Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-19
POLITICAL.

O'NN- aBNNAdAOn VIII ID u TOUKI uDOn lis pro-
~ceedings.
The Convention met yesterday, and when organized,
General Hamilton, the President, addressed them as fol-
lows.
GENTLEMEN-I In exercising the power Of calling YOU
I gether, which yo were pleased 10 place in my hands at
your a journmeni, have both regretted aud been sensi.
BILE oil the Inconvenience TO which | must have subjected
many oil you in being compelled 10 leave your homes at a
season so essential 10 the success OF the agricultural labors
oil The whole year. Ii, mus, however have been manifest
70 you from the nature 1.-THE proceedings OF This body ati's
former meeting, tina its re-assembl ng after the adjourn
ment oil Congress, was an event OF highly probable occur
renee. Before, however this ne necessarily was demonstrated,
! was oilcialy apprised by the Governor of South Carroll
ma, on the 9th February, Of the arrival OF a commissioner
OH The part OF the State of Virginia, bearing certain re-
solutions adopted by the General Assembly of that
State, respectfully soliciting OF this State, a suspension
or resembling OF the ordinance Of her convention I'M
nj the adjournment OF the next session of Congress.
ihese resolutions were accompanied by an application on
the part OF the gentleman in this commission that this con-
venuon should be convened at an early moment. The
high source from which this mediation emanated, the
friendly dispositions by which il was obviously dictated,
borne too and advocated by a gentleman so long and so add
vantageously known as among the most able and devoted
champions oil the rights OF the States, left me by what |
was quite sure would be your own decision, NO other alter
native ut ny own inclinations had been wanting) than a
compliance with the wishes Of that distinguished Com
monwealth as communicated by her worthy Representa-
tlve. As was however perfectly satisfied that no decis.
ION on the propositions of which he was the. Bearer could
be made prior TO the adjournment of Congress, the period
oil your assembling has been arranged TO meet both con-
tingences.
You have thus assembled, gentlemen, and the proposed
mediation OF Virginia is met concurren,Iy by the passage
of an actby the Congress Of the United States, modif, inc
the tariff OF the l4th OF July last, and by an act entitled,
an act more eiiScually TO provide for the execution OF
the Revenue Laws"
In bringing both these laws 10 your view, and invoking
your mature consideration OF their provisions and objects,
IL would not become Inc TO mako any suggestions as TO
the course 1t behoves you to pursue in reference to these
measures. Ii the first is not in all respects satisfactory,
as coming up TO that measure of Justice, 10 which the
South had a fair claim, and is liable 10 some important OBJ
Jections, II, nevertheless, provides for the commencement
oil an early, though gradual aInelioration of that system,
I against which we IaUR an lnpn Df. - -.l.
rOr recognition Of the constIdnon"ii iaiim ni ~ mon ~ Which
our rights are assumed to rest. In forming your estimate,
however, OF whatever may be its intrinsic value, you
will not be insensible TO the fact, that it is a compromise
OF extreme veXatious and conflicting interests made i'm the
spirit oil peace as an Offering to the concord and tran
quIllty oil our common country. In such a spirit of
peace our Representatives in Congress voted for it, and in
such spirit must we consider it, whatever may be our
final decision on the measure. This adjustment, how
ever, comes to us, at least with this compensation for the
justice which it yet withholds-that all that has been
benehcialIy accomplished by it for the country, is to be
attributed TO the action OF this convention, and the eaer-
gy, decision, and love of liberty, of that people by whom
our proceedings have been sustained.
We may surely say this without an unworthy Wanting,
when the most able OF our opponents has borne testimony
TO the truth of This fact
1t is greatly to be regretted, with a single view to the
harmony and repose OF The country, that this adjustment
should be accomplished by the other measure TO which |
have invited your attention.
II we could regard the act, which provides by its title,
"for a more ehectual execution of the revenue laws"
but which, in fact, provides for the coercion of a soye-
reign state IN this Union, as an empty defiance got up as
a mere SdfDO iOr The wounded pride, or TO crafty a worse
passion OF the Executive, we might permitit silently to pass
by, with that reprobation with which, not posterity alone,
but at an early moment, a contemporary age, will visit it,
standing impotently, as il will stand, a dead letter on our
Statue Book; but asa mere precedent engrafted on our
Laws, it is oil the most serious and portentous import. fur
nishing, as 1t does, the most unequivocal evidence, that as
lar as the authority OF law extends Independently, thanks
be TO God, OF the spirit of a free people) by a single act OF
legislation, the character OF our Government is changed,
and a military %despotism placed at the disposal of the
Executive, when he shall determine in his own discretion,
that a fit ~exigency has arisen for its exercise. The broad
usurpation in this law of the right on the part of Congress
TO coerce a Sovereign Stale in this Union, when this pow
er was solemnly withheld by the Convention, that formed
the Constitution, the utter humiliation of our judiciary i'm
cases clearly within their exclusive jurisdiction, and the
still more revolving circumstance that in obeying the laws
OF their own State, and executing the mandates of their
own Courts, the lives of our citizens are placed al the
mercy Of the standing, forces OF the Union, all concur to
present an epoch in the public liberty Of the country
which ought not TO be allowed to pass without your ami.
madversion. And you will permit me further to remark,
whether the adjustment of the Tariff be deemed salts
factory or not, that much remains for you TO do, in making
OF constitutional record in an enduring form those grea:
conservative principles, which have borne us yet through
this contest, to say nothing Of the necessity, Of providing
those securities which may in all future time, commanding
the fealty and obedience, OF those who receive the protec-
ton OF our laws.
You will now | trust, allow me to refer to a matter which
is personal to myself. The distinguished station | now oc-
cuPy, / owe TO the accidental circumstance Of my having
been the Chief Magistrate OF this State, when the COnyen.
ton FIRST assembled.
Another individual now on this floor fills that post. /
feel that i am not alone paying a proper Difference to an
established and valuable precedent, but a Just homage to
superior personal claims and more emiaent qualifications,
when ! signify in the presence Of this Convention, that III is
my purpose, aiterthe reading OF the correspondence ! now
communicate, between the Commissioner from Virginia,
and the public authorities of this State, 10 resign this seat,
In making this declaration, permit me 10 superadd to il
my %unteigned Acknowledgements for your past Kindness and
confidence, and my icryent prayer, that the God Of all
mercy and truth may so order and govern our proceedings,
that they may rebound to the liberty, peace, and happi-
ness Of our Country.
General Hamilton accordingly resigned his office Of Pre-
sidentof the Convention, and his Excellency II. Y. Hdyne,
Governor OF the State, was elected IN his stead.
On this first day OF its sitting, the Convention Of course
did no more than to organize itself for business. Two or
three days hence we will publish an extra paper giving its
proceedings.
I OpRFsStON op Tur rrDvp.t CovrpN,,y~r