Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-05

of other States be engaged in the same business.
with the view of affecting the of Virginia. ,ly
can be taken up and tried in their courts, ib@s
great principles of law, and of inierna,iosa
law, which declares that citizen of State shall
any thing affecting the rights OF the citizens of aDpsber
oiate These principles are of universal appics,ten
and OF binding force in all civilized countries and al ~
amply sufficient TO enable the of the NoTiseri,
Slaies 10 inlet adequate punishment those who
engaged In the circulation OF sedous publications.
with the view of disturbing the peace aud do,,sstz:
relations of the South An opinion was exprr.seeA
some years since, by Judge Thatcher of Boston in hi,
charge to the grand jury that the author pS,npr c
puocations tending disturb the peace of The ,u,h-
punishment or the offence The same opinion has ~,
expressed by other respectable individuals at the Not'
But should these general principles of law he regarded
as inadequateor should the Northern States unavsse
OF The mischief likely To flow from Of
their citizens fail 10 sustain the Courts their exesa
ton, then we should have perfect rpht-nay SIR we
nave right at all times IL IN estimation the
gences OF the require ill., call for the enactusnt
oil such laws, or the adoption of such uay
eectuaiy suppress the eddesome Oh th,-
part OF the citizens of other States with our own donses-
TIC affairs And if these States in defiance of the nbl-
gallons imposed on them by the universal practice Of
Vzed nations in disregard of the relations
existing between the cOStates of this conederacy re-
fuse TO comply with just denands-give coun,e-
nance by their negligence or protect by the interpretations
OF authority, the wicked and nschievous
ihelr citizens from that the whole aspect oi t.
case VIII be materially changed. What first was the
unauthorized act OF few citizens, has been sane
TONED and adopted by sovereign State as her own
She has taken upon herself the responsibility of project
ing ana securing from punishment those who are at
tempting Tn Invade the rights and To disturb The tran
qnlliy ot other States. What at first was the mere
crime or misdemeanor of individuals punishable by law
now assumes the solemn and imposing form Of n
oate ohence-nn offence committed in violation OF the
obligations of the Constitutions and the right guara niece,
Dy That Constitution to each State of conducting its own
domestic relations, without moles,aon disturbance on
Tue part oil Others To give connenonce Ia her citizens,
in their interference with the internal affairs another
STATE regard us the highest crime that be com.
united by any member OF this conicderncy; and aerex-
austny every peaceable and constitutional mode of re-
Dress should hesitate last resort to recommend
such measures alone be justified by the laws of
necessity or preservation But until the conduct
oil the citizens shall be recognised by their
measures OF extremity against State, founded on the
unauthorized action of citizens, be justified in
the eye oil nations Gu cannot make State responsible
for the msdeeds of individuals unless she protect them
IN their wckedness And how you ascertain that
iact! WIZ you give ear 10 the vague of the hour
to the unofficial declaration of public e-or The I'M.
founded assertions of newspaper edtors Surely not
nou won,u Drst demand IN proper way, the punish
ment or deliverance OF the Offenders and The adoption of
such measures will eiieciualy put an end to future.
Vaccinations against your peace and tranquility and in
case OF failure on the part of State comply with
your Just demands, you may then take such steps
your own Judgment shall dictate, or safety require
III nave gwen correct exposition of this subect-havr
made IT manifest that the obligations of the Constitution
and the rights OF the States affected by the in
dividual unauthorized net of c,zen-that these finn
damenta laws can only be violated by the STATES and
the Federal Government, whose operations restrict
ed and limited by the provisions of the Constitution
iheh, SIR tne proposition contained in the resolution now
The practical operation of unsound principle nusl
always be dangerous, however honest may e the con.
viction OF ITS truth sincere and perllnacous adhr.
renee 10 doctrines untrue in themselves ever been
the chief fomentor OF civil bros-ihe prime caus. of
the moral and political revolutions recorded in history
the fruitful source of troubles since The f,un
dation of the in the case would
he the active agent bringing country fatal and dis
astrous consequences Since the declares that
an interference with the domestic slavery the Souih b
the citizens ofany State, violation Of the Constitution
IN he same manner and in the same degree,
ference by the State ITSELF the General Government
OF course 1t must follow as necessary conclusion that
the ofreein the case must be The same a
those adopted in the oter-The injury donu being thu.
same, the remedy must be the same Now sir a doc
trlne has recently gained currency in the south and is
advocated by many gentlemen sustain this resoIn
uon, which Declares that each State Is be the sole
Judge OF the niIactloDs of the Constitution and of he
mode and measure of redress No anlecedent seos are
requlred-no consultation with other Statesbut each
one regarding the obligations of the Constitution as yo
Iated may, ON her own responsibility, adopt such ea
sures as she may think best calculated 10 protect in
vaded rights. We have memorable example of tb.
practical operation of this doctrine The Tariff laws
were regarded by South Carolina unconstitutional
and as invasive of the rights of the holding
The doctrine that the mode and redress were
IN her own hands, she undertook make those laws null
and void within her territory Were The Federal Co
vernmcnt to pass act prohibiting the trans portaon of
slaves from one State to anoheT should regard il as
80 papa5e violation of the Constitution MS TO Justify
resort To- NullihcatOn or, it thought proprI TO ihe
more efectual remedy of SeccSsOn-Or should ilu Ce-
neral Government any manner interfere with The rco
ton OF naste and slave should not hesitate TO adout
the strongest measures ofredress Should State i'm anv
manner interfere with these domestic relations we woud
nully her acts, If could eject as an unworv
member from the Union-or secede ourselves But Tia.
spirit 81 this resolution requires that you should proceed
III the same against STATE when anyof Tho c;,;
zens thereof shall Interfere with the domestic
OF the South. This conclusion cannot be avoided bv
decarIng that you will first call upon the State for re-
dress, because the moment that done il is no LONGER
the act OF an individual, but of State BY compliance
WIN your demands, or rejection Of them the Stale
makes herself responsible Tor the conduct those under
her protection The latter clause therefore of the res
luton the citizens Of other Stntcs" must be either
superhuous, OF IL must convey the idea that a citizen in
ms individual capacity violate the obligations of ihr
Constitution aud invade the rights of the s;iarscan
commit All act which, though discountcn by the
government, would involve his State in such difficulties
as might lead 10 dissolution of the Union or to civil
war But what, sir, regarded az an ON the
part Of the citizen The succeeding Ia that nov
under consideration declares in substance that the ner.
formation OF societies under the de of uioon
lists, IS an interference the part OF those who constitute,
the societies. and violation OF "poiticaI obigatiou,
so long, therefore, single society of that dcscrption
shall exist ID the Northern Siates matters NOT hos,
rev or worthless IT'S members may be-huw nsoni6caut
or powercss their though they meet with scorn
and contempt-thoagh they be by word and a fcproach
to all who know heyet, cir, long as an association
OF such mencan be found the Constitution liz rewarded bv
this resolution as violated and the rights of Inc states
invaded. And either Of the slave.holding State. 70.
garding the subject in this light would be justified in
adopting measures Of extremity against t1af State In
Which these may be associated Notwithstanding sle
has never counteDanced their proceedings has meyer
been required 10 suppress them and has never ecrned
tbem worthy Reconsideration But gentlemen may say
thatt IS not their intention TO resort 10 such ness1fesC
such declaration cannot affect the principle Establish
this doctrine true, il will then 20 Drth 10 the world
bo l,,, ..I.-ti ....