The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-08
To the Voters Of the Ninth congressional
District Of Virginia.


Composed Of the Counties Of Loudoun, Fauquier,
Rappahannock, Culpeper, Stafford, Prince
William, and County and City Of Alexandria
FELLOW CIrzENs:- Solicited, as have been,
by many Of you, to become candidate to re-
present this district in the next Congress of the
United States, take this method of communi-
eating my views to you, upon the questions now
agitating the public mind. The late day at
which come before yon, will necessarily pre-
vent me- from mingling so freely with you as
would desire. l., therefore, ask that you will
give to my opinions careful and serious consid
GRAFTON, and should they commend me to your
support, am sure it viii be as freely given as it
will be gratefully received.
have learned my political principles in the
old Virginia school, The doctrines by which
stand. are the doctrines expounded by Virginia
statesmen, and maintained by the people of Vir-
ginia in the first great collision between federal
power and the rights of the States in l79S--
Those principles are as valuable and "a dear to
the patriot, at the present moment, as at any
epoch in our history. It is to State sovereignty
and to State power that the slaveholding minor
ity in the confederacy can alone look for safety
in the last resort, should intolerable aggressions
and usurpations ever be attempted by the nom
slaveholding majority. When but short time
ago, the anti-slayery storm ragged highest, and
when the patriotic passions and energies of the
Southern heart were gathering for the conflict,
bothemy competitors pointed yon to the arm O.
the State as your only protection. They both
approved the Virginia resolutions. These reso-
lutions did not express the mere opinions of
certain collection Of citizens OF the United
States, as to what would be intolerable oppres.
sions, but announced in authoritative terms the
sentiments of Virginia, and foretold what would
be the course of the State of Virginia, in an
event then regarded as not improbable. The
storm no longer lowers so fiercely over u.s.
Shall we therefore pull down the roof beneath
which we then sought shelter? We are now
assaed by an open array Shall we therefore
throw down our Notifications and destroy our
armor?
No, fellow citizens, let us religiously preserve
those safe guards for our liberties established by
our wise forefathers. and the benefits of which
we have 81 recently experienced. Demolish
State sovereignty, and establish consolidated
government in this confederacy, and the rights
and the liberties Of the South would be dissi
pated like mist before the morning sun. feel.
therefore, that in endeavoring to maintain before
the people of this district the principles of the
old State rights party, am serving the best in
terests of my country.
The Constitution of the United States is a
compact between sovereign States. 1t is bind
ing upon all, 80 long as observed by all. The
government of the United States can only exer
else the powers delegated to It. If it exercises
Others the compact is violated, and the people Of
the States subjected to unauthorized power
A violated compact is not binding upon the in
iured party, and State Is not obliged to submit
to the exercise of powers which 1t never dele
P.l 3 Il. - Il 4 z.
gone-if the injured party choose to avail him
self of the right to declare it void. II is one Of
the attributes Of sovereign State to decide for
itself whether the compacts into which it has
entered have been observed or violated. This
power having been nowhere delegated, t is re-
served to each State.
In case, therefore, of deliberate palpable,
and dangerous exercise of powers not granted
by the federal compact, each State has the right,
and is in duty bound, to interpose for the pur-
pose of arresting the evil, and maintaining in
violate the rights and liberties Of her own
people.
do not regard it as expedient, in view Of
past grievances, for any Southern State seper-
ately, or for all together, could concert be OBJ
tained) to secede from the Union. While will
point to no special grievance as rendering such
step expedient, yet, in my opinion, we ought
firmly to maintain that every State has the I'M
questionable right TO resort to any measure, by
secession or otherwise, TO preserve and defend
its constitutional rights. Should any State, in
view of her past grieranc $, separately secede
from the Union, could not consent to the
coercion Of such State, by the arm Of the federal
government
As friend Of the Union, and the peace Of
the country, | would oppose every attempt on
the part Of the federal government to restrain
an unwilling State by force. Twill not attempt
to depict the consequences that are to be
brought upon us; de.ire to throw the re.
sponsibiity from my shoulders.
My object shall b. the happiness OF the peo.
pie my means, economy, liberty and peace
my guide, the Constitution.
i EnNARn EREEMAM