The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-01-08

expressed by the resolution that the necessary and
proper measures would be taken by the other
States for cooperating with Virginia in maintain
ing the rights reserved to the States, TO the pco-
Pile, be in any degree liable to the objections which
have been raised against it.
If it be liable to objection, it must be because
either the object or the means are objectionable.
| The object being to maintain what the Constitu-
ton has ordained, is in itself laudable object
The means are expressed in the terms ''lhe ne
cessary and proper measures" proper object
was to be pursued, by means both necessary and
proper
TO find an objection then, it must BE shown that
some meaning was annexed TO these general terms,
which was not proper; and, for this purpose, Ell
her that the means used by the General Assembly
were an example of improper means, or that there
were proper means to which the terms could
refer.
In the example given by the State, of declaring
the Alien and Sedltion acts TO be unconstitutional,
and of communicating the declaration to the other
States, no trace of improper means has appeared.
And if the other States had concurred in making
like declaration, supported too by the numerous
applications flowing immediately from the people,
it can scarcely be doubted, that these simple meas
wonld have been as sufficient, as they are unex-
ccpionable
1t is no less certain, that other means might have
been employed, which are strictly within the limits
of the Constitution, The Legislatures ofthe States
might have made a direct representation to Con-
gress, with IL view to obtain resembling of the two
offensive acts; Or they might have represented to
their respective Senators in Congress, their wish
that two-thrds thereof would propose an cxplana-
tory amendment to the Constitution; or two-thirds
of themselves, if such had been their option, might,
| by an application to Congress- have obtained Il
Convention for the same object.
| These several means, though not equally eligible
in themselves, nor probably to the States, were all
consitutionally open for consideration. And if the
General Assembly, after declaring The two acts TO
be UNCONSTITUTIONAL the first and most obvious pro-
cecding Oh the subject, did not undertake to point
out to the other States, Il choice among the farther
measures that might become necessary & proper
the reserve will not he nisconstrucd by liberal
minds into any cu'pable impuaton.
These observations appear to form satisfactory
reply TO every objection which is not founded on
misconccp,ion of the terms employed in the rcso-
lulons There is one other, however, which may
be of too much Importance not to be added. 1t
cannot he forgotten that among the arguments ad-
dressed to those who apprehended danger to liber-
ty from the establishment Of the General Govern
ment over so great country, the appeal was en-
phatcally made TO the intermediate existence of
the State Governments, between the people and
that Government, to the vigilance with which they !
would dcscry the first symptoms Of usurpatiOn and
to the promplitudc with which they would sound |
the alarm to the public. This argument was proba-
bly, rot without its effect and if it was proper
one then, to recommend the establishment of the |
Constitutions it must be proper one now, to as
sIst III It's interpretations
The only part of the two concluding resolutions
that remains to be noticed is the repetition in the
first, of that warm affection to the Union and its
members, and of that scrupulous fidelity 10 the
Constitution, which have been invariably felt by
the people of this State. As the proceedings were
introduced with these sentiments, they could rot
he more properly closed than in the same manner.
Should there be any so far msIed as TO call in ques-
ton the sincerity of these professions, whatever
regret may be excited by the error, the General
Assembly cannot descend into discussion of it,
Those who have listened TO the suggestion, can
only be left to their own recollection of the part
which this State has borne in the establishment of
our National independence, in the establishment
of our National Constitution, and in maintaining
under it the authority and laws ofhe Union, with
out single exception OF internal resistance or COM
notion BY recurring TO these facts, they will be
able TO convince themselves, that the representa-
N'NS VI p'oI' VI virginia, IllHSl w dDDNe lllt
necessity of opposing any other shield TO attacks
on their national PATRIOTISM, than their own con-
and the justice Of an enlightened pub
Iic who will perceive in the resolutions themselves,
the strongest evidence of attachment both to the
Constitution and TO the Union, since it is only by
the different governments and depart
NETS within their respective limits, that the bless
ngs of either can be pcrpctuatcd /
The extensive view of the Inject thus taken BY r
he committee, has led them 10 report to the House, f
is the result of the WHOLE the following rcsolu- p
ion:
Rcso'red That the General Assembly, having >
nrefulIy and respectfully attended 10 the proceed $
ngs Of Il number of the States, in answer to their b
cso!ulions of December q, 1888, and having uc- f
urately and fully re-cNamined and rc-considcrcd
he latter, find it TO be their indispensable duty to :
dhcrc 10 the same, founded in truth, as conso- Il
ant with the Constitution, and az conducive to lis {,
reservation; and more especially TO be their duty
o renew, as they do hereby renew, ihe protest Q
golnst "ihe Alien and Sedion Acts" rs palpable u
nd alarming lnfractions of the Constitutions Il