Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-08

The Athens Banuet has hunted up an ugly pas.
sage Tor the Secessonists, Gays the Florida Ser,i.
nell They found the right OF State to withdraw at
pleasure from the Federal Union upon her right to re
sumo the powers granted by her to the Federal Govern
nent, whenever in her judgment such resumption be-
comes necessary TO her safety or convenience. This
night OF resumption seine Of them las for instance Gov
Mcdonald sf Georgia) find in the Federal Consu.
tlon ITSELF and others find it among the reserved rights
and powers of the States; but MIR. Calhoun whom they
claim their great aposte iads it in neither but or
the contrary declares resumption to beitsef breach Of
tie federal compact, for which the resuming State
would be responsible. We quote from the Banners ar.
ticle:
Listen to the following passage between Mr. Riyes
OF Virginia and MIR. Calhoun oil South Carolina We
read you from Gales & Soatons Register OF the De.
bates in Congress, vol g. part pages 500 SOL il oc.
cured in the Senate OF the United States on the debats
upon the revenue collection bill on The I1Ih da1, f H.
bruary, in tn year of cur Lord 1888 and runs thus
MI. RIvEs. The honorable Senator from soutt
Caroiua, while admitting, ia one part of his ra.
marks, that the people of the States had delegated
portion OF their sovereignty 10 be exercised through the
General Government said that to delegate however
was not 10 part with; that, between principal ant
agent, the delegated power might at any time be re.
suned and that, consequently the people of the
raj States might at their pleasure, resume the powers
they had granted to the General Government Now
sir while do not deny the truth of the general propo
sIton, that as between principal and agent the princi
pal may at any time resume the powers which he has
granted do utterly deny the application of il which
In the irSt place. this s not merely question between
the people of South Carolina and the common agent Of
the States, the General Government; but it is a ques-
ton deeply Involving the rights and interests of third
parties, TO witt the other States. But if it were purely
question between South Carolina and the General
Government, South Carolina alone could not resume
the powers Whch had been granted TO the latter. She
Is out one OUT OF tWenty-tour principals who Jointly
granted these powers and she can no more so far as
constitutional right concerned, by her single act re-
sumo me powers thus jointly granted, than an indiv
oual eitZen OF state can resume the powers iontv
granted by himself and the rest of society to their
government. Gentlemen seem to confound The relation
IN wnch the people OF State stand to the Government
ol e ohleo otales with that In which they stand to
tncir own oiate Government. The people of Souh
Carolina may at any time resume or modify the now.
ers they have granted to their State Government he
cause ia relation to that they form the entire deIans+n
body; but IN relation 10 the Government of III, I1;ts
STATES they are but twenty fourth mart If Tho 49,
eating body, hreeourhs which are bv he
terms OF The compact, required to make any aIerstio
in the Government.
Mr.. Calhoun here said that he had been misapnre-
hended by the Senator from Virginia. that he had No,
said that the people Of State might resume the powers
which had been granted to the General Government,
but That they mac right to Judge OF the extent OF those
powers, and whether they had been exceeded
MIR. Rlves continued. 1t was more probable that
the honorable Senator, amid the diversity of new doc
trncs which have been broached, had forgotten all
certainly conended that the peopleo State might re-
sumo the power which they had granted the General
Government; ami in this sustained not only bv
my own recollection but by the printed report of his
remarks, which seems to have been very carefully pre
pared, and presume under his own eye
Mr.: Calhoun again explained He had commended
that it State should resume the powers granted 10
the General Government, such resumption would onIv
be breach OF compact, for which tine State as com
munity would be responsible and its citizens ind-
vidualy."
Never was argument more conclusive than that OF
Mr.. Rves. Ii pressed Mr. Calhoun 80 hard that he had
TO spnng from his seat and deny that he maintained
the position ascrbed to him. "He had not said that
the people OF State might resume the powers which
they had granted to The General Government but that
they had right to judge OF the extent of those powers
and whether they had been exceeded"
Upon being held by Mr.. Rives to the fact of having
explained by saying: "He had commended that if a
State should resume the powers granted to the Gene.
raj Government, such resumption would only be a
breach OF compact for which the State as a commun
ty, would be responsible, and not not its citizens ndi
vdualy"