Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-02-21

measures with rs strong feeling OF disap-
probation and regret rs We look upon the m
now.
The gentleman from Halifax contends that
all the States in this Union are absolutely
sovereign, and that the sovereignty Of State
or nation is in its nature indi, isibic.
Mr.. Chairman, strictly and technically
speaking, there - but one sovereign in the
Universe, aud he Is the author of all things
The term sovereign when applied to a nation.
conveys the idea Of the power ar right which
nation has OF regulating her own affairs
IN heE own way, independently of the con-
troll Of any other nation. II this power or
right be subject to the control in any measure,
OF any other nation, the sovereignty i, so far
limited. This power or right in the several
states IL limited M many very important par
ticulars. The several States canuo, declare
var, mako treaiies, coin money, emit bills uf
credit, regulate commerce, or impair the OBJ
legation oi contracts, &c; all &c which arc
important sovereign powers IN every nation
The States have transferred their power or
right Of acton IA all these particulars. To
another and n higher power. the General TO-
Ncrnmcnt, which acts for ali the States to-
geher The people Of the several States,
have in the Constitution OF the nitcd States,
granted these powers 10 the General Govern
ncnt, and have also declared. that Govern
ment 10 be superior Co the States, by saving
in the Constitution. that the Constitution and
acts Of Congress-, and treaties made ia pursr-
anoe thereof, shall be the supreme law of the
land, any law or constitution of any State TO
the contrary notwiths landing. Hence the
several States are limited sovcreigns. II is
true that they are still sovereign in tie re-u-
iation Of their own affairs, with the restric-
ton that they do nothing in conflict with the
powers conferred on the General Govern
ment
But, the gentleman says, that sovereignty
Is indivisible he might as well say, that pow
er Is indiyisible. Can nation part with the
whole of her sovereignty: Undoubtedly. Scot
land was once sovereign nation, but she
granted the whole Of her sovereignty TO the
Kingdom OF Great Britain. And is il posi-
bic, that a nation cannot delegate a part Of
her sovereignty: Has any sovereign power
been granted by the states To the General Go
vernment; II cannot be denied that there
has. But the gentleman says that severe ign-
ty Is indNisible; then all sovereignty has been
granted. Some sovereignty has been granted
oy The states TO the General Government ;
but sovereignty is indiyisible; then all their
sovereignty has been granted. This is the legi-
innate conclusion ofth gentleman 5 argument.
The gentleman carried the license OF compa-
ring little things TO great things very far indeed;
he drew an analogy from the relation Of South
Carolina To the General Government, and the
supreme Being To his subordinate agents in
the universe. must say, the analogy was a
most remote and iDappositc one. lie said
| The supreme Being carried on his measures
through agents, aud would u be pretended
I that hc could not revoke their agency al an,
time' 80 the General Government was the
| agent Of South Carolina, and she could revoke
the agency atany time. The gentleman should
/ have TecOilectSd, that the Supreme Being
conferred MS powers upon subordinate agents,
That he was the sole source Of the power of
his agents, and that he controls all things
| The supreme Being has never parted with
any portion Of his sovereignty. Not so with
South Carolina; she conferred her powers
upon superior. She was not the sole source
Of the powers vested ia the General Govern
ment, but merely n small part of the source
oil power. All The states combined were the
source of power. The powers were confer.
red by the states jointly upon tie General Co
Vernment, Tor the mutual benefit Of all the
states and they can only be revoked by the
JOINT action Of the states. Then, how Is the
sovereignty which has been granted TO the
( General Government by the states To be re.
sumcd by one of the states, without the con.
sent of the other states Only BY revolution
How can Scotland resume her sovereignty
against the consent OF Great Britain: Is,
revolution only.
! The gentleman from Dinwiddie contends
that we all owe primary allegiance 10 the
state Of which We are citizens, and that our
allegiance To the General Government is So
e0HdIrg, or subordinate TO that. contend for
the converse OF his proposition. = contend
uiat our allegiance to tho General uo,ern.
] me nj
state = secondary, subordinate. Ard WHY 80.
Because the Constitution Of the United states
which was the act Of the people Of each state
7 IN their sovereign capacity. declares that the
Constitution Of the United States, acts OF Con
gress, and treaties made in pursuance there
Of, shall be the Supreme Law of the Lind
ANY law or Constitution OF any state 10 the
contrary notw outstanding. Are VIZ not ali
sWo Tn 10 support that Consuiutioas In the
9th article Oi the Constitution, n j. declared.
" that the Senators and Representative in
CouStcss, the memhcr- Of the several state
I Legislatures, and all executive and iuGicial
officers, both Of tbe Uniicd states AID Of tic
several states, sbali 5c bound by oath or aiir-
nation 10 support this Constitution" Hence.
say, thst our primary allegiance - due to
Toe paramount authority, and that - tIo &c
neral GOyorument.
So tfAAAtAAtAAi fARAst bAiA lAAif NlFM a u.s.
un.t.nl Ortwecn the resistance 20 fhc laws of
the United states 10y minority Of tle people
81 any one state, and resistance by tie ms 10
fiiy e the people of such state o. tie one
case the laws might be executed by force f. IA
I Tie other case, they should be suspouded.-
ile conceded that General IS ash,ngton wss
night ~ enforcing the laws against the Wbi.-
key Insurgents ~ Pennsy iyauia, but be- SID
Mat was mere faction, a minority 1T The
People 81 Prnnsy hama. " soniet.ncs hap
pfh' That faction obtains tbe majority rg a
state iyr time. lac constitutional rrff /.
I pie, hoEetcr, d BOT si I'll a.eCtsd hy r,r.e
circumstance. Tho iaWs Of the e. state.
m''st be executed, whether opposed BY a ma-
Joriiy 90 a minority of the people Of any state
whether opposed ny eliizens, acting under
The euihoriiy Of their state ISg.slaiarcs or
Convictions, or without tiiat authority. And
Wy Because the citizeus would b. aetipg
r fIr.r ~ n