Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-11-24

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occasions only, deeply and essentially affecting the vital
principles Of their political system.
The resolution has accordingly guarded against any
misapprehcns;oa of It's object, by expressly requiring
Tor such m interposition, 'lUe case ola Deliberate, pai-
pa6e aid dangerous breach Of the Constitution, b. the
exercise Ut potrers not @rGaisi BY ii. 1T must be 4
case, lotoIa light ard transient nature, but ola nature
dangerous 10 the great purposes fr which the Consti-
taton was established. II mus, be 4 case, moreover,
not obscure - doubtful in IL construction, but PLAN
and ~P"ipaJie. Lastly, it must be 4 case not resulting
ifoal a partial consideration, or hgsty determination;
out a case stalHpt with a final consideration and Gdibc-
fd'e adherence. 1t Is not necessary, because the re-
solution does no. require, that the question shouli he
discussed, how sar the exercise II any particular power,
Gag.anied BY the Consultations, would Justify the inter-
position Of tie parties TO il. As cases might easily be
stated, which none would contend ought % ,a!l within
that description: eases, on The other hand, might, with
eqlal ease, be stated, 50 fragrant and 50 fatal. as 10
dHi;e every opinion in placing them Within the descgip-
ton.
But tie resolution has done more than guard against
mtscoAstruction, y e~press!y referring to cases Of 4
~ds'tbaSate, aaigG5ic and daagGr0aS nature. Ii specifies
the object of The intcrpositton which il contempla,es,
10 be solely that OF arresting the progress OF the erl OF
usnrPation, and Of maintaining Tue authorities, rights
and .h"rtes appcr;aining 10 the States, as parties TO
tie Constitution.
From this yicw of the resolution. !; would seem in
conceivable Tint it can incur ans Jest disapprobaiion
from those, who laying aside all momcntary impress
sons, and :ecoNecttng the genuine source and object Of
the Federal Constitution, shall candidly and accurately
interpret tho meaning Of the Genera. Assembly. 1.-THE
deliberate exercise Of dangerous powers, ~palPably with
hr!dhJ tie Constitution, co:id not Justify the parties
q il, II intcrposing even - iar Is u arrest the progress
ofthe erti, and t'ereA; 10 preserve lie Constitution
Itself, ~ vel. u T. provide for d. safaty q: The parties
tot, there wonli he ~ end = all rclci t:on usnrred
power, end i direct su5yersion Of The rights specified or
recognized under Ill the state Constitutions, as well IS
! pIa n denial Of the fundamental principle Oh which our
independence Itself was declared.
Eut il Is objected, that the Judicial authority is 70 be
REGARDED as the sol" c%positor ofthc Constitution, III the
last resort: and il !nay be asked for whal. reason, the de-
c!ara.ion by the General Assembly, supposinr 1t 10 lie
theoretically true, could BE- required ut lhc present day
and IN 90 solemn a manner.
On this objection j. might he Observed, first: that
.hcre NAV be instances Of usurpcd power, which the
forms Of lie Constitution would never draw within the
control ofihe Judicial denartmcnt. yerendlg. that iftlle
decision II tie Judiciary he raised above tie authority
oi the so.erc;ra parties u the Constitution. tie dcci-
s'eas III ic ot6fr lfpqrtmfaiv. mt cqyricI bg me- arms ~
,c Constitution !. 6rc he Judic,aru. mus: h. coual.y
authoritative and final with HE drcislous nf That d.
pertinent. Bat the proper answer - The objection Il.
that ~. resolution al The General Assembly relates 10
those Great md extraordinary casqs. m winch NIL The
carus ii the Constitution max proyr iuaf;., nal aa,;ust
iur-,clions danre-o.s 10 The essential riplis IF lie par-
t,rs oit. Tie resolution sapposes that DANGEROUS pov.
ers. moi DELEGATED. NAY uoi orlv h. usuruel ,,d eyncut.
ed H. tc other dcpar,mc MS. hui that lie Judicial d.
,a-,;upnt also may exercise q, sanction DANGEROUS now
80 hoyond Tho iran, ~ me Constitution md consc.
n,eutIc. that ,h1 ultimate ri5ht Of me PARTIES 10 The
On, ,,,inn IA ;pd,en = hetber ,ba conn,c, L,s heop
la-a-mi. r.,I,,,5 ,".t ,,.a,a !, .;ol ,.o,s III
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ana 'ae concurrence - ths o'P"t'nleht WIN inc others
~ nsufprd powers iiight s"nFtri ior ever, ahc icyond
ee Po.s.o'c ''aSn 9 ! ahy i9"Iul lgi'eay' 'e very
@o - "n.o"a'i were nIs'ia'ea : pfesei:r.
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y WI ~ r@r'2!.offed, 'hal ! frequent recurrence 70
iIn%ainen,ai rs'nc,'!eS' Is SONNY ynJ1'nea ny most
:. ~ 49, :. s"c Wv $50 a, n:' ,ho d.. ,''s - ~ Ganona
= : - ,.h;o5 r -, 49, Iab,, = moiI : : n,hos ~.
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,yts. H., conar,l asson,,iy da,h ~, .~,rassi 4.
49, ra a~o ,h,, . s,;.;t H.. - snnt-y instances Lcen
! .. a - l.. :" ,hs IDOL Gnrorn,sn, ,ocrj,rro -
a.a -. SD co,s,rnc,:o,s ~ IN. Constitutional
a.n..,., ,s!h;ch dnG,ns ,l,om. npd tb,, Indications have
q ,,no,rcd of = do..on to cxnound certain rcneral
;. p,r,ses. (Which. having been copied from The very
:. limited grant Of powers IN the former articles Of con-
I" federation, we're The less liable 10 be misconslrrcdl 50
: rs 10 destroy the meaning and effect Of the particular
. enumeration which necessarily explains, and limits
q tie general phrases; and 50 as to consolidate the
g states by degrees, INTO one sovereignty, The obvious
. tendency and inevitable result Of which would be, 10
. transform the present K publican system of The Uni
. ted States, into an absolute, or at best a mixed mon
g archy.
The frst question here 10 be considered -, whether
a spirit las in suGdry instances been manifested by
the feaeral government 70 enlarge Ms powers ~ ioFcea
constructions Of the Constitutions charter