Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-26

sovereignty Of STATE aud liberties OF the People, is not
only their tight but the duty OF such State lis
authority for their protection in the best calculated
to secure that end. When occur which are
either beyond the reach OF the judicial tribunals or too
pressing TO admit ofhe delay incident their FORM States
wnch nave no common umpire, must BIO their otcn judg
Is an" eTeeute their decisions" This, Sir, use
'he angug OF General Bfodnax in lila cbrated
on reoe,a Ss's,'ons, was the production OF such men
as Harrison Groy OTIS. and other Black toekade
ma'yo'a Cg'rentlo@ men For il part OF the Re-
ence to the IN vol page sos OF. Niles Register
The olrct OF the three New England States that sent
members TO the Hartford Convention, was to ce Con.
gress TO abandon the war with Great Britain They were
the "frieads Of Commerce. and ol "PeGce" and said
among many other ilings that the war uncons,u-
honaiiy conduced and therefore thoagh by virtue of
their sovereignty. they could make with the enemy
or withdraw from the Union
Against this Conventions the republican members Of the
legislature oil Massachusetts protested in the following
language:
"The undersigned &c in number of the H. of Repre-
sen'aves therefore, Disguise their
That more must I've desigucJth,n is distinctly avowed
lie reasoning OF the report is supported by the alarming
assumption that the Constitution has tailed in its objects,
anu TIE people oil Massachusetts sbsoved from their
allegiance, and at liberty adopt her In debate
has been reiterated, that the Constitution is no longer TO
be respected and that revolution is not 20 be
he bond OF 'our political Union is thus attempted be
severed. and in sa'e of AMI common danger we
are advised TO the mad experiment OF abandoning pro-
econ, which the combined energies OF the nation mi ht
afford Tor the selfish enjoyment Of present, though
paai resources The resolutions, is 10 he feared will
be received 10y other States as productive Of this couse
qnence, that '.Udssuchusehs shall goceyn he admins
frdion, or the government shah not be dinisiee ed ia
HdsSdchuseftsF Jealouy and contention will ensue
ihe Constitution hitherto respected tie charter OF our
"aonai liberty aud cosecraed the ark Of political
safety, will be violated aud destroyed aud in civil di.sen
ohs arh commissions, our independence will be nnuih
e ana our country reduced TO the condition Of vanquish
ed aud tributary colonies TO naughty aud mpacable
oreign foe"
In the proes, OF the Republican members of the Sen
oeof Massachusetts you will find this language The
respective States of New England can now preserve all
their resources except such as are under , rons,uton
al nt nIf.
tdhe hesT Such combination would be resistance
federal authority. 1t wisely provided by the Cons
uion' that no State should enter into any compact
agreement with another uhout the consent Of Congress
IL was probably foreseen that Disappointed and ambitious
men would attempt TO form associations pejndica the
general welfare and dangerous the union of the States
that these would excite local jealOusies and attempt
geographical distinctions; aud that spairing of
Sng the uhofe they would attempt dce that they
might govern part Ambition has ST. owed every other
republic on earth. Tie United States sand alone like
solitary ockin the midst Of the surrounded and as.
sailed by storms and ,empesis In vain may look for
aid except from Union, Energy and Heaven"
In addition TO what said these able remonstran
ces against the Hartford Contention, what was said
at the Time by the leading Journal OF own Stae-the
Journal that was patronised by Spencer Roane and the
"ony one" read by Thomas JEFFERSON. II spoke boldly
ana was supported throughout by the predominant party,
IN the opinions advanced and not then charged with
federalism" or "with looking way and rO,cing The
other"
The alarm ,cds guen in these words: "The Union is
IN danger Turn to tue Convention at Hartford, learn
to Tembie at the madness Of its authors How far will
these madmen advance! Though they may conceal
from you the project of disunon though few Of them
may even conceal it from themselves; yet who will pre-
tend TO set bounds 10 the rage of dsaiiection Will YOU
support the men who would plunge you into this ruin "'
"Counlrymen OF the East we cafupon you 10 KEEP vi
giant eye upon those wrctthed men, who would plunge
us into civil war and irrerevabIe disgrace. Whatever
be the temporary caamiies which may assai us let us
swear upon the altar OF our country, 10 The Onon
Those "iriends of commerce" not called in that
day estate Rights men, although they pushed State
Sovereignty far beyond the Virginia Resolutions OF 1913
and 80 They were called "Boson Jacobins' by some
ana they caused the States in which they lived TO be
dubbed with the title of "The Nation of New ENGLAND
Some of the advocates of the same doctrines accoing
to my understanding OF them differing only in pioience
by their regeneration, may say they have been contend
ed Tor under different circumstances the first struggle
being in time OF and tie second in time of peace:
again, they may say the Of the
were constitutional and 'palpably" so; but that the
iarif acts were Palpably unconstitutional: or they NAV
use the language OF their leader Mr. Calhoun and
Men cannot oi,odys go straight for,cord but mast re-
gard the obstacle ,chich npedes their course" Tue
,osdom consists in properly adapting our conduct To
crc"mstdnces"t To which reply, that if each State
has all OF its original sovereignty and Judge for itself
separately, and erecute its decisi0us s rioh il
perfect and will alwayshe regarded by the circumstances
surrounding it, whether the nation is engaged in uar or
manufacturing. II she Thinks war measure unconsii-
n'lonaif Tor instance, the administration pu, her militia
under the command of United States Officers when she
thinks they ough, 10 he commanded by State Officers she
could avail herself of that Circumstance become an in
dependent nation and have the advantages of neuray
yes at such time. she ought put higher value on
ms Sfdfe Rghf than at any other time, the only adj
vantage 10 be derived from its enjoyment is TO save her
citizens from oppression and miSruie
NOW, sir, 10 make the application intended, when
maze the quotation from your sech OF the 4th Novem.
Der, 1879 Let me enquire, whether you think the oh
Jecis contemplated by the Hartford Convention were
ranted lay The Constitution of the United States or whe
her they were influenced, regardless of right by what
they thought would rebound their interest providcd
they could succeed in their scheme?
Their doctrine repudiaed and exploded i'm 1911
whether sound, uns0und II il was wrong then il
cannot be right noto because it has, long absence
made its appearance in the South was resorted 10
Improperly by Massachusetts, get clear OF one me asure
OF The government he propeyIy by South
carolina TO Tree herself from The effects another of the
same government?
ID yon decide that Massachusetts, had no roht N uIlf
nor would secession have been constitutional and peace
iu measure in her, except with the OF the co States
Is 10 be presumed you will not sustain Carolina In either
position taken by her. unless il be done on the ground of
mat aforesaid interest lf the people in the South did
ousiy mink, twenty years ago that treason for
me people OF State TO exert their right OF wiihlra wing
from the Union, and believe, that can be cons,
cd There IL but other way OF accounting for it, and
am indebted to you for that also Itis remark able
truth in the natural history of in this country tina tbn
sons are invariably wiser than their fatlers Yes uch
vs. The march OF minds that 500 years hence if the no.
vetnmen' should exist long, the gene alton then living
VIII know infinitely better what the makers Of tho Con
siituon intended than they themselves knew twenty
years charitable enough to attribute il TO that
idc In preference 10 the other Yes let il be- that the
young OF the South understand the instruen Mt better
man did washing Jefferson and others who have left us
OF Madison who is living, and tells them they arc wrong
Alter having said thus much, more doubt than will
ne agreeable 10 you TO read submit the matter 10 your
considerations with request that you will dves Yourself
OF party feeling and look Yourself being called on v
Inc fla Kat Il ft,.