Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-15
Virginia EegisIatUrc.
RELATIoNs-(Continued.J

hiCS Eetsttttfc.
FEDERAL RELATIONS Continued
SPEEcH OF CHARLES Cooke, deiiuered in The Senut,
81 Virginia, n Committee Of the Whole, on the stat,
Of the Relations bettceeR the United States and South
Carolina, on Thursday, Jan. "a, S33.-IConcluled !
On the other hand, | can never subscribe TO the con
s0hddttng doctrine, that q State of this Union, i'm cases of
"palnable and mischievous infractions of the Constitu
tion,' when all other means Of redress have failed, and nc
alternative is left but 10 separate from her co. States. or
TO submit TO The oppression growing out of such infractions
Can, after formally withdrawing, make no other resist
ance than such as may he mide by the most d6ject slaves
OF the most absolute de'pot, Claiming to holding his pow.
err, jure dipino,) tcith ropes around their neckS. To saw
that a State has no other means of redre ssing her WRONGS
than the natural right OF revolution, Gt would be called
rebellion II unsuccessful, and the leaders be hanged n,
traitorsD is to lose sight of the history, theory and genius
of our government. Had it been formed by the bare ma.
Jortty OF all the people of America, as a single contmuui.
~, this natural right of revolution would have belonged
TO the medRest individual in that community, 10 the
full extent 10 which the Proclamation allows il 10 a
State, which at the time Of adopting the government
was sovereign anil independent! Surely that theory
OF our political institutions must he radically wrong, which
In relation TO their rights, dcgrades sovereign States to the
condition OF the individual members of a community
placing them on an exact level with the ser(s of Russi,
or the eOn1ictS OF Botany Bay. individuals entering into
society are governed by The laws of that society, and can
absoIve themselves from the obligation to obey those law.
only by having recourse to the natural right Of resistance
which Is called revolution if successful rebellion if il fail
Sovereign States, forming a compact, whether OF treaty o,
OF government, are governed, while The compact continues
by the terms of that compact when il is abrogateb ,yhe
|@i ivy HtN hNJNN w AHt laws q
nations. When a State, then, in her sovereign capacity
treating the compact as void, and absolving her citizens
from their obligation to support il, has withdrawn from
the Union, she is entitled 10 the benefit Of the laws of ma.
tons, in carrying on the war that may ensue; and her ci-
tizens, IN disobeying, at her command, the laws made by
the remaining States of the Union, cannot he heIJ subiec -
10 tue pains and penalties of treason towards the United
States. And in This consists the whole practical differ
ence between the revolutionary right of secession and
that modification OF the right for which | am contend.
Ing-a difference which, after all, may or may not be
available, according to tho temper, the policy, or the
ability OF the parties to enforce their views.
Won VIII sec, cir, flst I attach but fuIe practicsI i'm.
portance TO this right OF secession; but, as much s'rcss has
been laid on il by others, and an ATTEMPT even made n
erect II as a standard oil political orthodoxy, 1 beg leave 10
read TO ne committee the resolu ion hold in NV hand. =
prepared to be submitted to tie Senate, if found the m
determined, contrary 10 my own views Of expedicncy, to
make a formal declaration OF their opinions on this ques-
'on' This resolution %embodies my deliberate and well
considered opinions on This subject, aud | subni, il in obe.
uieh'e 10 a principle that ever has, and rver shall govern
my public couducl-that the representative who nTevsr;.
cares OF conceaIs his op Mons, urOn great and moinen'ous
questions, from his constituents, is unworthy the cou6Je ICE
OF a lee and enlightened people.
1t is not therefore on account Of The opinions expressed
IN me reclamation, as to notification and secession, Gn
relation to one OF which | agree with the author, and do
not diier very essentially as to the other) that | raise nv
voice against Ibis important and pregnant state naner II =
against The general doctrines laid down, the arguments ad
duced, and The histories references made TO sustain the las,
oi these propositions, that | solemnly protest. Sir,if | be.
IeVed with the Senators from Wythe, mir. McComas y
Norfolk, (Mr. Maxwell and Powhatan, CMr. Old that The
right OF secession was absolute, unconditional and tu1eou.
tTOHdbie, should still RI gard. lis maintenance. os of n finite
ly less importance, than resistance TO the sweep ing doctrines
iad down, by way OF argument and illustration, i'm this
lll-omened oclamaion-inasmuc as the whole is great
er than q part; Tor the right of State to secede is one
anu out one, oil it, rights-but, admit the abstract doctrines
contained IN the PToclamation, and eUeTy uesfige OF State
rights 10 swept away. We should have, in place of a no.
ltlcal compact, to which States in their sovereign capaci.
ty are the parties, one splendid, national ro1soIJoIeJ
government, swallowing up, and annibiIadno oil tracc ~
the modest, plain, and unpretending federatiyo system
Wnen we nave been taught to admire as the monument of
the political sagaciiy and wisdom of our ancestors.
Sir, TO sustain the opinion | have here expreesed = -, ~
the DRIFT and tendency Of the arguments ursed and the
positions assumed IN the Proclamation, it can hardly be ne.
cessary for me 10 Gull out and collate the various nassaoes
on which this opinion il founded. To do an for lie
purpose OF showing that 1 have truly understood the
meaning OF this document, is almost as much an act of
supererogau0n, as II would be TO cali witnesses 10 prove
that The sun shines at iHid-day-ior this is the meaning. I
might say almost universally given to it by friends and
Toes II isin this sense it is understood by Republicans,
tCho are de1ouneing it-anl by old and consistent FEEDER.
alists-such as Walsh, n. O.. Oils, y. Webster and InIge
Marshall, Who are iaudHg il 10 The skies.
bui' SIT, as my remarks are intended for my c%onstitu
EMS, many OF whom may not have an opportunity of see.
ing the paper ] am examining, ! beg leave to bring TO-
ge'her, m one grcnpe, some Of he expressions and srru-
menis Oh which ! rely for the correctness Of the con.
s'rucIon nave put on the proclamation, aud will des.
patch them with the fewcst possible remarks.
1T. "ihe people Of the United States formed the Con.
shiuuon' acting through The State Legislatures in making
the 'omPtct' 10 meet II Idi1cuss its provisions, and acting
III sepirate conventions when they ratified those proyf,
SONS 10 have been historically correct, tie author
'"''" h'Nc s'H nat 10 the general convention which
met, not only TO discus Inc provisions Of the Consitn.
i'n' but TO afDPt ii as a ,choie, the people Dofed,
through ,helT agents, not az members Of a single com.
m,uhil'y' pu' by Sfdtes-Delawsre having one vote, and
v virginia no more So, too, when the Constitution came to
ne fa''heI' tNe votes were given, not according to mum.
ner'' OW ny States nine, whether the smallest or the
largest being sufficient for it, adoption AZ a form Of gov.
eminent Tor those s%cceding 10 iL. " But the terms used
nl ls construction, show 10 TO be a government in which
ihe people OF al the States collectively are represented
j Is 10 be regretted hot The author has not specified the
Terms 10 winch he auudcs. I can imagine none that can
near hln out in the assertion he has made. except The
magic words OF The preamble, 1--WE The people OF the
United States" or thc sin more pregnant terms-"t ID
provide Tor me common defence and general welfare. "
sir, once admit hat these cabsistic terms convey the
substantive grdut Of power always contended for by The
.edertisi', never admitted Ivy any man calling himself a
Republican, except j. O Adams, and you place i'm the
hards Of the Federal Government an Instrument. if not a.
powerful as me lever OF Afchimedes, AZ least sufficient Ia
IeVei WIN The dust tho lair hbric reared Tor the prsserya.
uon OF your rights and liberties-s0ch admission would
convert your iedcrative republic. not only into "a consoli.
oated government, bot into q consolidation, without limi.
touon Of powers, except such Ne uo discretion Of YOU
rulers NIGH, n1pose.
~ We are oNE ProPLE IN the choice Of Peesiden
and Vice President Here the states have no other agenc,
'sgo AppsDdix b.