Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-01-31

i
them, to discharge certain duties required ofhem,
and n, stipulated periods, to lay down the power
which belonged alone 10 the people, and with which
they had been temporarily clothed for certain pur
lPoses--that no error nigh, bc committed, and 10
prevent any from attempting terule by military
force, they perfected their government we here
toiore have believed IN the security Of written Con-
| stiniioDs.
Al the States of this Confederacy, certainly no
lieved themselves sovereign and in tina. capacity,
and under tina, belief, Virginia proceeded to form
Government, Cor berself, anterior to the Declaration
ofIudepcndenee, aud existed until three years 20,
under the Constitution and form Of Government.
then established, when the sovereign people assem-
bled IN Convention, and amended that Consti- |
tuition, which now remains the monument of
their sovercgnty-the basis Of their fundamental |
| laws |
How, then il il possible for Virginia TO have re.
eeyed grant Of her reserved rights from the con.
stitu,ion Of the United States OF the single ma
lonT How the States could receive as a grant
their reserved rights is difficult TO comprehend but
not less SO, than that Sovereign State can com
mi, treason AS carly US the 18th Of June, l776,
this State declared that whenever any Govern
ment shal be found inadequate to the purposes
OF producing the Creates, degree Of happiness a
majority Of the people. hath indubnabc, unali-
|
bolisb II, IN such manner shall be Judged most
conducive to the public veal" Virginia has very
lately reformed and altered her Government, and
still Chains the a" indubitabe, unalienable and indie
feasible right to abolish it" whenever the maor-
~ Of her citizens may think proper to DO 50 to re-
lorm alter or abolish fo,m of Government are
the highest powers which Sovereign State can
exercise.
We have also on our statute book, law pointing
out the mode by which citizen may expatrlate
himself, and until he avas himself Of the prov-
sons OF this act, in dves,ng himself Of his citizen
ship, OF Icnounces j, by becoming citizen Of ano
thei State this union, or the subject Of for
egn prince, he is, wherever he may be, citizen Of
Virginia, and to her his allegiance is due.
The constitution or compact which untes these
Siaics, among other specified powers, has given to
Congress the RICH" TO establish an uniform mode
of naturalization" and no more because more was
not necessary, as the United States had no citizens
on whom il could operate ye, it was desirable tina,
uniformity on this subject should exist throughout
the confodcracy, us the constitution provides that
the citizens OF each State shall be entitled to all
the privileges and lmmuncs OF citizens Of the scy
cral states and by virtue Of this provision
foreigner, Who has been naturnllzed, and taken the
oath of allegiance 10 any oflhese States, may
at any lime, under this constitutional provision
E transfer his allegiance to another State
n The United States then being only the Union of
certan interests Of these sovereign States intend
sd by them to be used for their benefit by agents
appointed by themselves, could not have citizens
since the fact Of its existence is the act Of the c,i-
zens Of the several States, though at an cnrly pc
riod, that government made effort to legislatc
over the persons Of the citizens of tho States by
the passeoc OF the alien and sedion acts. which
passed nh Houses OF Congress, and was APPROX.
cd by the President. These acts me, with unuua.
fled resistance on the part of several States and
by none with more decision than Virginia, on
whose statute book a law now stands, the written
evidence OF her protecting sovereign and the per
pelual monument Of It's peaceful conservative and
triumphant inerpos,ion. Yet the President has
, given US too clearly TO understand, that when IN
4 act has passed both Houses Of Congress, and has
been approved by him. its constiIu,lonaIi,y cannot
be questioned, and fiom his decision il would seem
there is allowed no appeal bu, to humble en,rea,y,
and unavnlllng remonstrancc.
This government, il il possesses the powers
thus claimed for 1t, Is wholly wthou, check, un-
limited in its sway, and boundless in It's power
J Surely this cannot be the practical effect of the
government, which our fathers established to secure
to their children the rich heritage Of liberty. lft
be, the system has been misunderstood.
We find no relief from the prevailing alarms for
the safety of our institutions when we behold the
federal executive, upon patient review of all those
claims to power, disregardng the sovereignty OF
the States, end insisting upon executing an act OF
congress- which has been declared unconstitutional
by the only tribunal on earth, which is admitted TO
3 have authority to judge Of its validity
In areccnt message to congress, the president
, has desired that body to put at his disposal the
whole army, navy and militia force Of the oonfed
!, lao, c,a ,,,,k
remove abolish the custom houses within u SOW
, ere ign state, wherever aud whatsoever he may
y think proper, and requires the enactment of laws
in relation to the collection Of duties in thai, state
to be made in cash, il he may deem il necessary
which cannot be considered in conformity with that
clause the constitution, which declares that all
I duties, lmposs, and excuses, shall be uniform
throughout the United States"
I We ure not detcivcd-for we cannot misunder-
S stand the object Of these wnrlike recommends
tons. The doctrines lately promulg gated deny any
r sovereignty to the Sthtes-and State Rights, i,
would seem, in the opinion Of the President, are
heldas grants from the federal constitution The DIFF
fculties which State sovereignty, and State Rights
5 might Interpnsc, being in this summary method
disposed Of the field is open the array of military
leglons, TO crush by force that which is sustained
by justice patl io,ism, and the constitution The
power claimed tor that government makes II al
ready absolute--and should the Congress indulge
the President in his desires, they sanction by then
S vote, the creation Of a dictator.
Why should these things be Z Have drawn
swords ever reconciled differences Of opinion
{ Besides, there various modes by which this
j controversy might be adjusted without resort to
: arms, which wisdom forbids, patriotism condemns,
C and liberty abhors
t The courts Of the country are open to all par
+ ties, where those questions might soon be deter
mined, and leave us as were, as free and happy
f people, or Congress could, by the provisions ofthe
constitution confer on State within her own ter