The Placer herald., 1865-08-12


SO construed as to give unlimited powers, nor a
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 a fit and necessary subject for re-
vis,l and correct at Il time Of great tranquil
ty. while those specified in the preceding resolu-
tions call for Immediate redress.
Resolved, That the preceding resolutions be
transmitted to the senators and representatives
in Congress from the commonwealth, who are en-
joined to present the same to their respective
houses. and 10 their best endelvors to procure
at the next session of congress repeal OF the
aforesaid unconstitutional and obnoxious acts.
Resolved, lastly, That the Governor OF this
commonwealth be, 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 for
specified national purposes and particularly for
those specified in their late federal compact, to
be friendly to the peace. happiness. and prosper
ity OF all The States-th,t faithful to that COM
pact. according to the plain intent and meaning
in which it was understood and accedrd to by
the several parties it is sincercly anxious for its
presentations; that it dees also believe that to
take from the states ;il the powers OF self gov
ernment. and transfer them to Il gene al anl con-
solidated government. without regard to the
special delegations and reservations. soemnly
agreed TO in that compact, is not for the peace.
happiness and prosperity Of these states. Aud
that. therefore, this commomwe lth il determined,
as it doubts not it co-states are TO submit to un
delegated and consequently to unlimited powers
in man. or body OF men, on earth: that it the
acts before specified should stand. these ceneii-
sions would grow trenl them that the general
government may place any act they think proper
on the list OF crimes and punish it themselves
whether enumerated or not enumerated by the
constitution cognizablc by them. that they mav
transfer its cOgntg tnce to the President or any
Ot her IN him self Ia. thn
counsel, julgc and jdry, whose suspicious nay be
the evidence. his order the sentence, his officer
the eXecutioner. and his breast the sole record of
the transaction. that Il very numerous and valu
able descript OF the inhabitants OF these states
being by these precede dent- reduced as outlaws to
the absolute dominion Of one III N, and the b IT.
riers OF the constitution thus swept from us ALL
no ramplrt now rem ,ins against the passions and
the power OF Il m joriiy OF Congress to protect
from Il like expectation or other gricvous punish
ment the minority Of the same boiy. the leyisl.-
lures. judges. COVE, nors and counselors of the
states. nor their other EeaceaMe inh tbitants who
may venture to reclaim the constitutional rights
and liberties OF the states and people. or who for
other causes, COOL or bad. nj ~ lie obnoxious to
the views, or III rked bs the suspicious Of the
President or TO he thought dangerous to his or
their election OF other interest, public or person.
al that the triendlcs alien has been selected rs
the safest SUBJECT OF first experiment. but the
citizen will soon follow. or rather has already
tollowed; for. already hts 4 sediton act m lrk ell
him as its prey. That these and successive acts
OF the same character, unlss arrested ut the thres
hold may tend to drive these states into rnvou.
tion and blood, and will furnish new cllunlies
ag inst republican government. and new pretexts
for those who wish it to be believed thlt MIN
cannot be governed but by Il rod of iron th It it
would be Il ngerOus deusion were II cOullence
in the men Of our choice to silence our fears for
the safety OF our rights; that confidence is every
tsInra fhn -, 4, r..
is founded in jealousy and not in conil ilence; il is
jealousy and not confidence which prescribes
limited constitutions to bind down those whom
we are obliged 10 trust with power that our con-
stituton has fixed the limits to which, and no fur
Their our confidence mly go; aud let the honest
advocate OF confidence read the alien and scdtion
acts. and say II the constitution has not been wise
in fixing limits to The government it ere tied an
whether we should be wise in destro wing those
limits? Let him say what the government is, if
it be not Il tyranny. which the men of our choice
have conferred upon he President. and the Pres
ident OF our choice has assented to and accepted
over the friendly strangers, to whom the mild |
spirit oil our country aud its laws have pie Iged |
hospitality and protection; that the men OF our
choice have more respected the bare suspicious OF
the President than the solid ri ehts Of innocence
the claims OF Justification. the sacrel force OF
trnth. and the form and substance of law and ius-
tce. In qu stions OF power. then. let no more be
from mischief by the chains Of the constitution
That this commonwealth does therefore call on
It's co-St,tes fer an expression Of their sentiments
on the acts cOnccrnn aliens, and for punishment
OF certain crimes h"reinbciore specified, Dl ,inly
declaring whether these are or are not authorized
hy the Federal compact. And it doubts not tn It
their sense will be so announced rs to prove their
attachment uniltercd to limited government
whether general or particular, and that the rights
and liberties Of their cOstates will be exposed to
no dingers by remaining embarked on IA common
bottom with their own. But they will concur with
this commonwealth in considering the slid acts
as so palpablc against the constitution rs to
amount to an undisguiSed declaration that the
compact is not neaut to be the measure of the
power OF the general government, but that it will
proceed in the exercise over these states of all
powers whatsoever. That they will view this a-
seizng the rights of the states and consolidating
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
whatsoever. 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, md living under one deriving
lis power from It's own will. and uot from our a,l-
'bority and that the co states recurring to their
natural rights ii cases not m ,dc Federal will con-
cur in decllrin. these void and of no force and
will each unite wisa this commonwealth in re-
qucsting their repeal at the next session OF Con-
grets.