The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-09-22

critics appertaining to them.
THAT the General Assembly doth
also express its deep regret, that
spirit has, in sundry instances, been
manifested by the Federal Go, ern-
ment, to enlarge its powers by forced
constructions of the constitutional
charter which defines them: and, that
indications have appeared Of design
to eSpound certain general phrases,
(Which, having been copied from the
very limited grant of powers in the
former Articles Of Confederation
we're the less liable to he miscon
strued) 80 "a to destroy the meaning
and elFoct of the particular enumera.
tion which necessarily explains, and
limits the general phrases, and so as
to consolidate the States by degrees
into one sovereignty, the obvious
tendency and inevitable result of
which would be, to transform the
present republican system Of the
United States into an absolute, or at
best, mixed monarchy.
That the General Assembly doth
particularly protest against the pal
pable and alarming infrations Of the
Constitution, in the two late cases Of
the Allen and Sedition Acts, passed
at the last session Of Congress; the
first Of which exercises power no.
where dele gated to the Federal Gov
ernment, and which, by uniting leg
islative and judicial power to those
of executive, subverts the general
principles Of free government, as well
as the particular organization and
positive provisions OF the Federal
Constitution; and the other oil which
acts exercises, in like manner, a
power not delegated by the Consti-
tuition, but on the contrary, expressly
and positively forbidden by one of
the amendments thereto; a power
which, more than any other, ought
to produce universal alarm, because
it is levelled against the right of
freely examining public characters
andas meures, and of flee communi-
cation among the people thereon,
which has ever been justly deemed
the only effectual guardian of every
other right.
'That thl State having by its Con-
ven.ion, which ratified the Federal
Constitution, expressly declared, that
among other essential rights, 'the
liberty Of conscience and the press
cannot be cancelled, abridged, re.
strained, or modified by any author.
ity of the United States and from
its extreme anxiety to guard these
rights from every possible attack oi
,ophistry aud ambition, having with
otherStatos recommended an amend
ment for that purpose, which amend
Iment was, in due time, annexed to
the Constitution, it would mark q
reproachful inconsistency, and Grim
inal degeneracy, if an indifference
were now shown to the most palpa-
ble violation OF one of the rights,
thus declared and secured; and to
the establishment of q precedent
which may be fatal TO the other.
That the good people of this com
monwcalth, having ever felt, and
continuing to feel the most sincere
affection for their brethren of the
other States; the truest anxiety for
establishing and pepetuating the
Union Of all; and the most scrupulous
fidelity to that Constitution, which
Is the pledge of mutual friendship
and the instrument Of mutual hap,
pines7; the General Assembly doth
solemnly appeal to the like disposi
tions in the other States, in conf
dence that they will concur with this
commonwealth, in declaring, as il
does hereby declare, that the act.
aforesaid are unconstitutional; and
that the necessary and proper meas
ures will he taken by each for Co
operating with this State, in main
tanning unimpaired the authorities
rights, and liberties, reserved to the
States, respectively, or to the peo
pie.
THAT the Governor be desired to
transmit copy of the foregoing res.
olutions to the executive authority
Of each Of the other States, with q
request that the same may be com
municated to the Legislature thereof
and that copy be furnished to each
Of the Senator'S and Representatives
representing this State in the Con
gress of the United States.
"Attest, JoHN STEWART.
"l79s, December Oath. Agreed
to by the Senate.
Fl. BROOKE.
"a true copy from the original do
posted in the Office Of the General
Assembly. . ..
"JoHN STEWART,
"Keeper of Rolls"
RESPONSES TO THE RESOLUTIONS OF
1898.
These resolutions having been
adopted on the oath of December,
1898, by the Legislature of Virginia,
were transmitted TO the States for
their consideration. The Legisla.
ture of Delaware was the first to re.
spond; and they "considered the res
olutions from the State of Virginia
as very unjustifiable interference
with the general government and
constituted authorities of the United
States, and of dangerous tendency;
and therefore not fit subject for the
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