Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-24

GNmycrOus
could possibly stand before such scrutiny invesiiga
ton Sordid aud selfish interest might preserve il for
time but 1t would be compelled TO yield last am en-
ighened and liberal public sentiment But, suppose the
State should fail in this effort, there is still another re-
source. The fifth article of the Constitution declares
that Congress- the application of three onrts of The
Legislatures of the States, shall call Convention for
proposing amendments When Il State has interposed
her authority, and failed TO obtain the repeal of la she
can, by this clause of the Constitution from the
Governmcnt, and make direct and solemn appeal 10
her sister States. Instead of asking their concurrence
IN the revision OF law, she calls them unite
win her IN demanding Convention TO modify tho Con-
stuton ITSELF arrest the operation uncon-
shnonai measure or to prevent the abuse and danger
Gus exercise of delegated power. By this mode
tue States compelled to consider the grievances and
bnrtens complained of and directly the de-
mand, whether not they will unite with the complain.
ant IN obtaining redress 1t is utterly impossible 10 sup
pose that the complaints thus solcmnly urged by soyc-
reign aud co-equal State they are really worhy of CON
sideraon will not be regarded and that uuconst
onal or oppressive Will be nconed by ,dhs OF the
States Sucha suppostion would lead conc fusion
That men incapable of being governed by reason and
Jusce-tat they totally blind their own true nte
restsand only be restrained by fear or force Rut
we at least have not yet reached that stage of corruption
ana degfadation Experience has proven, that the
Gus checks provided in the Government and the restrain
ing power OF the States, have yet failed to accom-
push their purposes The Alien and Sedition laws could
not withstand State interposition The Bank with its
various Influences the system of Internal
and the Tariff of protection all fast yielding to the
controlling power exercised by the States over Federal
egisiaon The great eXertiOns of the present Admin.
siration against these abusive obnoxious and unconst
I
had they not been sustained by the cooperating influences
of the State legislatures So long rs we are capable Of
fg under the mild restraints Of and Justice SO
long VAL tins influence of the States properly exercised
be sufficient 10 the wild career of Federal eeo
uo ana prevent the long continuance of burthensome
ana unconstitutional laws When the numerous checks
and balances in the Government itself when the power
OF State inerposton, such have described andy when
the mutual influence of the States one over the other
shall all have tailed then nothing which human wisdom
can devise VIII be eccual Constitutions and laws will
be regarded worthless parchment tramped under foot
Il md ra,ipa
Will rule the hour Let cease, then to and
weave as with gossaner web, those Ingenious theories
winch must vanish in the hour of trouble and of need
Let us rather study the practical parts ofhe Constitutions
BRING out those latent of md
VI P"'cutoii, Which IL possesses IN such great
aoundance and which are so little understood let la
Dor TO teach the people understand the nestimabc va
Tue OF tne institutions they now have and the
destruction OF their liberties when these shall fail
When our political institutions are better known and
more mighty valued by the great body of the people then
shall we go smoothly The probabilities OF abusive or
unconstitutional legislation will become less and less
until our rulers shall become perfectly satisfied thai the
best mode of advancing the interest of their own
tuents VII be strict and literal adherence the provi-
Sio.S Oh ue oohtituton But we are told that Nufi-
cation is constitutional remedy. have attempted To
show to YOU Mr. Speaker that there clause in the
constitution containing such doctrine is there one
from which can be fairly inerred il is absurd to sun
pose that the Constitution contains provision for its
destruction But sir we have bigb ontbor;,y IL :;
SAID Tor the doctrnc-te Resolutions Report of '9S
aud 70 have read those Resolutions and the Report
over and oyer again. and can find nothing which iust
NnIhers; nothing in the speeches delivered at the
Tune; nothing in the essays of that period Mad
son, the author of the Resolutions and Report dis
caros ue doctrine In letter written to the editor of
the North American Review. he gives lucid exposition
OF the true doctrines contained in those documents For
this prompt and manly rejection Of modern interpoa-
uos he has been called cid dotard; wasted and de.
generate shadow Of former greatness have had the
pleasure MIR Speaker of reading manuscript letter
recently written by that venerable sage in which he I'M
dcrakes to reconcile the principles of the letter 20 the
editor with the doctrines of the Report and Resolutions
/ rpu1 81.
nope That letter viii be permitted the ght--nen-
tiemen will be constrained acknowledge that ii is
worthy Of the earliest and brightest days of Madison
MT JEFFERSON also IS cited authority There is
thing III all his writings prove it, On the contrary
ne deplecates Secession and Notification looks them
the Constitution has failed 10 accomplish the obecs Of
M creation he term Notification is used for the
uhie IN the original draf of the Kentucky Resolutions
written by him; but evidently sense to sl,ew that h.
looked on 1t as revolutionary remedy. g In cases of
an an abuse OF delegated powers the members of the
General Government, being chosen by the people
changc by the people would be the Constitutional re-
medy but where powers are assumed which hive no,
been delegated Modification of the act is the ruin
(W remedy; that every State has a natural right
~ cases not oin c compaet to nully their own au-
.lory' Gan any man mistake the meaning of the au-
thor in the extract have Just read from the ORIGINAL
draft OF the Kentucky Resolutions? Does he not evil
IDENTIFY mean to say that for the abuse of power there IL
con$u9ftonat remedy but for the exercise of powers
not within the compact, there no constitutional re-
edy nuiiihcation, or prohibition of their exercise is
inc TghYUt TcedY; the natural right belonging to all
states, TO exercise their authority whenever they
please Virginia. as a sovereign State having nc yer de-
Peu rom tTee "geHcy, at time exercise this
@"e"Tdt Tt OF nullyng the laws of the Union but she
must expect to abide the consequences of violation of
er solemn pledge to o5ey The Constitution and the laws
'irglha, SIR utterly rePudiates the modern doctrines
when nave been imputed TO her she has feelings of
sympathy i"r them parental or consideration
lhcy originated in the hot-bed of scdition and have
long since been consigned 10 everlasting contempt Whv
nave the people OF Virginia such horror of the Hartford
Convention Because Sir, it the unnatural parent
OF uiat paricidal monster Notification That acts of
congress ~ violation of the Constitutions are absolutely
void IS an uudenable position In cases of deliberate
dangerous and palpabe infections of the Constitution
auecing the sovereignty Of the State, and liberties of
tc people 1t is not only the right but the duty of such
Suate, To lnlcrpose its authority for their protcc-
1on ~ the manner best calculated secure that end
~ hen emergencies occur, which either beyond The
reach OF the judicial tribunals pressing to admit
OK e Delay incident To their forms, States which hnve
no common umpire. must be their own udpes and xe.
3sed by the Hartford Convention; and here we have
Qualification traced 10 its source In the case Of an in
traction OF the Constitution is the ripb of each Se
~ t"pose 10 authority for their protection IN the mum
ger ocSt c1Lc"Hsd Ia secure that end Each SUITE must
re rs ois1 Judc, aad e6ocute Us decisions Nassa
chusets aud ConneetcR. thought the Constitution had
bseh volaeddelberately violated in repeated insfnn
ees. dhey met IN Convention at Hartford for the pur
pose OF tnteyposlag their authority IN me manner beeoI
e'dtea t0 feoeicc her pr0tocjon They did not pretend
toconceel TIER design They knew that there was no
warrant ia NE Constitution allowing them to be their
o" Judge and to execute their own decisions II was
wen understood sir that tie course they ontenpatcd
"netner Secession Modification of the laws
wou,u o' iiegei, unconstitutional ard destructive OF
nIss TO their country This hcresy has again revived
and become fooro ipe;d;o,. 80