The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-15
The Rebellion Making its Defence and
PLEADING. Enr n E.nr.n.nn nnnno.a-

amnesty-said amnesty TO include JEFF
ferson Davis and all other participants
in the rebellion. The resolutions are
very speciously worded, and are inten-
ded to show what General Lee isreport-
ed to have said to newspaper cor
respondent last Spriug, shortly after
the surrender-viz: that in the conflict
ing theories OF Interpretation respecting
the separate rights and powers
sof the General Government and
of the States, there existed a.
legitimate cdus1ts 6eEf from the
very outset of the American Union.
Only one side OF the case is of course
presented in the resolutions referred to.
We subjoin them, however, as showing
the theory upon which the rebellion in
tends to rest its defence in the future:
WHEREAS, In the Convention, call
ed for adopting the Constitution of the
United States, the proposition was
mand that Congress should have the
power to call for the force of the Union
against a refractory State, and it was
indefinitely postponed; and whereas,
we have the highest authority for the
admission that the State Governments,
by their original Constitution, were in
vested with complete sovereignty, and
that they would in all contingencies af-
ford complete security against invasion
of the public liberty by the national
authority beyond the meaning of the
Constitution; and whereas, il is further
urged, that power being always the
rival of power, that the General and
State Governments would recipIocally
check the usurpatiOns, the one of the
other, meaning thereby that there was
authority in the sovereignty of the
States to resist entertainments by the
General Government, as well as powers
in the latter to resist aggressions of the
States; and whereas, in 1924, in n pre-
nmble to certain resolutions offered in
the Legislature of New York with re-
gard to the right of Congress to license
and to demand tonnage on boats that
nayigated canals of the State, the in
terterance of the State was invoked for
the defense of her citizens, and that.
subsequently,, Mr.. Van Buren,, in the
Senate of the United States, gave no.
tice that his State fought and would
resist to the last extremity" and where
na the State of Ohio, in the proceedings
of her Legislature, in 1920, against the
Bank of the United States, TO prevent
the establishment OF the same in that
State did recognize and approve the
doctrines asserted by the Legislatures
of Virginia and Kentucky in their reso-
lutiOns of l79s and 1900, asserting an
equal right by the States TO interpret
the Constitution for themselves where
their sovereign rights were involved:
and, whereas, the State of Maine did.
in their House of Representatives, in
January, 1882, when upon the subject
Of the Northeastern Boundary, resolve
that the Constitution of the United
States did coufer only n special and mod
flied sovereignty to the General Gov
80.
portion of territory belonging TO n
State, without its consent, and that they
wonld not consent to render any por-
ton of their territory; and, whereas,
the State of Massachusetts, in Februn-
ry, 1880, did, by the Legislature, declare
the treaty by the General Government
with Great Britain relative to the
Northeastern Boundary null and void.
and in no way obligatory; and, where
as, tho State of Mississippi, by her
Legislature, did, in February, 1880, con-
eur with the States of Georgia, South
Carolina and Nirginia, in their resolu-
lions restrictive of the United States
when acting beyond the Limitations of
the Constitution - and that n State
might, of right, refuse obedience to any
measure of the General Government
mhnilestly against and in violation of
the Constitution; and the State of South
Carolina did, in several WINS, by her
Governor md Legislature, declare the
! right To resist the exercise by the Cen
ernl Government OF powers not del
! egntcd and the State of Vir-
I glnlh, III February, 1929, and in reDly
I 10 the resolutions of Georgia and South
Carolina, whilst expressing anxious
care for the harmony of the State and
earnest sOlicitude for the TRANQUILITY of
the Union, yet assert the right to con-
strue the compact of the Constitution
for itself; and whereas, the State OF
Pennsylvania, by resolutions, udopted
by her legislature in 1911, did INSERT
amongst other things, that the net OF
union was, TO all intents and purposes,
treaty between sovereign States: and
whereas, the public mind had become.
IN large degree, sustained in the be-
lief that resistance to the General Gov
eminent wns not only u right but n
DUTY, and believing, AS we solemnly do,
that, FOR certain ends, impolitic and
uhPntrlouc' there are many persons
engaged In the unholy and inhumnn
efforts to iritate and embitter the
relations of the States, now SO much
requiring peace and harmony, by cast
ing untounded suspicious ON the mo-
tiyes of our people in their renewal of
allegiance to the United States, there
FORE!
Boi ResoIUed by the General assem-
0tY cf Virginia, That the General Gov
ernment, unlike the absolute systems
OF the earth, that recognize obedience
only, having heretofore given allow
nnce to conflicting theories of soyer-
eighty and allegiance, that have existed
from the formation, involving opposing
duties by the people, as shown in some
degree by the preamble above. will W.,
earnestly hope, induce his Excellence
the President of the United States. 10
extend general pardon to those fer-
sons now confined by the authority of
the Government.
=. RcSOiced, That it Is not the desire
OF the people of Virginia to obstruct or
retard the restoration of tho Stale TO
their constitutional position and ftlnc-
tons IN the General Government but
that in common with all good ner,
North and South, il is their sincere and
earnest wish, by all honorable means
to provide the same, that n firm re-
un1on' With peace, prosperity and hap
piness may everywhere prevail.
:. ReSotr6d, Tint they pledge Them
selves, iIS far as they may have ability To
uphold and maintain the efforts of the
Executive of the United States in his
Rrduous labor to restore order, STABILIZE,
and Justice among the States, and peac.
ana good Will among the people, Setii-
ton became hurtful TO Rome when IL
gained power above the laws.
On motion OF Mr.. Booker, of Henry
the resolutions We're laid on the table
and ordered TO be printed.
a SPcculatIOn that Must be STONED.
The bill proposed by Mr.. Wilson. or
Massachusetts, prohibiting the snls or
notes, bonds hills sCrir - 1I,., -, :, u