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


Declaration OF American Independence the grea,
magma ehtd OF federal supremacy and that the States
mere petty dependencies, derived all bsr rights aud
powers from this fountain OF Legitimacy Such iallacy
does not deserve reiutaou this eh hened age
When letters are extinct aud history all be lost in the
fables OF distant future some an1apy may speculate on
such an hypothesis For the present by way OF set.O OIL
would only refer those who may he trace the
sovereignty OF this State ab u,Jr candiid To th well At
tested Tact, that under the anal ur of the "OI DO.
mlnon Virginia negotiated amt rauicd treaty with
Oliver Cromwell
fear, however sir fo,n rcrcm Indications that this
doctrine which we have r'g""ed more ia jest than
nest, be without advocates IN hi,h p,res
The President in his Proclamation, SpeaA our exist nee
as United Colonies, even before The Revolution. II 10y
this language, lac only designed illustrate that strong
sense OF The neeeSsyot Unon, which always existed
among the Colonies and the S,es respond cordially to
the truth OF the remark. But, tear) used AS
an argument against the Original, inherent ignty
the states, d,act coniI,,ics must declare my 50.
Tenn conviction of its dangerous and fscloS tendency
The American Colonies united prior TO the Reyol
ton only through their common sovereign and head the
King OF Great Britain. presume r that these days
when we all Republicans. the pcoplS will not be re-
nanded to England, trace their sovcrrigny lure duino
houEh the Dtish ihTohe That question was debated in
the held by our ioreiahers.
During our Revoutitn the Colonies were united by
sense OF common DANGER ioh' han by Tive r,les Of
confederate hat confederation, which is the proto, pc
oil the Union, wA'nol conpl~e uu II l7Sl. very
imperfect government being rssniz vi hoa' any ,ui.
Dulon oil powers, In.o scpirat- dcplr'Mcns had no
Executive or judiciary, and admins ed thruugh
Legislative Branc ana S ondng Committees appointed
by Congress. Ae sir, indebted 10 that Govern.
Inen Tor many OF the blessings which permitted 10
ENJOY. II conducted through prrlluus war and es
iabiished liberties and indie prn,ence n po..e.sed
msny-indeed, of The powers of The present Federal
Government. had power to make and peace - to
make treaties with tor ign gOyc.nmeuts-to regua'e
commerce to establish post Ohces-o conroul inter.
course with Indian Tribes egudl, CON- weighs and
measures, &c Sc &c 1t had MOTIF over OF taxation
This was reserved TO the States; the ee revenue
was derived from voluntary contributions Of The Sta es
thelr quotas being ASSESSED by Congress.
The treaty OF peace in 1888 gotiatc with Great
britain by the States united under and
as the Colonies had previously owed distinct and se,arat
allegiance to Great Britain, aud the coniederacy as such
was not known to that Government unuls existence was
recognized by this treaty; the ~ Inch was
then acknowledged by Great Britain although it was me-
gotdted pT0)OTnd with the United States, pnur.J IN ,b
respective States distinct in each OF which
governments had been already organized The States
might have negotiated separate treaties with Gr.,t RI
uan and serious approximations entertained lest
some oil them would do until understood
them that they would no. treat except their Joint ca.
pacy. ' "
The Convention which assembled at Phila,elpbi, in
Iol 10 amend the articles of confederation and which
finally proposed the existing Constitutions was convention
me ulreeh revolutionary States had each an
equal vote la that Convention; and when the Cont,o,
submitted Tor rlnhca'ion, the people OF each State
On whom the sovereignty OF the States resided then and
su resides) determined separate and distinct comm.
miles,, each Tor itself TO adopt reject this Constitution
"a concurrence Ol nine States was necessary form any
Onon even among those States which should concur and
ms needless TO add, that if either of the States had reject
ED the Constitution such State would have continued n
gu 'ehS AMI purposes, distinct, sovereign Governments
Suc stale would have been competent have establish
for ITSELF any form oil Government which !, Jssir
monarchy, an arlstOcIacy, or u republic
Ihus was the Constitution proposed-tlus was ratified
by the States Rhode Island aud North Carolina did NOT
aIopt IT, and consequently did become members OF the
oanou TOT some tI"e alter the Federal Government
organized under it, That Constitution created this (Ju
anu peg gentlemen To remember when they are M.
terlng rhapsoies about the Vue the Union that il has
neen established and be prescrv only bv Constitu
ton It's Union of States its name npies-Yrs
s' the states are the strong pillars which This glorious
iaoc rests, aud trust that Sampson will arise TO null
them down. - f
have shewn that each OF these Staies was once sovc
all the n,at
tributes OF sovereignty, except the have volunt
ry Invested themselves Of their original shts ami cIcd
them TO the Federal Government Are not ali the Stale
Government now exercising daily functions of soye
riegnly! Dohey not nhict capital punishncnts aud are
ney NOT organized perfect Governments with consitu
uoh WIN executive, legislative, and judicial departments
enacing adJudcating, and enforcing laws, relation TO
nuch the larger portion OF social rights? Do they
NOT Hch"e and punish treAson Virginia has assert
ed THIS power, and may do AGAIN What then are the
o'aesf Are they mere petty and despicable corporations
whch are permitted TO pass such bye-aws ONLY as the
General Government shall vouchSafe them authority.
- ne federd' Government as the creature Con-
suu'ion, Is entirely OF dervave powers granted by
the STATES Tor specific OH c's; those objects are as e
senAl (wihin The sphere the Con uon 10 IN. w,l
fare and happiness OF the people az are tlp powers which
nave been reserved 10 the Stdes-dnd all powers no,
granted by the states expressly to the m by
the Cons ituion "hatt.e is the Federal Government
oul all IedI corporation, crested by the Constu
compact between the Sates here its count ~ who
are Its cHzer'' IL has neither distinct The aes
III Is true that It holds the Territories Arkan.as v ichi-
gan and Florida the public lands and the District ten
miles sqnareas hollis all is aurhor les aud 20 ors in
sUlcl uuSt Tor the States But Territory he Terrific
Ty oil Tie StIes-its ci ILeus cIiiz ms of the
States "
The Constitution creating his Government sheyys clear
~ Oy me enumera ion OF the powers which have been
ceded ny ne States, tina d-signe Tor those general
purposes for Whch the Governments of the Individual
States were incompetent such our ioreign reI.tions
war peace, rea les post es &C. &c For these pur
poses as recognized the CONSTITUTIONS this
IS Indispensable he hope has been long INDUCED that
he rights oil the respective States and the powers OF the
Federal Government had been clearly and exac ~ de-
hhed as to avoid all dangerous collisions or
between them.
FoT long time after the establishment of the Federal
government 1t was engrosed by foreign relations and
at class OF objects which fell properly within its ius-
ucuoh lie French Revolution aud its train of co,sr-
quehces, WIN the important influence which they exert
ed on the affairs OF Europe the depreddon OF ENGLAND
france anu other powers commcrce-tle ucgoia-
ohs necessary to establish relations abroad on firm
Iooung-the adjustment of questions Of boundary &C.
FURNISHED ample employment Tor all the energies the Fee
uefdI Government Tor many years The last war finally
es'aOshed our external relations permaneny caused
the rights oil our government it, citizens 10 lie re.
pectcd throughout the world Since them the Federal
Government has operated less externally than internally
ana us powers have been employed regulating those
municipal concerns, which are the appropriate objects of
state Legislation. These encrOdchments have multiplied
ana extended, until now IL difficult trace the lines OF
division between the Federal and State iur Slicfons Ma
ny OF ese powers still exercised by the Federal Go
Venhen' though they have always been denied by some
Ol ne STATES The Tariff Internal Improy cment--the
bhhk are prominent objects in this system Of encroach.
ment-whiIe 1t - difficult TO oresee where the catalogue
wiz emit ihough many questions and controversies as
NS uouOuuI powers have dJiscu between the States