Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-09
Virginia legislature.


Committee of the h0ie on The state of me ReIoton
0ettceeR the United States and South Carolina ou
.nonddy, the 18th JGnuory.-TConcluded.1
me Federal Government sooner went into opera-
uon' Than parties arose in relation its structure and
powers The old Republican Democratic and Federal
parties divided to the principles which the
neht was 10 be admnistered-the former for
sure. ana literal construction OF the Constitution, which
should preserve the rights of the Sates-e latter for
more comprehensive and atitudinOus rule which should
enlarge the powers OF the Federal Government Then
were the original parties Of country constituted and
] thus did they continue o exist for a long time tn
causes however, which kept them distinct during the r,
hfee Administrations, have gradually cease, to operate
un now they are scarcely acknowledged to exist at all
could wish, sir for the honor and the security OF INV
country That these parties still exisiedand that public
mas. were sun the standard by which men esti-
mated we nave no such things parties now SIR There
are factions, grant, but parties These factions derive
thelr names and characters from ambitious leaders The
names republican aud ederd have lost their Specification
Tor all are republicans, all federasts as occasion NAV
require There Is but question aga ted i'm the coun
try; it's who shall be the chief il con,rols
SNery hhS eise The statesman is dcgenerated into the
dtmagogne aud the press longer watches like Yes
'a with sleepess vigilance the star OF liberty IL is
WIN lew, very few exceptions, debauched corrupt and
Posu,eG as mere tool OF intrigue and popular delu-
sion IL is but the ladder on which ambition climbs r.
once. The leverof Archmdes has found its fucrum-
ana the moral world Is moved with a finger The press is
no longer consulted oracle its Dephc
are 100 ambiguous for Interpretation 1t can echo the
praises OF and powerful il it speaks 10 censo IL
u'tes only iant whisper, lover chdes his sweet
heart IL the Republic is in danger and the wind chan
ces mol TO blow from the right quarter the patriot sinks in
/ N
jackson! IL revolution in the face or the COR
goh OF Federal usurpaion rises up before us spirit of
e storm Is exercised by ''huzzas for Jackson - Yes
SIR great indeed is Diana of the Ephesians and MANY
an Editor and many politician, like the silversmih of
EphesuS, VIII not turn from his idolary of men TO pre
serve ms principles, lest he lose his traffic in "slver
shrines" " e'
The time has arrived sir when the genius of our nsti
tutons must be fixed The Government of the U States
Is Tree OF debt-in the receipt of revenue (even from To-
glimate sources than adequate to its
ahdsPossessng hundreds Of millions of public
ands-with patronage already enormous and daiy aug
nenhg-and the country almost ready appeal 10 the
sword te decide who shall be first Magistrate While
'is Is The general aspect of affairs, and while IL de-
Hahus our serious attention, called 10 meet The
more immediate dangers which press on us from the rc
cent Ordinance OF South Carolina on one hand and from
some oil me doctrines assumed by the President in his
Proclamation, the other
Inc position assumed by Sou IA Carolina and the prn
ePes on which she relies TO sustain her doctrine OF NuI
hhcaIion regard as laacous and dangerous if thev be
not timely arrested The right of Modification is assert
ed as belonging to each of the States of the Union and
degeu 70 De IN no manner Incompatible with the exis-
doGfne COZ ecfy hf ems 10 me TO be game nj fast
and loose. For while State denies obig aon To obey
some particular treaty the United States Govern
meni, il claims equal benefit from ali other laws and
treaties. South Csroinas about TO paw revenue
nIer paricu ar act OF Congress- willis, she claims
interest in all our institutions member of the Union
In the revenue ITSELF TO which she will contribute
in the public landsin the army the navy in all oregn
treaties, and while she is actually participating in the lie
sisaton and administration ofihe United States Govern
men This right asserted TOO under The sanction of the
Federal Constitution, and il il is conceded it amounts To
al absolute We o by State OF any law OF tie United
states II was proposed in the Convention which framed
the Federal Constitution, 10 give the United States Co
he power to veto any laws oil the Sta which
might violate the Federal Compact This WAS reris.
ed 1t surely was not contemplated thereby, that the
reverse should be established, and that each STATE
shou claim under the Constitution the power while
member OF the Union suspend at pleasure the
laws OF the United States. There are now twenty fou
States ami if the design of our Government shall not be
frustrated either by Federal State encroachments we
may look forward to time when there will be many more
NM ilaanI Gt.fa hat i,cr La ii
suspend any particular law or treaty OF the United States
the Singular anomaly may be presented of government
none oil whose laws are in force in all the States. Yet
the Unon il is said remains unnpaired and each of th
States thus multiplying continues a member of it, 1t
said, that the State thus multiplying only nterposes to ar
rest suspend the act until Convention of the State
can assemble TO affirm deny the existence of the power
in question. This remedy is deusve, because 10 on
State has the right or the power to compel lis cOSates
meet IN Convention and thus the act of Modification
either totally imperative, il is what il processes
he, temporary suspension of the complained of
until the appeal is had to the States. regard those rli;
of the States which have been retained as pre-e kissing
and paramount TO the Federal compact aud that they can
not be claimed exercised under any preence Of
ton derived from the Constitution without injury TO TN
sovereignty OF the States.
Virginia claims be a sovereign State-and in the Ian
guage OF the third resolution OF l79S, she "views tn
powers Of the Federal Government resulting from th
compact to which the States parties, limited by tn
plain and intention OF the instrument CONSTITUTING
that compact as no farther valid than they authorized
by the grants enumerated in that compact, and that
case OF deliberate, papable and dangerous exercise
other powers, granted by the said compact the State
who parties thereto, have the right and in dut
bound TO ntepose for aTresng the progress of the evil
and for maintaining within their respective limits the au
Iorites, rights aud liberties aPpertaning to them"
These principles have been repeatedly declared by tai
State the cardinal doctrines OF its political faith The
are subjected TO strange readings and perveson
now atays, not only beyond the limits Of Virginia. bu
here Gentlemen OF all parties declare themselves will
ling subscribe 10 these doctrines, IL you will only per
init them adopt their interpretation 1t seems Sin
that very plain English sentence Is distorted 10 an
thing thing, OrnOthng, TO suit the purpose in
The Proclamation Of the President sweeps like besor
every vesge Of State sovereignty, and this govern
nent the broad basis ofunmited empire If we ADM
these doctrines, shall not long be lree-no sir, w.
may be permitted to discuss rights or to
10Y that privilege which gentlemen esteem the high
est prerognve OF free State, TO petition demonstrate
The danger Union from the Of things Souu
Carolina, is great-hut Ibis Union, nay, the liberties O
4 thirteen millions Of people in imminent danger frou
the doctrines Of The President, IL they shall become tn
doctrines OF this Government
IL il conceded on all hands Mr.. Chairman, that h
States have rglus-sOvofeign rights regard the tern
right and remedy cO.eXisteu aud nseparablci0r Their
be right, especially sovereign right, without
remedy. The modern doctrine oi our patent republicans
Il grants you the right, but denies al remedy hat
py sir that the time has not arvcd hope II viii
u when Virginia need apply any remedy to vudicate ht
sovereign rights. This discussion about remedies there
" fore L. premaureior al admit That the occasion dos
z not require resort to them While shall content my
self with attempting only discuss the question Of Stat
Rights which called on 10 do by the Procsmaio
of the President cannot bat be amused at the varou
expediens and remedies which prescribed for Stat
e i'm the last exrcrnfes. We have Modification IN Sout
Carolina and Georga-while here have intcrpOsilio
secession revolution rebellion (as the chances Of WI
NAV make iO-remonsrance, very earnest remonstran,
petition very humble petton--dnd last. though ~
cr,edv of being hanged traifora