Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-04
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. %, 1915.

TIE Tic Editors Of The Enquirer:
Dear Srs-I said, in my last eps,le, that Com
pacis differed less from Treaties in the objects TO
he accomplished by either than in the node OF
expressing the national assent 10 them but did
mol mean 10 have it inferred, therefore, that both
ailrons extended 10 The same objects. Far from it.
Compac,s may extend 10 objects altogether beyond
the righrful range OF Treaties; and 10 which re-
lher usage, nor even precedent has ever carried
them. All may be done by Compoc's, which
Treaties may DO; but the converse of the propo-
sition is bv no means true. Treaties in fact are
but species OF Compact-and, for my part, |
know OF no pacts, bargains or agreements which
nations NAV enter into with each other, which
do not fall within the range and definition of
Compaci The one is the genus, and all others,
Treaties included, are the spccies. There are
many examples which sustain this discrimna-
lion in theory, while they consecrate ii in usage.
Let Us make reference 10 few of them:
/. When Russia, Austria and Prussia, al the
points of half million Of bayonets, crushed the
liberties OF Poand-brave but hapless Poland
aud BY mere brute force partilcned out her terri
tory between them, the several anncr0tions were
made 10 The respective kingdoms, by virtue not OF
Treaties Nth Poland, but Of compacts caM each
Other.
| g. The memorable arrangement between Scot
land and England, which placed James vi. OF
Scotland upon the English throne, and constituted
| him James l. Of Great Britain, which dissolved
the Scottish Parliament si'ic d,c-and conferred
on Scotland's Peers and Commoners seats in Bri-
tain's Parliament. andsubjected both kingdoms 10
The jurisdiction of Common Executive and Le-
gislalurc-was neither in law, nor usage, nor par
lance, a treaty OF peace, not OF cesslon nor OF IL
mis-, nor any other kind Of hrafy-but by the
common accepation Of the world, COMPACT OF
UNION.
3. The important SETTLEMENT" whereby the
British crown was vested in the Guelph family,
and George l., as It's primogenive representative,
assembled the British throne, bringing Hanover as
as its appanage, though leaving her a King, was
also effected BY a COMPACT OF UNION, and not BY a
teotN.
]. so il was COMPACT or UNION, and not
treaty, which, in 1900, extingnshed every yes
tige Of Irish dependence-abrogated her parlia-
ment, exlinguished her nationality and brought
her whole people into subsection and subservien-
cy, 10 the municipal legislation OF The British Par
lament And how was this accomplished BY
the Elcen.ire iunc,onaries Of the two kingdoms,
think vel By 9rcaful No, no, sirs-it was ac-
complished by LEGIsLATroN-by the concurrent
acts Of the tico Parliamentary esiSat'ce pro-
posal of terms, and BY legislative acceptance OF
Them: and the very vote OF the Irish Parliament
which aitested her acceptance, abolished that
parliament sealed Ireland's fate, deducted her
as unit from the sum OF earth's sover-
eighties; and bloled her out from the mass
of Nations! Neither in the thing done, nor in
the mode OF doing it, was there any thing discern
ib!e, coming within the scope, function, or form
OF a TrcotV It was COMPACT OF UNION, both in
terms and in effect in form and in substance
This transaction differed very essentially from
that of 1882, between the same Kingdoms. Then
they TREATED with one another on the footing oil
mutual neutrality-suspicious. was the medi-
um of impartng 10 each other whatever was pro-
posed or acceded 10, rejected or wthdrawn-and
the Irish Parliament was left in charge vi all It's
municipal legislation. But let lreland's noble
Grattan, who performed patriots and glorious
part in both transactions, run The contrast be-
tween them in his own graphic terseness and an
| lthesis oil statement. Listen!
THAT Treaty" Speaking OF that OF 1882,
left Ireland independent Of England, and subjected
both the contracting nations 10 the law Of nations
which is above them both. TINS UNION annihi.
laes our independence, and imposes on us the
municipal law of one imperial Legislalure."-
Again: "TnE TREATY OF 1882 was founded or
the sense OF Parliament and people: THIS UNION
fever taking place. will be in opposition 10 both
To THAT TREATY there were in this House only
hro dissentent voices: to THIS Union, there are
enc hundred ami trcnyt' But we have exam
pies much nearer home.
5. The glorious Old Confederation Of the Re
evolutionary times-What was il, but compact o.
union? Ii was surely not Treaty, either in il.
form, terms or objects-lt was species OF ALI
antc-and, in fact, as in terms, confederation
and surely that must ever have been, while it last
ed, COMPACT OF UNION. This is equally true o.
that less formal COMPACT OF UNION, which brought
together, and KEEP, together, for The common pur
poses OF defence, resistance and security the ole
Continental Congress, which preceded, and lher
formed by compact, and in compact, the Confede
ration. Il was surely not the Executive authori
ties OF the several colonies, TO whom usage com
monty consigns the exercise Of the Tteaty.fune
tion who accomplished this. How could it be
| when they were professedly. and in truth, in the
interest and The pay of the British king-and re-
risted TO The ultermost all measures of redress
and all tendencies 10 revolution? Mott was
The Legislature representatives Of the people OF the
colonies-not Of The Kns-who delegated them
10 Philadelphia, 10 meet one another, enter into a
compact of union and who ratified lhat compact
an on II ode