Columbus Democrat., 1839-11-30
VIRGINIA RESOLUTIONS.
VIRGlNIA-HoUsE OF DELrGATrs,
Session Of l799-ls00.

VIRGINIA-lIoUsE OF DELEGATES,
Session Of l799-lsoo.
R,,rt Of tie Committee to whom were referred
he communications of various States, relative to
tbq resolutions OF the last General Assembly Of
this State concerning the Aien and Sedton
Laws:
Whatever room might be found in the proceed
. sys Of some Of the States, who have disapproveJ
ii the resolutions of the General Assembly Of this
Commonwealth, passed on the 2lst day Of Decem-
her, 1898 for painful remarks Oh the spirit and
manner of those proceedings, il appears to the COM
r,tee most consistent with the duty as well as dg-
r.y Of the General Assembly, to hasten an oblivion
Of eyery circumstance which might be construed
into dminu,ion Of mutual respect, confidence and
affection among the members Of the Union
The committee have decmed 1t more useful
hss 10 revise, with critical eye the resolutions
which have met with this dsaPprobaton TO exam
ma luIy the several objections and arguments which
AVE appeared against them; and 70 inquire wheth-
fr there can be any errors OF fact, Of principle
a, II reasoning which the candor OF he General
Assembly ought to acknowledge aud correct
The first Of the resolutions in the words fol-
nwng rv,
mini, doth unequiyoca,ly express firm resolution
Z maintain and defend the Constitution Of the Uni
led States, and the Constitution of this State, "a
,apst every aggression either oIelgn or domestic,
md that they viii support the Government OF
the United States in all measures warranted by the
iormet."
N,,oryorabe comment can have been nindo on
,ha continents here expressed. 10 maintain and
8etrod The Constitution Of the United States, and
If their own State, against every aggression both
foreign and domestic, and to support the Govern
repl Of the United States in all measures warrant
ed by their Constitution, are duties which The Cen
eral Assembly ought always TO feel, and to which,
uSlcl an occasion, it was evidently proper 10 cx-
press their sincere and firm adherence.
In their next resolution" The General Assem-.
by most solern.y declares a warm attachment TO
The Union Of the States, to MAINTAIN which, II
pledges all It's powers and that for this end, It is
their duty to watch over and oppose every nrac-
tion Of those principles, which constitute the only
basis of thai Union because a faithful observance
oil them can alone secure its existence aud the pub
lie happiness"
The observation Just made is equally applicable
10 this solemn declaration, OF warm attachment tc
tie Union, and Ills solemn pledge to maintain nj
nor can any question arise among enlightened
f,iends Of the Union, as 10 the duty OF watching
over and opposing every infrachon Of those PRINCE
pies which constitute its basis, and faithful obser
vance Of which can alone secure lis existence, and
The third resolution is in the words following
"Ihat this Assembly doth explicitly and Pefemp'
t9ry declare. that i views the powers OF the Fed
eral Government, as resulting from the compact, tt
gucu the States are parties, as limited BY The plan
se'e and intention OF the instrument constituting
tat atc1npact-as no further valid Than they are au-
anrzed by the grants enumerated IN that compact
ani that in case OF a deliberate, paIpable and dan
ge-ouS exercise Of other powers, not granted by
The sad compact the States who are parties thereto
have the rght and are in duty bound, to lnierpuse
I)f aresuug the progress OF lhs eV, ana iof nam
ianlng w;hin their respective limits, the aulhou'
Nes, rights and liberties appertainlng to them.
On ths resolution the committee have bestowed
oil the attention which its importance merits; They
have scanned il not merely with street. but win a
severe eve and they feel confidence IN pronoun'
eBg thot In its met aud fair construction, II is un-
Exceptionally rue in It's several positions, as wei
as constitutional and conclusive in It's nerences;
The resolution declares, first; that "ltvlews the
powers Of the Federal Government as resulting
iiom he compact to which the States are parues
% other words that the Fedora powers are derived
i'sn the Constitution; and that the Constitution Is
compact 10 which the States are parnes.
Gear as the position must seem mat the eJefa
powers are derived from the Constitution, and from
that alone, the committee are not unapprlsed Of a
he doctrine, which opens another source of FEEDER
q powers not less extensive and important than !
! aew and unexpected. The examination OF TIN;
doctrine will be most conveniently connected with
review Of a succeeding resolution. The committee
SATISFY themselves heJe with briefly remarkhg, lha
u all the contemporary discussions aud commenti
Which the Constitution underwent It was con
ssnty justified and recommended, on the grount
hat The powers not given 10 the Government vert
withheld from i, auI that if any doubt could have
Existed on this subject under the original text
lie Constitution, it is removed, as far as word
could remove it. by the 1ath amendment, now ;
part Of the Constitution, which expressly declare
e'a' the powers not delegated 10 the UnIte'
9lales by the Constitution, nor prohibited by II u
'Ae States, are reserved to the States respectively
o. 70 the people"
The Other position involved in this branch Of th
',soulion, namely. that the States are parties I
NC Constitution or compact" Is, in The judgment c
.ae committee, equally free from objection. It
nlted true that the term States" IS sornetime
ese1 70 vague sense, and sometimes in dItieTen
senses, according % die subject 10 which il is sp
p'ed' Thus, il sometimes means the separate sec
uons ol territory occupied BY the political soclete
e.'h'n EACH sometimes the particular Govern
MeAs established BY those societies; sometime
:. s7 societies as organized into those partlcua
uoseiumen,s; ard lastly, il means lie people com
s'shg 'o~e political societies. in Their highest SOY