Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-08-15

From the Richmond Wig.


TO THOMAS RITCIIIE, ESQ.-NO A.
In my last letter, sir, submitted for YOUR
solution, proposition which appear, TO me
10 place you IN considerable difficulty. A lion
IN the tolls, might, in perfect consistency with
his character, decline all means Of escape
through fear Of committing his dignity upon
an unsuccessful effort. In order that NAV
reconcile you To this course, believing that
you are already determined on pursuing it.
proceed to show you that you could moi es.
cape, if you rouid.
You will perhaps, say, that although State
has right To pronounce on the constitution.
atty oil an act Of Congress; yet il is, never
theless, bound to submit To an act SO pro-
nounced to be unconstitutional, until the other
States shdH kare sanctioned ats decision. This
IL II were true, might perhaps afford some
ground Of apology for the President and Con-
gross. IL Is this which have ALREADY alluded
10, as presenting the only possible chance of
escape from the horns OF my dilemma. In
deed, sir, IL may be useful for you TO know.
that great many Of the most yociferous de-
nouncers Of notification, go with il in pcrfcct
fellowship, until il reaches this point. Twill
endeavor now 10 show that there is no sort
OF reason for separating here and il should
succeed IN this effort, you may rely upon it,
That vast number who are now in your ranks
will desert to mine. affirm, therefore. thai
the Resolutions Of 1898, so far from eounfe-
naneing the idea that STATE rhieh mas pronounced
an act Of Congress TO BE- is bo,.,d
10 obey that tGsr, uRfi the other States shall sane
iton ITS deeiscn, do distinctly assert the preeise
rerer". This, doubt not, I shall prove.
presume il will readily be admitted. that
Nadisons Report, which was made expressly
TO sustain those Resolutions, is a fair inter
prefer OF their meaning. That Report, after
stating the proposition, that "where resort can
be had TO no tribunal superior 20 the anthori-
" OF the parties, the parties themselves must
DO the judges In the last resort, whether the
bargain made has been pursued or violated, ~
proceeds thus: :" The States, then, being the
parties to The Constitutional Compact, and in
their sovereign capacity, IL follows OF neces-
sity that there can DO no tribunal above their
authority, to decide, IN hs last resort, whether
the compact made by them be violated md
consequently, that, as the parties to IL, they
must decide iii he last resort, such questions
as may be Of sufficient magnitude TO require
their interposition. From this view Of The
resolution, Il would seem Uncomfortable that
ii can incur, any just disapprobation from those
who, laying aside ali momentary impressions,
and recollecting the genuine source and object
OF the Federal Constitution, shall candidly and
accurately interpret the meaning Of the Gene
raj Assembly. II the deliberate exercise of
dangerous powers, pslpably withheld By tho
Constitution, could not justify the parties to IL,
IN interpreting, even so far as TO avert the
progress Of the evil, and thereby 10 preserve
the constitution itself, as well as 20 porids for
fhe seJtiy ~ the parties 10 "a, there would be an
end Of all relief from usurped power, and
direct subVcTsion Of the rights specified or re-
ecgnissduHdeT ell the State Goa iiHIons, as srsH
as plain denial Of hhs JHBdsHnenIai principle on
iehieh our Independence assiC ,ras dselarsd."
This language appears 20 me 20 b plain
enough for any common UNDERSTANDING Il
even goes bow-sh0t beyond the notification
of South carolina. That state admits that
the other States, acting AZ such, may overrule
her decision; but the resolutions, as explain
ed by the Report, contemplate such decision
a. Z" ~ TIE last resort, " and therefore, 6aai and
eefeiasfrs. This hsusi DO the correct inter
probation, unless the Report, by the term
" states" and parties" intended 10 limit a.
self 10 the Piurai nuplbsr, and 81 course, not 10
include single STATE acting By iiseD This r.,
st least, mere bubble, altogether unworthy
Of the dignity Of the subject; bat - there APP
pears 10 BE- determination to get rid Of our
ldprineipies in some way 90 other their friends
must not neglect their defence, even % those
points which would seem % b. imprcsnably
intrenebed. ~, then, Ne resolutions do not
contemplate the intsrpOsition Of sacA state
for itself, they must eontemplato sueh inter
position either by an re states. % ~ p,s-
Jo'ay II ~ Ststss, 90 ~ plural Number isss
tAsn sa4jsyag II "a Hfsssf &c tbe hrst was
meant, q uas q usost tseiess and ridicul0us pa
fs.ie % afgunscnt, 80 prove wbat y aitoeeiher
,eli-eFsdsst Ceftkisiy thoss uho nafs ~
t'orsSuussaf have right not oniy loehsck aod
eonirui q, Bet svaa 30 uaetskf q, Nbenerer
sh % thea cqncsf b that Ssh. ~, there
fore tAis be k,e neaaing q siss Resoluiioas
tliey oaiy 9hrm ahat 10 oac would ever
ihiak 81 cfsyinE, aud ahst \ eqasliy true q
other g0ffrnnIeHtl a. q ours ID the rcso-
LIZ 10 H.. ----- a. . ---.--. IL -. .-....l