Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-01-31
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Transmittiag RESOLUTIONS fiae Legisia sase o.
.SontA Carolina.

HE following message from me hoverner &C
,cring Resolutions Of s. Carolina, propo sing
Convention Of the States, was transmitted to bot
Houses OF the General Assembly yesterday
Executive DEPARTMENT,
January 25,h, 1888.
| TeHe Senais aud Hoila Of Delegates:
| have received from the Governor Of the Com
monwealth Of South Carolina, Resolutions adoptee
by the General Assembly Of tina, State, with a re
quest 10 lay them before You they are accordingly
| herewith communicated.
The resolutions refer to the cali Of General Con
ven,on Of tho States of this Copfcderaey, TO tax,
into its consideration the sutjec, Of the disputed
powers Of the Federal Government, and TO adjust
them in manner that may in future preclude
doubt, and proven, that Government from the cx
efcise of powers which some Of the States OF this
| Cmfe1efncy believe to be unwarranted by the Con
| stliu,ion which created II.
The lowering aspect OF our public afIahs at this
moment, caused by the usurpatlons Of the federal
government, which now exercises po" ers never III
tended TO be granted to II, q by arbitrary means ut
| tempis To deprive sovereign states Of any remedy
for wrongs injuries and expressions, induces con
vielio1 that no means could be better Devised Tor
allay ing the general dseonents Of the people, and
! OF calming the rising Indignation ola blnve and
generous public, which has ever been watchful and
jealous OF it's liberty, than by again bringing togo
thcr, in general convention, The original parties &c
| the compact or constitution, thereby afofdng III
and proper opportunity for the co-Satos 10 deter
| mine what power 1t Is their sovereign VIII 20 per-
| NIT their agents 10 exercise, and of marking Out
so distinctly the limits OF the Federal Government
that none hereafter may have the teInerty TO pass
| the boundary prescribed.
We are called upon by our sister State, who has
suffered much from the exercise OF upcon,tItutiona
power by that government to unite IN accomplish
ng this grea, object,
| A general convention would be so fully able ant
so well calculated 10 restore harmony to our con
federacy, by adjusting and finally settling nil III,
doubtful OF disputed powers, that no effort shout,
be lei' unried TO advance so desirable result, ant
thus to regain the happy confidence which all here
,oiore reposed IN the permancney OF our ins,i,u
j, tons.
| The times are perilous, the question monen,ous
and looks far into the future, and on the wisdom ol
| your decision so far as We are concerned, may
probably depend the peace, the liberty, and the hap
pncss Of our country
| We have long regarded as the citadel of our lib
ery the sovereignty Of these States, which could b,
noiposcd to save a suffering and oppressed peopl,
! from the unjust Cxactons Of an unconstituiiona
| act, which cannot be law and the right Of eatl
| State, as sovereign party u the compact hav,nt
no superior, to judge for itself Of the infracions
the constitution, as well as he mode and measure
| redress
| But II the power lately seized upon by the fed
| cral government, and promulgated as rightly be
longing to II, be permitted sanctioned or sustained
| by the States of this coniederacy, this common
| wealth, upon which depends our freedom and on
! existence as an independent State, viii be entombe
IN the cemetery osropubos and the will Of an il
responsible majority, or the fat Of the Presden
becomes he charter Of our liberty, thus substitu
ted FOR ihe constitution. These States then becom
| the vassas OF despotc power, with TO rights lei
them but he right 10 complain. n right which DIES
polism c=hnoi take from the vcst indicator chain
| ed TO the floor of the dungeon
Mnhy ofthc Stntos Of this confedcracy one b
one, declared their independence Of Great Britain
because thcy would no longer submit TO the illega
and unconstitutional cSactons Of that country an
| made common cause against her as d common en-
cmy
Willing TO Justify themselves to the world, thci
delegates IN Congress were afterwards instructed Il
delegates OF the several powers then associated TO
common dctcnee, 10 sanction Declaration OF Indt
pendcnce by that body This net, we are now fol
in terms admitting ofloo little doubt, elded up III
sovereignty of these States, which now compose
| single nation.'
| Itis doctrine and this clam to power is an out
rage upon institutions, and the bittcrest sat,r
| upon The revolution that the very Declaration @
Independence itself, which blazoned forth our lber
~ iuil TO The gaze of an admrng world, as our ia
TIERS believed, should now be produced as the bon
which binds their children slaves to d malori,,
IN Congress, and to President elected by n colleg
OF electors representing that majority, who are moi
and cannot be responsible to them and over who's
VIII there is no control, are claims which canno
be admitted. Thus all the safe guards of Ibert
which our fathers thought they had construc,e,
with so much prudence, wisdom and patriotism
would be broken TO pieces and dissolved by thi
boundess and ingulfng claim to power, which TIM
Government has exhibited to the view of as,onisl
ed millions
| Claim having been made TO this unlimited powc
Tor that government, II claim which the patric
cannot contemplate without feeling an indlenar
| horror rush upon his nind--it becomes the pa,
OF wisdom, prudently 10 take such me assures .
viii ensure the speedy termination Of "a preten.io
| frangh with SO much evil 10 the Union and dance
TO our liberty.
The call of a general convention Of these state
would afford proper opportunity for them to pac
such guards upon their liberty, and such barrier
to the encroachmcnts of the federal government,
as Will put TO r-st forever the questions of dispute
rowers-thc agitation Of which, have, from tim
to Tune created much dissatisfaction, and if per
sisted IN, must at no distant day, terminate in !,
reparablc injury.
Al Inc moment when sovereign state Of hi
| coniederaey, exercising what she deems TO be he
right has thrown herself upon that SOVEREIGNTY
and as such, has undertaken TO Judge for herself :
the ATTRACTIONS of the compact, and Of the mode an
treasure OF redress, we find the president o,the Z
hi'ed states openly lay ing claim to this gisanti
power, ana Charging a state with treason asains
'he FEDERAL government, which he claims TO be Sc
Vere'gn and carrying out the principle, seems
ehoeavor to make the impression tina, the rights
the states are grants of powers from that govern