Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-01-26
Resolutions ,9s. ,a9.


great deal is written and said about the Virginia
and Kentucky Resolutions of 49,, but we inclined
to believe that many persons who refer Familiarity to these
celebrated expositions of political right not fully
acquainted with them, with the circumstances which
gave rise to them. brief statement therefore of the
facts may be amss especially for those of the rising
generation whose lives commenced long after the pot
cal agatons proceeding and following the passage of
the resolutions in question They caused by the
Alien and Sedition laws, which originated in the popu-
lar indignation against France, for insulting ENJOYS
under the administration of John Adams. The French
Directory had inflicted injuries upon commerce, for
many years, IN consequence OF the neutral policy nau
gurated by Washington and powerfully supported af
terwards by Jefferson, In spite of his strong ncnations
in favor of the French Revolution and the French peo
pie. ENJOYS dispatched to complain of these in
juries but were received with rluch Indifference and
subjected to many sights and insults by the French
Government that the administration and the nation at
large filled with violent indignation In the spring
of 1891 accordingly the President sent in his ceebated
" War Message" which electrified Congress and the
country. 1t was enthusiastically responded to, and
Congress passed laws empowering American merchant
vessels to violently resist any attempt at search or re-
strantrasing large of money for national defence
and lastly the Alien and Sediton acts the first of
which authorized the President order out of the coun
try heavy penalties for dsobedence all aliens whom
he regarded dangerous and the latter declared any
attempt to deame the President Congress- by false
and malicious bels tending to excite the public against
them, sedtion and punishable with neand imprisonment
These laws passed trumphanty by the votes of the
Federal party then in large marority in Congress- and
backed by the nation who in flame at the wrongs
of the Directory. The Republicans, headed by Jeer-
son and Madison vainly endeavored to resist them
They completely senced by the general excitement
and clamor against France and in favor of the policy
of the Administration The consequence was, that
80 finding themselves of no use the floor of Con-
gres the Republicans determined to raise the issue of
the constitutionaty of the acts the State arenas
This led to the celebrated Resolutions to which we have
referred. Kentucky led off, That State then close
y allied to Virginia. Of which it had been part was
settled in great measure by Vrgnians-and looked
to the parent stem for guidance. At the request of
some OF his associates, Jefferson, drafted series of
outons, which passed the Kentucky Legislature in the
winter of 1898 and these were Immediately followed by
similar resolutions in the Virginia Assembly The latter
the Resolutions of 49, 99 were written by James
Madison, at the room No. 9, in the old Swan Tavern,
on Broad street. in Richmond, it is said They were
bold and determined protest against the Alien and Sed-
ton laws as unrepublican and
the consolidation policy opposed to the theory of the
Constitution and tending to the subversion of the rights
OF the Staesand the separate States declared
eregn, and called upon to resist all attempts to make
them mere provinces OF great empire and defend and
maintain nvioate all their rights and privileges under
the genaral compact.
Such the circumstances attending the passage of
these great protests against wrong and such the theory
which they advocated and the end which they de-
signed to accomplish They became the corner stone of
time to ths to represent the views of that party upon
the theory OF American Government. They were strong
opposed by the Federal party rather it would seem,
upon view of the peculiar condition of the country at
the me and the apparent necessity Of strong measures
on the part of the Administration. than upon abstract
grounds very large number of the opponents of the
Republican Democratic party were opposed to the
Alien and Sedition laws Unconstitutional but the
line was then drawn close between the great fac
tons, that the Resolutions had ardent opposers. The
laws which drew them forth generally regarded
Dy men OF all parties as unconstitutional and indeens
BIZ. So thought tens of thousands who still acted with
the Federal Opposition upon other measures
AS expositiOns Of the true philosophy of American
Government, it is hard to find any flaw in the Virginia
resolutions. They define, with mastery ability and
cearnes the measure OF power and authority possessed
by the General Government, and the separate States
under the Federal compact and set forth theory of
government which is undoubtedly the true one under our
Constitution. The necessity of such construction of
The Constitution is at this time obvious than it
ever before and we hazard the assertion without
ear that nlnetenths OF the people Of the South without
regard TO party, are at this moment unhesating be-
levers in the political philosophy OF the Resolutions of
'98-R. Inder
CosT OF ARM1NG.-A special commission, appointed
by the Legislature of Virginia to make out an estimate
OF the cost OF arming and equippng brigand OF five
thousand men, made their report Saturday last At
this time such estimate will be of interest the peo
pie OF the Southern States.
l. A corps Of five thousand men, organized into five
regiments OF twelve companies each with eighty men,
rank and fe to each company, might be constituted as
follows:
Thirty companies of infantry twenty companies of
renen, five companies of cavalry five batteries of ar
tllery, of six pieces each
80 companies ofinfantry, armed with Minnie mus
90 kets, 200 muskets at sl3 g.. .:..-...... $s276o
~ companies Of ridemen, armed with Minnie
rifles, 1000 rifles at SIG GS..- -. 2sss8
companies OF cavalry, armed with revolver
pistols, 400 at s2l. ....................... 84OO
ana 4oO cavalry sabres, at $5 ............. 1000
batteries of artillery would require l8 gun car
riages and cassons complete mount eigh-
teen field pieces, now owned by the State, at
$4OO each ....:......................... 1900
70 navy noWltzers at S5OO .............. $500
4,oOO cafoge boxes, pouches and belts at S2. 5000
IVY IVY Pst0i pelts at 81 70 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 500
4Oo @ artllery sapres at So 1900
4O0 revolver pistols for artillery at $2l 8,40o
@ Ivy Gragoon saddles &C., at $35. 14,000
-oO SIoIey tehts al S5o ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1900
AnmunlIion. ........................... $4,000