Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-01-31
. =
CONGRESS.
MIR. CALHOrN,s RHsoJJIT,on

on sesday the I'D instant, in the Senate
Mr.. CALHOUN offered the following resolu-
tiobs:
ResOirsd, That the people Of the several
States composing these United States are uni
ted rs parties To q constitutional compact. 10
which the people Of each State accedcd as
separate sovereign community, each binding
Itself by its own particular ratification; and
That tue union, Of which the said compact il
the bond, ~ an union bettresn the States ratify
ing the same.
Rtsoired, That the people Of the several
States, thus united by the constitutional com
pact, in forming that instrument, and in cre-
ating general government to carry into effect
the objects for which they were formed. dele
gated to that government, for that purpose.
certain definite powers, to be exercised Joint
~, reserving at the same time, each State 20
itself, the residuary mass Of pow RS. 10 be ex-
erclsed by ITS own separate government; and
that whenever The general governms Mt as
sumes the exercise Of powers not delegated
cy the compact, its acts arc unauthorized, and
are OF no effect; and that the same govern.
ment Is not made the final Judge of the DOW
ers delegated to IL, since that would make its
discretion, and not the Constitution, the mea
sure OF its powers, but that, as in all other
cases Of compact among sovereign parties.
without any common judge, each has an equ al
right to judge for ITSELF as we'll of the infrac-
t'on as Of the mode and measure of redress
Resoired, That the assertions that the peo-
pie OF these United States, taken collectively
as INDIVIDUALS, arc now, or ever have been.
united on the principle Of the social compact
and as such are now formed into one nation
or people, or that they have ever been 40 uni
ted in any one stage Of their political exis-
tence; that the people Of the several States
composing the Union have not, as members
thereof, retained their sovereignty that the
allegiance OF their citizens have been trims
ierred to the General Government: that they
have parted with the right Of Furnishing trca.
son through their respective State Govern
ments; and that they have not the right Of
Judging IN the last resort as to the extent of
TIC powers reserved, and Of consequence of
nose delegated are not only without foun-
oaiion IN truth, but are contrary to the most
certain and plain historical facts, and the
cIearest deductions OF reason; and that ali
exercise Of power on the part of the General
Government, or any Of its Departments
claiming authority from such erroneous "a.
symptoms, must Of necessity DO unconstitu.
uonal--rnust tend, directly and inevitably. To
subvert the sovereignty OF the States. To de-
stroy the federal character Of TIE Union. and
W rear ON It's ruins a consolidated government.
without constitutional check or limitation
ana which must necessarily terminate In the
loss Of Liberty itself"
~ The Senate, on Wednesday, Mr.. Cal
nouns resolutions we're taken up. Mfr. Cr,,n-
~ moved a. an amendment TO strike out all
aiieI The word ResOirsd, aud insert other re-
solutions, embracing entirely different prinri.
pies. The whole subject vas then lad on
The table until the Monday following.
These resolutions Of Mr.. Calhoun. will n
acted upon, bring up the whole 6s,ctr,naI
question before the Senate, apart from ali
particular Measures OF references 90 anv ex-
sting case. The theory of the constitution
"hi be thoroughly examined by the ablest
men m the country, and all the historical
facts, as well a. every argument which ,al.n,
and research can bring together. 10 illustrate
every view, will be spread before The public
Our hope -, that the Constitution and Union
will come out Of ,he The ordeal strengthened
and purified