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

That tribunal which Virginia has agreed shall be final
and conclusive has decrced against her What can She
do told you, sir in the beginning that yiroina is
still sovereign State-hat she is still moral beiny
possessed OF Tree agencythe capacity do
AZ pleasure told you, Also that through Convent
the organ of her sovereign will she might violate her
own obligations. She can in the ease now under CON
slderation, by ordinance in Convention pronounce
mat law which has tile sanction of the highest tribunal
null void and of no force within her territory Bot sir
such an act would be declaration her part that she
VIII no longer DC bound by her contracts that she will
no longer fulfil her obligations that she will no LONGER
1--we under joint government with her sister States
will longer regard that Constitution which she
appealing to the Searcher of Hearts for the purity OF
her Intentions, asSened to and ratified in short il
whi be declaration of secession from the Union
Nuihhcaon aud Secession necessarily result in the
same thing. To violate your plighted faith i'm mart
amounts to violation OF the whole lie who violates ono
yoo or ono .e oithe law violates the whole He who steals
Sr'ihg, IS as much condemned as The who robs
Treasury State that makes null and vol d an y law,
That has the sanction of the Constitution makes null and
void the constitution itself When State thus resolves
10 trampe under foot her solemn obligations il is
Tor me other contracting parties say whether it shall
be done WIN impunity That contract which con-
suuton oil government has been reared must be essen
ha TO the welfare of the States Their dearest RIGHTS
are saked ON its faithful observance Ifan inracton be
permitted IN one case, it may be in another until the
, Toie snoIi become worthless piece of parchment
The States will again be thrown into confusion. u,,n.l
jealousy and dstrust will spring up and finally civil war
anarchy, and despotsm Will close the scene The CO.
states in Convention, must determine whether breach
OF trust leading to such fatal consequences shall be per-
tted; And, as there arbiter TO decide be-
tween them and the refractory State they must decide for
themselves, according to the circumstances the case
but what are the officers of the government TO do i'm
the mean time: The government, you know sir is the
JOINT agent OF all the States Its laws operate directly
on individuals and engrossed without reaar To State
because they supreme the Consti-
luton and Laws OF every State Now sir here is Law,
recognized by all the departments of government ns
binding and in full force. An attempt has been made 10
repeal IT. but it has been doubly sanctioned bv the dec
sion OF the highest tribunal known to the Cons,tut;o
1t is law, therefore, which the officers of government
are pound TO enforce; they cannot avoid il; cannot dis
nl
must carry 1t into eiiect and the Chief Executive mus,
see that is faithfully executed And as the law must
operate directly individuals they are bound TO eons
ue al opposition or resistance coming from the udi-
GdualS themselves, or those who aid and abet them
q ms was iairly proven by the occurrences in
South carolina Inc Legislature of that State used
every ingenuity to throw the blame of resistance on the
Federal olcers but scheme that they devised could
be successful. The only issue that could be noss;h
presented was that of an individual refusing to pay his
duuesat the Custom House Gov Hamilton must refuse
tPay the drD Of dtioSimposed the gar he imported
vi course II was the duty of the officers to make him
pay according TO law. If he in violation of the laws
continued to refuse and offered resistance it was their
20 lepei force with force provided they lad the
means ana authority. If the Governor came with the
whoe military force of South Carolina they eould only
regard thcm as SO many men to help Gov HamI-
ION 10 resist the laws OF Congress. And If they had not
been provided with adequate means of resistance IL was
er duty to ask for further aid from the Executive If
the laws did authorize him to grant it he was
10 lay the whole matter before Congress and ask for such
powers would be necessary meet the exigencie of
te case And Congress: if they did mean that their
would be bound to make the necessary provisions TO
force them would be bound pass laws srter IN nro
vue loi me collection OF duties IMPORTS, should That
" Die law tha was resisted 1t is Impossible for the
Government OF the Unonto exist any other principle
ne oncers cannot regard legal resistance to those
laws; WHICH made by the Constitution suDrelne
paramount to all other authorities Should anv oppose
ue under the impression that they are protected bv
State authority, il will be the dutv of The Executive -
sPe ny Proclamation the fatal deluson And should
the means already provided beinadequate TO the eyecu
uoh oil The laws, twill be heduty of Congress- so far as
IN " bp ntaf t,nrf., al
% provisions Hence, Sir, the Obvious necessity of
the Proclamation and the sForce Bill" as il was fac
uo1sy called The people ofSoutb Carolina were acting
uuer ueIus!onlt was necessary TO tie erro-
neous impression bya Proclamation The laws for collect
ing duties on imposts, found under existing cir
lstlheeS inahnatate" n code of Nnllhieation" had
been devised TO evade them a-it was Therefore neces
sary ito examine in all its Inventions and to apply TO
every one OF IT'S devices, an eff; ctua codnteracton
NOV, marx you, sir, / do not hold with the Federal
doctrines OF the Proclamation; nor do sanction the nm
constitutional provisions of the Revenue RIM All 7
mean 10 say is, iet the circumstances Of the times re-
CURED same Sech measures, without binding myself TO
sustain them IN all their details Indeed we have been
Heed from Tins necessity Mr.. Calhoun, in a recent
speech on the proposition repeal the Force Bill decar
ca thet was not to the det0S he objected but 10 tbe
No, r.; = 't ~ "iG"'"g ae0T o" a SGcereign State
owi SIR nave shown, thai the principle which the
government acted in the of South Carolina was
purely that of Se.f-dtence The ingenuity of the Lc
gsalure could not present the in any other ligb
and had war been the consequence of their neasn2es
te CRIME OF blood would have been laid at their own door
Should a similar case ever occur which C,od orLiJ
and the Government of the Union be involved in war
WIN single State, cannot persuade myself but that
our |meTtcdH principles fintcrn0tiosa iG,o would Mace
"'' opposing state IN most advantageous position
cannot Deleve that resistance authorised by n solemn
Ordlnance OF State is TO be considered as freason
sovereign State cannot be regarded In the lioht of 70
province Ter territory, herproperty her help
ana unoendng citizens to be tleaicd with all The re-
sPect ana iorbearance due foIn one civilized State IN
ahoheT those who may be taken in arms are to be reotcd
not as rebels not traitors but as prisoners of nr
Titled to life protection, and respect
But after all, sir, look upon such theories os moro
sPeculalion having solid foundation in truth When
men are determined to resist the laws to- be Their o,e,
JH"g ma 10 execute their de, sions they will resort
10 those means necessary accomplish tIer nurnosa
without regard TO preconceived theories They ;iI b
governed altogether by the circumstances of The cage
ana VIII not DC restrained CONTROLLED Won had met no
wen aIicPt TO bride the tempest or 10 chain the hill
lows Oh the ocean And yet sur is il not sad to see how
these empty speeaiatoDs have been wrought into mo-
lucdi science how diligently they are propaqated and
nov eagerly they are caught at and devoured by Che
youth OF our country look upon this sir as ONE X lie
most alarming signs of the times system of political
PoSOPhy consisting of specuations and abstract theo
e mas ever been most pernicous its cougeouences
~ disienPers both the heart and mind fnents on0rv
osPutaons; creates wild aud restless spirit eyer er
oel changc ana new thingsj and has always been The
ccrtan forcr1nner of turmoil and revoution I ehaIi
ice then SIR, that have not labored altogether in vain
II can deiaeh one only from his Intoxicating dreorns
ana bring him TO consideration of the sober renlifies
around hn should feel that ! bad done my couu
w some SERVICE could persuade the youth around
me TO regard these speculatious os empty thinos
as VAN shadows, which bring o solid food 10 The
nho' oui give distaste for those elements of know
ledge, which are essential in ormno the character
OF truc statesman. j should feel tbaf much bod
been done towards restoring the true riucnlcs az r.
PuDlcanisn, could be persuaded that fa Conef;fr