Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-01

| wv" 'He Io"eIS ucieEalcH MeIc HoI ie'a'Hco.
50 that, whatever may bc the right OF the
States TO resume their powers, and assert their
independence, such resumption must precede
Their restoration 10 sovereignty.
Is there any doubt about that! Virginia
conceded to the general government the right to
Impose duties on foreign commerce. Can we,
so long as we remain in the Union, claim the
power Of imposing such duties? The power
over our navigabIe rivers was yielded. Can wc
claim to dispute its exercise? An appeal from
the decisions Of our own courts, in certain
cases lies 10 the Supreme Court. Can we de.
ny the appellate Jurisdiction: Coinage alone
Is the privilege Of the Federal Government,
and the States cannot issue bills Of credit
Bat Mr. Chairman, after all, the inquiry
runs into ,uerc criticism upon words. Are
We, by the Constitution as it now exists,
under obligations TO the Federal Govern
mcn;2 Does any one deny that We are c?-
Doe; any one deny that we have delegated
to the General Government the control Of
our external commerce, the tTeaty-Inaking
power the enforcement Of national laws within
our own limits, the coSnizance of vast va
riety OF subjects which concern our wealth
and power?
If any one denied this he would be answered
by producing the Constitution, with It's limiia-
tions on State authority II, then, Virginia
has, by her solemn agreement deprived her
self Of powers essential, Indispensable to
separate national existence, it is Il contradic.
ton Of terms 10 call her sovereign. What
does the gentleman mean by sovcrei gR!y p
Sovereignty may be 4 very Indefinite tc,m.-
All SOvereignS are peers. Can that be sore-
reignty which is under compulsoa and re.
straint? Is lrat sovereignty the line Of whose
conduct may be prescribed, and which is uII.
der the necessity Of yielding to alien authori.
ty in many essential particulars: Every one
must perceive that according ~ familiar and
ordinary speech, he Is ITO sovereign who must
depend for his course, not OH the sanctions
OF Ills own judgment, but On the will vi other
and different powers.
Now, what is the relation which Virginia
and the other States occupy to the Union, in
regard to tic question cl peace or wary \
controversy may arise between America and
England or France. The sentiment Of Virginia
may bo that there has been no proyocation,
and that it is an uncalled for controvcrsy-that
in point Of fact the States have no just and
fair ground Of quarrel with England or France,
and yet, III despite Of that socmu conviction,
Virginia, if she acknowledged her obligations 10
the Union, would find herself committed to
war which she regarded as without sufficient
motive and as not being justified by prudence
Or discretion. Is she then sovereign when
committed to war which she con1euns as un.
necessary and unprovoked, and TO which, nev.
ertheleSs, she is forced to furnish her full con-
tIngent Of men and money? If that be sove-
rcIgnty, lei the gentleman reconcile it with the
Common sense Of the country.
Mr. WIsr-Wll the gentleman aUow me to
answer him?
Mr.. MAcFAnLA.p.-No TIL I shall have got
throush?
We know that the Congress of the United
States claims and exercises sovereign powers
within ;hc boundaries Of the States We arc
parties TO Ibis Union. Prosecutions grow out
Of these acts Of Congress against our own pco.
pie. Can Virginia, so long as she remaius in
the Union, defend her citizens against
these prosecutions? Can she interpoSe
a"y plea Of sovereignty in their vlndica-
tion or dc:tncc: Why sir, the gentle
tuan will not pretend that it is SO. In
all such cases Virginia is reduced to the ncccs.
sity of dscia!miEg her connection with the
Federal Government, or Of submitting 10 the
execution Of the laws, ns they may be inter
preted by the Federal Judiciary. Is that de-
med Will any gentleman upon this floor
deny it: Will my friend from Princess Anne,
(Mr. WIsE.) deny it? Without fatiguing this
committee by going through the details, it is
enough to say that the States, SO long as they
retain their position, arc subject to the Federal
Government, u the full extent Of its constitu
tonal authority. 1t may we'll happen, and it
has happened, that laws Of Congress have been
III violation Of the Constitution, and against
such the only redress is through the Federal
Judiciary Would mi friend say whilst Vir-
GINA remained in the Union, that he would
muster force to resist the execution Of the
federal laws? Is there one SO insurgent, so
turbulent here or elsewhere, that, whilst ad-
herring TO the Federal Government, he would
be found in armed opposition to lis laws?
In AL such cases we must Of necessity bc
reduced to the alternative oil deciding between
continuing in the Union aud departing from
it. admit that any and all OF the States
have the privilege Of rctirin, from the Union
and thereby to escape its laws, when they find
their grievances more intolerable than sc.
paration That | concede in its fullest ex-
tcnt. But mn now engaged in insisting
upon tie proposition that the authority Of
the Government ard It's benefits cannot he
claimed and acknowledged with the privilege
4; the same time Of deciding what laws we
shall obey. Is that the gcDtelnan's opinion !?
Or does he mean to SAYS there any member
upon this floor who will say-tiat whilst
Gaining the benefits Of the Union, whilst pro.
1cSsing Loyalty 10 il, VIC may determine which
ot its laws we will obey; and unless the gen.
tieman will 50 to that extent he will fird him
sell reduced to the alternative Of discaiming
the Jurisdiction Of tie Federal Government
or of submitting 10 its requirements.
\ word or two more. al sovcrcigns are
peers, and no State or empire can with any
propriety be said TO be sovereign which has not
the privilege, without the sanction Of any out.
side authority, Of deciding upon what is due
t. its own dignity and rights put it to the
gentleman, and beg bin 10 meet it. Can he
conceive Of sovereignty, which, besides the
sanction Of its own wisdom, has 10 wait for
some outside authority, TO pursue the course
recommended by its own judgment? Conceive
L people iii tha. condition. Are they not
dependent, necessarily dependent? And is n
dependent people, in respect TO matters Of
great national concern, sovereign? Will the
gentleman say that? Is the word sovereign
alike fitted 10 describe an Independent. and a
dependent power? Will he say that? VIII
lie say that the term sovereign" is equally
appropriate ard descriptive Of L condition of a
puny power, who seeks m;:unity by submission,
und power rcpoSing upon the strength Of its
own arms and challenging contradiction? Will
the gentleman say that? Be it remarked that
this word sovereign" has always imported
in'etnite comprehension and force. There is
TO term descriptive Of power or Of independ.
ence beyond it, Our Maker is sovereign in the
uniye'se, and TO power upon the earth is SOW
errign from whose awards there lies an appeal.
} confess that with all the gentlemen Of this
Committee admire the dextcrity and fertility
OF my friend from Princess Anne (Mr. WISE }
lie can tax his ingenuity as greatly and make
as clever sn escape from difficulty as any
gentleman in this hall-and if he will pardon
me for saying SOL will intimate that be hnds
some pleasure and pride i'm il: but let me re-