Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-21
AZ Important E1traet.

PIEDNoxT, Va, May 10, 1861.
Editors Daily LntelLigeneer-
have been shown in tho Central PSes-
bytertan, letter addressed by R, l.. Dab
ney 20 the Rev. Sd Prince, dated on tho
goth April, 1851, in which occurs the fol-
lowing sentenre:
'tYet more, Virginia cannot be condemn
ed; because, in the ordinance of 1857, in
which she FIRST accepted this Constitution,
she czpre1sly rescrvea to herself the right to
sever its bonds whenever sue Judged they
were used injuriously to her covennnted
rights. 1t was on this condition she was
received into the family Of States; aud her
reception on this condition was conces-
sion of it by her partners"
The only error in this declaration of Mr..
DAbney, consists in the fact, that he sub
stitutes the people of TIrginia for the peo-
pie of the United States.
That this may be fully seen, give below,
from the LIST vol. of Eiliott's Debates in the
Constitution, page 327, full copy of Vir-
ginia's ratification of the Constitution,
which bears date on the 26th June, 1893,
and not in 1887, as the writer states.
RATIFICATION.
Virginia, to wit:-We, the delegates of
the people of Virginia, duly elected in pur-
suance of recommendation from the
General Assembly, and now met in Com
yentiou, having fully and freely investi-
gated aud discussed the proceedings OF the
Federal Convention, aud being prepared
as well as the most mature deliberation
| hath enabled us to decide thereon, do. in
the name and in behalf OF the people of
Virginia. declare and make known, that
the PnwCrs granted under the Constitution,
being derived from the people Of the United
SiGteS, may be resumed by than, wheuso-
ever the same shall be perverted to their
injury or oppression. aud that every power
not granted thereby, remains with them
and mt their will that, therefore, no right
of any denomination can be cancelled,
abridged, restrained, or modified by tho
Congress, by the SenN.e or HOUSE, of Rep
resentatives, acting in any capacity, by tue
| President, or any department or officer of
tue United States, except in those in
stances in which power is given by the
Constitution for those purposes and that
among other essential rights, the liberty OF
conscience and of the press cannot be can
| eelicd, abridged, restrained or modified, by
any authority of the Unitei States. With
these impressions, with a solemn appeal to
the n1Pher Of all hearts for tue purity OF
orr nSention, aud under the conviction
that whatsoever imperfection may exist in
the Constitution, ought rather to be ex-
nmined in the mode prescribed therein,
than to bring The Union into danger by u
delay with u hope of obtaining amend-
ments previous 10 the ratifcations-
We, the slid delegates, in tue name and
in behalf of the people of Virginia, do, by
these presents, assent to and rAtify the
Constitution recommended on the l7th
day Of September, 1897, by the Federal
Convention for the government of the
United States, hereby announcing to all
I VtFFIN Al.
; Constitution is binding upon the said PEG.
pie, according TO an authentic COPY hereto
annexed. III the words following. rSee
Constitution.
Done in Convention, this goth day oil
June, 1888.
by order of the Convention:
E0N. PESDLEToN, President, r.. s
1t will be observed that this ratification
expressly declares and makes known that
the powers grunted under the Coustitu-
iion" are derived from the people of the
United States.
In what part of this instrument does
Mr.. Dabney iHtl the idea that Virginia re-
served to herself the right to nullify the
Constitution upon her own judgment2-
surely the people of Virginia are not the
people III the United States. They only
Unitsd States.
careful reader of the ordinance OF
ratification will fiud all through it a mark
ed distinction taken between the people of
Virginia add the people of the United
Suites.
This ordinance positively negatives tho
IDEA that the Constitution is compact be-
tween sovereign States, but distinctly de-
SlAres that the powers granted under the
consultation IL are derised from the people Of
Until Mr.. Dabney can demonstrate that
the people of HrSiaiu are the people of the
United States. his inference, drawn from
WrEinta's ordinance of ratification, il
wholly without foundation.
Yours truly, a yIRolxlAS.
Gard From the Captain oftho Pies