Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-05-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,


The House, according to the standing order
of the day, resolved itself into a committee Of
the whole house, on the state of the commen-
wealth, Mr.. Desha in the chair; and after some
time spent therein, the speaker resumed the
chair, and Mr.. Desha reported, that the cons
mittee had taken under consideration sundry
resolutions passed by several state legislatures,
on the subject of the alien and sedition laws,
and had come to resolution thereupon, which
he delivered in at the clerks table, where it
was read and unanimously agreed to by the
house, as follows:
The representatives of the good people of
this commonwealth, in general assembly cons
vened, having maturely considered the answers
of sundry states in the Union, to their resoiu-
tons passed the last session, respecting certain
unconstitutional laws of congress commonly
called he alien and sedltion laws, would be
indeed, to themselves and to those
they represent, were they silently to acquiesce
in the principles and doctrines attempted. To
again enter the field of Argument, and attempt
more fully or for IDLY to exp Sc he unconstu-
tionalty Of those obnoxious laws, would, it is
|apprehended, be as unnecessary as ii would be
Iunayailing. We cannot, however, but Lament,
that, in the discussion OF those interesting sub
tjecTs, by sundry ofthv legislatures of our sister
states, unfounded suggestions, and uncandid in
situations, deroga,ory to the true character
and principles of this commonwealth, have been
substituted in place of fair reasoning and
sound argument. Our opinions of these alarm
ing measures of the general government, to-
gether with cur reasons for those opinions,
were detailed with decency, and with temper,
al cd a Il.
of our fellow-cit:zes throughout the Unon.-
Whether the like decency and temper have
been observed in the answers of most of those
states, who have denied or attempted to obviate
the great truths contained in these resolutions,
we have now only to submit to a candid world.
Faithful to the true principles Of the federal
union, unconscious Of any designs to disturb
the harmony of the union, and anxious only to
escape the fangs of despotism, The good people
of this commonwealth are regardless of censvra
or caIumnation. Lest, however, the silence
of this commonwealth should be construed INTO
an acquiescence in the doctrines and prinei-
pies advanced and attempted to he maintained
by the said answers, OF lest those Of our fellow
citizens throughout the union who so widely
differ from us on those important subjects,
should be deluded by the expectation, that we
shall be deferred from what we conceive our
duty, or shrink from the principles contained in
those resolutions--therefore,
Resolred, That this commonwealth consid-
ers the federal union, upon the the terms and
for the purposes specified in the late compact,
as conclusive to the liberty and happiness OF the
several states: Tha; it does now unequivocal.
ly declare its attachment to the union, and to
that compact, agreeably to its obvious and real
intention, and will be among the last to seek lis
dissolution: That il those who administer the
general government be permitted to transgress
the limits fixed by that compact, by total dis
regard to the special delegations power there's
in contained, an annhIiation of the state 60
Ivernments, and the creation upon their ruins of
la general consolidated government, will be the
inevitable consequence: That the principle
and construction contended for by sundry of
the state legislatures, that the general gov
ernment is the executive Judge of the extent of
the powers delegated to 1t, stop nothing short
Of despotism the discretion of those who
administer the government, and not the consti-
tuition, would be the measure of their powers
That the several states who formed that instrui
ment sovereign and independent, have the I'M
questionable right to Judge of the infraction;
and, that notification b. those ,sovereignties.
of all unauthorized acts done under color OF
that instrument is the rightful remedy: That
this commonwealth does, under the most deli
berate reconsideration, declare, that the alien
and sedition laws are, in their opinion, palpa..
BILE violations of the said constitution, and, how