Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-02
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SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY

SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
AZ meeting of the Democratic Republicans Of
Northampton county, assembled at Capeville, on Sa
turday, the 10Th December, lo43 pursuant 10 public
notice, on motion Of John l.. Upshur, Esq, DAME
Fitchet', Esq, called to the Chair and on motion
of A. T. Gray, Esq, John Z. Nottingham, Esq, was
appointed Secretary
Doctor Jesse J. Simpkins then delivered an address
explanatory of the objects of the ting after which
On motion OF John L. Upshur, the following gen
tlemen appointed by the chair committee ,o
draft preamble and resolutions expressive of the poll
cal opinions of the meeting, VIZ John l. pshur
Doctor Jesse J. Simpklns, a. I. Gray, Miles w
Fisher, DR.. T. J. l. l.. Nottingham, Doctor William
A. Thorn, George Z. Fi,chelt, n. S. Goffngon, Ro'
bert Is. Nottingham, and Thomas Hallett. The CON-
miitee having retired, after some time returned, and
reported the following preamble and resolutions:
The client, though rapid marches, which the Federal
Government has made within few years last past to-
wards the consolidation of the States of this Con-
federacy, but I'LL, with Just alarm, the mind o
every true friend of constitutional Liberty. The
vcton, that the liberties Of the people will not survive
the consolidation of the States composing our Federal
Union, is which forces itself, with irresistible
power, upon every who has carefully investigated
and seriously reflected upon the nature OF instto-
tions. The Constitution of the United States, IS com
pact Treaty between separate, free, and
independent States and the Federal Government p s.
power which that instrUment does not confer
Such however has been the construction gwen 10 tha'
instrument by certain party OF this country, "a To con
fer upon the General Government political omnipo
tence, utterly subrersve OF the rights OF the States,
and which must, II not resisted, prove at no distant
period, destructive Of Freedom tsel No motives OF
expedency temporary benefit To be derived there
from-indeed alleged necessity, can justify the
slightest n'ractlon of the compact Of union between
these States, by the Federal Government Unless the
interests of the several States identical, any
other than most guarded and strict construction oil
the Federal Constitution cannot be rcsorte to- without
hazardng consequences, dangerous in the extreme
The history OF man, all ages and under all Govern
nents, clearly aes5 bis proneness 10 whatever interest
invites and power enables him to do and hence, the
necessity for Convent ona restrictions upon and char
tered limits 10 his power Indeed the history of our
country is far from being silent upon this sub
jec Sectional interests, controlling the action OF the
Federal Government, have, IN more than one instance
caused the Constitution of this Union TO he violated
nnd the rights of many of the States 10 be agranty
and njurously invaded. In the acts establishing
Banks Of the United st tssin the repeated laws esta
blshing protective dutes-in the act of Congress dis
tributng the proceeds Of the public lands among the
several Sates-to say nothing Of ether Laws that could
be mentioned clsa'ly recognised nrac,ions of ouI
compact Of union, and uf,aciions, too of the mos
dangerous character. These invascns OF the Fsde
raj Constitution, are peculiarly calculated to awaken
the Jealousy and alarm the fears of the people OF The
Southern States. Differing materially in climate, II
SOIL in pursuits, and queny in interest, from th'
Northern States, and overborne III the Fedora! Go
vernment by numerical superiority, II IS perfectly
manifest, TINT the rights of the Southern States OF th
Conederncy, depend solely upon strict constructor
of the Federal Const tut;on and faithful executor
of lis PROVISIONS 8, construed. For, If that depend
ence be desroyed-if that entrenchment De iorced-i
that shield be broken, he must be bind, indeed wh
can fail that there will remain tor the SCUM ou
one more resort-an appeal 10 Southern valor and L
Southern swords.
Be it therefore, by the Democratic Republicans Q
Northampton, 10 public meeting assembled,
Rrsoired That the Constitution OF the United State
being compact of union for specihc and uiitso p"i
md Ia
equally respects the rights of all the States and con
fers upon majority of the States no power over IN
rights of minority of the came which is not authorizes
by strict construction of that instrument.
Resoired That the Virginia Resolutions OF 70, an
the Kentucky Resolutions of '99, contain the uu
rules for the construction Of that Constitution
compact. =,
Resoired, That We recognize the PRINCIPLES OF tn
true .ffersonan School the only genuine Democ!a
Republican principl $.
P,soirfd That protective tariffs not only fragrant
" unjust oppressive and runous in its operation uPo
the people Of the Southern States but 1t involves OIL
rect violation of the Federal Constitution and mos
palpable usurpaton of power by the Generai Govern
ment. ~
Resolred, That the Federal Government has no po"
or 10 foster anv one interest Of the States oil tbs ono
at the expense of another, and that any at',Mp' oy
% to do, ought to be srenuously resistso oee"use
would tend to establish monopoly the nio't ooous
and to endancer in the highest degree the integrity
our Federal Union.
Rssoced That the distribution Of the proceeds OF TN
nublic lands among the several States, but an nsd
pus mode adopted b. the advocates Of protective ia
riff 10 create, if possible necessity for high ana rum
Gus protective duties, and thus force upoa me eoon
try that unjust, oppressive, unconstitutional and 0e
condemned system. a.
Resolced That the Assumption OF State DEBTS oy w
General Government, measure lately proposed oy IN
Wings is, like Distribution the Offspring Of the Tai
nolicy and that i, is, perhaps the most alarming an
hateful proposition ever made, even by the feoefa
plssafIreJ That Bank Of the U. S, as fiscal agen
&C this Government, would MT only be an uncons'tu
t;onal, unwse, aad nexpedient institution but hat
!. ..absolutelv an obsolete idea
Resotrsd Tbst the anne1ston Of Texas to this UNI
on would not only be beneficial 10 's ~no,s
but also, effective mode OF securing -, ,s ach;na
ions and assaults of rapidly increasing party IN