The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-29

Grnr " 1II l1liIIs aIf6ifa
~. M NJ {sA.> .1vx.
TMnEsus1ygw1,nuAx R,sar o. Gsesamoa.-
Has : oenAs ~ 70 snesdD from TIE Union,
* h Q&h>e words. h II : constitufioAal right.
ThR n n important question whsn viewed Ia
rslatlpn n ~ sesesasibIs positiea likely 10 b
taken BY South Casotina-
We DO ma design II discuss it At this time,
but ~ >fmply propose 10 give high authority
in suppost Of the claim The power haaAlways
bssa commanded for in Virgins since the memoir
ab,s fssolu1ions Of 1888, ~ is clear from the
exposition of them by the celebrated report
drawn By Mr. MADISON. In defending the third
o. these resot1 1Ons, which ASSERTS the doctrine
Of State Interpolation, the committee cay "that
they have sca8nsd it not merely with y strict,
b&t witk severe eye, aud they feel confidence ia
peepoanciuG. that Ia it, just and fair construc-
ton, 1t y unsxcsptonably true in it, several po-
alt3ons, ~ we'll - CONSTITUTIONAL, and conclu-
sivs In IL interencee'' What were the positions
OF The third resolution! LIST. That the powers
Of the federal government were limited to the
plain sense Of the instructment constituting the
compact I'D. That in cane Of. = deliberate, palp-
able and dangerous infraction Of the compact,
The State has the right 10 interpose to arrest the
progress Of the evil, by maintaining within its
respective lints the authorities rights and liber-
ties appestaining TO il. "This inference" says
the report, IN constitutional and conclusive"
Mt. Jefferson maintained the same doctrines In
the famous resolution drafted by him, and adopt
ed by the legislature Of Kentucky, in 1899. Mr.
Alex. Hamilton, in one Of his papers In the
.FedesnEat,r admits that il The federal govern
meut should Cypress the States, the State gov
ssnanest would b. ready TO check it by virtue Of
their osvn inherent sovereign powers ut may
eaf6iy Be received a. an AXIOM in our political
systesn (asys Mr.. Hamilton,) that the State goo
srnnseni sci in all possible contingencies, afford
COMPLETE SECURITY against invasion Of the pub
lie liberty by the nal. onal authority Project Of
ssnypalion cannot be masked under pretences so
likaly to Escape the penetration Of select bodies
ofinen, a. Of the people vt large. The legisla-
ture will have better means of informaton-
they can discover the danger at distance and
posssssing all the organs Of CIVIL POWER, and
the confidence of the people, they can at once
adopt regular plan of opposition, in which they
can combine all the resources Of the community"
Nathaniel Macon, for thirty years member
OF the Senate of the United States FROM the
State of North Carolina, and of whom John
Randolph of this State said that he was the
purest and wisest man who had ever taken pant
u
expresses the following opinion: . There can
be no doubt that the United States are in de-
pIorable situation, and that the publication of
the opinion you desire, would be useless. 1t
has never been secret, and always stated to
those who wanted to know it. In the year 1924
the Constitution was buried in the Senate-the
senators who were then present will, it Is be-
heved, recollect the fact-and never afterwards
quoted by me while continued in the Senate
The opinions Of Gen. Washington, Mr.. Jeffer-
son, and Gov. Clinton, are known but not re-
spected. / have never believed that State
could nullify and remain in the Union, but haze
al,oays beliered that State might secede Ohen
she pleased, and this rigA L haze considered the
best guayd to public liberty and 10 public justice
that could be desired; and Il ought TO have pre-
vented uhat is no,c felt in the South-oppres
When confederacies begin to fight, liberty is
soon lost, and the government is soon changed.
A government of opinion, established by sove-
reign States, for special purposes, cannot be
maintained by force. The use of force makes
enemies, and enemies cannot live in peace under
such government"
These are the views deliberately expressed by
the patriots and sages of by-gone days-men
who made the science of our complex machinery
Of government their study, and two of whom as
sisted in the formation Of the present Constitu-
ton. Whethere secession will lead to civil war
between the general government and the Sc ed
ing State, rests entirely with the strongest
power There is no necessity for. it unless the
federal government shall chooae to consecrate its
usurpations by the blood of those it shall have
attempted to Cypress. The measure is not re-
sorted to by the retiring State with a view to
resort TO force. All she asks, is the privilege to
peaceably withdraw from league, the compact
of which has been violated, and which has be-
come to her grievance too intolersble to be
longer borne.
Tur OurrMAn ErsTrvAr-The great dinner