Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-06

the Speech IL II Is not opposed 10 this doctrine, Is
cause Is opposed to do not think he will
admit this Is IL because il contains sentiments Of I'M
compromising hostility tho American system, This will
not do Is be opposed TO MIR. Rves because Mr. Rves is
opposed to the United States bank and the power Of
internal Improvement, No, this cannot be the cause.
What thcn IL must be because The speech maintain.
'rines Ann aavoea,es pohcy. winch "Muuus' believes
opposed to the right OF secession Is this the reason
why "Mutius' has called Mr. Rvcs aposta,e from his
principles, stgnatized him ederss and placed him
IN the same ranks with Daniel Webster the high prize
OF federalism. Is not this the why all tho nuh
cation and secession presses together with the nulcrs
and seceders, ana'ensze hin II this the cause
wat Is M hut VIII return. AMI directly perform the
task which have undertaken; which Prove that MIR
vess speech contains an uoeqnvocal and direct xpres
sion Of opinion, upon the subject OF secession II
State may secede from the Union, whenever she deems
the sufficient necessarily follows that her
sovereignty is not diminished and that her citizens
be acted upon by the Federal Governmen and the 90
vernnent enforce the execution the laws with
in the borders OF that State. This would strip the United
States OF all sovereignty over the granted powers
the Constitution Mr. Rves has negative cd all these nro
positions, aud airms the following which are clearly at
war with the South Carolina notions OF the uncontrolled
right OF secession
L. That the sovereignty of the United States re sides IN
three iourhs OF the states. who alter amend the
constitutions On page s, Of his speech after quoting the
opinions vi General Wa.hiugion Thomas Jefferson and
others, he says There is practical csrion7 OF easy
Application in our Anerican institutions for mining
where sovereignty resides. Sovereignty resides where
the power OF amending the constitution or Fundamental
law Resides In single state, this power resides in the
people OF tue state, and OF the sovereignty resides
derd community, composed o oil the states and accord
Ing to on express provision OF tie constitutions requires for
its exercise tie Of urcc faug,hs The
This opinion is in accordance with that OF MIR Jefferson
who in letter friend, said The tcloe body Of The
nation IS me sovereign pocsr for fseV' Mr.. Rivcs
his speech quotes like sentiment from Mr. sihoun-
Again, on page g. Mr. ves says; At the Rod of the
adoption OF tie constitution, distinctly made known
and universally crs,ood that 10 the extent to which
sovereignty vested in the Uuon that the states Sc
yerally was relnquished and dninshed''
2 He oBirms that State cannot resume the poice,s
an. a ft,[ n
Mr. Rives says "ln the first place, this is merely q
question between the people of South Csrolin, and The
common agent OF the States, the General Governments but
Is question deeply Involving the rights aud nere> Of
third parties, to rit the oher States: But if it were pu.
~ question between South Carolina aud the General
Governments South Caroline could not resume the no,,
ers icich had been granted The latter She is but
out oil twenty principals, who jointly granted the
powers anu she can no more, so far constitutional right
concerned, 6y her single act the powers thus
Jointly granted, than Individual citizen OF State can
resume the powers jointly granted by himself aud the rest
OF Society to their State Government" Agan-In an
swer 10 the Senator from Kentucky, (Mr. Btbb0 Mr..
Rves remarked: 81 could but observe that the hon.
cradle Senator from Kentucky, in developing the prnci-
pies OF the Senator from South Carolina had appeal.d 10
the Declaration OF Ind ndsnce, i'm support of the riyh,
the people OF State to the powers granted TO
the General Government Now sir does NOT Ih.
ifom which the honorable Senator derive this right fix its
true character, being rer0!tiondry aud not
tionaR' Can language be stronger
3. He siirms that the act OF the resumption of powers
granted by single State, would disturb the regul
action OF The general government the in iuals o: a
Stale In page IL, speaking of such a resumption of
by single Siae he says Ia regard to the eff
feet OF such an unconstitutional act of State in reje
renee TO the obligations Of its citizens to the Union
shall presently shOtO that ii cannot in any manner.
disturb the regular action Of the general government
indiuiduals.''
4h He alrms the right of the general government to
enforce obedience TO its laws In page A. of his speech
Mr. Rives, speaking OF the attitude which South Carolina
had assumed says ln this state Of things are called
upon TO say the government OF the United States shall
acqesce III this open dehance and violation Of laws
oil the Union, without taking step whatever for their
enforcement? For myself, am free to saw that I do
not so read my oath to support the constitution Of the
United States % ~
In the lace of the svowa of these sentiments can Mr.
vess OPINION as 10 secession taught by the South ca
Toina school, be misunderstood? Is not every prncnI.
which he asserts, at with that doctrine? is true he
does no, the word in the whole sneecb
but he denies the right OF State to resume the poers
granted In express terms; which is secessi0n-noing
more or less wish distinctly he understood as
OF MIR, Rves's opposition 10 the doctrine OF secession at
the will OF the State without responsibility he General
Government the co-States; that right which bv
nature belongs 10 every community, and every human
being, to resist tyranny and oppression in all their fr,
anu by whomsoever practised, and to overthrow tat o.
vernmen which fails secure protection happiness AMI
prosperity 10 its citizens These he never denied and he
10 suo"sy opposed 10 tyranny aud oppression in every
But this opinion OF Mr. Rives was not known when he
was elected Senator Ii probably not; and why?
Because the Proclamation oil the President had not then
been received at Richmond, deny ing this ht and the
question had NOT been "gated. would ask .Mutius' if
he had entered into the consideration of This I, viz.
principle OF State Rights tlst tine? am confident he
VIII answer that he had not; person then
oil the agitation Of such question to make il con-
ui'ion o pubhc confidence. then put il 10 'sAIutius"
himself these opinions of Mr. Rives are not REGARDED
by him as at war 10th with Modification aud secession
ahd whether their opposition TO the right of secession is
nor me cause OF his dispeasure with Mr.. Rives: whe-
her IL Mr. Rves had avowed himself secessionlst he
would have regarded his concurrence with him In
l4ion TO the constuonality of the tariff sufFcien,
ground Of hostility (oIca mean, OF course) towards
hat gentl"nan
Mr. kives, however, has quoted the opinions Of Mr.
Madison in support of tie positions which lie took in his
argument against notification and secession which in
creaeh ms confidence in their truth Speaking of Mr.
Mausons opinions OH constitutional questions aud quoting
several passages from the Nos OF the Fedcra, r,ten
by Mr. Madison, he said call by Mr. Nj allison
choSe guidance, Confess IdoGys foIo,c cifh pecu
mar confidence and this EXPIRE ssion of confidence i'm
ION against MIR Rves, by "Mulius, who seems 10 1ues
lion the safety OF this guidance for first be-
cause he says Mr.. Rves has followed the guidance nj
Mr. Madison instead OF that OF MIR JeHerson-2div he
cause Mr. Madison himself has been out of The or
ho"oX church oil THE republican party in these DAYS OF
ehned political metaphysics. How does n,ius sustain
hese positions: In what has Mr. r. followed the opnions
o MIR; Madison, in opposition to those of Mr. Jeerson
lie charge is made but where is the specifcoton3 pon
what point OF constitutional law did they differ? If uns
says upon The subject OF secession he clearly n.,aken
Let MIR Jefferson speak for himself In 1871 in le,er o.,
Mr. iIacy he said, That certain states from Ioc0y
cdSon6f dScontenfS might attempt 10 secede from, The
OHtOnj but II is not probable that local dscontens car
spread 10 such an exent, TO he able 10 face the so,ud
paris oil so extensive Union" What does MIR JeGer-
son me IAN by this expression Does lie me an IN acLnnv
ledge The right OF secession? II he does he has ennIo,
co most unfortunate Language to express such sentiment
b;ni, ,I;.