The Placer herald., 1864-10-15


ON all legislative powers,
7. ReS0iUed, That the construction applied by
the charter which defines them; and that indca-
tons have appeared of Il design to eXpound GER
tain general phrases (Which having been copied
from the very limited grant of power in the
former articles Of confederation, were the less
liable to be misconstrued) 50 as to destroy the
General Government Gas is evinced by sundry of
their proceedings) to those parts Of the constitu
ton of the United States. which delegate to
Congress power to lay and collect taxes, duties,
imposts, excuses; to pay the debts and provide for
the common defence and general welfare of the
United States, and to 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-
partment officer thereof, goes to the destruc
ton of all limits prescribed to their power by the
consttution-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 to give unlimited powers, nor part OF
them to be taken, as to destroy the whole residue
of the instrument That the proceeding of the
General Government under color Of those articles
will be fit and necessary subject for revsal and
correction at time of great tranquility, while
those specified in the preceding resolutions call
for immediate redress.
s. ReSoioed, That the preceding resolutions be
transmitted to the Senators and Representatives.
in Congress from .he commonwealth, who are
enjoincd to present the same to their respective
cure at the next session OF Congress repeal of
the aforesaid unconstitutional and obnoxious acts.
Q ReS0iUed, 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, and prosperity
of all the States-that faithful to that compact,
according to the plain intent and meaning in
which it was understood and acceded to by the
several parties it is sincerely anxious for its pre-
scrVatOn; that it does also believe, that to take
from the States all the powers Of seli-govern-
ment, and transfer them to a general and consOl-
idated government, without regard to the special
delegations and reservations, solemuly agreed to
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 undele-
gated and consequently unlimited powers in no
man, or body OF men, on earth; 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 1t themselves,
whether enumerated or not enumerated by the
constitution cognzabie by them. that they may
transfer its cognizance to the President or amy
other person, who may himself be the accuser.
counsel. judge and jury, whose suspicious may
be the evidence, his order the sentence, his officer
the eAecutoher' ana MS breast inc soIe record OF
the transaction, that very numerous ana valua-
pie description OF inc lhhADl OF these states,
being by this precedent reduced as outlws to the
absolute dominion OF one man, ana the barriers
OF the constitution thus swept from us all, no
rampant now remains against the passions and
inc power OF majority OF Congress TO protect
from IKE expectation or othcr SteYous pun
ishment the minority Of the same body, the legis-
latures, judges, governors and counselors Of the
states, nor ther othcr pcaceaplc lhhlollanlS VINO
may venture to reclaim the constitutional rights
and liberties OF the States ana people, or who
Tor other causes good or pad may be obnoxious
to the views. or marked by the suspicious OF the
President, or to be thought dangerous to his or