Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-10
HARRISON COUNTY

HARRISON COUNTY
=, CLARKsBURG, (Ya) Dec. 20.
~ mceuhg OF portion OF the citizens OF Harrison
County, convened at the Court house ON the 25n NJ
December, TO take into consideration the lee proceed
,ngs OF South Carolina, aud The Proclamation of the
PresidenCharles Lewis, Esq was called 10 the Chair,
aud Captain L. Nj. Wilson was appointed Secretary
committee consisting OF John Webster, Nj. ID. Git
lings, George j. Davsson, John Wilson ir, John J.
Allen, and James hlcCaly, was appointed to prepare
anu suo' 10 te meeting report and resolutions; and af
some une' reported the following preamble and
lutons which, on motions severdlly put were adopted
The citizens Of Harrison county, here assembled in
COMMON with their fellow citizens elsewhere have con-
tempated with deep anxiety the late proceedings of the
Convention In South Carolina aud believing that in the
present crisis general expression of the scumcn,s on
er,ained 10y the people called for hv the mssnude of
the interests at stake they have 70 take into cons-
deralion the measures adopted and contemplated h bi
brethren OF South Carolina aud the views presented nv
the President in his Proramaon The opposition TO the
Jaws oil Congress proceeds from alleged demonstrations
At exercise OF power in imposing duties foreign impor-
'alon1 IRON whence is deduced the right OH the part Of
each State, TO nuiy them The Constitution Of the Unit
eu states conters tie power OF laying and collecting du
ues on Po.'' ana oil regulating commerce. The grant
Is UNLIMITED In lis terms and the which conTbut-
Ell TO me formation oil the present Constitutions provo that
was 'ne intention To confer upon the General Govern
meht iniI power over this subject. The embarrass-
ment growing out Of the conflicting rules established
hy the States, and the Importance of procuring some
uniform regulation, led in a great measure to the
adoption OF the present constitutions The attention of
the Convention which framed the Const;,utADn was
drawn to tins subject and by comforting the power on
congress without resrciioR aud restraining the States
RON the exercise OF any authority over it, il would
mat the whole subject conded to the discretion of the
General Government This meeting therefore entertains
no doubt OF the right OF Congress pass the laws COM
planned OIL The power to lay duties, like every other
s o. power may be abused or exercised without proper
consideration But such abuse argument against its
existence and the remedy for the ndscree exercise Of
any power is 10 be found IN the responsibility rep
resentave 10 his constituents. This meeting deem il un-
necessary at tins time to enter into the question: whether
he laws complained OIL arc unequal aud oppressive, or
not he right TO nuliiy them maintained upon the
ground that they are unconstitutional and void. This
meeting of opinion that the laws are constitutional
in
I'll hey are repealed, and that incumbent Oh the Pre-
sdent, charged by the Constitution with The dutv of e~
ecuung The laws TO see that they enforced.
But If the policy complained Of operates oppressiveIv
upon the people OF the South it be forgotten that
we are IN measure indebted TO South Carolina for s
hrs adoption as the policy of the Governments Her re-
pesen'aVeS were amongst IFS leading advocates
ough Ihey may have been mistaken its effects or
may not have aPprehended that it would have been ex-
tended as lar as has BEEN they should be last TO de-
hounce II as unconstitutional; and having changed their
oPons' threaten TO involve he nation in civil war
cause majority OF the people differ with them
thus meeting, in common with large majority OF the
clZens oil Virginia, strenuous advocates of the re-
served rights OF the States the people They would
depecate an accumulation Of all power in the Federal
Government, necessarily leading TO danoerous acc
mutation OF power in the executive hands, and tending TO
consolidation OF all the States some strong Go
Vernment But late occurrences prove that system
now threatened with danger from opposite quarter
mat Is to be feared one if of the States are
attempting to resume all power and their pretensiops
oe acquesced IN, we should be subject ali the evils
moving from contiguous and hostile sovereignies in the
hsl Instance, with the prospect the establishment of
one OF more military despotsms, upon the ruins our
This meeting considers the doctrine of Modification 50
lar from being constitutional remedy as subversye of
e constitution, and as putting it in the power of any
one State to arrest the action OF Federal Government
TO destroy ITS efficiency and TO defeat the ends expeced
to he attained by its institution; at the same time hin
pairs the ed rights OF the States bv concedin t
ree-iourths OF them the power of giving TO the Cons
ton any construction they please The people of tho
States, when they adopted the Constitution declared at
mey dG So TO secure the blessings of liberty 10 them
selves ana their posterty and they all guaranteed to each
IePuOhcan iorm OF government. Can three fourtls
or any number OF the States less than the whole
give to the compact construction, which would
violate these fundamental principles or rigbtluv com,
PEI "e people oil any one State 10 acknowledge any
other that Republican form of government? But
II the doctrines OF Modification sound, any one
state may oosIruct the operations OF the General Co
yernmen though supported by every other State in the
Onon while to three ourths Of the States yielded the
power OF changing constituting the Constitution AT nlo
sure lit possible the Union could continue for anv
length OF time under the operation of this new principle
would be the probable result, The nation yaP;
and exhausted by the conflicts the different States with
each other and the General Government would at last
settle down in some construction which would confer al
power on the General Government the only one which
could ensure TO ii security and repose.
AS TO the peaceabe character OF this alleged remedy for
abuses me violent proceedings of the South Carolina Con-
Nehoh' me yrannlcal disregard OF the rights of the MI
nony, and the military preparations recommended bv
Their Governor, are the best commentary upon this pre-.
tension ~ peaceabe remedy abuses " nv for ta
irs time in these United States do we see minority dis
ranchsed for entertaining honest difference Of obi.
Mon Why are the tribunals closed against an bo d
these proceedings an invasion Of their individual rights
Where the Ordinance Of the South Carolina Conven
ton hnd parallel except in the bloody prescriptions of
French Convention and why is the whole power of e
State 10 be organized and arayed aid in administering
this peaceahle remedy They conscious that beif
measures must lead 10 civil If opposed or disuuon II
aCquicsccd in.
The right to resist oppression when Il becomes inioers
ble IS one OF those uuaenabe rights consecrated in our
Declaration OF Independence: II be ongs alike 10 ipdiv.
dudls and communities II is right not growing out Of
the constitution, but paramount all constitutions II 10
the duty Of The majority, oppression exists to remove it,
and when 1t alleged 10 exist listen with respect 10 ali
complaints. But IT, aiCYa careful nvestigaii the ,
ioHiy convinced real OF complaint does ex
that resistance the constituted authorities procceds
from restless spirit Of innovation and not from consfen
uous determination TO maintain Dvoate the rights and H.
berries OF the people, " becomes their duty 10 suppress
The balance OF mankind and postcriy will pass iudg-
ment upon the pfeensiOns Of the parties viii be Tor
them 10 say should this unhappy controversy potract-
ed aud cHd 10 disastrous results for both parties, 10
which side the ignominy should attach. They will rot
forget That =. Carolina raised the standard OF resistance a.
g'nst tht other States because they persevercdin policy
which she the first aid in establishing THAI sha
did 80 Immediately after great reduction IN the duties
complained OF, aud the very when frv tho
cNOn guishnent Of the national debt, il had become
manifest lhat the duties sdl retained must speedilv
undergo further reduction, TO bring down tlte pcvc-
10 The necessary expenses Of government. This
msetng are induced 10 believe that the leader Is
iu This unhappy controversy, have been prompted not
so much toy wish 20 gct I'D Of the obnoxious Tariff,
al by dFe 10 avail themselves OF The excitement created
~ 10 dissolve tie Union aud establish Southern COM