The Placer herald., 1866-01-20
Kentucky Resolutions Of 1798... Drafted
L hY Thomas Jefferson

AenLuCky neSOAutlVuS VI '..Ura1CeQ
by Thomas Jefferson.
Resolved, That the several States composing
the United States Of America, are not united on
the principle OF unlimited submission to the gen.
eral government, but that by a compact under
the style OF u Constitution for the United States,
and of amendments thereto they constituted
General Government for special purposes dele
gated to that government certain definitive pow
crs reservng each State to itself the residuary
mass OF right TO their own self government, and
that whatsoever the general government assumes
undelegatcd powers, its acts are unauthorized,
void and of no force; that to this compact each
state acccded as state and is an integla al party;
and its cOstatcs forming as to itself, the other
party; and the government, created by this CON-
pact, was not made the exclusive or final judge Of
the extent of the powers delegated to itself; since
that would have made its discretion, and not the
constitution, the measure of its powers; but that
as in all other cases of compact, among powers
having no common judge, each party has equal
right to judge for itself as well of intractions as
OF he mode and measure of redress.
Resolved, That the Constitution of the United
States having delegated to congress power to
punish treason, Tor counterfeiting the securities
and current coin of the United States. piracies
and lelonies committed on The high seas, and Of
fenses against the law OF nations, and no other
crime whatsoever, and it being true. as a general
principle, and one of the amendments 10 the con-
sitution having also declared "that The powers
tuition. nor prohibited by it to the states, are re-
served to the states respectively. or to the peo
ple," therefore, the Act Of Congress, passed on
the l4th day OF July, 1898, and entitled ian act
in addition to an act entitled an act Tor the pun
ishment of certain crimes against the United Sta
tes;' as also the act passed by them on the 27th
of June, 1898, "entilcd an act TO punish frauds
committed on the bank OF the United States" (and
all their other acts which assumes TO create, de-
fne or punish crimes oth than those enumera
ted in the onstitution.) are altogether void and
of no force, and that the power 10 create, define
and punish such other crimes is reserved and of
right apperans solely and exclusively to the
states. each within its own territory.
Resolved That it is true. as general princi-
pie and is also expressly declared by one of the
amendments to the constitution, that the pow ers
not delegated to the United States by The consti-
tuition. nor prohibited by it to he states, are re-
served to the states respectively, or to the peo-
pe;" and that no power over the freedom of re.
igion, freedom of speech or freedom OF the press
being delegated to the United States by the con-
stitution, nor prohibited by it 10 the states, all
lawful powers respecting the same did of right
remain, and were reserved to the states or the
people; that thus was manifested their determine
ton to retain to themselves the right Of udgine
how far the lcentousness of speech and of the
press my be abridged without lessening their
useful ircedom;and how far hose abuses which can
not be separated from their should be tolera
ted rather than the use be destroyed and thus also
they guarded against all abridgment by the U.
States Of the freedom of religious opinions and
exercises. ard retained to themselves the right OF
protecting the same. this state. by law passed
on the general demand of its citizens, had already
protected them from all human restraint or inter
fcrence and that, in addition TO this general
principle and express declaration, another and
more special provision has been made by one OF
the amendments to the constitution, which cx.
pressly declares. that congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or pro
hibitng the free exercise thereof. or abridging
the freedom of speech or of the press" thereby
guarding in the same sentence, and under the
same words. the freedom of rei gion, of speech
and of the press, insomuch, that whatever viola
ted either, throws down the sanctuary which COW
ers the others and that libcls aschoods and def
amation equally with heresy and false religion.
are Withheld from the cognizance OF Federal tribu-
nails. That therefore the act of the congress
of the United States, passed on the l4th Of July
1898, entitled ''an act in addition to the act emit
tied an act for the punishment of certain crimes
against the United States,' which does abridge
the freedom of the press is not law, but is alto.
gether void and of no force.
Resolved, That alien friends are under the ju-
risdiction and protection of the laws OF the states
wherein they are; that no power over them has
been delegated to the United States. nor prohibi-
ted to individual states distinct from their power
over citizens, and ii being true a genera prin-
cple, and one of the amendments to the constiu-
delegated to the United States are reserved TO
the states respectively, or to the people," the act
of the congress of the United States passed the
22nd day OF July. 1898, assumes power over aliens
not delegated to the constitutions is not law, but
is altogether void and of no force
Resolved. That in addition to the general prn-
cipc WILL as the express declaration, that pow
crs not dele gated are reserved, another and more
special provision inserted in the constitution.
from abundant caution has declared that 1.-THE
mi grafton or importation of such persons as any
OF the states now existing shall think proper to
admit shall not be prohibited by the congress pri-
or to the year lS0S;" that this commonwealth
does admit the mi grafton oi alien friends describ-
ed as the subject of the said act concerning aliens;
that provision ag inst prohibiting their migra-
ton is provision against all acts equivalent
thereto. or it would he nuoatOry; that to remove
them when migrated is equivalent TO the proh-
btion of their migration. and is. therefore. con
trary to the said provision Of the constitution,
and void.
r, solved, That the Imprisonment of a person
under the protection of the laws of this common
wealth on his failure to obey the simple order Of
the President to depart out Of the United States.
as is undertaken by the said act entitled ''an act
concerning aliens is contrary to the constitu-
tion. one amendment to which has provided that
no person shall be deprived OF liberty without due
process OF law and that another having provi-
ded. "lhat in all criminal prosecutions the accus-
ed shall enjoy the ri ght to public trial by an i'm
partial jury, to be Informed OF the nature and
cause OF the accusation to be confronted with the
witnesses against him. to have compulsory pro-
cess for obtaining witnesses in his favor and to
have the assistance OF counsel for his defence"
the same act undertaking to authorize the Presi-
dent to remove a person out of the United States
who is under the protection of the law, on his
own suspicion, without accusation. without Jury
without public trial. without conformation of the
witnesses against him, without hearing witnesses
in his favor, without defense, without counsel is
contrary to these provisions also of the constitu-
tion, and is, therefore, not law, but utterly
void, and of no force. The transferring the power
of judging any person who is under the protec
ton of the laws, from the courts to the President
Of the United States as is undertaken by the same
act concerning aliens, is against the article OF