Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-12-14

derFes q weight that cannot be dCnicd 10 a. from I
the relation Of tie Siale Legislatures 10 the Federal I
Legislature a. the fnmedae constituents pf one os
It's branches
TAe Legislatures Of The States have ngh, also |
TO originate amendments 10 the Constitution. by a
concurrence Of twO-thirds Of the whole number, IN
applications to Congress Cor The purpose. When
new States are 90 be loFmed by n junction Of two
or more States or paris OF States, the Legislatures
OF the Slates concerned are, a. wei as Congress,
10 e0ncur in the measure The States have right
also 10 enirr into agreements or compacts, with The
consent Of Coagress In eli such cases a commuul-
cation among them recruits from the object which 8
common 10 them.
Il is, lastly, ID be seen whether the confidence ex
pressed by the resolution, that the Htcetsaig and
proper measure, would be taken by the other States
ffse-npeutng with Virginia IN maintaining The
rights reserved TO the States, or to the people, be m
any degree Liable To tie objections which have been
rsscd against il.
II be liable to objection, must be because ei-
ther the object or the means are objectionable
The object being To maintain what the Consiiiu-
tlen has ordained, Is ia liseli lardabie Object.
The mean are expressed in tie terms " the ne
cessary and proper measures. A proper object
was 10 BE- pursued, by means both necessary and
proper.
To find anIobjecion, then, il must be shown That
some meaning was annexed 10 these general terms
which was not proper and, nr this purpose, either
that the means used BY The General Assembly were
an example Of improper means or that there were
no proper means TO which lhtterms could refer
the example gwen by the State, 81 declaring
the Alien and Sedilion Acts 10 he unconstitutional,
and commppi"a''~s - A-.'~ ~'''' - '",' p'a''s
no trace OF improper means has appeared. And u
the other States had concuued Ia making like dec
laration, supported, too, by the numerous aprhca-
tons flowing immediately from the people, It can
scarcely be doubted that these simple means would
kay ham atffct gl.aNa ara rpD nj
II is no less certain that other means might have
been employed, which are strictly within the limits
oil the Constitution The legislatures Of the Stntcs
might have made direct representation TO Con-
gress. with a view u obtain resembling Of The
Two offensive Acts; or, they might have represented
to their respective Senators in Congress their wish
that two. thirds thereof would propose explanato.
nv amendment 10 the Constitution or two thirds Of
themselves, if such had been their opIon, might, by
an application 10 Congress, have obtained aConycn-
ton for the same Object.
These several means, though not equally eligible
in themselves nor probably to the Statck were all
cons,iiuiionay open for consideration. Aad II the
General Assembly after declaring the two Acts TO
be unconstitutional the first and most ohvlous pro-
eecding on the subject did not undertake 10 point
out 10 the other States choice among the farther
measures tina, might become necessary and proper,
the reserve will not be misconstrucd by liberal minds
into any culpable mpntaton
These observations appear to for m satisfactory
reply to every objection which is not founded on
mlsconcepton Of the terms employed in the resoh-
tons There is one other, however which may be
OF too much Importance not to be added. II cannot
be forgotten, thai among the arguments addressed
10 those who apprehend danger 10 liberty from the
establishment Of the General Government over so
great country, the appeal was cmphaticaly made
to the intermediate existence Of the State Govern
ments, between the people and that Government. TO
the vigilance with which they would descry the first
symptoms Of usurpation, and TO the prompttude
with which they would sound the alarm 10 the pub
Ito. This argument was probably not without its
effect aud il twas proper one then TO recon-
mend the establishment Of the Constitution, il must
b proper one now 10 assist In its Interpretation.
The only part of The two concluding resolutions
that remains 10 be noticed is the repetition, IN the
hrst, OF that warm affection to the Union, and ts
members, and Of that scnpnous fidelity to the Con-
sttuton, which have been invariably felt by the
People OF this State. As the proceedings were In
troduced with these sentiments, they could not he
more properly closed than in the same manner
Should there be any 80 far mlslad as to call in qucs-
ton the sincerity Of these professions, whatever
greet may be excited BY the error. the General As
scmbly cannot descend into discussion oft Those
who have listened TO tho suggestion can only be len
To their own recollection Of the part which this
State has borne in the establishment OF our Nation.
ailndepeadence, IN the establishment OF our Nation
al Constitution. and in minimizing under il the au-
thori,y and laws ol the Union, without single OK.
cepiion Of internal resistance commaion. BY
recurring to the facts they wi be able to convince
themselves that the Representatives Of the People
OF Virginia must be above the necessity Of opposing
any other sheld To attacks on their national patriot.
ISM than their own conscientlousness and the JUS
tce OF an enlightened public; who will perceive in
the resolutions themselves the strongest evidence of
attachment both TO the Constitution and the Union,
since Il is only by maintaining the different govern
meats and departments within their respective Inn.
Its, that the blessings Of either be perpctualed
The extensive view oil the subject thus taken BY
the Committee has led them 10 report to the House,
as the result Of the WHOLE the following resolution:
Resolred, That the General Assembly having
carefully and respectfully attended TO The proceed
ings Of number Of the States, in answer to their
resolutions Of December a. 1898, and having ac-
curalely and fully re-examincd and re.ccnsdered
the latter, find il TO be their indispensable duty to
adhere tn the same, as Sounded in truth as conso-
nani with The Constitution, and as conducive to its
preservation; and more especially TO be their duty
to renew, as they do hereby renew, their protest
against the Alien and Sclilion Acts as palpa-
bic and alarming nractions Of the Constitution.
NorE.-The heading to each resolution, as Civ
en- above, was not in the Original, but has been III
trodaeed by u.s. for the facility Of reference. Ed
An amusing illustration Of the value Of the
virtue Of punctuahiy, was once gwen by hos
pstablc old German IN the interior Of Peunsylyo.
MIA The old gentleman kept open house, aud a
comfortable house too, from cellar TO garrett
There was no lack Of the means and appliances
which make lie comfortable TO the carnal man,
and when his table was spread, it was an adver.
tlsement OF plenty at which all were free to pat.
take. During the session Of the United States
Court, in the district where he resided, he one
day made ample provision for several Of tho Ju.
rors, the bar and the bench. The dinner was
done 10 turn, aud the worthy boast waited for
bis guest up 10 the hour and very minute ap.