Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-02-22

are sworn, when We take our seats here ~ snr
port the constitution Of the United Siates. and
the constitution Of Virginia, and the peoo.e
require the oath to support bob, before We enter
II upon the discharge Of our duties Thee
Il constitutions are their constitutions and NOT fe
sovereign will Of this or any legislature. Thev
framed and adopted these forms Of goyernmeu, b,
| contention, and in convention and " them alone
can they be dissolved Or anuihilaied. Where.
then, is authority, the necessity, for usurp-
| ing the thuRders Of popular sovereignty, and
welding them with guardian and paironizing
care Of such = people No, sir, as long as re-
cognize the principle ~ popular Sovereignty, the
eternal distinctions bewecn free and liiniied 20;
! yernments aud despotisnls, and between the v n
and Judgment Of The whole people, and that Of the
se5constituied fsie, will stand uphere and boldly
tell you that this Legislature has power 10 over
throw any form oil government established by the
/ people. Where 10 OUR commission, where is our
authority, TO pull down what they have built up,
4 to pave the way for il, or to involve them in the
horrors OF civilwar? The people, and the people
alone, are to judge in matters Of such magnitude,
and not their servants, elected for such purpose.
/ look to the constitutions Of the U. States and of
Virgna-eqaally the sacred instruments Of the
| people and their proRery-as the written instruc-
lions and charts Of all my powers to dci Tor the
people. ! will look TO no other sources, and re-
cognize none.
The member from Spottsylvania, who has been
well led the loster.father Of these resolutions,
/ and whose fame Is 10 flow with them TO enYable
! Immortality has relied uIon authority for our ac-
| lion, that am unwilling 10 swear by or stand by
lie has introduced the speeches, or referred rather
to the DEGREES, ordinances, and bulls OF the very
| Pope Of Modification, Mr. John c. Calhoun. In
deed, for aught know, the resolutions may come
4 fresh from tie vatican. They originated with
1 md hooK nfrn
into this house by the gentleman himself, most
promising neophyte Of that sublime faith. lhaye
no faith in the founder of the sect, any of it's
doctrines. lie got his first followers into very
ugly scrape, and himself too. Old Hickory-the
| great Constitutional expounder, think, made
| some very ominous threats. Well, sir, Harry
Clay came in very good time TO the rescue. But,
| Harry Clay is not in the Senate now !! These
nulliiying nostrums, Mr.. Speaker, will not 90
down with me, aud could wish not with this
houseeiiIer. ! like snuff very well, as my friend
there Col. Ward knows BY experience; for often
! take a pinch from his box But, sir, / don't
| choose TO take pinch from Mr.. Calhouns box,
! nor to sneeze" when he takes one, though il is
said the whole State Of South Carolina does
"sneeze" on those important occasions.
The gentleman frcm Spottsylyaua has relied
upon other authority to justify these nuliiiy
| ing esplutons-persnasiye aulbority-that snits
me no better. lie read letter, a sort Of power
of attorney, from pious old gentleman and
member OF the Church loo. who Is willing 10 ego
it blind" and TO commit himself body and soul 10
any, the most ultra resolutions this Legislature
may please to pass. The old gentleman is very
fierce, sir. lie seems to be ready for any thing.
No, Mr.. Speaker, after all, may do him injustice.
| These reselutions--these solemn resolutions,
have heretofore been very harmless things, mere
badders Of wind, that boys blow up and burst 10
aChristmas lroiie, Making good deal Of noise.
TO be sure, but, still only sound and Jury signi-
4 flying nothing" He regards The whole farce as
mere hoax, am surc-the letting of a litte>wind,
which the darned Yankees will take for thunder
| He did not mean 10 bargain for this third resolu.
| tion, the summons of the Governor am almost
certain. But, sir, be this il may, the old gen.
| Ilemans representative has taken it all in sober
earnest. He has free commission and power
of attorney now, 10 carry che joke just as far as
| he peases. Indeed he seemed to be quite inspired
with his aflatus from the sanctuary-this pous
| effusion from the member ofthe Church. He be-
came, forthwith, buoyant with the gas, and ready
| for balloon ascension into the highest regions
| Of Modification. He mounts and scars, and rises
at once to the very climax Of oraiory ought 10
| have said the very crisis OF oratory-that Is the
word Of the msgnus Apollo-and his :. eye in a
fine pbrensy rolling" be Numbered forth the by
pothecations, upon which he was ready TO dissolve
|
! which he was ready to dissolve this Union. And
to make the prvnnBciamenio more emphatic, aud
to round or the sentence suppose, he borrowed
/ the memorable words oil a very eqnisocal charac-
ter and patriot. the celebrated Wilkes, this be
treason, make the most oil it,
Now, sir, i will give little advice TO this, have
no doubt, very excellent member of the church.
In The first place, to administer his gas in smaller
doses. 10 The next, TO put no trust in Princes"
and not too much in legislative bodies ;and to re-
member that the price Of liberty Is eternal vigil
lance on the part OF the governed" will again
advise him to compare the spirit Of his epistle TO
his young and talented representative, with the
spirit and teachings Of his bible; for he seems 10
i me to have mere OF the church militant" in him
than the church christian. ] think he will find
no warrant in that vast volume of eternal wisdom,
for auy haste in the overthrow Of constitutional
government He will find throughout, inculca-
ted, spirit Of moderation, iorbearaDce, peace,
harmony, and g obedience to the powers that be. :"
willTliil add, as case In point, u he wishes to
be a sAie adviser OF the State in emergencies and
danger. that Il win be well for him oturn TO the
IAN chapter Of Kings, and learn in the fate Of
Rehoboam, the efiect Of rash counsels, and at the
same time, The safer course Of listening 10 the
calm counsels Of the old men Of The land. lido
+ not admit this letter as proof Of the temper and
Shirt Of the people, and Of their readiness for re-
yolution. and the overthrow Of this priceless
Union. / loo can read a letter, Mr. Speaker, and
will do 90, as an Offset TO the one read By the
member from SpottsyIsania. cannot cay that
the author is member Of The church, as the gen.
tIeman did Of his correspondent. But, will say,
that as an upright and true man, his example l.
one that many Of the members Of church might
: study and initiate TO advantage. viii say iur-
Their, that be has heard bullets whistle in the ser.
vice Of his country, and from the guns Of her enc
mics, however reluctant be may be to hear them
u In civic strife That be has been honored BY the
highest trusts IN the gift Of the people, and thai
Cor the moral weight Of his character, both head
and heart, and bis venerable years and expe
rie:.ce, be ranks with the frst Of The sons and
ssses Of bis native State The letter y private
and was written e early a. The elh instant, ba
win take The responsibility, and must hope BIZ
indulgence for reading an extract.
He writes. II zee Is usual, The Assembly i
about to engage IN making resolutions sPon iede
!. ralrelaiions. lite stated that Mr.. ScoI inteud
! Introducing strong resolutions upon the latI
/ movement in Congress 10 abolish slavery 10 TIL
1 district He viii have no difficulty IN passing
! them throngh, provided they Be violent enough
great majority 81 your members will be anlbi
lio1s 10 know how nlira they are On that SUBJECT
4 A single fslse step On this exciting subject ma
ruin - i Is always much easier 70 DO RICH
Al first. than to extreate ourselves from an error
! frno one Likes % asknouledee that be has sinpel
1 II We must threaten. i Is best 70 threaten les
Z dian W attend 70 execuie- i seems 70 me tia
4 uo1I1 r1flsf gre - he unis6 tl,1n % give
/, sI4leIF n lhDten nI,es sQdare. Nat 90 Uit1 n.
4 Ard ntal prnieni sla1ehilicf n The South. uoal
{. think o. reuoVinr IiH slaves eilb1r q New Mex
Z 60 o. California 4 Such Is the character Of II
Z population. that he coa|d Dot hold .hem : sinel