Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-11-30
THE cHART AND CONFESS.
From the Lexington ...valIey star.,,


The Virginia resolutions, prepared by Madi.
son and passed in 1913, upon the subject Of the
alien and sedition laws, constitute the ancient
landmarks of the Democratic party Their OBJ
Iect was to define the powers which had been
granted bv the States to the General Governs
ment-to protest against tusUrPatlon-and TO IN.
sist upon counDg is jurisdiction within the pre-.
sGfibed limits. II was the policy of the federal
party upon the prelext OF promoting the general
welfare to make that an absolute atid unlimited
ofernment, whiq as intended tosbe strictly
?ii1SIted in It's pow, TO strip the States OF the
DrerogatiVes of sovereignty, leaving to them, the
name only.' With this party we have no affinity
lis doctrines we abhof. They may be endors..
ed by high authority-they may have originated
with statesmen. conspicuous for their eminent
talents and public services, but they are not less
81 condemnation on this s.ccouut He
ifte g place in history, rests upon the
e. he author or advocate Of such
.I66i4a4 aihe public edium orhis nonp-
ese tot bis ePItaph.
.9 De s lien and sediUton laws, were the legiti-
mate results of the federal policy. They we're
despotic in their character and vested in the Pre-
sident legislative and Judicial powers They
empowered him to remove from the country,
aliens whom he might regard as dangerous TO
its peace or safety-to suppress the liberty OF
speech or the press, whenever, in his opinion, 1t
might be sedtious in its tendency. This fla
grant usurpaton of power and infringement OF
the Constitution, was the occasion Which called
forth the Virginia resolutions. They declare
that theselIaws were made in violation to the
Constitution ; that they were destitute OF obliga'
tory force; that the principles of construction,
in VIII ch they had their origin, were monarChI-
cal in thef tendency; and that it was the duty
of the States, sin case OF deliberate, PaPable
ard dangerous exercise OF powers not granted
hy the compact to arrest the progress of the
roV,il in IulifS IL
thorities, rights and liberties appertaining TO
them"
These resolutions were transmitted to the
other States for their concurrence, but met with
general opposition, and, in some cases, with de-
nunciation as reasonable aud intlammarOry.
Delaware regarded them as - unjustItiabe in
reference with the General Government and con-
stituted authorities of the United States and oI a
dangerous tendency"
Rhode Island declared that in(ractions of the
compact were TO be corrected by the Supreme
Court of the United States, and that for any State
Legislature to assume such authority, was vlo-
!atIon of the Constitution that the resolutions
were unwarrantable, and that the alien and sedi-
ton laws were constitutional and promotive of
the general welfare.
Massachusetts would not admit the right of
the State goverpments TO decide upon the con-
stiIutionalIty of the acts of the federal Govern
ment, and declared that the alien and sedtion
acts were not Only CohStltulLOhdI' UuL e"Peuleht
and necessary.
New York denounced the sentiments contain.
ed in the resolutions as perniCiOus and inflamma-
tory, and asserted that the acts Of the federal
Government were not open to the supervision OF q
the State Legislatures.
Connecticut gave her entire appreciation ofthe
alien and sedilIon acts, and refused to concur
with Virginia in the proposed objects.
New Hampshire and Vermont, likewise, aP.
proved of the9Iaws, and declared that their con-
stitutionality not proper subject for the de-
cision Of the State Legislatures.
Z Such was the opposition with which they met,
and yet they triumphed Jefferson the advocate
and Madison the author Of tlie solulons, were
prompted 10 tie Pfesidencys The alien and
sedition laws were swept from the statute book,
and are now regarded with the odium, which they
SO Justly mefff
We sub Join these resolutions, that our readers
may have an opportunity of giving to them the
careful consideration which they merit, and of
laying them by for future reference. The doc
trine of strict construction which they embOdy,
is cardinal principle of the Democratic faith.
AS it was n 1913, it is now the chart and compass
of the party. The necessity for fixing our atten-
ton constantly upon it, our guide, still exists.
The party which enacted the alien and seGitiOn
laws though rominalIy dead, is still alive, and
active in its attempts, TO cOnstrue and egslaie
for the general weltare,-tO usurp pUwers-and
upon the rights and jurisdiction of the
States.