Democratic banner., 1851-05-14
IIll<lAHS9

Il InrpIHclA eansos icfsSe shs
pleasure Of fiasigg ghs following isssss- q
this distinguished and patriotic statssnsa
IbsforsI our ssaassss 8 We eosaislIy 6PProvs
every word III, All opr nssionst difissi-
ties and cslsmities hsys,hsd their origin IN
the tendency Of federal. authority 70 90
crOach upon the righss of the States, and
to assume Authority to lgisIate upon local
and sectional effects. Z We have been cos-
vincsd for years that there was no other
effective remedy for the evils with which
the country il afflicted, than atstars 10
those pure doctripes OF rspublicsaisA Rn-
braced in the preamble and resolai
ithe legislatures Of Kentpcky aad
The first drawn, by Mr.. Jsfsrson q
second bJ Mr. Madisaa.. Thsy vsFs e.
deed, men Who could sas ,fae shssd It fhe
generation in which they'lived. Tksyfsss-
sac, ss with . prdplak's tisioa, whstisasv
occuzins, shd they labsrsa With sssl md
Idsvotsdness above ali Psiissss svsst <hs
ssis, b3 a9sstss
system Of rules Of constitutional cUnstfue--
tion as would serve as an infalibIs guide.
But to the letter of Mr. BucHAEAN:-Times.
WHEArLAKD, April 10, 1851.
My DEAR SIRs: have received your
kind letter of the I'd inst, with the resolu-
tions adopted BY thee Observation-Disclosures
Association of Virginia, inviting me to sd-
dress the Association at such time as may
suit nv convenience, and to counsel with
them sin regard to the best means to bs
adopted in the present alarming crisis, for
the maintenance of the constitution snd
the Union of the States in their original
purity"
/ should esteem il both high honor and
a great privilege, to comply with this re-
quest, and therefore regret to say, that en-
Igagements, which need not specify, ,rsnder
lit impossible for me 10 visit Richmond dur.
ling the present or probably the next month.
The Association do me no more than
Justice, when attributing to me Q strong
desire Hfor the maintenance of the consti-
tuition and the Union of the States in their
loriginal purity" Whilst few men IN this
country would venture to avow different
sentiment, yet the question still remains,
by what means can this all-important pur-
pose be best accomplished? Ifeelno hesi-
tation in answering, by return to the old
Virginia platform Of States rights, presen-
tied By the resolutions Of 1898 and '99, and
Mr.. Madison's report The powers con-
ferred By the constitution upon the general
government must be construed strictly, and
Congress must abstain from. the exercise
of all doubtful powers. But, tits said, these
are mere unmeaning abstractions-snds 80
they are, unless honestly carried into prac-
Itice. Like the Christians faith, however,
when it is genuine, good works will inevi-
ltably flow from sincere belief in such .
strict construction of the constitution
We're this old republican principle adopted
in practice, we should no longer witness
warrantable and dangerous attenps in Con-
gress to interfere with the Institutions Of
domestic slavery, which belong exclusively
to the States where it exists-there wonld
be no efforts to establish high protective
tarifs-ths public money would not be
squandered upon grand system of internal
Improvements, general in name, but par
tial in its very nature, and corruptlng IN its
tendency, both to the government and to
the people; and We would retrench our pres
ent extravsgant expenditures, pay our ne
ltional debt, and return to the practice Of .
wise economy, so essential both to public
and private prosperity. Were permitted
to address your Assocition, these are the
counsels should give and some of the topics
il should, discuss, as the best means ''for
the maintenance both of the Constitution
and the Union of the States, in their origin
al purity" and for the perpetuation OF our
great and glorious confederacy.
With sentimentes ofhigh regard, i remain,
Yours, very respectfully,
/ JAMES BUCHANAN.
To G. Scott, C. s. Morgan, and Thos.
E. Jeter, Committee Of the Central Southern
Rights Association of Virginia. e,
ALMOST AN ELopEMENr.-A man living