The Placer herald., 1865-10-21

40 construed Us to give Unlimited powers, nor
Dart OF them ~ be taken, us 10 destroy the whole
residue OF the instrument That the proceeding
OF the general government uuder color OF those
articles. " i'll be tit und necessary subject for
yis,i and correctO ~ IL time Oi great tranQuiii-
ty. while those specified in the preceding resolu-
tions call for immediate redress
Resolved, That the preceding resolutions he
transmitted 10 the senators and representatives
in Congress from the commonwealth, who are en-
iuined to present the same to their respective
houses and 10 use their best endeivors to procure
at the mex, 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 speciied in their late federal compact, to
be friendly 10 the peace happiness, and prosper
ity of all the States that faith ul TO that com
pact. according to the plain intent and meaning
in which ii was understood and accrd, d to by
the several parties, it is sincerely anxious for its
preservation; that it does also believe that to
take from the states all the powers Of sell gov
ernment. and transfer them to ii gene al and con.
soidated government. without regard to the
special delegations and reservations, sOlemnly
agreed 10 in that compact, is not tor the peace.
happiness and prosperity OF these states. And
that. therefore. this cOmmOnwe lth IL determined,
as it doubts not it co-sttcs are. to submit to uh.
Delegated and consequently to unlimited powers
in no man. or body OF men, on earth; that IT the
acts before specified should stand. these cOnclu.
sions would grow from them that the general
government may plac" any acI they think proper
on the list of crimes aud punish it themselves
whether enumerated or not enumerated ny the
constitution cognizahlr by them. that they may
transfer its cognizince to the President or any
other person. VINO may himself b.. the accnser.
,fni.r hi.
the evidence. his order the sentence, his Off1cer
the executioner. and his breast the sole record of
the transaction. that Il very numerous and v1lu
able description OF the inhabitants oil these sttteS
being by these precedent reduced rs outlaws TO
the absolute dominion of one IN n, aud the bar
riers OF the constitution thus swept from us all
no rampant now remains against the passions aud
the power OF ii m 'joriiy OF Congress to protect
from IL lk" expectation or other gri"vons punish
mrnt the minority OF the same body the le.islI-
lures. Judges. e veln0rs AMI counscl0rs or IN"
states. nor their other praceihle nh,hans who
mly venture to reclaim the constitutional rights
and liberties ol the states and people. or who for
other causes, COOL or bad. my he obnoxious to
the views. or IN trkcl Ivy the suspicious OF the
President. or to he thought dangerous to his or
their election or other interest. public or person
al; that the trienllcss alien has been selected as
the safest sui ct of first experiment. but the
citizen will soon follow. or rather has already
followed; for. already has s"liiiOn act IN ,rked
him as its prey. That these and successive acts
OF the I'M ch rIccr uni ss Lrres Ell 1T the thrrs-
hold may tend to drive these states into r"vOlu
ton and oOod and W II furnish new cllnn lies
ag inst republican government. and new preteXiS
for those who wi-h it to be believed thit mtn
cannot be governed but by u rod OF iron; that il
would be Il d lngelous drlusiOn were IL cohiiiehcr
in the men OF Onr choice to silence our fears for
the safely Of our rights; that cOhh lence sev'ry
where the parent OF despot>m; tree government
i,t II ia
ralou>y and not contl"nce which pre>crb"s
limited cOnsii lions to bind dowl those whom
We are Obliged TO trust with power that our con
situtOn has fixed the limits TO which. aud no fur
thor our confidence my go; aud let The honest
advocate OF confidence read the alien aud se'llion
acts. and say il the constitution has not Deen wise
in fixing limits to the government it ere ted. an
whether we should BE- wise in de trOyng those
limits: Let him say what the government IL. II
it be not Il tyranny which the men Of our choice
have conferred upon The President and tn" Pres
ident OF Our choice has as>eDted to and accepted
over the friendly strangers. 10 whom the mild
spirit OF our country aud its laws have p"Lged
hospitality and protection; that the men OF our
choice have more respected the bare suspicious OF
the President than tn" solid rieht. OF nnocrncr,
the claims Oi Justification. the sacred force OF
TRUTH AMI tn" torn aud substance OF law and JUS
tce. In On stions OF power then let no more IN
heard OF cnnfl"nce in m,n. but bind him down
from mischief by the chains Of The constitution.
That this commonwealth does therefore call on
its cO-Stites tor an expression OF tIcir sentiments
on the acts concerning aliens, and Tor punishment
OF certain crimes h"rrinbiOre specified, pl tinly
declaring whether these are or are not authorized
hy the Federal compact. And it doubts not that
their sense will be announced rs to prove their
attachment unaltercd to limited COVER iment,
whether general or particular, and that the rig ghs
and liberties Of their co states will be exposed to
no dangers by remaining embarked on il common
bottom with their own. But they will concur with
this commonwealth in considering the said acts
palpable against the constitution AS to
amount to an nndis.uised declaration that the
compact is not meant to he 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 his as
sizing the rights of th" states and consolidating
them in the hands of the general government,
with the power assumed to bind the states. not
merely in cases n;uie Federal. but in all cases
whatsoever. by laws made not with their consent
but hy others against their conscnt; that this
would be to surrender the form Ot government
W" have chosen, nd living under one deriving
its power from Is own will. and not from our au-
thOri,y; and that The CO states recurring to their
natural rights i Gases not m de Federal will con-
cur in drcllrin. .hese void aud OF no force, and
will each unite with this commonwealth in re.
questing their repeal at the next session Of Con
grets.