The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-13

crate cost but ii is not probable that any others
than those now contemplated will be needed
for several years.
FEDERAL POLITICS.
The following lines are all that Governor
Chase devotes to Federal politics. His exam
pie is worthy of limitations
Ny opinions, fully communicated to you al
your last session, IN respect to the Just claims
of this State upon the Federal Government, as
well as in respect to the proper interest OF
Ohio in the due administration of that Govern
mept, and. especially at this time, in its action
upon the momentous question of Slavery, re
main unchanged, and need not be restated.
VIRGINIA RESOLUTIONS OF I79S,
ProROuhciag tie Alien and .SeditiOR Ld,cS I'd
be Unconstitutional, and Defining tie Rights
cf'bte Safes.-Draten By M. Madison.
IL THE VIRGINIA House OF DELEGATES,
FRIDAY, Dec 81, 1898.
ReSOIred, That the General Assembly of Vir-
ginia doth unequivocally express firm resolu-
ton to maintain and defend the Constitution OF
the United States, and the Constitution of this
State against every aggression, either foreign
or domestic; and that they will support the
Government of the United States in all meas
uFes warranted by the former.
That this Assembly most solemnly declares
a warm attachment to the Union Of the States,
to maintain which it pledges its powers; and,
that for this end, it is their duty to watch over
and oppose ere,y infrGctioR Ofhose principles
lchich constitute tie only basis of that Union,
because faithful observance of them can alone
secure its existence and the public happiness.
That this Assembly doth explicitly and per
emptorily declare, that IT views the powers of
the Federal Government. as resulting from the
compact to which the States are parties, as
limited by the'plain sense and intention of the
instrument constituting that compact, as no
farther valid than they are authorized by the
grants enumerated in that compact and that
in case Of deliberate. palpabic, and dangerous
exercise Of other powers, not granted by the
said compact the States. who are parties there
to, have the right, and are IN duty bound to
interpose for arresting the progress of the evil,
and for maintaining within their respective
limits the authorities, rights, and liberties, APP
pertaining to them.
That the General Assembly doth also express
its deep regret, that a spirit has, in sundry in
stances, been manifested by the Federal Gov
eminent, to enlarge It's powers BY forced con-
structions Of the constitutional charter which
defines them; and, that indications have ap-
peared OF a design to eXpound certain general
phrases (which, having been copied from the
very limited grant of powers in the former arti-
cles of confederation, were the less liable to be
msconstrued) so as to destroy the meaning
and effect of the particular enumeration which
necessarily explains and limits the general
phrases, and so as to consolidate the States bv
degrees into one Sovereignty the obvious tend
ency and inevitable result OF which would be-
to transform the present republican system OF
the United States into an absolute, or at best
a mixed monarchy.
That the General Assembly doth particularly
protest against the palpabe and alarming in.
fractions Of the Constitution, in the two late
cases of the "Aien and Sedilon Acts" passed
at the last session Of Congress the first OF
winch, exercises a power nowhere delegated
ito the Federal Government, and which. by
uniting Legislative and Judicial powers to those
of Executive, subverts the general PRINCIPLES OF
free government as well rs the particular organ
ization and positive provisions Of the Federal
Constitution; and the other OF which acts exer
cises, IN like manner power not delegated By
the Constitution, but, on the contrary. expressly
and positively forbidden BY one of the amend
ments thereto; power which more than any
other, ought to produce universal alarm, be
cause 1t is leyelled against the right of freely
'AdiiihliiS puDiit NHdidCitTS anu measures, ana
of free communication among the people there
on, which has ever been Justly deemed the only
etlectual guardian Of every other right
That this State having BIZ its Convention,
which ratified the Federal Constitution, ex
pressy declared, that among other essential
rights, " the liberty Of conscience and the press
cannot be cancelled, abridged, restrained, OF
modified, by any authority OF the United States.
and from its extreme anxiety to guard these
rights from every possible attack of sophistry
and ambition, having with other States recon
mended an amendment for that purpose. which
amendment was, in due time, annexed to the
Constitution, it would mark reproachful In
consistency, aud criminal degeneracv, if an In
difference were now shown to the most palpablt
violation of one of the rights thus declared and
! secured, and to the establishment of pre-
cedent which may be fatal to the other
That the good people of this Commonwealth
having ever felt and continuing to feel the mos
sincere affection for their brethren of the Other
States, the truest anxiety for establishing and
perpetuating the union of all, and the mos
scrupuous fidelity to that Constitution which
Is the pledge of mutual friendship ind the in
strument OF mutual happiness, the Genera
Assembly doth solemnly appeal TO- the ike dis
positions IN the other States. in confidence that
they will concur with this Commonwealth IN
declaring, as il does hereby declare. that the
acts aforesaid are Unconstitutional, and that
the necessary and proper measures will be
taken by eGch for cooperating with this Stat,
in maintaining unimpaired the authorities
rights, and liberties, reserved 10 the States. re-
spectively or TO the people.
That the Governor be desired to transmit 8
copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Exec
utiye authority Of each Of the other States
with request that the same NAV be com
municated to the Legislature thereof: and thai
copy be furnished To each of the Senators anJ
Representatives representing this State in the
Congress Of the United States
Attest: JONI STEWART.
l79S, December 9th. Agreed to by tho
Senate. II. BROOKE.
A true copy from the original deposited il
the Office OF the General Assembly
joins STEWART, Keeper Of Rolls.
Az Inventive PIlcE or PGoPLRIY.-A slave
! that can hoe IS excellent. 4 slave that can
| SOW is delightful. \ slave that can reap il nd
hlrable. slave that can gather into barns !,
treasure y slave that VIII not run away i.
| nFIeed a possession. i slave that will stand
anything, from the cal ana the paddle up to
the NendiUon OF his wife and children. is Al
| AbraLamic model here ona would suppos,
the catalogue OF slavish virtues might end. mn
less We added TO il that dubious virtue Of le
cmdlty, upon which deceucy will not permit u.
to dliate. But what viii Our readers say 10 4:
slave figuring in the light OF an Inventory O
an Inventor OF . useful agricultural machine?
Oi machine SO useful that It promises Il
be profitable? And what viii oar reader,
think OF the Deliberations, diemmas. obfusca
tons, and general topsyturviness of the Patent
Othce, when Chattel with black skin walked
INTO the cloSters sacred to invention, and claim
ed to have shown little intellectual power
and 10 be entitlnd In re.n,, - e Il -