Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-12-19

individual State of this concderscv can while She CON-
tnnes member thereof, abolish the revenue laws of the
United States, the power impose duties, &c. being
pressly granted TO Congress- But this is the power
which the Nullfers contend.- is high time that such
an ndgnan, People. ylRGINIUS.
MUTIUS-w. C. RlvES.-[No. wi
The bel p... Of politics, Is the people
.'SSG which time ospeis sad
aa oh.,.ucons the laws ali co%Snn,iou.
sSs under plausible
And now, sir, let for moment, step into the Senate
Chamber and by The light Of reason iet The acts
Of that body and particularly OF Mr. Rives and see
whether he has srayed fom the Iepub lean party
You are well aware, sir. that the President OF tie Unit
ed States, in going Into office, the solemn and bind
ing oath, defend the Constitution and the laws He
sir the great agent whom the people has sci there for this
great purpose. To his oath there conditions He
does not swear TO permit niractions of the laws by such
and such combinations but in the spirit of the extract
quoted above. he swears 10 protect them from all COM
binations He is bound by oath to do this if he a
we well know that our government s dissolved.
Now. sir, what the circumstances Of this nation
when Mr.. Rives took his in the Senate! Conven.
ton In South Carolina composed of the of
lean majority Of the people, had in what thew called THAR
sovereign, independent character, assembled and done
whs' They had, by solemn ordinance proclaimed their
determination to render null and void by certain day.
and that day almost at the threshold of act the whole
Tariff laws Of these United States And in contirma,ion
OF this decision they had called out the whole military
orce South Carolina TO carry this ordinance effect
They had, by certain laws Of the oppressive nature
thrown large party in South Carolina al once out of the
protection Of the United States their own They had
determined to decide contested constitutional point
about which their politicians had formerly differed by
the sword And laying their hands its i they with
scowi oil defiance, babe the majesty Of this Union stand
byproclaimng all these States that this Union was
dissolved, come good come bad.
What, sir, was then the duty Of this President? What
sir, was his oath. Place Yourself for momsn, in hs
seat and then with the eye OF the nation on YOU feel
the awful responsibility Of your situation Look at the
issue What South Carolina had carried her ordinance
into sffec That, if that whole train of doctrines had
here produced their legitimate effects? What sentence
would men have been pronounced against feeble execu.
i've, who had Jailed TO fulfil the oath, which the nation
had imposed OH him! Must he an idle spectator in
times like these! u for him 10 pronounce II
ality OF the tarflAws His immediate du,y was 70 sss
that laws Which in exi.tence were executed And
thence the BILL ~hich has been, by way making It un-
popular called the bloody bill.
This biI entirely dtfensre in its nature and dey
those kind guardians Of liberty point out one clause
whcn is not defensive There in it, stretch pow
err NO disposition 10 kindle up flame South Ca
rolina: No disposition TO violate any part of The onstit
on u but said TO the President-"fere take this to
DE- the Constu necessary but lei il be used with
kindness. but II necessary, with 1esoIution Yo, have
taken your oath, 10 protect the and The laws
ms constitution, and the laws are in imminent danger
You have called the nation aid YOU with s advice
and Its powers and this bill is your passport which pe
put into your hands,"
Mr.. Rives voted for this BILL and therefore. he COM
mlited most bloody sc and inconsistent, because
he was opposed to the Tariff:
Inc opposition 10 law code of laws, before they
AL
Ter the Legislature Of the nation have declared thew laws
truly we should do all could TO get them repealed
oul while they are laws nothing but revolution or rebel
on can render them null and void. And il s the dutv
OF this opposer to the passage Of law alter it be
law TO obey IL; and good citizen see that il is obeved
And on This simple principle Mr. Rves voted for the re.
Mr. Rves had opposed Mr.. Calhoun in the passage Of
,he farm lave: Mr. Calhoun rumphed, and The Tariff
was passed Mr. Calhoun rebeIled against laws of bis
own making; while Mr. Rivss, though still opposed to
these laws in principle, like peaceful citizen, when he
sees 'he issue OF their inscon supports the Executive
III ms attempts TO cause them 10 be executed.
Here Is the plain state Of the case but another view
Of IT, VIII put In sill stronger light South Caroline
oy her mad acs forced Congress to the bill which was
adopted And shall think that this was her object
why did she not proceed, with GOODNESS and decision to
combine all those who were opposed the Tariff, ina
constitutional opposition III this had been done Virginia
and large portion of the South would have gone with
her And no doubt, that kind OF oppo.don would have
ound friend in President Jackson aud Mr. Rives No;
this would not do. Singeband she must rush TO her
measures Thus, calling out she well kDe she yyoud
the powers Of the Constitution. to protect itself Calhoun
Knew nus ans be Knew That this mode OF defence what
ever n'gh' De, would he good complain of
persecution IL was the only means he knew Of 10
aver ,ne position OF the two parties make il sp-
pear ns' me assaiian's the asssi1ed L. was for
hs that Duff Green and all his tribe of scribbers ras
eu me whoop OF tyranny, and rsnsacked their brains
'or an array Of bad words" pour on this bill,
OH congress, and President jackson. The lawful
cxere'o OF the true powers Of tho Constitution, is call
eu dreadful tyranny; and because the assasn IL State il
Is agnhcd, no, knowing that irscions Of law are the
sWe Oy an individual associsiiuns "Faction forces
government 10 natural contamination, and then cIamors
over the conseq' eDces"
But, apart from the reason OF his vote Of Mr. Riyes
ana The reason OF this bill they without precedent
John Randolph occupied the same groun Is at one time
which Mr. Rives has oecupied. The Embargo was more
oppressive TO The north than the Tariff ever was TO the
south; but when New EngsDd--nct one State, mark Won
but severai-ressted this policy, what said the South
They spoke as they should have done Congress bars
passed me Embargo laws they are lsws, and they ssr
eIeo' ihey must not, they cannot be obsiructed. Hare
though the North presented in The quantity OF oup,,io,,
lager front, Congress, with stern voice. told ~ haze
laws must be respected. And wbyl u Won are nsr
United 10 violate these laws Government IL act vnr
button, and we gone John Randolph ewes sJm,isd
The uneonsfuiopay OF the Embargo bu, ssal il mus.
be enforced. "
ask you, Mutius, IT, after reading the ,e,oo ,.h;,,
have taken ffoiH Wsshington's Farewell Address whs
iher you do not believe that IL I've had oc,soisd
seat tie would not have called on Congress for
h,'' 70 support the lswsi Yes, sir, hs wonli AMI
WIN ne same s'efnness with which ha faced The enc
mes o. bis country In the field, he Eoahl have faced
US internal Toes" Happily, we hat IN This Chair
owe who' IN The open field, faced ssa conquered The
e"em,es Of his country Aud fer one, will never be-
rve him yrsp upon the eviasnse o. l..oe who ssA
'i their lives Oh dsintes who bsys Tough, battles with