Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-29
GOVERNOR OF vIRGINIA's MESSAGE,


GOVERNOR OF vIRGINIA'S MESSAGE.
Transmitting Resolutions ofMe Legislature q
South Carolina.
The following Message from the Governor,
GOV ring Resolutions If 8. Car"Iina. proposing
convention of the States. was Transmitted to bath
Houses of the General Assemb, on the 25th INST.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
January. 25. 1858.
To the Senate and House # Deicgarw
Ihave received from the Governor ot he Com.
monwealth of South Carolina. Resolutions adop,
ted by the General Assembly of that State. With
request to lay them before you: they are accOr.
dinyiv herewith communicated.
The resuluiiuns refer to the call of General
Convention Of the States Of this Confrderacy to
take into it's consideration the subject Of the dis
puted powers of the Federal Government, and
to adjust them IN manner that may in future
preclude doubt, and prevent that Government
from the exercise of powers which some Of the
States Of this Confederacy believe to be- un~ar.
ranted by the Constitution which created il.
The lowering aspect OF our public affairs at
this moment. caused by the usurpatous of the
federal government, which now exercises pow
ers never intended to be granted to it, and by
arbitrary means attempts to deprive sovereign
states OF any remedy for wrongs, injuries and OPP
pressions, induces a conviction that no means
could be better devised for ALA, ing the general
discontents Of the people, aud of calming the RI
sing indignation of brave aEa generous public
which has ever been watchful and jsal"us of its
liberty, than by again brIngin. together, IN
general convention, the original parties to the
compact or constitution, thereby afording fit
and proper opportunity for the co-states to dc.
termne what power it is their sovereign will to
permit their agents to exercise, and of marking
out so distinctly. the limits of the Federal Gov
eminent, that none hereafter may have the te.
meri,y to pass the boundary prescribed.
We are called upon our sister State, who has
suffered much from the exercise of unconstitu.
tional power bv that government to unite in ac-
comprising this great object.
A general conventio: would be 50 fully able,
and so well calculated to restore harmony to our
confederscv, by adjusting and finally settling all
the doubtful or disputed powers, that no eH"rt
should BE- untried to advance so desirable a re.
suit, and thus to regain the happy confidence
which all heretofore reposed in the Permanency
Of our institutions.
The times are perilous. the question moment.
ous and looks far into the future, and-on the wis
dom Of your decision. SO far as we are concerned,
may probably depend the peace, the liberty, aud
the happiness Of our country.
We have long regarded as the citadel OF our
liberty the sovereignty OF these states, which
could be interposed to save suffering and op-
pressed people from the unjust exactions OF an
unconstituti onaI act, which cannot be law; and
the right of each state, as sovereign party to the
compact. having no superior, TO judge for itself
of the inf &C tons of the constitution well
the mode and measure of redress.
But If the power lately seized upon by the fe.
derai government, and prou,uisated as rightfully
belonging to 1t, he permitted, sanctioned or sus.
tanned BY the states of this confedeacy, this com
monweal,h. upon which depends our freedom and
our existence as an independent state, will be
entombed in the cemetery Of republics; and the
will of an irresponsible majority, or the fiat of
the President becomes the charter Of our liberty.
thus substituted for the constitution. These
states then become the vassaIs Of a despotic pow.
er, with no rights left them but the right TO com
plain, a right which despotsm cannot take from
the vilest malefactor chained to the floor OF the
dungeon.
Many Of the states of this confederacy, one by
one, declared their Independence OF Great Brl-
tain, because they would M longer submit to the
illegal and unconstitutional exactions ct that
country. and made common cause against her as
a common enemy.
Willing to justify themselves to the world.
their delegates in Congress we're afterwards in
structed as delegates Of the several powers then
associated for common defence, to sanction a
Declaration Of Independence by that body
This act, we are now told in terms admitting of
too little doubt, yielded up the sovereignty of
these States, which now compose single ma
ton
This doctrine, and this Claim to power, is an
outrage upon our institutions. and the bitterest
satire upon the revolution: that the very Decla.
ration Of independence itself. which blazoned
forth our liberty full to the gaze Of an admring
world, as our fathers believed, should now be
produced. as the bond which binds their children
as slaves to a majority in Congress, aud to Pre-
sident elected by college Of electors represent
ing that majority, who are not. and cannot be re.
sponsible to them. and over whose will there is
no contrib, are claims which cannot be admitted.
Thus all the safe guards Of liberty which our Ia
theirs thought they had constructed with so much |
prudence, wisdom and patriotism, would be bro
ken 10 pieces and dissolved by this boundless
and Ingulphing claim to power. which that Gov
eminent has exhibited to the view of astonish.