Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-01-16

frcsldeDt, remained al MS post, Dul
urged and induced Mr., Madison and
other republicans, TO leave the halls of
Congress-go home to their respective
states-agitate The question among the
people, 60 into The State Legislatures,
and there concentrate public sentiment
and bring it TO bear upon these laws.
In a word, TO bring about such politi.
cal revolution as would sweep them
from the statute book.
Out of these and other kindred meas.
ures, grew the memorable contest of
1900, which ended in the elevation of
Mr.. Jefferson 10 the presidency, and
the repeal of those obnoxious laws
Mr.. Jefferson never sanctioned re-
sort TO any other remedy than those
known to the constitution, for what
he believed 10 be great grievance in,
ilcted upon The country,
The sages and patriots of the Vir,
ginia legislature, who in '9S declared
the alien and sedllion laws to be uncon.
slilu,ional, intended nothing more than
The expression Of an opinion, which
they were then seeking TO verify by the
means allowed by the constitution.
1t was fortunate for the fame Of
these distinguished patriots, that Mr..
Madison was alive in 1880, when null
LITIGATION was first advocated as a mode
OF resistance TO supposed uncons,itu
tional laws, and the Virginia resolutions
of '9S quoted as authority for such
position. He, who had drafted these
| resolutions, felt il due to his own fame,
, as well as of his compatriots on that
occasion, that their acts should not be
quoted as giving coun,enance to any
movement which might end in treason
against the government.
{ The letter of Mr.. Madison, written in
| 1890, TO the editor Of the North Amer.
I ican Review, is so full an exposition
of the object and intent of the resolu.
A. tions of '9S, that | cannot forbcar a
S quotation from it. He repuda,es the
e principles of nulli ica,ion, and sustain:
| these resolutions in the following ex
, tract: Between these different consli
, tuiional governments, the one operating
in all the states, the other operating
| separately in each, with the aggregate
E powers of government divided between
o them, it could not escape attention tha
controversies would arise concerning
, The boundaries of jurisdiction, and thai
, provision ought to be made for such
" occurrences. 4 political system Ma
c does not provide for a pedceoblc ana
=. authorat,ue termination Of occurring con
). trOuerSieS ,could not be more than IN,
8 ShadoD Of government, the object and
8 end of a real government being thc
O substitution of law and order, fol un
h certainty, confusion and violence.
The constitution has expressly de
!. clared: ls,. That the constitution anC
G the laws made in pursuance thereof
). and all treaties made under the author
ity Of the United States, shall be The
e supreme law Of the land: I'd. That tht
f judges of every State shall be boun,
,. thereby, anything in the constitution
# and laws of any state TO the conirar,
d notwithstanding: Sd. That the judicia
O power of the United States shall ez
q tend 10 all cases in law and equi,,
. arising under the constitution, the law
J.. of the United States, and treaties mad
n rnder the authority, &c.
e THE constitution is a compact; it
e te.t is to be expounded according L
y the provisions for expoundlng it, mai
o ing part ofthe compact; and none Q
e the parties can rightly rcnounce tn
IS expounding provision more than an
i other part.
le That the legislature of Virgin
y could not have INTENDED to sanctIo
N such doctrine, is to be inferred frou
d, the debates in the House Of Delegate
10 and from the address of the Two house
TO their constituents, on the subject Il
p. these resolutions. The tenor oflh dc
r. bates, which were ably conducted, an
Ii. are understood TO have been revise
i. for the press by most, if not all of tn
er speakers, discloscs no reference wha
" ever TO q constitutional right Of an il
e. dividual state 10 arrest by force, ii
n. operation Of law Of the U. States
VII Concert among the states for redre
n. against the alien and sedlIlOn laws, ;
d, acts of usurped power, was a leadr
'e. sentiment; and the attainment of Il
tn concert the immediate object of Il
ID. course adopted by the legislator
"a, which was that of inviting tho 9th
of states TO concur in declaring the &C
TO be unconstitutional, and 10 co opera
&C. by the necessary and proper measure
ed in maintaining unimpaired the aulhc
IN. tiles. rights and liberties reserved
n. the states respectively, and to the pc
of pie. That by the necessary and prop
"a. measures to be con currently and {
Sc. operdteirely taken toere meant r,edsur
IS known of the CONSTITUTION particuls