The Placer herald., 1864-09-10

Gener0l GOVcrnment (aS is eVlnceu ny Sundry or
their proceedngs) to those parts Of the constitu-
ton OF the United States, which delegate to
Congress power to lay and collect taxes. duties
imposts, eXcsesi to pay the debts and provide for
the common defence aud general welfare Of the
United States, and 10 make all laws which shall
be necessary and proper for carrying into execu-
ton the powers vested by the constitution in the
Government of the United States, or in any de-
partmeut or officer thereof. goes to the destruc-
ton OF all limits prescrit ed to their power by the
constitution = that words meant by the instrument
to be subsidiary only to the execution of limited
powers. ought not to be so construed as them
selves 10 give unlimited powers, nor a part of
them to be taken. as TO destroy the whole residue
OF the Instrument. That the proceeding OF the
G"n'id Government under color OF those articles
VIII o. lit IND necessary subject Tor revisal and
culrcl tea a. = time OF great tranquility, while
those specified in the preceding resolutions call
for Immediate redress.
s. HesoiUcd, That the preceding resolutions be
transmitted to the Senators and Representatives
in Congress from The commonwealth. who are
enjoned to present the same to their respective
houses, and to use their best cndeavors to pro-
cure ut the next session OF Congress Il repeal Of
the aforesaid unconstitutional and obnoxious acts.
ReSOfUed, lastly. That the Governor Of this
commonwealth be, and is authorized and request
ed TO communicate the preceding resolutions to
the legislatures OF the several States. to assure
them that this commonwealth considers union for
specified national purposes. and particularly for
those specified in their late Federal compact to be
friendly to the peace. happiness, aud prosperity
OF all the States-lhlt faithful to that compact
according to the plain intent aud meaning in
which it was understood and acceded 10 by the
several parties. ii is sincerely anxious for its pre-
scrvaton; that ii does also believe that to take
from the Stat all the powers Of self govern
ment, and transfer them TO Il general and consol-
idatcd government, without regard to the special
SDInmnIv tn
in that compact. is not for the peace. happiness
and prosperity of these States. And that. there
fore, this commonwealth is determined. as it
doubts not its co-states are to submit to undelc
gated and consequently unlimited powers in no
man, or body OF men. on carth that if the acts
before specified should stand, these conclusions
would grow from them, that the General Gov
ernment may place any act they think proper on
the list OF crimes and punish it themselves,
whether enumerated or not enumerated by the
constitution cognlZable by them. that they may
transfer its cognizmce to the President or any
other person. who my himself be the accuser,
counsel judge and jury. whose suspicious may
be the evidence. his order the sentence, his officer
the cXecutioner and his breast the sole record of
the transaction, that very numerous and valua-
be description Of the hlbiantS OF these States.
being by this precedent reduced rs outws to the
absolute dominion Of one MN, and the barriers
OF the constitution thus swept from us all. no
rampant now remains against the passions and
the power OF mH ority of Congress TO protect
from like expectation or other grevous pun
ishment the minority OF the same body the legis-
lllures. Judges governors and counsclors of the
States, nor their other pcaceabe inhabitants who
may venture to reclaim tie constitutional rights
and liberties of the States and people. or who
for other causes good or bad. may be obnoxious
to the views. or marked by the suspicious OF the
President. or to be thought dangerous to his or
their election or other interest, public or person
at. 1t "a nj hash soil n1
the safest subject Of a first experiment, but the
citizen Will soon follow. or rather has already
followed; for, already has sedtion act marked
him rs its prey That these and successive acts
of the same character, unless arrested at the
threshold may tend to drive these States into
revolution and blood, and will furnish new caIum-
MES against republican government and new
preteXts for those who wish it to be believed that
man cannot be governed but by rod OF iron;
that it would he dangerous deluson were Il
confidence in the men OF our choice to silence
our fears for the safety Of our rights; that con-
ii!encc is everywhere the paren OF deSpotSm;
free government is founded in jealousy and not
in confidence; it is jealousy and not confidence
which prescrlbcs limited constitutions to bind
down those whom we are obliged to trust with
power that our constitution has fixed the limits
TO which, aud no further our confidence may 90:
and let the honest advocate OF confidence reid
the alien aud scdtion acts and say it the consti-
ton has not been wise in fixing limits to the gov
eminent 1t created, and whether we should he
wise in destroying those limits? Let him say
what the government is, ii it be not tyranny,
which the men Of our choice have conferred on
the President, and the President Of our choice has
asscntcd to and accepted over the friendly slran.
gers, TO whom the mild spirit of our country and
its laws have pledged hospitality and protection;
that the men OF our choice have more respected
the bare suspicious OF the President than the solid
rights OF innocence. the claims OF Justification
~ trtt 4 Hat c,,i,
stance OF law and justice. In questions Of power
then. let no more be heard OF confidence in man,
out bind him down from mischief by the chains
Of the constitution. That this commonwealth
does therefore call on its cO.states for express
sion oil their sentiments on the acts concerning
aliens and for punishment OF certain crimes,
hcrcinbelorc specified plainly declaring whether
these are or are not authorized by the Federal
compact. And it doubts not that their sense will
be SO announced rs to prove their attachment
umaltered to limited government, whether gen
cral or PAL ticular, and that the rights and llber
ties OF their co-stntes will he exposed to no dan
gers by remaining embarked on common bottom
with their own. But they will concur with this
commonwealth in considering the said acts as so
palplblc against the constitution rs to amount to
an undisguised declaration that that compact is
not meant to be the measure OF the power Of the
General Government, but that it will proceed in
the exercise over these states OF all powers what
soever. That they will view this As scizing the
rights of the states and consolidating them in the
hands of the General Government, with the power
assumed to bind the states. not merely in cases
made Federal but in all cases whatsoever, by
laws made not with their consent. bat by others
Against their CONSENT that this would be to sur
RENDER the form Of government we have chosen,
and living under one deriving its power from its
own will. and not from our authority; and that
the co-statcs recurring to their natural rights in
cases not made Federal will concur in declaring
these void and of no force. and will each unite
with this commonwealth in requesting their re-
lanI H. ln1.I lc.ilA Of [t1nIa1rl