Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-19

Nj
modern idea OF the unlimited powers OF the General Gov
ernment let the celebrated war.naking power
that has been Numbered often Our tor the pur-
pose OF ascertaning whether II be fact formidable
some gentlemen have imagined. Ansyzo this feature OF
its sovereignty Sir aud like oil the balance o lis devga-
ted powers itdwndes into an imperfect right, " hc
be exerci'ed or carried into rc without the concur
ring appreciation of the States, first had and expressed
through the voice OF their representatives. Aud can that
be called sovereign right, passed by the General Co
Vcrnment independent OF the States, when il be
cNered without their consent? Sovereignty, Sir is
peor the idea OF conttU Were this SO, Tact il could
be eXcrted without the aid of amy other power-or, in
other terms, independent of any check either directly
in'rec ly uterpoSvd 10y the States. The sovereignty Of
England reSics ~ the crown, not III the theory OF the
Government omly but in iactasa consequence OF this the
King has the iniceasbe light To Ill, ldre war; aud make
peacetis pure feature Sovereignty subject TO no
check, Deepen lent for its exercise upon The
no other authority whatsoever. Butnol regard any
OF the powers belonging the General Government they
are held III SuhordnaOn ad subject to the will OF repre-
senatvcs that chosen by the States. II this position
be true would ask, Mr. Chairman II it is possible that
these States be Invested of original sovereignty
under grants that have been made to Government
which does not possess the attributes Of sovereignty in
itself Dawing its powers exclusively from the States
dependent Tor It's very being upon their WILL its go-
ry must wiher and its existence perish, whenever
majority Of the SG'cs shall think proper will It's end.
See, Sir how easily this may be accomplished-The 81
section of the first article Of the Constitutions says that
the Senate OF the United States shall be composed of two
Senators from each State chosen by the Legislature there
oil Suppose them Sir that majority of the States should
l"K proper owing to some unconstitutional and oppres-
slve act upon the of the General Governments
CSct senators To the Congress u. States. w hat,
Sir, in this event, would be the this mighty gov
ennenG Its elements would be dissolved without even
the power of resistance. Congress could force
legislatures OF the different States 10 comply with the
QUESTION of the Constitution for its very existence would
be anniated by the omission the part of the States
10 elect Senators And thus, Sir it is manifest that this
splendid government, with all its boosted powers could
be reduced to its original elements and pGrayz in its
operation without undertaking the sword or sping one
single drop OF blood SO far then, Sir from the States
having been deprived of their sovereignty, by any de-
penden'e on the General Government it must be ev!ent
10 all that the dependence upon the part OF that gov
eminent II is true that they have dele gated certain
portions OF their rights TO the Federal Government that
diVest them, whilst they remain members OF the com
pact not as has been cOnendcd OF their sovereignty but
SIMPLY OF the power exercise the same for the time
oeng-lt can be resumed gain, whenever in their dis
erection it may their interest TO do So Grants of
hs Character made every day between sovereign and
independent nations without imparing in the slightest
degree their character sovercgns Great Britain
stance enlerIn cOmmercaltreaty with Russia which
sue Surrenders her right to navigate the Baltic Sea- to
trade TO particular port This is a certain xten sur
render oil her sovereignty, but power Europe would
be disposed 10 regard her less this account The pow
erSu remains OF resumng the right do either the
Praon OF the term for which the treaty made or to
violate us provisions. There is Government, Sir on
earth that could be considered sovereign under The rule
which sought TO be applied in this case; for there is none
"a ranks as member OF the national family, that has
not TO some extent transferred its rights In every trea
W or stipulation that is made between sovereign powers
one or more OF their privileges surrendere but this
Is not considered csscnng their preensons TO sove-
reghy nasinuch as the abiding power still remains oil
Wl'huawng that which they may have delegated. So
otIs regard 10 the States, whenever
have delegated TO the General Government shall be aaus.
ell orpervert'd to ends authorised NV the Constitution
each Tor ITSELF is at liberty withdraw that portion
which 1t may have bestowed, This Sir il no idle dec,
ration at which gentlemen need manifest surprise; but
position sustained by the fundamental principles OF ma
n0nal law For, Sir, it is advanced by high authority
(FatIe that several sovereign and independent States
may unite themselves together by perpetual confedera
cy' without each in particular ceasing to be perfect
SAFE Nor does this rest upon assertion we have
many examples of the fact record such, for instance
were the ciuues OF Greece, such the united Provinces
me Netherlands, AMI such the members of the Hevcc
body-ther deliberations like ours conducted i'm common
council did not violate in the slightest degree the sove-
reigny OF each member. The restraints imposed upon
the different members of a conieleracy tbus situaied
do not arise from the fact their having passed under
the domain OF superior power, but are the result o. vc-
luntary engagements into which thew have en,ereI -
Many Instances, Sir, of like character might be adduc
ed IN support OF this pOson but presumng that they are
familiar to the committee, beg leave to consider for
lew moments the principles, embraced in the fourth re-
souuon al nus Tune, Sir, aud under the peculiar crcum
stances IN which the country has been placed by the ope
rduoh OF the tarh laws confess Sir that ] was
somewhat surprised at the denuncilon that vas thrown
upon this resolution yesterday by the gentleman from
Augusta (Mr Stuart) | had supposed Sir that no
mater what might be the views of gentlemen in This
committee either in regard TO the power of Congress TO
pass such laws, the policy of the measure at This ptrt
GUAR uhe' the appalling spectre which presents itself
IN the approaching ruin Of country would at least
nave created I'm all disposition compromise and soften
as much as possible the features so harsh
shall not follow the example OF the gentleman bv dis
eussing The conuutionay Of these laws, opera pretu
non est Iii question, Sir upon which the best talent.
oil the country have been exhausted An effort then on
my part to lend additional weight TO the argument would
oe as lule as an attempt to gd refined gold, or paint
the MY But the impocy of this measure is so parinc
so destructive the best interests of beSoutb as f liz
not only the consideration but the united effort of this As
semby-fea, Sir, OF the to arrest its fatal pro-
greSs II may, Sir have been splendid system of policy
Ior Great Britain IL may be for the American peope
some centuries hence, when you and l. MIR. Chairman
shdH be repong in the silent shade with the spirit of
ihose who have gone before But has been enpraC
ed upon us too soon seeks effect that bv law Which
me power oil time can alone accomplish We are an agr
cultural people, lingering yet in the cradle of our poll
uca existence and cannot be forced into maturity by anv
system OF policy however brilliant impOnq however
ghy or coercve IN its operation. Possessing as ~ q do
territory oil boundles extent Of iue Xhable fertility the
industry OF the country directed s culture and ne
yer ids 10 yield the rich reward of abundant wealth
centuries, Sir, must roll around, before the advantages of
our western region will cease to attract the enterprise of
our ctHens-belore its domain be peoped or its
fertility exhausted by their cultivation Thousands Sir
are daily pouring in upon its bosom; its mighty forest
last yielding TO the impress OF industry reaisinp i'm il,
Polsed uesuny all that ambition could seek or aystice
desire when such drain this is constantly making
upon tue more densely settled regions Of country 1T
Impossible 10 establish that permanency residence in
me community mat - essential to the very existence of
such system. Where there dense population and
much capital wages and profits under ordinary circtn
stances, will be low. This drives the abournr class of
TIE community from the Northern and Eastern sections of
or country 10 The West, where the capital scarce and
Ue population sparse. Wages higher in this section
OF Ve country, AMI the means Of subsistence easy that
even l1olence itself IS hushcd Of complaint Sir there
Is no P1nrple 10 the whole range OF political economy
winch carries along with il truth than that which is
embraced IN the assertion that will pursue their
own cool The people require governmental pioneer
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