The Placer herald., 1861-06-22

domestic; and that they will support the govern
ment of the United States in all measures war
ranted by the former.
That this Assembly most solemnly declares a
warm attachment to the Union of the states, to
maintain which 1t pledges its powers; and, that
for this end it is their duty to watch over and OPP
pose every intluction of those princip Piles which
constitute the only basis Of that Union, because
u faithful observance Of them can alone secure
its existence and the public happiness.
That this Assembly doth explicitly and percmp
tory declare, that it views the powers of the
federal government, as resulting from the COM
pact to which the states are parties, as limite
by the plain sense and intention Of the instru
mcnt constituting that compact, no farther
valid than they were authorized by the grants
enumerated in that compact; and that in case OF
a deliberate paipable, and dangerous exercise OF
| other powers. not granted 10y the said compact,
the states, who are parties thereto. have the right
and are in duty bound, to interpose, Tor arresting
the progress Of the evil and for maintain ing
within their respective limits the authorities,
rights, and liberties appertanng TO them.
That the General Assembly doth also express
lis deep regret that spirit has, in sundry in
stances, been manifested by the federal govern
ment, to enlarge its powers by forced construc
tions Of the constitutional charter which devines
them and, that indications have appeared OF II
design to expound certain general phrases (Which,
having been copied from the very limited grant
of powers in the former Articles Of Confcder-
ton, were the less liable to be misc onstrued) 50
as to destroy the meaning and effect OF the par
ticuar enumeration which necessarily explains
and limits the general phrases. and so rs to con-
solidate the states by degrees into one sovereign
| ty. the obvious tendency and inevitable result OF
which would be, to transform the present repub-
llcan system Of the United States into IN absolute
or at best mixed monarchy.
That the General Assembly doth particularly
protest against the papable ana alarming in
fractions OF the Constitution in the two late cases
of the ALLEN and Sedtion Acts passed at the
last session of Congress; the first OF which cx-
crcises power nowhere delegated TO the federal
government. and which. hy uniting legislative
and judicial powers to those OF executive, sub
verts the general principles OF free governments.
as we'll rs the particular organization and posi-
tive provisions OF the Federal Constitution; and
the other of which acts exercises, in like manner
II power not delegated by the Constitution, but
on the contrary. expressly and positively forbid
den by one OF the amendments thereto; power
| which, more than any other, ought to produce
universal alarm. because it is Ievclledmgainst the
right Of freely examining public characters und
measures, and OF free communication among the
people thereon, which has ever been justly deem
ed the only eflectual guardian Of every other
right.
That this state h., ing by its Convention which
ratified the Federal Constitution. expressly de-
clared. that among other essential rights, "thc
| liberty OF conscience and the press cannot be
cancelled, abridged, restrained, or modified by
any authority OF the United States,' and from it's
extreme anxiety TO guard these rights from every
possible attack of sophistry and ambition, having
with other st,tes recommended m amendment
! or that purpose, which amendment WAS, in
due time, annexed to the Constitution. it would
mark IL areprolchul Inconsistency, and criminal
degencracy, ii an Indifference were now shown
to the most papable violation Of one Of the
| rights thus declared and secured; and to the
| rhp MT of vh M l,n futu tn
the OF or.
! That the good people Of this commonwealth.
having ever felt and continuing to feel the most
sincere affection for their brethren of the other
states; the truest anxiety for establishing and
perpetuating the Union of all; and the most
scrupuous fidelity to that Constitution, which is
the pledge of mutual friendship. and the instru
mcnt of mutual happiness: the General Assem-
| bly, doth solemny appeal to the like dispositions
in the other states in confidence that they will
concur with this commonw culh in declaring. as
it does hereby declare, that the acts aforesaid are
unconstitu tional; and. that the necessary and
proper measures will be taken by each for CO.
operating with this state, in ma ntaining unim-
paired the authorities, ghts, and liberties rescrv
ed to the states. respectively, or to the people.
That the governor be desired to tran NIT
copy of the foregoing resolutions to the cxccu-
tive authority of each of the other states, with,
request that the same may be communicated to
the legislature thereof; aud that copy be fur
nished to each of the Senators and Representa-
tives representing this state in the Congress of
the United States.
Extracts from the Address to the People, which
accompanied the Virginia resolutOns
Fellow w-Citizens: Unwilling to shrink from our
representative responsibility, conscious OF the
purity Of our motives, but acknowledging your
light to supervise our conduct, we invite your
serious attention to the emergency which dicta
ted the suhioined resolutions Whilst we dsdain
to alarm you by illounded jealousies, recon-
mend an vcsigaton, guided by the GOODNESS OF
wisdom and II decision bottomed on firmness but
cmpercd th mo erlton
Ii would be perlidious in those intrustcd with
the guardia nshp OF the state sovereignty, and
acting under the solemn obligation of the fol-
lowing obligation Of the oath: Fl do swear,
that will support the Constitution of the United
States" not to warn you OF cncroachments. which,
though clothed with the pretext OF necessity, or
disguised by argument OF expcdlency, may yet
establish prt cedents which may ultimately de-
vote ~ generous and unsuspicous people to all
the consequences of unstrped power
Eucroachmcnts springing IRON government
whose organization cannot be maintained without
the cooperation of the states, furnish tie strong
est incitemcnt upon the state legislatures to
watchfulness and impose upon them the strong
est bligaton to preserve unimpairtcd the line OF
partition.
The acquicscencc OF the states undef lh'rac-
tions of the federal compact, woul either beget
speedy consolidation, by precipitating the state
governments into mpotency and contempt; or
prepare the way for revolution, by repetition
of these inlractions. until the people are aroused
to appear in the majesty of their strength 1t is
to avoid these calamities that we exhibit to the
people the momentous question. whether the Con-
stitution Of the United States shall yield to q |
cons ructon which defes every restraint, and
overwbelms the best hopes of republioanism.
Exbortatons to disregard domestic usulp patton
until foreign danger shall have. passed, is IN ar
titice which may be forever used; because the
..aaaea.a.s af ,nu,nr uho are the advocates for |