The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-09

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views were uttered Possessing mind at one ,
strong, keen, and discriminating; a spirit daring
and resolule, he was well fitted to begin such a
contest, and to bear its chief brunt. Beside his
influence and efforts as politician, he was an
able lawyer, and one OF the first scientific and
practical farmers in Virginia. He wrote well,
/ both no politics aud agriculture. Clear and con
else, yet containing a spice Of wit and dash of
sarcasm that rendered him an agreeable pen
man.
His work on agriculture, called "faylor's Ar
ator" is the first work on the subject ever writ
ten in Virginia, and one Of the first in the United
States. SO well written, and 80 practical has it
been considered that il is a matter of regret that
he did not divert his mind sufficiently from pol
itics, after the passage of these resolutions, to
have written out more fully his opinions and
practices in agriculture. The work is racy
mixture of agricultural experiments and modes
Of procedure, with defence of the institution
Of slavery in answer to the assault on it in
Jeflerson's Notes; amusing comp laints of the
poor system of farming genera lily pursued, and
sarcastic political dissertations. He defended
the resolutions, and proved the laws to be un-
constitutional. Other able men were on the
same side and spoke with great effect in favor
of resolutions condemning such obnoxious
laws. Wilson Cary Nicholas, William b. Giles,
Mr. Mercer and Dir. Daniel were amoug these
men whose reputation is well known in Viz
ginia for sound judgment and firm integrity, as
well as for the power of speech, that enabled
them to defend with the tongue whatever their
hearts or heads might dictate. William Pope
and James Barbour were among the most ard.
ent advocates ofthe resolutions; the first man
Of wit and humor, aud so imhued with it that he
could not speak even on u subject that interest
ed him as this one did, without giving full scope
to his peculiar faculty. Although the youngest
man in the House, James Barbour was one of
the foremost in denouncing the laws, and his
speech was considered the most effective that
was delivered.
The three most able opposers of the resolu.
lions were George Keith Taylor, the brother.in.
law and friend of Marshall, General Lee and
Edmund Brooke. TO the first we owe our
penientiary system, and many Other improve
ments in our criminal code; he was the most
thoroughly informed man in the House on
questions Of Law; an acute, profound, and elo-
quent lawyer and politician. He defended the
laws as necessary and proper under the state Of
affairs then existing; asserting that Congress
had the right to punish offences against the
law of nations, and to ensure domestic tran
guilty, by preventing foreigners from in'erler
inc with our affairs of State and that this the
alien law provided for; that the common law
did not punish sufficiently the licentiousness Of
the press, and that to prevent false and scanda
lous libels from being issued was not to abrdge
its freedom; and this, the sediton law pre-
vented. General Lee, Edmund Brooke, and
Others, men of great reputation for high toned
character and ability, followed in similar strain
The resolutions passed, were transmitted to
the States composing the Union, and excited
= Ill i
they went. In the ensuing session a great dis
play of talent was looked for, as Patrick Henry
had left his retreat, being elected to the egsla
ture, ard intended to advocate repeal of the
resolutions Me friends and opponents of the
laws were very active, and the best men of both
parties were elected to the house; Madison, the
author of the resolutions, was among them
Patrick Henry died; what his influence would
have been, If is impossible TO say had he entered
lhe Legislature we should have seen another bat
tie of the giants; had he been overmatched and
overcome by his numerous and able opponents
he would have fallen Sampson-like, dragging
down his enemies with him. Richmond vas
again hed with crowd anxious TO see and hear;
the resolutions had caused men to think on the
powers OF the federal government, and the pub
lie mind was stirred up. Kentucky was the only
State that responded to the resolutions, accept
ing them; every other one had either passed
them by, or Condemned them These replies
called forth the celebrated report of Madison,
explaining and illustrating these resolutions. 1t
settled the Question in the minds Of most men;
and gave to our people the first clear and we'll
understood character of the Constitution. The
opinions thus expressed and explained, serve as
standard by which to measure the powers of
the Constitution, and will ever be regarded as
the most useful and lasting emanation from the
mind and pen of Madison
Richmond has then the honor that within it
the first organized system of resistance was pro-
posed; again, that in it the federal Constitution
was adopted, af' er strict trial and thorough ex-
animation; and now again she has the honor al
most alone, and in the face of opposition enough
to have shaken less determined people, of
having shown how that Constitution IS to be
| explained and carried out.