Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-03-02
Resolutions of $3.50.

Ipersons who refer Familiarity to these cele-
brated expostions of political right, are
not fully acquainted with them, or with the
circumstances which gave rise to them. A
brief statement, therefore, of the facts, may
not be amiss. especially for those of the ris-
ing gsheratiot, whose lives commenced long
after tie political agitations preceding and
following the passage of the resolutions il
question. They we're caused by the Alien
aud Sedtion laws, which originated in the
popular indignation against France, for il
sulting our ENJOYS, under the adminissra-
ton of John Adams. The French Direeto-
ry had inflicted injuries upon our commerce
for many years, in consequence of the neu.
trail policy inaugurated by Washington, and
powerfully supported afterwards by Jeffer-
Ison, in spite Of his strong inclinations in fa-
yor of the French Revolution and the French
people. ENJOYS were dispatched to COM
plain of these injuries, but were received
with much Indifference, and subjected to so
many sights and insults by the French
Government, that the administration and
nation at large were filled with violent in
ldignation. In the Spring of 1897, accord
ingly, the President sent IL his celebrated
WAR Message" which electrified Congress
and the country. 1t was enthusiastically
responded to. and Congress passed laws en-
po7Vering american merchant vessels to vi
olcntly resist any attempt at search or re-
straint-raising large sums of money for
national defence--apd lastly, the Alien aud
Sedition acts; the first of which authorized
tue President to order out of the country,
on heavy penalties for disobedience, all ali
ems whom he regarded as dangerous; and
the latter declared any attempt to defame
the President or Congress, by false and
malicious libelS. tending to excite the pub
lie against them, sedition, and punishable
with fine and imprisonment. These laws
passed triumphaptly by the votes of the
Federal party, then in large majority in
Congress. and backed BY the nation. who
were in fame at the wrongs of the D rec
tory. The Republicans, headed by Jefler-
son and Madison, vainly endeavored 10 re-
sist them. They were completely silenced
by the general excitement and clamor a..
gainst France, and in favor of the policy Of
the Administration. The consequence was
that finding themselves OF. no use" gu the
the floor Of Congress, the Republicans de-
| termined to raise the issue of the constitu-
tionality of the acts, on the State arenas -
| This led to the celebrated Resolutions to
which we have referred. Kentucky led off.
That State was then closely allied to Vir-
gina, of which it had been part; was set
tied in great measure by Virginians-and
looked to the parent stem for guidance. At
the request of some of his associates. Jeffer-
son drafted a series of resolutions, which
passed the Kentucky Legislature il the win
ter of 1898; and these were Immediately fol-
lowed by similar resolutions in the Virginia
Assembly. The latter-the Resolutions
of '9S-'99"-were written by james Madiss
son, at the room No. 8, in the old Swan
Tavern, on Broad Street, in Richmond, it
is said They were bold and determined
protest against the Alien and Sedition laws,
as unrepublican and nconstitutional-s
gainst the consolidation policy, as opposed
to the theory OF the Constitution, and tend
ing to the subverson of the rights of tie
States-and the separate States were de-
clared sovereign, and called upon to resist
all attempts to make them mere provinces
OF great empire, and defend and main
Vail luNiOldle, ali GuclT TiSulS anu privileges
under the general compact.
Sach were the circumstances attending
the passage Of these great protests against
wrong and such the theory which they adj
vocated, and the end which they were de-
signed to accomplish. They became the
corner stone of Democratic principle, and
have continued from that time to this, to
repsesent the views Of that party upon the
theory of American Government. They
were strongly opposed by the Federal par
ty rather, it would seem, upon view Of
the peculiar condition of the country at the
time and the apparent necessity of strong
measures on the par: of the Administration,
than upon abstract grounds. A very large
number of the opponents Of the Republican
or Democratic party were opposed to the A
lien and Sedtion laws as unconstitutional
but the line was then drawn so close between
the two great factions, that the Resolutions
had ardent opposers. The laws which drew
them forth are now generally regarded by
men of all parties as unconstitutional and
indefensible. So thought tens of thousands
who still acted with the Federal Opposition
upon other measures.
As expositons Of tho true philosophy Of
American Government, it is hard to find any
flaw in the Virginia Resolutions. They de-
fine, with mastery ability and clearness tia
measure of power and authority possessed
by the general government, and the seps-
rate States, under the Federal compact and
set forth theory of government which has
undoubtedly the true one. under our Con-
stitution. The necessity of such con-
struction of the Constitution is at this time
more obvious than it ever was before; and
we hazard the assertion, without fear, thas
nine tenths of the South. without regard TO
party, are at this moment, unhesitating be-
levers in the political philosophy of the
Resolutions of '9S.-Rich hden.
GRAND EXCURSION FOR THE EDIToT1At
PROFESSION or THE WEsr.-The St. Louis
Erening NeWs says: =,
The Baltimore and Ohio, Terre Haute.
Alton and St. Louis, Ohio and Mississippi,
Little Miami. Central Ohio, aud their con-
nections, have COTTON up an excursion for
the editorial profession of the West, which
promises to be one of the grandest affairs of
> he d,u Tho IN vitation 10 RI he avtandad