Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-14

compact, from which the powers OF The
Federal Government result.
The next position IL, that the General
Assembly views the powers Of the Fed
efnf Government, " as limited by the
plain sense and Intention Of the instru-
ment Constituting that compact" and
: as no fsrthsr valid than they are au-
thnrized by the grants therein euumeF-
ated.n 1t does not seem possible, taas
any Just objection can lie against either
of these clauses, deeply n essentially
affecting the vital principles Of their po-
htical system. !,
The resolution has accordingly guarded
against any misrepresentation OF rs OBJ
iect, by expressly requiring for saen an
interpretation, q the case Of a Deliberate;
pdlpGbge and dangerous breach OF the
C~onstitufiou. by tse exercise Of poDers
not granted by it. It must be case not
offs light and transient nature, but OF a
nature dangerous to the great purposes
FOR which the Constitution was estab-
Iished. Il must be = case, moreover, not
obscure or doubtful In it, CONSTRUCTION,
hut plain and pdipdbte. Lastly
it mus be a case not RESULT
ing from q partial g consideration
or hAsty determinattonf bal q
ease stamped with a final consideration
and deliberate adherence. Il Is not ne
eessarv, because the resolution does not
require that the question ehould be Dis
leussed how far the exercise Of any par
tieuiar power, ~ungTanted by the Consti-
tuition, would justify the interpositiOu OF
tue parties to it. As cases might easily
be stated, which none would contend
ought to fall within that description ;
cases, on the other hand, might, with
equal ease, be stated, 80 fragrant and 80
fEtaL as tounits every opinion ia placing
them within that description.
But the resolution has done more than
puard against demonstration, by ex-
Dressly referring to cases Of a deliberate,
DulDa6lS and dangerous nature. 1t
specifies the object of the i~nterPOsition
which it cOutemplstes to be solely that
OF arresting the progress OF the eU5S Of
usurDatioB, and of maintaining the au-
thOrities, rights and liberties appertsin-
ing to the States, as parties to the Con-
.stitution.
0From this view Of the resolution, it
would seem -incOnceivabls that it can
incur any jdst Misrepresentation from those
who, LAYING aside ali momentary im~
p~ressiOns, aud recGileeting the genuine
srurce and object of the Federal Consti-
tuition, shall candidly and accurately
the meaning OF the General
Assembly. If the deliberate exercise OF
dangerous powers, palpably withheld by
the Constitution, could not justify the
parties to Il, in interposing even so far
as to arrest the progress Of the evil, and
theresy 70 preserve the Constitution it.
self, as well as to provide for the safety
Of the parties to it, there would be an
end to al relief from usurped power, and
a direct ~subversion of the rights specified
or recognized under all the State COnsti-
t%utiOns, as well as a plain denial Of the
principle Oh which our Ia
dependence itself was declared
That other States diszented from these
doctrines as to the nature OF Govern
and the rights OF the States may
be held 10 weaken the authority OF the
Virginia Report and Resolutions, So far
as these 90 70 establish that the COnstitu-
really was what she and Mr.. Madi-
son understood it. But the dissent Of
States in no degree tends to prove .
that Virginia did not so understand the
Constitution when she ratified it and
precisely so far Is it goes to show that
her understanding Of It was not correct,
30 far il shows that she ratified it under
B mistake and that ii wa understood
by one State TO be me thing, and by
States to be another. 1t follows
hat it never was legitimately ratified or
force, the consent and ratification Of
part Of the States being given under a
mistake, if not procured by fraud. 4
@ Constitution Of Government" SO
by a compromise ofselfishnesses,
and the balancing of selfish interests,
and, on the part Of some States, by u
lordid betrayal of principle, wa diseased
the womb and began TO die atits birth.
The horrors of a five years war. and the
'esultant consolidation into an empire,
the inevitable consequence OF ths
sin Of the Constitution.