Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-07

gOVernlcnts would have a keener sense
and capacity TO take advantage OF all those things cacu
lated to protect and guard their local rights.
These too were the favorte doctrines OF Mr. Jefferson
whose name has been invoked TO sustain the right of nal
itcatt0n and secession Let see what we re the mea
sures Tor redress and security, which he considered the
healing baliu' of our whole federal system. In OF
MS letters are the following striking passages " II spirit
@JoroeGranee and compromise, therefore, and not Of en-
eIodchmen and usHpdtion, rs the healing balm Of our
Constitution and each party should prudentiy shrink
from all approach TO the line Of dendroao, instead of
rdShfy Overlapping H. Mro,cing grdppies ahead 10
haul to hereafter. But finally The peculiar happiness
81 our blessed system u.s. that in differences of opinion
oettoeen these different sets Of servants, the appeal is TO
neither, 6m to their employers pedeeabiy assembled by
er representatives IN ConuentiOn THIS is ration
al man me Jus Jortoris; or the eonnons mouth the al
ftnid ct sofa ratio regum."
These indeed the peaceful and blessed means for
the security oil both governments and the of
our Union Can there be any other so wise, beneficial
or practicable! To avoid these conflicts for power ought
to be the object and care Of ALL As the best means,
thoSe VINO administer the General Government be adj
mon he'd TO refrain from the of doubtful powers
Ii the Constitution is defective let il be made more per-
fectIf the Federal Government is too weak enlarge its
powers 100 limited IN extent, extend IT, But let this
be done-not by construction or management or by pill
ieing mere and there little power, under the
pac-but let 1t be done by the people; let the power be
freely delegated by the people This will be lust and
sale; sale Tor the present. safe for the uturefo peo
pie anu Tor those who Let them look to the
rious ana conflicting interests feelings aud wishes of this
extended empire aud remember that animosies and en-
mites are engendered by cashng interests; and that no
Government can paonze class hut at the
expense OF the other. Let them, moreover profit by the
wise admonions OF the venerable and devoted patriot
now at the helm of affairs in which he them to
lay ASIDE all selfish and local considerations and be
guided by lofty spirit of derotion the great pri
cipies upon chch free Institutions are founded
That this Union and Confederacy can only exist with
safety to our liberty and happiness by pursuing this
course, is solemn truth, which ought impress itself on
the heart oil every who feels sincere and cordial
attachment TO the peace and prosperity Of common
country Our public rulers should remember, that the
safety OF this Union and all its blessings rest not i'm py-
scS but in power; not armed men but i'm the deem
Antn nliahta mad
virtuous freemen Hence, when it was asked how one
man could govern million, the was-by the force
Of public opinion.
The State Governments, too have high and important
duties TO perform, both in relation themselves and the
Union They should seek as the basis of their conduct
not merely local and circumscrbed patrotsm one
more enlarged and liberal character, suitable to our
widely and growing country. They should ne
yer cease 10 remember, that Union and COnfedera
as necessary 10 the security of liberties and
happiness the steel flint production of fire:
and that we might as well attempt TO tear the human
hcar IRON The boSom and expect blood follow TO
tear one OF The States from this Union, and expect that
State to remain either free happy.
Its time, however, that should close the discussion of
ms ai,aosoTbing subject (upon which perhaps have
dweied too long0 but cannot do so without aying few
words as 10 The sentiments OF Virginia, aud The
stated that the present Legislature, in the name of the
good people oil Virginia, about to and maintain
the doctrine OF secession peaceable and constitution
al right the part OF any this Union This
may be all (knowing very little OF the sentiments of
the Legsature but let take care that i'm
to protect the rghtul powers OF the States they do not
rather inure than benefit them Rely on it, the people
OF Virginia America, will be convinced that the
rights and powers OF the States vindicated or
supported by the doctrines of nufcGt and secession
Has this ever been the opinion OF Virginia Did she as
sert 1t IN 9S and SO, or any thing like it
answer that she did And here permit me TO no.
ice what consider total Misrepresentation of the true
character and meaning OF the resolutions of 9S under
which the doctrine OF secession and notification seeks to
support itself The Sd resolution assers''that i'm case
OF deberae papabe and dangerous exercise of powers
not granted by the compact the States, who parties
thereto, have the right and in duty bound to inter
pose Tor arreshng the progress OF the evil aud for
tanning within their respective limits the authorities rights
and liberties apPertainng them" The seventh resolu-
ton calls upon the States unite with Virginia i'm de-
clarng the Alien and Sedion Laws unconstitutional and
urging on them to take all necessary proper nlea-
Sres for cooperating 10Th VrginiG i'm MAINTAINING nm
impaired the authorities rights and liberties reserved 10
the States respectively, the people. These are the
TWO resolutions, which are supposed TO leave the mode
ana measure oil redress within the power md discretion
OF each State and consequently right by such State
to dnnm The idws IF The Union, secede from it, at
pleasure. Is this just fair Interpretation of these re
solutions! think not When the two resolutions are
considered in connection with each other and with the
report OF SO in explanation aud defence them we shall
find how greatly they have been nisconstrued and mis-
understood these resolutions of Virginia we re oppoed
as you remembers by most of the other States ON various
grounds, aud among others these "tha the State L. ois
IaureS mad no right TO declare any law of the General Co
vcrnmcnt unconstitutional, denounce its proceedings
That such power in the States, would hazard the peace
OF the Unon promote civil discord amongst The STATES
themselves, and force the States vndcaon of their
rights and opinions, by the strength of their arms" MIR
ahsoH NWho5 you kllOWs drew the resolutions of
though not in the Legsaure,) into that body the
year Alter for the express purpose OF indicating the re-
solutions and course OF Virginia aud answering the obc
ions which had been made TO them by the oiher States
In his celebrated report, lie explained and vindcaed
that part OF the resolutions which speaks of e necessa
Ty and proper measures against the objections urged
against them The whole defence Of the clear
ly shews, that the measures be peaceable and
constitutional, aRd TO he taken by each State with vic 80
to operation With Prginiu not 10 the single and
separate action Cf one State 'upGded and alone The
report moreover expressly Declares that because Virginia
did not undertake TO point out to her States choice
among the other measures that might become necessary
and proper the failure to do be construed
into any cupable imputaion. Let us imagine that the
resolutions had been charged with asserting on the part
OF any State TO annu by force the laws of
The Union, or the right Of secedng aud can we doubt
that would have been, in those days utterly and unbe
sitTngy denicd Ii is, moreover, worthy onote that i'm
Tie report OF Mr. Madison by way OF she wing the
iu Character OF the proposed, the weight
which was then attributed to be expression of Legisa-
tive opinion OF any STATE TO the unconsttuonaty of
law OF tie General Governmen) IL expressly declares
that it the other States had eoncuyred ,oi Urgini1 in
the denunciaon Of the Alien Sedion Laws il was
not TO be doubted, but that that would have been suI
cien TO have produced the object desired II is then
think, too clear to be doubted, that no measures of re-
sistdnce force, intended TO be embraced nv The
resolutions and report Of Virginia in '0S and 90 This
you know, has been since asserted by Mr.. Madison him.
SELF in explanation OF the proceedings OF those DAYS
There is nothing then, in these resolutions and renort
or the doctrines OF Virginia, which authorizes the opinion
either that State cOnsituonaly and peaceabIv
FROM the Union, against the Of the others or thai
has the right annu the laws of the nou ia
The claimed by South Carolina and
should be uncandd to conceal my conviction ,ba,
the doctrine OF notification and secession as udert