Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-12-13
/ Inthe Virginia House Of Delegates on Mon
,dav MI. ROBERTSON, of Alexandria offered

HA LII Ln6 WI lula IlOuSo VI lDtltSdttS .UHf nou-
gday, Mr. ROBERTSON, Of Alexandria, offered
The following preamble and resolutions :5s5s
Whereas, in the Convention, called for adopt
no the Constitution ofthe United States, the
imposition was made that Congress Should
have the power to call for the force of the
Union against refractory State, and it was IN
definitely postponed; and whereas, we have the
highest authority for the admission that the
State Governments, by their original Constitu-
tionS, were invested VITA complete sovereignty,
and tha, they would in all contingencies afford
complete security against invasion of the public
liberty by the national authority within the
meaning of the Constitution and whereas, it
isfurther urged, that power being always the
rival of power, the General and State
Governments would reciprocaIly check the
nsllrpations, the one of the other, meaning
thereby that there was authority in the sover-
eighty Of the States to resist encroachments
BY the General Government, as well as power
in the latter to resist aggresslons OF the States;
and whereas, in 1924 in preamble to certain
resolutions offered In the Legislature of New
York with regard to the right of Congress to
license and to demand tonnage. on boats that
nayigated canals of the State, the interference
Aof the State was invoked for the defence Of her
scitizens, and that, subsequently, Mr.. IAN
Buren. In the Senate Of the United States,
gave notice that his State fought and would
resist to the last extremity and whereas, the
J State Of Ohio, in the proceedings Of her Legis-
lature, 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 resolutions of
1898 and 1900, asserting an equal right by the
States to interpret theC Constiutionfor themselves
where their sovereign rights we're involved and,
whereas, the State of Maine did, IN it's House
Of Representatives, in January, 1882, when
upon the subject of the Northeastern Bounda.
~, resolve that the CONSTITUTION of the
United States did confer only special and
modified sovereignty to che General Govern
ment, without authority to cede any portion of
territory belonging to State, without its con
sent, and that they would not consent to render
any portion of their territory and, whereas,
the State Of Massachusetts, in February, 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, whereas
the State of Mississippi, by her Legislature,
did, in February, 1920, concur with the States
of Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia, in
their resolutions restrictive of the United States
when actiLig beyond the limitations of the
Constitution and that a State might, Of right
refuse obedience to any measure OF the Gen
eral Government manitestly against and in
violation of the Constitution and the State OF
South Carolina did, in several ways, by her Gov
. enor and Legislature, declare the tight to re.
sist the exercise by the General Government Of
powers not delegated; and the State Of Vir-
ginia in February, 1929, and in reply to the
resolutions Of Georgia and South Carolina,
whilst expressing anxious care tor the har-
mony of the States and earnest solcitude
for the tranquility of the Union, yet assert the
right to construe the compact OF the Constltu-
ton for itself; and whereas, the State Of Penn
syvania, by resolution, adopted by her leglsla-
ture in 1911, did assert, amongst other things,
that the act of union was to all lntents and
purposes, treaty between sovereign States
and whereas, the public mind had been, IN
alarge degree, sustained In the belief that re-
slstance to the General Government was not
only right but duty; aDG believing as we
solemnly do, that, for certain ends, lmpolltlc
and unpatriotic, there are many persons en-
gagged II the unholy and inhuman effort to IT.
altate and embitter the relations OF the States,
now 50 much requiring peace and harmony, by
casting unfounded suspicious on the motives OF
our people in their renewal of allegiance to the
United States, therefore,
Be it Resolved by the General Assembly OF
Virginia, That the General Government un-
]. Ike the absolute systems Of the earth, that re-
eognize obedience only, having heretofore CIV
eighty and allegiance that have existed from OF
Its formation, involving opposing duties by the
!. people, as shown in some degree by the prea1ml-
pie above, will. we earnestly hope, induce his