Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-06
Speech OF Air. Timothy Rives.
Of Prince George aud Su-ry.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.

"a - hAhS1 UCSA8C a0o
FEDERAL RELATIONS
Nr. RITEs in Committees Of th= Th0l.
Wednesday, March 9th, 1861, made the ::c
lowing remarks:
Mr. RiYEs-l propose to make !ev re-
marks only. Being one Of the Couamiltce on
Federal Relations, decia i: proper to DO So,
whilst admit that there are other gentlemen,
especially the distinguished gentleman WIG
is chairman Of that COMMITTEE Ti.G are bette,
prepared to dIscuss questianS which will be
presented to this Convention than am Yet,
| cannot remain silent aud hear doc.raes
avowed here, which, If they be true, wil zen.
der Us utter Y powerlcss 10 do any act cur
selves. We will never agree that any ground
shall be assumed here that rcpudigtes, dc.
nounces and renders null and void the actor,
Of the Convention, which was held in Virginia
to ratify the Federal Constitutions. Ii the doc
trine be true, that these States arc now indie
pendent States, above and beyond control,
superior in themselves not able to bind them
selves, nor to bind anybody e,sc-if that doc
trne be true there is bl: very short step
between us and omnipotcnce. What, sir. is
the principle Of government? It is that Il
Stale when it is admitted into The government
surrenders a portion Of its natural rights, in
order 10 be secured in those which remain.
Do wo claim all the protection Of the GoTern
,nen? You surrender, sir, portion OF your
natural rights upon the condition that you are
to be more strictly guarded by that society into
which you enter. We are assembled here in
Convention, and so were those who ratified
the Federal Cons,itution-Janes Madison,
Patrick Henry, James Monroe. and the whole
host Of departed statesmen. Yes, sir; states,
men and heroes We're in the Convention which.
ratified the Federal Constitution. Did they
have any power to speak for the people? Did
they have any power delegated to them, in
ratifying the Federal Constitution, in The name
and on behalf Of the people Of EirgniaY Have
we anything delegated to us that we can do in
the name and OF behalf of the people Of Virginia:
If these men had the power TO d. anything
which sas calculated to bind Us as Ceopic-Io
establish Tor US Government whict: nUs'
stands up as beacon light 10 the natiors Of
the earth; if they had any power 10 do any
thing, did they do itY Let Us s,e what they
did. Here is the last paragraph Oh the ratit-
cation Of the Federal Constltution. | will
read il:
I'VE, the said delegates. in the nauiG and in
behalf. of the people Of Virginia. d. b these
presents assent to and raiify the Constitution
recommended on the 18th day Of September
one thousand seven hundred and eighty.sevrn,
BY tue Federal Convention, for the government
Of tue United States; hereby announcing to all
those whom it Inay concern, ,hnt the said Con-
s;itution is binding upon the said people, ac-
cording to an authentic copy hereto annexed"
p,nI,,rx IT..- th,, ,,o,,rl,. 4
Virginia. Bound by whom: Those who arc
delegated to do the acl. Now, sir, there is Il
modern set of repudatoTs wao repuiilte the
act Of the Convention Of 1857, who repudate
the dOnss and actions of James II M.diSvn the
father Of that Constitution. | tell you what
they have got to do. Before they get Out they
must commit perjury, before they can get clear
Of their duty, because they stand committed
to it through the whole line und letter Of the
history Of the country.
Sovereignty is thing that asks nothing
She stands and surveys The world, and says, |
am your equal. No "pent up Utica" can con-
tract her powers, ard she can LOOK and say, "ihc
whole boundless continent is mine. Sovereignty
wants nothing; begs nothiag. She speaks bur
10 cornnand But, what does The rePorf,
signed by the gentleman from Mid liesex, lMr.
MoSraGrE) the gentleman from Amelia. Nj.
IAKviE) and the gentleman from Shenandoah,
(Mr. WILLlANs.) say
Resolved, That the Committee OH Federal
Relations bu instructed to report an orinanc:
resuming the powers Delegated by EIrg;
mia to the Federal Government. md 10 make
provision for submitting the same u The Q!al!-
lied voters Of the Commonwealth for the.i
ntlor,tion or rejection
LEWIS F.. HARRlE,
'RoBE1r L. MuSrAdrE.
"SAMrEL e. WILLIAMS"
Yes, Sir, their proposition Is to resume The
pp,cers delegated 10 the General Government.
Ine doctrine contained IN their report would
strike at doctrines that must not only destroy
this Government, but every Government und.r
Gods Heaven which restricts its powers
Sovereignty, Virginia has her sovereignty
now. Granted. But what says the second
section Of the sixth article VI the Constitution
OF the United States? "rhis Constitution and
the laws Of the United States which shall be
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties
made or which shall be made, under the author
ity Of the United States, shall he the supreme
law Of the land; and the Judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, anything in the Con-
slitution Or laws Of auy State to the contrary
Did you ever read this article OF the Federal
Constitution Did my friends see there that
this Constitution and the laws Of the United
States made in pursuance thereof, shall Dc the
supreme "aw Of the land, J." the Constitution
or laws Of any State to the contrary notwith.
standing. l say that il the gentleman from
Dr;p A. M Wr~,.k hn,l tt,n
power conferred upon him that this article con
fcrs upon the General Government if ne had
that power delegated to him, and there was ur-
other acting in subordinate sphere, to he
controlled and regulated By him, lie would be
the last man 10 allow any departure from the
line and rule Of action that he had laid doun
lie would permit no INSTRUMENTATION he would
mold the ilues up straight, and ho would make
every one walk Up to them; hut do no, he.
lcve that line or chain would keep him III
Laughter.
But, sir, take this article ard look at it and
say where the power is confer i; say, when
State Law comes in contact via Law OF tho
United States, which is to riss wayf Strike
uha. ou: Of the Federal CON-! :ution and you
will have no defence ag1!ns! crsonal Liberty
Bills. 1t is upon TINT scc.lon, that we must
Eght those Personal Liberty Bills. Look at
the fifth amendment! to the Constitution
which relates to powers, The exercise of which
arc prohibited alike to the State, or the Fede
raj Government tell my friend f:orn Md
dIesey, (Mr. MoSrAoUE) that TO mans life,
liberty or property, can p. taken from him,
except by due process of .uw. Who can tdkc
your life, sir! who can take your :io.rty wao
can take your property in the ia = O! the pro
hibiton in the CoRst,lut..af If this n'ie
pendent State sovereignty wlti!"at restriction
or Limitation be true, that restriction would
only extend to the Federal Government, and
Virginia might play her part unchecked in
that circle in which some see,u 10 be disposed
to place her. II there be anything u. I'll in
the argument it will 90 great dea farther
than gentlemen wish 10 carry it. Sovereign
tyS Who has the power to declare wor:-
The power to declare var, vino hss it, Tirgi
MIA? No sir Look ct the eighteen dae