Domestic,
State Rights. Wc beg the at
tention of our readers to the im
portant Protest, which appears in
this morning's paper, from Mr.
Jefferson's pen. We well recol
lect the time, at which it was writ
ten.' Impressed with the "Signs
of the times," Mr. Win. F. Gor
don, then a member of the House
of Delegates, and now, we pre
sume, a member of the Congress
of the U.S. and at all times true
to the rights of the States, ad
dressed himself to Mr. Jefferson
upon the subject of the alarming
encroachments of the Federal
Government. It was in the month
of December, 1825, which gave
rise to the first memorable Mes
sage of Mr. Adams, that this ap
peal was made to Mr. Jefferson.
We have the fruits of it in the
Papers now submitted to our rea
ders. No man can mistake their
purport.
' This Protest was transmitted to
Mr. Madison for his approbation.
"What answer was returned by
that illustrious man, does not pro
bably appear from Mr. Jefferson's
works; but no man, who knows
Mr. Madison's opinions and mea
sures, can doubt, for one moment,
of his acquiescence to the crcat
principles which it expresses up
on Internal Improvement.
know that this paper certainly,
A 1 '
was never presented to the Gene
ral Assembly, but, happily, it still
lives in Mr. Jefferson's works. It
will serve as an eternal memento
of his unalterable principles. It
will shew to the most distant pos
terity, that he died, as he lived,
true to his faith; and that eight
years of power, and more than
thirty-five years of experience un
der the Federal Government had
not abated his vigilance in guard
ing the rights of the States against
the encroachments of the Federal
Power. R ich mo ml Enq.
PROTEST.
The solemn declaration, and -protest
of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
on the principles of the Constitu
tion cf the United States of Slmc
rica, and. on the violations of them.
WE, the General Assembly of Virgi
nia, on behalf, awl in tho name nf the
people thereof, do declare as follows:
The States in North America which
confederated to establish their indepen
dence on the government of Great Bri
tain, of which Virginia was one, he
came, on that acquisition, free and inde
pendent States, and as such, authorized
to constitute governments, each for it
self, in such form as it thought best.
They entered into a compact, (which
is called the Constitution cf the United
States of America) by which they agreed
to unite in a single government as to
irheir relations with each other, and with
foreign nations, and as to certain other
articles paiticularly specified. Thev re
tained at the same time, each to itself,
the other rights of independent govern
ment, comprehending mainly their do
mestic interests.
For the administration tf their fede
ral branch, they agreed to appoint, in
conjunction, a distinct set of functiona
ries, legislative, executive, and judicia
ry, in the manier settled in that coin-
pact; while to each, severally and of
course, remained its original right of
appointing, each for itself, a separate set
of functionaries, legislative, executive,
and judiciary, also, for administering
the domestic branch of their respective
V prnmpnlc
Uchoh of government, for each State se
parately; the powers ascnoeu to me u)
as specifically made federal, exercised
over the whole, the residuary powers,
retained to the other, exercisable exclu
sively over its particular State, foreign
herein, each to the others, as they were
before the original compact.
To this construction of government
and distribution of its powers, the Com
monwealth of Virginia does religiously
and affectionately adhere, opposing, with
equal fidelity and firmness, the usurpa
tion of either set of functionaries cn the
rightful powers of the other.
"Hut the federal branch has assumed in
some eases, and elaimed in others, a
right of enlarging its own powers by
constructions, inferences, and indefinite
deductions from those directly given,
which this Assembly does declare to be
usurpations of the powers retained to the
independent branches, mere interpola
tions into the compact, and direct in
fractions of it.
They claim, for example, and have
commenced the exercise of a right to
construct roads, open canals, and effect
other internal improvements within the
territories and jurisdictions exclusively
belonging to the several States, which
this Assembly does declare has not been
given to that branch by the constitu
tional compact, but remains to each
State among its domestic and unaliena
ted powers, exercisable within itself and
by its domestic authorities alone.
This Assembly docs further disavow,
and declare to be most false and unfoun
ded, the doctrine that the compact, in
authorising its federal branch to lay and
collect taxes, duties, imposts and exci
ses, to pay the debts and provide for the
common defence and general welfare of
the United States, has given 'hem there
by a power to do whatever they may
think, or pretend, would promote the
so the bitter consequences in which this;
usurpation will involve us all. m ine
meanwhile, we will breast with them
rather than separate from them, every
misfortune, save that only of living un
der a government of unlimited powers.
We owe every other sacrifice to our
selves, to our federal brethren, and to
the world at large, to pursue with tcm
ner and perseverance the great experi
ment which shall prove that man is ca
pable cf living in society, governing it
self by laws self-imposed, and securing
to its members the enjoyment ot lite, li
berty, property and peace; further to
shew that, even when the government
of its choice shall shew a tendency to
degeneracy, we are not at once to de
spair but that the will and the watchful
ness of its sounder parts will reform its
aberrations, recall it to original and le
gitimate principles, and restrain 'it with
in the rightful limits of self-government.
And these are the subjects of this Decla
ration and Protest.
Supposing then, that it might be for
the rood of the whole, as some of its co-
States seem to think, that the power of
making roads and canals, should he acid
ed to those directly given to the federal
branch, as more likely to be systematic
ally and beneficially directed, than by
the independent action of the several
States, this Commonwealth, trom res
pect to these opinions, and a desire of
conciliation with its co-States, will con
sent, in concurrence with them, to make
this addition, provided it be done regu
larly by an amendment of the compact,
in the way established by that instru
ment, and provided also, it be sufficient
ly guarded against abuses,, compromises,
and corrupt practices, not only of possi-
jble but of probable occurrence.
And as a further pledge of the sincere
and cordial attachment cf this Common
wealth to the union of the whole, so far
General Government has power,
or without the consent of the State Go.
vernments, to construct canals and roads
in their territories, and whether such
power, if not already vested, ought not
to be granted?"
"I think it due to a sense of duty and a
spirit of frankness to say, that my opinion h
equally hostile to its possession, or exercise
by, or its investment in the national authori
ties. I can perceive in it nothing less than
the harbinger of certain destruction to the
State governments, nor can we but see that
it at once breaks down the barrier betwten
a government for national or exterior affairs,
and local governments for domestic or inte
rior concerns."
We trust that the time has at length
arrived, when this long-agitated and dis
tracting question will be brought fully
and fairly before Congress, and that in
a spirit of compromise such a direction
will be given it, as will meet with ge
neral approbation.
Mr. John Jackson of North-Carolina,
This gentleman, whose appoint
ment as Consul ot Martinique was revo
ked the day he received his commission;
appears to have acquit ed considerable
notoriety, whether advantageously to
himself is somewhat questionable. The
reason assigned for the recall of Mr.
John Jackson's commission was that it
founded upon misapprehension as
l If l l . I I . . 1 . . . i 1 I ..!
general weiiare, wnicn construction :s nas oecn cousciiieu to uy me compact
would make that, of itself, a complete, called 'The Constitution of the united
was
to the person intended tc be appointed:
hut this did not satisty him, and he "re
quested an explanation," which not be
ing promptly given, Mr. John Jackscn.
addressed a long letter to President
Jackson, through the medium of the ra
tional Journal, in which he takej
it upon himself to say that the recall of
his commission can only be "considered
to proceed from implacability, unchari
tablcness, malice, hatred and revenge;1'"
! merely "for writing and distributing po
litical matter, and for doing all within"
I my limited sphere to prevent your ele
vation to the station you ingloriouslv oc-
These two sets of officers, each inde
; cndc::t of the other, constitute thus ,
government, without limitation of pow
ers; but that the plain sense and obvious
meaning was, that they might levy the
taxes necessary to provide for thi: gene
ral welfare, by the various acts of power
therein specified and delegated to them,
and by no others.
Nor is it admitted, as has been said,
that the people of these Slates, by not
investing their federal branch with all
the means of bettering their condition,
have denied to themselves any which
may effect that purpose; since, in the
distribution of these means, they have
given to that branch those which belong
io its departments, and to the States
have reserved, separately, the residue
which belong to them separately. And
thus, by the organization of the two
branches taken together, have complete
ly secured the first object of human as
sociation, thp full improvement of their
condition, and reserved to themselves
all the faculties of multiplying their own
blessings.
Whilst the General Assembly thus
declares the rights retained by the State,
rights which they have never yielded &
which this State will never voluntarily
yield, they do not mean to raise the
banner of disaffection, or of separation
from their sister Stales, co-parties with
themselves to this compact. They know
aim vaiue too Highly tne blessings of
their Union as to foreign nations and
questions arising among themselves, to
consider every infraetion to be met by
actual resistance. They respect too
affectionately the opinions of those pos
sessing the same rights under the same
instrument, to make every difference of
construction a ground of immediate nm-
ture. Thev would, i nrtrmt ,-...:..
, j w 1 1 j i i i
such a rupture as among the greatest ca
lamities which could befall them- but
not the greatest. There is yet one
greater submission to a government of
unlimited powers. It is only when the
hope of avoiding this shall become ab
solutely desperate, that further forbear
ance could not be indulged. Should the
majorities of the co-parties, therefore
contrary to the expectation and" hone of
this Assembly, prefer, at this time, ac
quiescence in these assumptions of pow
er by the federal member of the -overn-menj,
we will be patient and suffer
much linrlfr flio -.P..i .i . .
; constitute thus alom ;, I.";:. . "UUI,LC n,aI
Slates of America,' (construed according
well
to the plain anil ordinary meaning of i'sj
cupy,
tal unfitness for it."
It n n w in cp
C 1 J
s I did, your to
ll is evident, how-
ATnr tint 1 ric n"o tirt t V r nnli sK?
language, to the common intendment ot ; . ' T , r , r i
ii. ';. , i r t , l -x Uon to Mr. John Jackson, lor in his ap-
tlie time, and ot those who trained it) to ,- . 0 r J
-;,. ..u, v ii . i . plication to the Secretary ol .Slate for
give also to all parties and authorities, , . . 4 . .J ,l . . .
time for reflection and for consideration 1 t,,C "ointment he said : "I deem it uuc
whether, under a temperate view of the ? C.anrdor a.nd fair m& statf for
possible consequences and especially of 10 "forl,! of ie Resident, that in
the constant obstructions which an equi-, h ate Psidentia canvass I advoca
vocal majority must ever expect to ted the re-election oi Mr. Adams." Con
meet, thev will nrofor tho mntm slcntly his political preference must
.if ik; i .i : navo uecn
him jiunui iiuuui man us acceptance..
known to the President b;
from tho fron w;n r,c ''ore the commission was given. Mr.
and to preserve peace in the meanwhile, . Jloh" son In Thl Iast letter speaks
we proceed to make it the duty of our l,,us lo 1 rcsjdc,it Jackson:
citizens, until the c-rs latum h.-d mhnr. 1 11I,:u!i11 a! erroneous estimate oi ,-ouv
wise and ultimately decide, to acquiesce T.v i .t,Cbtli1!ef ot a nughty nation
.,,!,. .i . r- . e . 9 , . t , r have been consigned mtc your hands."
under those acts of the federal branch of j "A station for which neither your cha
our government which we have declared ! racter, intellect nor education evcrdesiy-n
.
to De usurpations, and arair.st which, in .. vou aml "which, irom imbecility and wick-
point of right, we do protest as null and j tdnef ycu daily disgrace."
void and never to be quoted as prcce-, nat will the reader think of the
principles oi mat man who, entertain
dents, of nirht.
Wc, therefore, do enact, and be it en
acted by the General Assembly of Vir
ginia, that all citizens of this Common
wealth, and persons and authorities with
in the same, shall pay full obedience at
all times to the acts which may be pass
ed by the Congress of the United States,
the object of which shall be the con
struction of post-roads, making canals of
navigation, and maintaining the same, in
any part of the United Staies, in like
manner as if the said acts were, totidem
verbis, passed by the legislature of this
Commonwealth.
FRIDAY, S!:PTlMrI,R ii, i82o.
Internal Improvements.. ..In the re
ceding columns will be found an inter
esting article, principally on the subject
ol Internal Improvements, from the pen
of Mr. Jeflcrson. It may perhaps he
recollected, that the late Gov. Clinton
in Ins Message to the Legislature ol
INCW-Wk, in Dee. ISffi cl..
?to them alJ reference., .nouhTtht
ing these opinions of another person and
acting thus, could yet stoop to solicit
an olfice from him?
But why did Mr. John Jackson make
the addition "of North-Carolina," to his
name? We understand he is neither a
native nor a resident of North-Carolina.
He resided a few years at Washington,
in this State, bui failed to cstabl ish him
self successfully in the mercantile busi
ness, and returned to Alexandria in the
District of Columbia, whence he came.
We were much gratified to learn this
fact, for we could scarcely believe that, a
native or adopted citizen of North-Caro-Ima
would speak and act thus in relation
to any individual who had acquired the
honorable and respectable otHce of Pre
sident of the United States.'
President Jackson, accompa
nied by the Secretary of War and
Gen. Gratiot, returned to Wash
ington City in the steamboat Po
tomac on the 1st inst. We are
pleased to learn that the Presi
dent's health ia much improved
by his visit to the Rip Raps.
Sheriff and Constable Sales.
A correspondent of the Warren
ton Reporter writes thus:
Mr. Vcrell: I have for sonic
years back, been strongly impn--