The Placer herald., 1865-12-09
so construed as to give unlimited powers, nor

so construed as 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 re-
vis;,l and correction at time OF great tranquil
ty. while those specified in the preceding resolu-
tions call for immediate redress.
Resolved, That the preceding resolutions be
transmitted 10 the senators and representatives |
in Congress from the commonwealth, who are en- |
Joined to present the same to their respective |
houses and to use their best endeavors to procure
at the mex, session Of congress repeal OF the
aforesaid unconstitutional and obnoxious acts.
Resolved, lastly, That the Governor OF this
commonwealth he, 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 Tor
specified national purposes. and particularly Tor
those specified in their Late federal compact 10
bc friendly to the peace, happiness, and prosper
ity OF all The States - that faithful to that COM
pact. according to the plain intent and meaning
in which il was understood and acccd'd to by
the several parties, it is sincerely anxious for its
preservntion; that it does also believe that to
lake from the states all the powers of self gov
ernment. and transfer them to gene al and con-
soli,aled government. without regard to the
special delegations and reservations. sOlemnly
agreed TO in that compact, is not Tor the peace.
happin'ss and prosperity OF these states. And
that. therefore. this cOmmonwe lth is determined,
as il doubts not ii cO-staies are, to submit to un-
delegated and consequently to unlimited powers
in no man. or body OF men. on earth; that II the
acts before specified should stand. these conclu-
sious would grow from them. that the general
government may plcrany act they thnk proper
on the list OF crimes aud punish it themselves.
whether enumerated or not enumerated ny the
constitution coenizablc by them. that they may
transfer its cognzauce TO the President or any
other person. who may himself be the accuser
couns el inlec and jury whose suspicious may be
the evidence his order The sentence, his officer
The cXeculioncr. and his breast The sole record of
the transaction. that very numerous and valu-
able description Of the inhabitants OF these states,
being by these precedent reduced as outlaws TO
The absolute dominion of one mn, and the bar
rie,s OF the constitution thus swept from us all.
no rampant now remains against the passions and
The pow or OF Il majorly of Congress to protect
from !; like expectation or other arirvous punish
mcnt the minority OF the same body. the legisla-
lures. judges. g',Gnois and connsrlors of the
states. nor their other peaceahc inhabitants who
may venture to reclaim the constitutional rights
and liberties OF the states and people, or who for
other causes, good or bad. may he obnoxious TO
the views or maj kcl hy the suspicious OF the
Pr, sident or to be thought dangerous to bis or
their ct ction or other interest public person
I'll: that the irendlcss alien has been selected rs
the safest SUI jrct of Il first experiment, but the
citizen will soon follow or rather has already
Iollowe d; for. already hasa sedtiOn act mark ed
him as its prey. That these and successive acts
ui the same character unless arrcs: ed at he thres
hold may tend to drive these states into rrvOlu
ton and hood. and will furnish new calumnies
against republican government. aud new pretexis
| Tor those who wish it TO he believed that man
cannot he governed hut ly Il rod OF iron; hat it
would be Il danger ons dclusion' were Il confidence
in the men OF our choice to silence our fears for
the safety of our rights; that confidence is every
where the parent OF despoiism; free government
| is founded in jealousy and not in conldence il is
jealousy and not confidence which prescribes
limited constitutions to bind down those whom
" e are obliged to trust with power that our con-
sitution has fixed the limits to which, and no fur
lhrr our confidence may go; and let The honest
adv ocate OF confidence read the alien and sediton
acts and say il the constitution has not been wise
| in fixing limits TO the government il ere tcd an
| whether We should be wise in destroying those
| limits? Let him say what the government is. if
| il be not Il tyranny which the men of our choice
have conferred upon the President. and the Pres
ident OF our choice has asseuied to and accepted
over the friendly strangers. TO whom the mile
spirit Of our country and its laws have ploiged
hospitality and, projections; that the men OF our
choice have more respected the bare suspicious Of
the President than the solid rights OF innocence,
| the claims OF Just ication. the sacred force of
| truth and the iuim and substance of law and JUS
| ce In uu. stiOns OF power then let no more he
| heard of olconfdrnce in man. but bind him down
| from mischief by the chains OF the constitution
|
its co-Satcs for an expression Of their sentiments
on the acts concerning aliens and for punishment
| OF cert ain crimes hrreinbrIore specified, plainly
declaring whether these are or are not authorized
by the Federal compact. And it doubts not that
their sense will be announced as to prove heir
attachment unalicrcd to limited government,
whether general or particular, and that the rights
| and llerti, of their co states will lie exposed to
! no dang by remaining embarked on common
bottom with their own. But they will concur with
! This commonwealth in considering the said acts
rs so palpaLlc against the constitution as TO
amount to an nndis2uised declaration that the
compact is not meant to he the measure of the
| power of the general government, but that il will
! ~ ocetd in the exercise over these states Of all
| now crs whatsoever. That they will view this rs
sczing the rights of the states and consolidating g
| them in the hands of the general government
| with the power assumed to bind the states. not
merely in cases made Federal. but in all cases
whatso"vcr.by laws made not with their consent
| but hy others against their consent; that this
would be to surrender the form of government
We have chosen, and living under one deriving
| lis power from is own will. and not from al,-
thoriiy: and that the CO states recurring to their
natural rights il Cases not made Federal will con
cur in declaring hese void and Of no force and
will each unite with this commonwealth in re
qucsing their repeal at the next session Of Con
TretS.