The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-12

The Alien and Ssdaion Lalos-- Virginia ana
Kentucky Resolutions StHe Judgment ana
Acfion- Mcdaniel Maco,l-- Secession Force

mol 10 be used against Stale.
la M former number endeayor to show,
that the States 10 the ratification of the articles
of confederation and in the adoption of the
Constitution of the United States, never intended
to abandon their righfs or 10 destroy their So
pereignfy Several OF the States, in ratifying
the Constitution, asserted the right 'to RESUME
when necessary for their security and protec-
ton, the "powers they had delegated TO The
general government"
In illustration of these views it is important
to refer to the opinions and principles OF the
distinguished republicans who contributed to
the formation of the Constitution, and whose
subsequent history proves that they were always
prepared to defend the great conservative doc
trines of Stale rights and State remedies
The passage of the Alien and Ssditioa Laos
by large majorties in Congress, alarmed the
Republican Party, and forced them to look for
protection and security not to the federal gov
eminent, the author Of these aggressive meas
ures, but to the sovereign and independ en-
States OF this confederacy Virginia, under the
guidance and direction of Jefferson and Madison
and few other kindred spirits, was prepared to
take the lead in resisting the enforcement OF
these obnoxious measures. Accordingly in
1893, she passed her celebrated resolutions
The third one, is as follows:
"That the assembly doth explicitly and
peremptorily declare that ii views the powers Of
the federal government, resulting from the
compact to which the States are parties, rs
limited by the plain sense and intention of the
instrument constituting that compact-as no
| further valid than they are authorized by the
grants enumerated in that compact; and that, in
case of deliberate, palpable, and dangerous
exercise Of other powers, not granted by the
said compact, the States ,oho are parties thereto,
hare The right and are in duty bound, TO intsrposs,
for arresting the progress euiI, and for maintain
ing, wiin their respective limits, the authorities,
rights and liberties appertaining 10 them"
In these resolutions, the nature OF our gov
eminent and the rights of the States, are fully
and ably explained If the government regard
less of the rights of the States. attempt to
exercise powers not granted to it by the Consti-
tuition, it is declared the duty of the States 10
inerpose, for arresting the progress of the evil,
and for maintaining their authorities, rights, and
liberties -These resolutions were sent by Vir-
GINA to her sister States for their consideration
and approval The States Of Massachusetts, N.
York, Connecticut. Vermont, Delaware, Rhode
Island, and New Hampshire, denied the correct
ness of the principles and doctrines involved n
the resolutions, and unequivocay condemned
them as being subversve Of the powers of the
government.-Th did believe, the STATES could
interpose their authority to arrest the progress
of national legislation. Vermont said, sit be-
longs not to State legislatures to decide on the
constitutionality of laws made by the federal
government"
Rhode Island declared the resolutions of Viz
ginia plain nfraction of the Constitution, and
that the legislature did not feel tn mselves au-
thorzed to consider and decide on The constitu-
tionality of the alien ard sediton laws"
Massachusetts denied the power Of the legis-
lature Of Virginia, to denounce the adniuistra-
tion"--and the great State of New York "could
not forbear to express the anxiety and regret
with which they observed the inhammatory and
pernicous sentiments and doctrines which are
contained in these resolutions of Virginia and
observation-disclosures and doctrines no less re-
pugnant to the Constitution of the United
States, and the principles of their Union than
destructive to the federal government and nm
just to those whom the people have elected to
administer it.
The federal and republican parties were at is
sue. The latter then in fearful minority.
Mr.. Jefferson saw the danger to which the States
were exposed. The Legislature of Kentucky,
under his counsels, responded fayorably to the
resolutions Of Virginia, and vindicated them in
a series Of resolutions, that placed the general
| government and the several States in their true
| spheres, Wherein they could respectively and
4
iain'o"lousiy 'noVe wltnou' lie ua"ser VI COLL
SION one % rne 'esoiu'on7 10 as io''o"s'
nes1loea' ma. 'ne seSerai osaies cohpos,
ng inc ohilee H'a'es VI ninefiea, are not united
gu 'ne pllnolP'es VI uu'''',''eu suouiiss'oh 70
'he,r guherai RoVcrnnen'Ipu .na' oy compact
unugr ..e sS.e anu 9''e VI Sohslliu.,oi ior
.ue ohileu o'a'es anu Vi amendments thereto
sney 1onsusu'eu gene,ai government iol
SPco'ai purPo'es' ueiega.eu " 'ha' government
oertiin uenhi.e powers deserving eac' o.a'e 10
''seil tle ies'uunry mass oi r'sht 10 'neir own
Observation-Disclosures anu 'ua' Whenever 'ne genera
government ASSUMES uhue'eSa'ed powers It's
ac's are unautho''a.iVe' voia ana OF no Iorce
Una. 70 ,nis conipac' each o'ate acceueu rs
o|'ie ana Us an in'e9rai par'y--ihat fa'S gopeTi
H'ent' cfeatea oy hiS c2mPact 'oas mol made me
eTcf"Si0e or maj JuaSe me ertem Of ne
po'0erS deIsg"ea 10 nSeg, since that would
nave maze us olscrsuoA' ana not the Constitu-
uoh' ,ne measure OF us poWefs-out thai' as ID
all Olner cases Oh compact among parties having