Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-21
From the National Intelgencer Of February 16.
FURTHER REFLECTIONS CONNECTED
WITH THE EVIL OLE THE DAY

FURTHER REFLECTIONS CONNECTED
WITH THE EVIL OF THE DAY.
One Of our most esteemed contemporaries (the Rich
mond Times admitting apparently that Mr.. Madson's
own exposition OF the Virginia Resolutions OF 1898 is
conclusive against their being interpreted to sustain the
exploded theory of Qualification" seems yet to think
they imply sanction to the principal of conbina-
ton among several States to effect purpose analogous
to Notification
"Mr. Madison's explanation Tsays "the Tines was
plainly designed to show that the Legislature OF Virgin
ia, in 1883, did not declare principles which could
be appealed to as authority for the doctrine of Nuf-
cation by single State that is that one State may
refuse to conform to law of the General Government
and yet remain in the Union. What he says of con-
cert among the States deemng themselves aggrieved
seems to to justify very different construction from
that Of the National lntelligencer."
The Times, not concurrlng in the views Of those all
around it who are dreaming Of Dsunon and even dis
tncty revealing the purpose, evidently deceves tselfnto
belief that a Southern Combination-a concert
among the States deeming themselves appreiyed" ex-
ertng certain authority independent of the General
Goyernment-may yet have legal existence, Should
this be the conclusion which Richmond friend de-
sreS to express tits quite different from that which our
examination OF the question leads u.s.
Notification" detunct in fact, and even its theory
longer finds upholders the proposition that a State
cannot at the same time be in and out of the Union be-
ing too plain to be disputed at the present day. though
it has heretofore had defenders. Practical Nullica-
ton-that is, action by which State, with deliberate
INTENT esss the execution of the laws of the United
Staesit successful, would certainly be an assertion OF
the supremacy OF the State Government over that OF
the Union.
"Such' says very high authority on Constitutional
law, "are the inevitable results of this doctrine Be-
ginning with the original error that the Constitution of
the United States nothing but compact between So
yeregn States; asserting, in the next STEP that each
State has right to be its own sole Judge of the extent
OF its own obligations, and, consequently of the consti-
nationality OF laws OF Congress and in the next that
may oppose whatever sees fit to declare unconstitu-
tional and that it decides for itself on the mode and
OF redress the tba
conclusion that what State dssents from NAV nuity;
what opposes 1t may oppose by force what decides
Tor itself 1t may execute by its own power and that, in
short 1t Is itself supreme the legislation of Congress-
and supreme the decisions OF the national udcature
supreme over the constitution of the country supreme
over the supreme law OF the land However seeks to
protect Itself against these plain nfeences by saving that
an unconstitutional law law and that only oppo
SEES such laws as are UNCONSTITUTIONAL yet this does not
IN the slightest degree vary the result since it insists on
deciding this question Tor ITSELF and, in opposition to
reason and argument IN opposition to practice and ex-
perence, IN opposition to the judgment Of others hav
ing an equal right to judge, it says only Such is nv
opinion, ana my opinion shall be my law, and | will
support it by my own strong hand [ denounce the
law; | declare it unconstitutional; that is enough: if
shall not be executed Men in arms ready to resist
its execution An attempt to enforce it shall cover the
land with blood Elsewhere, it may be binding, but
here it is trampled under foot'
Nullltlcatlon in action by single State is there
tore, selextrusion from the Union in other words Re-
Volution.
Ii Sllsle hottlle CdtllOl WlHufaW ISelf from the
Union tor any purpose of its own, fortiori, several
States cannot The argument that is conclusive against
the right OF one State to secede would be conclusive
against the right OF secession OF each one of several
States that's, supposing the seven States at
tempting to secede from the Union, the argument
against Modification by single State would be equally
conclusive against each OF them and seven times
elusive against the aggregate proceeding.
Modification by wholesale, therefore, is vet less de-
feasible than Notification in detail
1t Is great mistake which some of friends of the
South have fallen into Gf the "Iimes' has not that
Southern Confederation, proposing active resistance as
remedy Tor supposed apprehended unconstitutional
action by the General Government can be in its nature
other than a revolutionary proceeding. For any real
aggressons the ghts of the South we have area-
dy heretofore shown, the Judiciary affords an ample
constitutional remedy; remedy devised by the South
ern Delegates themselves who framed the Constitution
The very first resolution of that Convention was that
Supreme Government should be established and among
the next that the National Judiciary should have
Jurisdiction of concerning The general haronu
These outlines orelod the prominent features great
charter granted by the people, the general convention
and which is the power of the people alone in con-
venton assembled States and Congress the mode
prescribed by the Constitutional alter revoke The
statesmen OF 1887 seem, with that wisdom ofexperence
which we have late ascrbed to them, have guarded
every avenue by which, whether by foreign enemy or
by domestic dsaHechon, the integrity supremacy of
the Union could be assaed. Besides establishing Ju-
dical Tribunal TO decide all arising under it. and
all such may arise between the United States and
any one State the Constitution also toreseeng the pos
sble case OF attempts by more than State, or by
several States confederate against the General Gov
ernment declares that No State shall enter into ana
Treaty OF alliance OR CONFEDERATION ,; and further
that No State shall, without the consent of Congress-
enter ant0ANY AGREEMENT OR COMPACT WITH ANY OTHER
STATE"
A CONFEDERATION, therefore, among several States
for any purpose conflicting with the Constitution or
Laws of the United States is forbidden terms by that
instrument itself.
Southern Confederation, consequently, under any
form of organization, exercising any power conflicting
with the power and authority the Union, would if
effective be simply dissolution Of the Union so far as
those States were concerned nothing more, and moth
ing less The right of any State, Of several States,
thus to make against the parental authority
right which, as law OF Nature, must be conceded
But those who begin it are required by an equally inn
peratve law to be able to show of such necessity
renders revolt nevtabe and they must be prepared
also to abide all the consequences of such a conflict.
The proposed Southern Convention might not lead
any attempt to establish such Confederation. In
the estimation of many who ready to embark in this
Southern Convention scheme we do not doubt that con-
Sulaton with each other their supposed grievances
resort to moral and lawful remedes-such, for exam
pie, as corporation towards eflectng certain objects
through the ballot-box-are alone intended But in
different quarters the purpose OF Disunion is freely init
mated rumor is in circulation, indeed that frame
of Government for Southern Contederacy is alrea-
dy prepared by somebody other, to be submitted to
the Southern Convention, at its meeting, with the ex-
pectation of carrying it by coup de main. We have
ourselves been reminded by correspondent in direct
reference this rumor, that the late French Revolution
but the acOrk Of hour the train having been so
carefully laid that the explosion took place the moment
the match applied We mention these things not
beheUang the half OF what says but as being
mites engaging in this matter TO look before they leap
into the gulf, at the bottom OF which the Almighty
Ruler of Heaven and Earth only knows aohat they
would find.
..-'n.ss.sssuass..ssn<s~a@-s.nA
LATE FROM MEXICO
ANARCHY IN THE STATE OF cAMATrTIpAe