Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-29

The call of General Convention Of these States would
afford proper opportunity for them to place such guards
upon their liberty and such barriers the
OF the Federal Government will put TO rest forever the
questions OF disputed Powersthe agitation of which,
have, from time to me created much
II persisted in, must at no distant day, terminate irepa
rabe injury.
Al the moment when a sovereign State of this con-
ederacy, exercising what she deems be her right
thrown herself upon tina, sovereignty and as has n-
dertaken to judge for herself OF the nacons of the com
pact aud oil the mode aud of redress we find the
President Of the U. 81 openly laying claim to this gigantic
power and charging State with against the Fede-
raj Government, which he claims to be sovereign and car
ryng the principle, endcavor to make the inn
preston, that the rights OF the States are grants of Bowers
from that government When we pursue that argument to
It's ha result we IND ourselves ensaved by the Declare
ton OF our Independence, with limit TO the powers of
the government butts WILL we have no rig
left us but the right of revolution, whilst that government
claims the antagonist right OF subdung by the sword
IL this doctrine be trueour fathers intent upon securing
liberty for themselves and their children greatly erred i'm
not declaring themselves free and independent their
Declaration of Independence.
During the middle ages the European governments
were little else than the military commands Of feudal ba-
rons-the king great baron of ALL relying upon his mi.
ary proves disdained TO hold his power the gift of
men, and claimed 10 rule by special grant from Onipo-
ence. But this divine right OF kings was disputed by
the barons OF England at Runnemede, aud charter for
their liberty was wrung from the king This was tuv
great victory tyranny, and believed be dscove.
ry in government, which, at future day. compelled the
Executive, or King, TO consent TO govern by compact
Yet the great discovery improvement in government
was reserved for fathers, who affirmed that sovereign
~ could reside alone in tic entire body of the people;
mat Their rulers agents OF the people. chosen
among them, TO discharge certain duties required OF them
and at stipulated periods to lay down The power which
belonged alone to the people, and with which they
had been temporarily clothed for certain purposes
that no error might be committed and 10 prevent any
from attempting to rule by military force they perfect.
ed their government, heretofore have believed i'm
the security Of written constitutions.
All the States OF this confederacy certainly believed
themselves soveregn-and in that capacity, and under
that belief, Virginia proceeded To form government for
herself anterior to the declaration OF Independence and
eHistcd until three years ago. under the constitution and
form OF government then established, when the sovereign
people assembled In convention, and amended that cOns
tuuon which now remains the monument of theii sove.
reignty--thc basis of their fundamental laws.
How, them is it possible for Virginia TO have received
grant OF her reserved rights from the on>tiiuon of the
United States, or the single nation p! low the states
coui receive as grant their reserved rights, is difficult
TO comprehend; but not less than that sovereign
can commit treason As early the 18th of June I776
this Sta declared, that whenever any government
shall be found inadequate to the purposes of producing the
greatest degree OF happiness, majority OF the people,
hath an indubabe, unalenabe and ndeleasbie right
TO reform, alter or abolish it, in such shall be
judged most conducive to the public weal Virginia has
very lately reformed and altered her government aud
sun claims the "ndubitable, unaenabe, and indefeasi-
bic right TO abolish it,, whenever majority OF her ci-
items may think proper to do To reform, alter abo
ish form OF government are the highest powers which
sovereign State exercise
We have also on our satue-book, law pointing out he
mo by which citizen may expatria,e himself, and un-
III ne awaits himself OF the provisions OF this in dves;-
ing himself OF his citizenship, renounces il by become
nag citizen oil another State OF this Uhion the sub
iect OF foreign prince he is whert yer he may he
citizen OF Virginia, and to her his allegiance is de.
Inc constitution or compact which unies these States
among other specified powers has given Congress the
right 10 establish uno mode naturalization" and
no more, because more necessary, as the United
States had no Citizens whom could OPP rates yet it was
desirable, that uniformity this subject should exist
throughout the conederacy the constitution provides
that he citizens of each State shall be emit led TO all the
privileges and nmuniies of citizens OF the States
ad oy virtue oil this provision, foreigner, who had
neutrazed, and taken the oath of allegiance TO any one
OF NEE States may at any time, under this constitution
al provision, transfer his allegiance another State
States then, On he Of
interests oil these sovereign States intended by them to be
uscd Tor Their benefit by agents appointed by themselves
could not have citizens since the of its existence
tho act OF The citizens OF the several States though at IN
early PERIOD that government made effort egate
over The persons OF The citizens of the States by the pas
sage oil tie alien and sediton acts which passed both
houses OF Congress and approved by President
aese "S,s met WIN unqualified resistance the part Of
seVera o'aes' ana by none with decision than Vr-
giniA' on whose statute book law now stands the writ
zen evidence oil her protecting sovereignty and the per-
Ptu"i monument oil ITS peaceful, conservative and um
plant interpoon. Yet the President has given n. too
clearly to misunderstood, that when passed boh
houses OF Congress, and has been approved by him. its
contutionaty be questioned and from his dec
sion, II would there allowed no appeal but TO
humble enreaty, and unayailiug remonsrance.
This government, ii it possess the power thus claim
ed Tor H. wholly without check unlimited in lis SIS ay
ana boundiess in its power Surely this be the
Pracuca effect OF the government, which fathers es
aoshed to secure TO their children the rich heritage OF
Liberty; II ii be. the system has been misunderstood
w Ind no relief from the prevailing alarms for tle
safety OF our Institutions, when behold the federal
Executive, upon patient review of all these claims To
power dsregaing the sovereignty OF the States and in
sisunS upon executing act OF Cong. 81, which has
oeen declared unconstitutional by the only tribunal OH
earth, which is admitted TO have authority to Judge of its
validity.
In recent message TO Congress the President has
desired that body TO put at his disposal the whole army
navy and militia force OF the cOnedeTacy TO be used al
MS pleasure, with authority abolish the Gus
tc-holses within sovereign State wherever and when
soeyer he may think proper and requires the enactment
oil laws in relation TO the collection duties tha Stale
10 ne made IN cash. II he may deem il necessary, which
cannon ne considered IN conformity with that clause Of
the constitutions which declares all duties impo.ts
aud excises, shall be uniform throughout the United
| States" 49, ~
We are not deceived-for we cannot misunderstood the
object OF these wdrkc recommendations The doctrncs
lately promulgated, deny any sovereignty 10 the States
ana state rights II would SEEM in the option the Pre-
sdcn are held as grants from the Federal Constitutions
ne dhcuies which State sovereignty, and State rights
might ntcrpose, being in this summary method dispoeJ
crush hy force, that which is sustained by Justice patriot
ism, and the Constitution. The power claimed for that
government makes II already absOute--and should the
Congress indulge the President in his desires they sane
ton by their vote, the creation Of a dictator
Why should these things be? Have drawn swords
ever reconced differences OF opinion? Besides there a,e
various modes by which this controversy might be adjust
ed without resort 10 arms, which wisdom lorbids patriot
ism condemns, and liberty abhors
The courts OF the country ae open to all PARTIES where
those questions might be determined aud leave us as
we were, free and happy peoples Congress could Nv
the provisions OF the Constitutions center on State within
her own territory the right to lay duty for the benefit of
the United States terroryto which none could red
sonably object since high tariff is claimed to he most
juJiciou for the northern States and low Tariff uost
beneficial to the South.
NJ u rf.g-.