The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-15
From the Richmond Enquirer.
THE STATES RIGHTS DOCTRINES OF
THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL.

Our Bill Of Rights urges recurrence to funda-
mental principles essential to the prosperity OF the
Republic Under the full sense of the duties which il
devolves upon the Republican Party, we shall publish
the great documents which contain the articles of their
political creed We beg the people to read them again
and again, to study them carefully and inwardly d.
gest them. They constitute the standard by which
Republican will be able to Judge of the measures
of an Administration The following the preface,
which in February 1896, attached to pamphlet
copy of g the Resolutions of Virginia and Kentucky,
penned by Madison and Jefferson and Of Madison 9
subseque Report"
The Administration Of Mr. John Adams was dark
day for the Republic. Then, Alien and Sedition acts
were let loose upon us; the purity of the Constitution
itself violated by the madness of party and those
rights which had been respectively reserved to the
States and to the People, exposed 10 the most
fearful jeopardy by the usurpatons OF the Federal
Government.
But the friends of the Constitution did not des-
palr of the Republic Though the Liberty of speech
and of the press was invaded though the power and
| patronage of the Government exered to ntmi-
date seduce the people; the Republicans did not
abandon the of their Country. Their resist
ance continued with the crisis the form of it only
varied. While Mr. Jefferson remained in the Senate
of the United States, and Mr.. Galatin in the House
of Representatives, most of their most able and active
friends in of the States, retired from the walks OF
the General Government and retreated to the State
Legislatures in which great citadels of the public
Liberty they proposed to re-asser the true principles
of the Government. The Republicans succeeded
and the Constitution saved.
Among the most memorable productions of those
times, the Resolutions and Reports, which were
adopted by the Legislatures of Kentucky and Virginia.
| These were penned by Jefferson and Madison. To
Mr.. Madison is due the honor of having drafted the
Virginia Resolutions ofthe 2lst December, l79S and
that mastery vindicaton of them, which adopted
by the Legislature of Virginia during the session OF
| 1880; paper which is famliarly known by the
name Of Madisons Report" and which deserves to
| last as long the Constitution itself
| "The Resolutions of Kentucky submitted to
the Legislature of that State by Mr.. John Brecken-
ridge and adopted by them on the 10Th November,
| 1898. They had the honor to be penned by the
thor of the Declaration of American Independence.
" Both ofthese esteemed productions scarce, and
out of print. They frequently asked for. They
are again wanting to re-estabsh the land marks OF
the Constitution, and to stay that food of encroach-
ment which has swept over our country. The Cen
| trpeta power is assuming new and fearful energy.
Under the authority of great Names great errors are
maintained Is 1t not tme then, for the friends of
truth rally together and to reasser her principles
more clearly stated, the arguments in their defence
more powerfully developed than in the celebrated pro-
ducton hch the publisher of this pamphlet now lays
/ before his readers ~