The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-27
REPUBLICAN MEETING.
MACON.
DECEMBER, 1913.

Alta meeting ofthe Republicans of North
amPton county, assembled at Capeville on Saturday
the 10th of December, l843, pursuant to public no
tice, on motion of John l.. Upshur Esq, DANIEL
FircHETT, Esq called to the Chair, and, on mo-
ton of A T. Gray, Esq , JonN E. NOTTINGHAM, Esq
was appointed Secretary.
Dr.. Jesse J. Simpkns then delivered an address
explanatory of the objects of the meeting. After
which, on motion of John L. Upshur, the following
gentlemen were appointed by the Chair committee
TO draft preamble and resolutions expressive Of the
political opinions of the meeting, viz. John L. Up
shur, Jesse J. Simkins, A. G. Gray Miles W. Fish
err DR.. T. J. L. l.. Nottingham DIR. William A.
Thorn, George p. Fitchett, N. S. Goffigon, Robert
b. Nottingham, and Thomas Hallett The commit
tee having retired, after some time returned and re-
ported the following preamble and resolutions.
The silent, though rapid marches which the Fede-
raj Government has made within a few years las,
past towards the consolidation of the States
of this Confederacy, cannot but fill with Just
alarm the mind of every true friend of consti-
tutonal liberty. The conviction that the lber-
ties of the People will not survive the consoli-
dalton of the States composing our Federal
Union is one which forces ITSELF with ire
sistble power, upon every who has carefully in
yesgated and seriously reflected upon, the nature of
our institutions. The Constitution of the United
States is compact treaty between separate, free,
sovereign, and independent States and the Federal
Government possesses no power which that nstru-
mcnt does not confer. Such however, has been the
| construction given 10 that instrument by certain
party Of this country to confer upon the General
Government political omnipotence utterly subver-
sive of the rights of the States and which must, if
not resisted prove at distant period destructive Of
freedom itself No motives Of expedency, no tenn
porary benefit to be derived therefrom-indeed no
alleged necessity justify the slightest infraction
OF the compact Of union between the States, by the
Federal Government-unless the interests Of the
several States be identical, any other than most
guarded and strict construction Of the Federal Con-
stitution cannot be resorted TO, without hazarding
consequences dangerous in the extreme. The histo.
ry of man in all ages and under all governments,
clearly atests his proneness to whatever interest in
yes, and power enables him to do and hence the
necessity for conventional restrictions upon, and
chartered limits to, his power. Indeed, the history
of country is far from being silent upon this
subject. Sectional interests, controlling the action
of the Federal Government have, in more than one
instance, caused the Constitution of this Union
to be violated and the rights of many of the States
to be fagranty and injuriousy invaded. In the
two acts establishing Banks Of the United States
in the repeated laws establishing protective duties
to say nothing of other laws that could be mentioned
clearly recognised infractions of our compact OF
Union; and infractions, too, of the most dan.
gerous character These iuvasions Of the Federal
Constitution are peculiarly calculated TO awaken the
jealousy, and alarm the fears of the People of the
Southern States. Differing materially in climate, in
soil, in pursuits, and consequently in interest from
the Northern States, and overcome in the Federal
Government by numerical superiority, it is per-
fectly manifest, that the rights of the Southern
States OF this Confederacy depend solely upon a
strict construction Of the Federal Constitution, and a
faithful execution of its provisions. so construed
Now if that dependence be destroycd-if that en-
trenchment be forced-if that shield be broken. he
must be blind indeed who can fail TO see that there
will remain for the South no other peaceful resort.
Be it, therefore, by the Democratic Republicans
of Northampton, in public meeting assembled,
ResoIrd That the Constitution Of the United States,
being compact Of union for specific and limited
purposes, between free, sovereign and independent
o'%'o, efu"y ieSPeCts ue rlgnts OF all the states,
and confers upon majority Of the States no power
over the rights OF minority of the same, which is
not authorized by strict construction Of that nstru.
ment.
RESOLVED, That the Virginia resolutions of 90, and
the Kentucky resolutions of 49, contain tho true
rules for the construction of that Constitution or com.
| pact.
Rtsoired, That we recognise the principles of the
(true JefersoniaD school the only genuine Demo.
cratic Republican principles