The Placer herald., 1866-01-20

30 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.
visa and correction at a time OF great tranuuili.
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 endeavors 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 10
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. tn
be 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 it was understood and acceded to be
the several parties, 1t is sincerely anxious for ia
preservation; that it does also believe, that to
take from the states all the powers of self poy
ernment, and transfer them to general and con
soidated government, without regard TO tbA
special delegations and reservations, solemnlv
agreed to in that compact is not for the peace
happiness and prosperity OF these states And
that, therefore, this commOnwe, lth is determined
as it doubts not it cO-statcs are, TO submit To nm
dele gated and consequently to unlimited powers
in no man. or body OF men, on earth; that If the
acts before specified should stand, these conclh:
sons would grow from 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 cognzablc by them. that they may
transfer its cognizance to the President or any
other person. who may himself be the accuser
a1 nlop nd inrv WI hos picio
the evidence. his order the sentence, his officer
the executOner and his breast the sole record of
the transaction. that a very numerous and yalu-
able description Of the Inhabitants OF these states
being by these precedents reduced as outlaws to
the absolute dominion Of one mfn, and the bar
rers of the constitution thus swept from US ALL
no rampant now remains against the passions and
the power OF Il majority OF Congress to protect
from a like expectation or other grievous punish
ment the minority Of the same body, the legisa-
lures, judges. g, einors and counseors Of the
states. nor their other peaceabe inhabitants who
may venture to reclaim the constitutional rights
and liberties OF the states and people, who for
OF her causes, good or bad. may be obnoxious to
the views, or marked by the suspicious OF the
President, or to be thought dangerous to his or
their election OF other interest public person.
all that the friendess alien has been selected as
the safest subject of first experiment, but the
citizen will soon follow, or rather has already
iolowed; for, already has sediiiOn act marked
of the same character unless arrest ed at the thres-
hold may tend to drive these states into rcvolu.
ton and blood, and will furnish new calumnies
against republican government. and new pretexts
for those who wish it to be believed that man
cannot be governed but by rod OF iron; that it
would be a danger Gus delusOn were q confidence
in the men of our choice to silence our fears for
the safety Of our rights; that confidence Isl every
where the parent OF despotism; free government
is founded in Jealousy and not in confidence; il is
- nat t.ln ,rh; ;nb
limited constitutions to bind down those whom
we are obliged to trust with power, that our con
stituion has fixed the limits to which, and no fur
thcr our confidence may go; and let the honest
adv ocate of confidence read the alien and selition
acts and say if the constitution has not been wise
in fixing limits TO the government it created and
whether we should be wise in destroying those
limits? Let him say what the government is, if
it be not tyranny, which the men Of our choice
have conferred upon the President, and the Pres
ident OF our choice has assented to and accepted
the friendly strangers, TO whom the mild
spirit Of our country and its laws have pledged
hospitality and protection; that the men OF our
choice have more respccie ted the bare suspicious of
the President than the solid lights OF innocence,
the claims of justification. the sacred force of
truth, and the form and substance of law and JUS
tice. In qu' stions OF power then. let no more be
heard OF confidence in man. but bind him down
from mischief by the chains of the constitution.
That this commonwealth does therefore call on
its cO-Statcs for an expression oil Their sentiments
on the acts concerning aliens, and for punishment
of certain crimes hereinbetore specified, plainly
declaring whether these are or are not authorized
by the Federal compact. And tdoubts not that
their sense will be so announced as TO prove their
attachment unaltcrcd 10 limited govcrnment,
vhether general or particular, and that the rights
and liberties of their states will be exposed to
n o dangers by remaining embarked en- IA common
bottom with their own. But they will concur with
this commonwealth in considering the said acts
as so palpablc against the constitution as to
amount to an undiseuised declaration that the
compact is not meant to be the measure OF the
power of the general government, but that ii will
proceed in the exercise over these states OF all
pow crs whatsoever That they will view this as
seizing 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. Int in all cases
whatsoever by laws made not with their consent
but by others against their conscnt that TINS
would be to surrender the form of government
VIC have chosen, and livrg under one deriving
its power from ts own will. and uot from our all-
thorty; and that the co states recurring TO- the'r
natural rights in cases not made Federal willcoh,
cur in declaring these void and Of no force ara
will each unite with this commonwealth in re-
questing their repeal at the next session OF Con-
greSS.