; TO destoy the federal
character OF The Union; and 10 rear on its ruins
consolidated Government, without constitution
a. check, or limitation, and which must necessa-
MY terminate in the loss Of liberty itself.n
Which being read
Mr.. CALHOUN said: When the bill. with
which the resolutions are connected, was under
discussion, the Senator from Massachusetts
thought proper to give his remarks personal
beacing in reference TO myself / had said no.
thing 10 justify this course the part of that
gentleman. ! had, IL is true, denounced The bill
III strong language, but not stronger than the
rules which govern parliamentary proceedings
permit; nor siongsr than the character of the
BILL and It's bearing on the State which il is nv
honor 10 represent, justified. | am at loss 10
understand what motive governed the Senator,
in giving personal character to his remarks.
ii he intended any thing Unkipd, here Mr.. Web
s!er said, audibly, certainly lot and Mr. G.. re.
Piled, w pot then say what intended if sach
had been his motives 1; but still must be per-
United TO ask, il. he intended nothing unkind,
what was the object OF the Senators Was his
motive TO strengthen cause which he feels TO
be weak BY giving the discussion personal d.
rectlon? Ii such was his motive, his expert
ence as debater ought TO have taught him that
; II was one OF those weak devices which seldom
fails to react on those who resort 10 it, If his
motive was TO acquire popularity, by attacking
one who voluntarily and from a sense OF duty
from deep conviction that liberty and the Con-
stltuion were at stake, had identified himself
with an unpopular question, would say 10 him,
thai true sense Of dignity would have impel-
led him in an opposite direction. Among the
possible motives which have influenced him,
there is another, 10 the ,inputation OF which he is
exposed, but which certainly will not attribute
TO him that his motive was TO proptiate in a
certain high quarter-a quarter in which he
must know, that no Offering could be more ac-
CepiabIe tha2 the immolalion of the character OF
him who now addresses you. But whatever
may have been the motive Of the Senator, can
assure him that will not follow his example.
i never Udu any luCllDaLlOU 10 gldQldtOrldl eNnl-
billions in the halls OF legislation, and if now
had, certainly would not indulge them on 50
solemn question; question which, in the OPT
Mon OF the Senator from Massachusetts, as ex-
pressed in debate involves the Union of these
States; and 10 mine, the Liberty and the Con-
siiiution Of the country. Before, however,
conclude the PREDATORY observations, | must al
lude 10 the remark which the Senator made AT
the termination Of the argument of my friend
from Mississippi, (Mr. Poindettcr) | under
stood the Senator TO say that, if chose TO put at
issue his character Tor consistency, be stood
prepared 10 vindicale his course. ! assure the
Senator that | have no idea Of calling in qucs-
tion his consistency, or that Of any other mem
Der Of this body. II is n subject in which feel
no concern but II am to understand the remark
Of the Senator as intended indirectly as a chal-
icnge, 10 put in issue the consistency of nv
course as compared 10 his own, | have TO saw
that, although do not accept of his challenge,
yet if lie should think proper TO make a trial OF
character, on that or any other point connected
with our public conduct, and will select suiia.
bic occasion, | stand prepared 10 vindcatc my
course, as compared with bis or that Of any other
member OF this body, Tor consistency Of conduct
purity Of motive. and devoted attachment TO the
country and lis institutions.
Having made these remarks which have been
forced upon me- shall now proceed directly TO
the subject before the Senate and in order that
ii may, with al. its bearings Le fully understood,
] must go back TO the period at which introdu.
ced the resolutions They were introduced in
connection with the bill which has passed this
House. and is now pending before the other.
That bill was couched IN general terms, with.
out naming South Carolina or any other State,
though il was understood, and avowcd by the
C.nmittee, as intended to act directly on her.
Believing that the Government had no right
10 use force in the controversy, and that the at
tempt to introduce il rested upon principles utter
ly subyersive Of the Constitution and the sovc-
rcigoty Of the States, drew up the resolutions.
and introduced them expressly with the view 10
test those principles, with desire that they
shCCld be- discussed and voted on before the bill
came up for consideration. The majority order
ed otherwise. The resolutions were laid on the