The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1864-08-20

General Government Gas is evincel 10y suudry of
their proceedngs) to those parts Of the constitu-
ton OF the United States. which delegate to
Congress power to lay aud collect taxes. duties,
imposts, excuses; to pay the debts and provide for
| the common defence and 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-
| partmcnt or officer thereof goes to the dcstruc-
ton Of all limits prescri ed to their power by The
| constitution that words meant 10y the instrument
| TO he subsidiary ony to the execution of limited
powers. ought not to be so construed rs them
selves to give unlimited powers, nor part of
Them to be taken. as TO destroy the whole residue
| OF III" Instrument. That the proceeding Of the
Gener 81 Government under color Of those articles
VIII bc " ut ana necessary subject Tor revisal and
correction at time Of great tranquility, while
those specified in the preceding resolutions call
for Immediate redress.
8. ReS0Ired. That the preceding resolutions be
transmitted to the Senators and Representatives
IN Congress from :hc commonwealth. who are
enJolned TO present the same to their respective
houses, and to'use their best cndeavors to pro.
cure at the next session OF Congress "A repeal of
the aforesaid unconstitutional and obnoX ious acts
J ReS0Ired, lastly. That the Governor Of this
| commonwealth be, and is authorized and request
cd to communicate the preceding resolutions to
the legislatures OF the scvt raj 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 Statcs-thlt faithful TO that compact.
| according to the plain intent and meaning in
which it WAS understood and acceled 10 by the
several parties. it is sincerely anxious for its pre-
servatlon; that ii does also believe. that to take
| from the Stat all the powers Of self govern
ment and transfer them 10 IA general and consn.
dated government, without regard to the special
delegations and reservations, solemnly agreed to
in that compact, is not for the peace. happiness
and prosperity OF these States. And that. there
fore. this commonwealth is determined. rs it
doubts not It's 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
emment may place any act they think proper on
| the list OF crimes and punish it themselves
whether enumerated or not enumerated by the
constitution cognizlbc by them. that they nay
transfer its cognizlncc to the President or any
other person, who my himself be the accuscr
counsel. Judge and jury. whose suspicion may
be the evidence, his order the sentence, his officer
the cXecutloner and his breast the sole record Of
the transaction, that Il very numerous and valul.
bic description Of the nh tans OF these States
being by this precedent reduced rs outlws to the
absolute dominion OF one m and the barriers
| OF the constitution thus swept from rs all. no
rampant now remains against the passions and
the power OF majority of Congress TO protect
from like expiration or other grievous pun
lshmrnt The majority OF the same body. the rgis
MjureS, Judges governors and cOunsclors of the
States, nor their other pcaceablc inh lbitanis who
may venture to reclaim re constitutional rights
and liberties of the States and people. or who
Tor 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.
he ali b,s hon snla
the safest subject Of first experiment, but the
citizen VIII soon follow. or rather has already
followed; for already has Il scdition act m lrked
him as its prey That these aud successive acts
OF the same character, unless arrested at the
threshold may trud to drive these States into
revolution and blood. and will furnish new calum-
MES against republican government and new
prcteXts Tor those who wish it to be believed that
man cannot be governed but by rod of iron:
that it would be- Il dangerous delusion were a
Confidence in the men OF our choice to silence
our fears Ior the safety of our rights; that con-
t!encc is everywhere the paren' of despotism;
Tree government is founded in jealousy and not
IN confidence; it is Jealousy and not confidence
which prescribes limited constitutions to bud
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 read
the alien aud scdlton acts, and say il the cOnSti-
ton has not been wise in liking limits 10 the gov
eminent it created, and whether we should be
wise in destroying those Limits? Let him SAY
what the government is. il it be not Il tyranny,
which the mcH oil our choice have conferred on
the President, and the President of our choice has
aS'ented to and accepted over the friendly stran
gers. to whom the mild spirit OF OR 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.
the sacred force OF TRUTH and the forms and sub.
stance OF law and justice. In questions OF power,
then. let no more he heard OF confidence in man,
but bind him down from mischief by the chains
OF the constitution. That this commonwealth
does therefore call on its co states for an express
sion Of their sentiments on the acts concerning
aliens, and for punishment of certain crimes.
her'inbcforc specified. plainly declaring whether
these arc or are not authorized by the Federal
compact. And it doubts not that their sense will
be announced rs to prove their attachment
unaltcred to limited government, whether gen.
crIl or particular, and that the rights and liber-
ties OF their co-states 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
palptblc against the constitution as to amount 10
IN undisguiscd 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 cXcrc Sc over these states Of all powers what
socvcr. That they will view This rs srzing the
ll@us OF the states ana consolidating tncm N inc
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-states 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- |
nnnl nt tho snSsinn of Cnnnrnss