JOSEPH VV. HAMPTON,
.“The pow' rs granted under the Constitution, being derived from the People of the United States, may bo resum '•! I>y thjm, wh:-n3vor perverted to thjir injury or oppression.”— \Iadison.
-Editor and Piiblislier.
VOLUME l.i
CHARLOTTE, N. C., APRIL 6, 1841.
\ NUMBER 5.
Thu MLckhnburf; Jefcri^onian-' i^^ publish-■ I
Tiro Dollars and Fifty if paid in aJyaiu'^^; or 7.hv::’
Do^^ar.% if not paid before th:* exi)ir '.tn*n ol t.iuek month.s
irom the lira- of subscribing. Any p. r^^on who wdl proruro
subscribers and become responsible for ihiir sul.^-.-npiions,
shall have a copy of thu papor gratis ;-or, a club ot Icn sub-
eoribcra may have the paper onj year for Dollars in
advance'.
No pap." v.'ill be discontiiuicd wliile iho ^ub«?rib, r owci; any
tl’-ing) if he is able to paj’;—and a lair^rc to not.ly (hj L«..itor
o:' tAvish to di^5?ontinue at loa-ot o:;r. mo>;t;i bcfjro ili-.' exj'ira-
V. cf thctim.n'-‘iJ fo*. will b>^ consid.r-d a eirnj m.-ut.
will b= corirplouou^’y and eorr- -dy hi?:rt-
f 1 at O :^ IhU-tr \-)cr ?-]uare for the iirst ins.riion. :>iid Ti.\n~
Cv".''o for ca-jji oon'inuaiiff'—-wcipt Court an.l o’.n. r
iudu'Iul ad-.\'r*;.-;:in''nts, which will bo ch:;r,icd irc.:fi/-jiveper
■■'nt. h;.^h; 1 the abovtj rnt.'s, {ovA'.r^ to ihj dJ iy, u ’-
l al!att, iidui.t 'ipon collections). A lih^'val disc juut w;il bo
:;iad' ■fo thjso advertise by thi' y.ar. Adv-. rl;^>^in nts si nt
i 'V p'.ib’’'uV‘n. uiu.st be r.r’.rkofi with th • nunib.r of iiis, r-
(IcslrcJ, or th.y will b: publ'sl; ' u .'-I forl il and diw^-
i ’orJin^ly.
L'•ctLr^. to th j Editor, li .in.; y ui ;-u!:''
of i V;-.'. l 'X e-vcr, ui,i:st c.^wi, I'ro. r,-.. or :h
atn'.iir.' paid at the ofiice h- re will bi' ch..rjr.d to fh.‘ writ, r,
in every iastauc', and collected as oth.r ao.;cuuts.
St:itc oi' North Carolina.
n>; n;s E.rccU>'nn/. JOHN .M. MOREilEAD.
Corrm.jr, C !pt(ini-G'n(t^'al aa I Co,nma:i'lcr-l?i-
(Viicf, } I an■} over the Sfafc aforesaid r
I havo iteoii du!y iutormod ]>y
? V P:*o(daui:iti'.):i of His F,xctd.lr>n.^y, Wii.i.iam
IIi;NrkII.vuiti.scN, Pivsidt'nt oi'the UjiitCvl St:;:*
that ill-.' lii>t .Mand;iy ol‘?vfay ii-’xt, (bMair tlin
(lay '1’iorc‘o!!) !ia.^ broii iixoil ution by hini Ihr t'l?'
rae'r.tini^ of the lir t Session of the t\vjnly-;=:cvent!i
Coiiirrc^i^ of ll'.c L^nitoJ Stutv's: ait event Avhicli rcMi-
(ior:' it 0X:iiui ni'cossary tii it t!i;' RIeciion li)r
Ki.' Horr.'sent:itivos lVo;u llii' Siatc in t!u'. ni'xtCon-
.'-I'.ai’.ld be Ir/ld at an earlier u ly than t'lC r. ai-
al tiia'-'01 ho].!ia^ s:’.id l^lectio ;r;: iVovv. ihcivdore,
by virtue of the ar.tliority in me vestc lj ]»y an A ’t
of'the (t^^neral -\.enihly of thus S(;ite cniitlet}Aa
Act v‘Gne'‘r!ii i:^ tiie ino.lc of c.hoosia.^ 8o)iat >r.^ a:i;l
l{?pr>'‘^-.entatives ia the Coaf’!‘re?s oi* the lTr!i*«‘;l
ytat 'j'/’ (llovi?ed Stiitut^s of ?%.(/., C'liapter 72 1.)
an I I.) tlie ead, tlu', frei'uiea of this .'5ta’.‘ in.^v
3Il% 3Iaflison’s L!cport—Concluded.
AVii -ii (he Coii?titv.iion was u;i ier the discussions
whicli piece.lc l its raliiiciilioti, it is well knovv’ii
th it (jrt at ’ ’
the
l.c
at i-
f
t ro
f-'..
1 ia f'.e a. r/t (’.>a
r a.i a ^i\‘s I! 1, I (.la i - ;e ti !'
■>v cuaiiaaadin ^ ;n 1 re.,ia:'i e
' y.
PROSPECTUS OF TIIF.
rii! pr: >- iii i.- tliO iirst eiibrt t;Kit iias l>err. laade
to establish a*.i organ iit tl'e birth-place of Anr -
ri':'n:i indopev.'h'iiee, thvt'\i2:h v. hieh tlu; cioetrincs of
he Deir.ocreitie Party rouhl be freely prcniulira.tel
and k.i,adv'd—ia which the great | ru.-iples of Lia-
rty t-nd Jvpitility lor which the Ai.Fx.'.Nnrats, the
'ol:c.', tind tlieir lieroie coinyatri^^ts ]>crilled their all
n ihi; 20th Tvluy, ITTo, coidd at all finies lind aa
advocate. It:^ .swcri'.v;.; re^^ts chii-fly with
LMtl to them,
country the
1
on
iinL-hrmkin^
lhc Republican party ofMeeklenburx—anti to them,
and the Kcpublicans of the s'UT-oiinding
appeal jw made tor support.
'i h''Jefil r>".iia:i will a^tume a- ii. political crocd.
t'lJoC ianlniari:s of the Repiiblioan Party, the doc-
'‘ritios set forth ia the Kentucky and Vir-jinia Reso-
of —b('lievi;i[r, as the lauh'rsigned does,
rhat the authors of these paper.s, v. ho bore a r onspicu-
' part ii'. frarai'.'.g our system of C«ovcrninen% v.'cre
lioi • qntiliuetl to b.and down to posterity a correct ex-
of its trrj spirit—the best judges of what
pov.'ors vrere »lcleg;vted by, and what reserve 1 to.
the Stau s.
It will oppose. Ui dangerous to our r;‘e in:-lituiion.-.
t'le ^-j'iri* of rriOnopo(ij\ wliich has been .-reultli:l\', but
s iiiy i" Teasing in t.he eauiit'-v iro;n tlio founthi-
y r; p:*i‘se:it
1 caia 'U'a- i
aaati '.m. !i r.^>v cuaunaaaing ui i re.,uin:e,' i
:1 .in 1 -til; r •lern*-.-!;; ' Odi !:i • s .-.'r.il '
Cataiiies coamo iag * lei; C’.>:!givss:3n 1 i'isiii,-* t > i
eaii.'^v- ' • be o;).*aed and 'vep’. •. i.| I'd 'ctin.is n '
i)e held, tor Kepr-.-sealatives to the next ('oiiijfr- .'S
of t!'.e U;iited ft^tates on Thursday, the thirt(~('nth
d;-y o!'r.Ia% n^::^ at il.c yd.)fes Cotabli. ln'd bv lav.-
Jti ill' ir res}'! cti'.e Counties. tVir holding lai.l Elec-
A’.id 1 >io furtlier en:,i nan 1 and r^.piirc
lierilK and oth^'r Retu.-iag CblieiTs. t ; irlOv
th*'
]d; f.^5 Tv-es^rf!)oa i-y lav/ lor innt yatr}
tn
f.vd
tl\- ,a to
nni :•(
c
il;tO t \
4 iio 1 iiti II wv'ii ivilUvviJj
t appreht n?ions were exjiri ssi rl l.y many,
)ini.s.s;on ol ij^onie positive rxc'plion fioni
uistincc of tlio of its px-cceidin^s
gi-eat body of its ccnfc.titu( nts; and thu peculiar dif
ficulty ol cii'calaiing an adequate knov/l-dgo of
them throtjgh rny c;lb( r cliaiin* 1; will nut ihtse
considerations, some or other of v;hich proluccd
other t jfct ptiuns fi oin the powers cf ordinary (Jo-
vcrnmtn‘.s, altogether, account for thn policy of
biii hng the iian I of llie Federal Ciovcinni? nt from
touching at ail the cb.annt.1 which alone c;ai give'
elTi'’Acy to il3 rcsponsiliiiit^'to its conEtitueuts; and
ol j'Mving th(;se who adininistrr it lo a remedy for
lh( i;- i;.'juri 1 reputations, under the same ku\’S. and
in thc^ tribunals, w’hicii protect th ir lives,
tlieir libcifi’S, and thriv propv''ilies.
But l]ie q:iestio:i docs not turn eiihcr on the v/is-
iloni cf thu Const ilution, or vn the policy which
gave risu to its ])T;ticalar o’’ganiz:tlion. It turns
enlhe actual 111 ’ ^ ’ ■
oinis.s;i'n ol some positive rxc'plK
po\V‘ 13 d« Ifgat 1. oi‘ certain rights, atid of the
.im (»f lh(’ ;)r >j pa.ticulj;)v. might expose
b‘ing ilr:;v.;n by con.-truelion
crisis, as requiiing the temporary rigor excited by
the act.
Bt2t, v/hatevcr may have been the mcritori&Li:; in-
tentious of all or any who contributed to the sedition
act, a very few reflections will prove, thst its Laic
ful tendency is littlo di;ninished by the privikge ot
.giving in evidence the truth of th ■ mailer contained
in ’political v/iitings.
in the first place, where simjdo r/irl uala 1 ficts
alone are in qucfelion, there is sufhcirr.t i:{nculty
in some eases, and sufliciciu troiildc nnd vrxation
in all, of meeting a proseciilicn frcm the ^.Jovein-
nif nt, v»'ith the full :jid formal proof necessary in a
CGUVt of law.
Btit in the next place, it must be obvious to ti; •
pliinest min'ls tliat opinions and inferences and con-
I jecluml observations, are net onlv in many cs.s’s
d mgLT oi
‘j'.ue of the paw.s v.'St: (I in (-\>ngr^ss;
, ci.iliy (d’ tiie p.).V i' to mak*' adl ia.vs ne-
ary and ])r'.*p:T ii>r cariying luf ir ot]»er powers
t I . ^ V • 1 • . •
. . ’ * . ' '
n;ay it b“ s dd, :..s the resolution concludcs with say- 1 that kind
of proof which appv'itains to facts, before
'Utl-M.
n I'vlv' to 'bis cib’i ction, it was
ud
, -- - ... - -tor
pi;rpose of oon'.naring the Polls, at t’ac times aa^l
Tv-es^ribed l-y lav/ for that yatrpr-e. And I
ao, by this, my proclantaiion. lurih**;- •Tcfjuirc
Freemen of this ►S’a.te, lo meet ia th'. i
C.'ouT’tic.'-. at the lime
tlie
ir respectivi'.
C.'ouT’tic.--. at the lime aibr-‘s:'i 1. and ‘-at th.o placci=-
estAblished by lav.', tbiOn and then' to give their vote.s
ibr riepresLJilaties'• in t)ie next Co;i:rn*ss.
Duac at t’a* Ci;y ol’ ixahdLr’n. ibis lli^'
s'* tv.’ent\'-set ()jHi day of ?\1 u'cli, in the
yee.r oi’ otir Lord one tIiou;5and eirht
}iunilr( (I and !brty-oae. and ol* the In
dependence of the United St it*.s tiu‘ sixtv-lifth.
J. M. MOPvi:iIFAD.
Ey the Oovernor:
J.\: T. LiTTi.r.joiix, Pri. Sec. I-.*]
th
d
(>'ov(.Tnment.
most odious !’t*a*urc
•n
'jughij
•-•"d prosp('i:iy
ad ia pr
1 i \ that it ro])s l!ie >!anv, hnpt rrt j)!iblv.
rr.v;;—It clothia ft w v. ealthy i:>.!ivi-
V i'*i v. ir not oniv to ro'itrol the v.aucs ot
■:"r
: , v--('X 'i;i vjf a s^.irlt of extrava j:an”e. \\ra.'n it
’■"d’ i‘ ' i'\ r.i'vw'.'.i-.'rV nun, ;vi \ ton o‘.\»a tho n^or-
7 .n - ■ -i - I of its victim^'. Tlds -.tern mu bo
fui inrJ, l>i lore v:o eaa hope to si-e sjt-
mi;-’ alike tij^an ail our «ati;^er:>. .t o
: thi reform, aviII be one of the main
..‘di'ctsuL .1. JeliVrsonian. It v.ad v/ar a^iain-t /.v-
'i' I '■■■’ • ov parti’^? ( uai.'T v. iiiU-
. V, r iuilc LT.uii .,11-y mir : _.u«l, Ihcro-
wul opj'ose the charhaang oi a L niaal ..- a. -
■?-’ rk I' ‘. fiial Iiaprovements by the Fenend (j»o%--
a revival of tlie TarilV Syst.an, end the new
t'edcral s >uenv‘ of the General Covcratnei.t a^sma-
in.?topavto loreign money changers two }v‘ntlr>''(
'/lions of borrowed l>y a few ►'States lor
local purpo.-fs.
\s n. caiertion cf vital importance to the South,
ri i i oat' \vhi''la, i’rorn various causes, is evt ry day
Ur- ir.ii.iLr a mor*- momentoup and awful asjiect, the
J ; idaa will not tidl to keep its readers regularly
.i ol i urattrlv advised ot tlie movements ot the
'\or-.ii ra Abolitionist.tj. It n"mst tie evident to all
. a h I oh.-.vrver.^ tliat ti ]>ortio;i of tl'.e party press ol
•f . hvive liidierto been too sil at o.i tiii ■- sub-
■ \V: shall, tl'.erefore. without th.e ;i 'u* ^:f b^dng dy-
•■'0'''.n'jed as au alurn'.lst, Ivad oiir ituaiaii- a; I to assi.-^t
la av. tikoninfT the I’coyile of t’no So;;th to due vigi-
h. ac! and a ^-nse of th-.dr mai Uatua r.
W'hiio t. portion of tin'- calmnns oi th.t .Teif rsoiu.tn
’.ill be iicvoicvl to political ditcus.-a >ii. tiie great iat;--
r :-ts of Mouai.s, LiTnnA i nif;. An:;irri.Ti ui:. an:l
Aut.s. fdiall not be ne-lected. \\ itk
iFavmn*.o’
HR recent Union of the CAROLINA PLAN
TRR with t!ie FAKMRPxS’ P.RClSTRli. ;md
. . con. i qucot addition to the sab.-cripti.on list of
abr)n l.UOO names, will enabl.‘-th ‘ puidishcr to aild
sornethinir forihwitli to tin' ]irivileges and advanta-
r'‘s b(‘ibr" ofler'd lo .‘^ub.'srrihcrs. Thes*' atl.litiona-
advfiate.ges will b;' seca; ia ’ t!dr 1 premium, v. hich
i; nrv.' a.hied bdow, a.ad in the adverriscd ];rices of
back volumes annex^-d; ,
C’G?^ DIT. IOX>'> t i iiii: P At%,\«i
To r.l'^ i.N' i-D \RV, I'il.
,.\r.Tiria'. 1. T e.e Fare'i'''r--' K«’Lrist-''r is puo:i'a«^!i
in }a(n.;hly nutabers. of tU large octavo ]»ares racii,
at S”> vear, jxrjai>lr i;i (idvit u'c. e. a'.-o, ’• Pr - 1
.'jaieim'i” b. l’*w. ) It is now also is^^l'd (and Cv'aisi^t- |
inir ot’ nearly t'lC sa.me m;i-ter) weekly, in a ;'in_;l''
i'h t t ot* 10 pages oi tav.a. Price and conditions the
same for both jaiblications,
II. ,\!1 mail jvivments niu -t be made in bank notes,
orr’ieck;', of i ak vai.ui: in Vihgima—or otiier-.vise,
of a CITY bank of the State in v.diich tlw' f.ubs. i’iber
resides;* and all letters to tiie publi'^her ((‘xcept
Huch as coatain arti(dos l*or publication,) nnist bt
A * »'
inva; iabiy Uigfd to be a tun lam; nt d and charac-
ri^tic of the Consiifiuion, that all powers
!!■:♦ t;i\. li by it v/onj re^'t rved; tl-.i no powers v.'ere
ri'. II yotid tbor’"- fruri’ n'l^'d in the (_‘o!adituti(jn,
a;.d sae’i as vrer;. fairly iti*"iu r.t to tiiem: that tla;
power over tie- lights in qiustion. and particularly
over ti. • j re^.^, v.'.is neither aa ang tlic tnumcrated
p-v.veis, iiar incident to .any cf tiicm ; n;id consc-
(p.i nlly tb.at in tx* rcis ' of at:y such {•.ov.*er, v.'oul'l
be m.miftst usurpe.tion. It is painfiil to rema:!:
how much tlie argmnt li'.s now ( niplov d in b* half
of t:i!‘ S diti -n Act. a-*' nt variance with the rea-
Sv)ning which th n ju. lili'.1 the Con.stitution. and in
vited its ratitic.ition.
From this jiicture of the .'inbject, resulted tin? in
ter sting (picvtion in so many of the Conventions,
wh'iher the doubts and dangers ascribed to the
Constitution, shouU be nmovtd by any amind-
m« nts prt vious to the ratilication, or be postponed,
ill cotdiib nee tliat as far as tin y might be {iiopor,
th y would be introduced in the form provided by
the l..k)i!Stitution. Tiie latter course \vas adopted ;
and in most of tiic Slat* s, ratifications were followed
ly the propositions and instmctions for rendering
the Con.-titution more explicit, nnd more safe to the
rights not ire ant to be d i gated b\' it. Among
liiosc lights the fVcnluni of tho pr s.s, in most in-
stanc's. is padiculavly an! emphatically mention'd.
1 lie lirm an 1 very poir»tid manner i« which it is
as.s rti d in tho pro^'eedin^s of the Convention of
t!;is Slate, ^viil Iv. h .^i^ifter ni.
lirst C‘ ng.ass that ass S-s thiJS r^—
lion. proji.9S:-d ci itain ameiijnn fr^, wliich, have
slue. . I-v th-^ n- c .->aiy ratifications, i een made a part
of it; among which am' ndni' nts is tho aiticlc con-
iaanng. ainon^ oth' r prolnlalio'.is on tii'* C c>ngri.s^,
a:i expr» ss d-ciaration tiiat tliry snouid make no
1 iW abiid'^'ing the frctiloui ol the pr» S3.
Witliotjt l.a.cing fuUher the evid- nc*; on this sub-
j ct. it would Seem scarc 'ly j'os;?;!)!*.' to >loubt, that
unconrtitul.onal j ov/. r exercis.el over i a cou-1 of law,
the ‘ 8* di'.ion Act,” ought ‘-more tliaii
1
m r, th.:t th
the ra’' ss b'
anv otiu ;-. f> pro:bi a' iii;ive’sal alj.rin; he*’ .■ ■ :
1* ;^li. d ag,:in.\t tlait right oi irc( ly •‘Xtii.Liniiig pub
lic characl'us and measures, and of ftee coannuni-
cation
b
L'VLTV otiicr right.
--- - y
ation among the peopl-j ihereon, wdiich lias ever
cen justly deemt'd the only cdeclual guardian of
_VL‘ry otiicr right."
Vritiiot't scrii‘iini,:ing minutely into ail the pro
vi^ioi s of the ^*Selifion Act,” it vcili be suiBoioit t(
1^0,.
bv
no po\
Uoioit to
as follows;—-‘An-l b" it
rscn shall vrrite, print
?0.' / ; and ti\c publisher assumes the risk ol loss
■ c;irri;ige of all letters and remittances con-
forminir to the loregoioj^ conditions, aiul whi di hace
been properly co nniit‘ed to tlie mail., or to tiie ha.ids
of a postDK:.‘. r.r
III. If a su- .. ription not directed to be (hscon-
tinued before the lirst number of the next Vvtlmne iias
been pubhshed. it will be taken as a contiauance for
another yeeip. ^’•uhscri^lio^s must commenc.'* v>ilii
i!\e becriTiuiniT (d some one vohune. tind will not be
ta';-ai tor I' ss than a year's jnibiicaiion.
IV. Tiie umtT'. d obii.ratioris ot ihe ]nii']isaer aa.l
sv.h'^ia'ib* r, i*or dn ^ ear, arc i’uliy inairred as soon as
the fir.'t nam^'' r ot' the \ ohnne is is.-up.l; and a!t r
that lim a t'o disconli iu.T.nce of a sub.scrintio.i v.iil
’)!“ jcriaitted. .\orwill ;i sa’as'-rijaion be discootin-
Ui‘d i’or anv earher notic;*.-vvbile aay thinfj thereon
remai'.s due, un'a ;as tlie option of i!ic bhiil'T.
PiJKMir.'.irf /,7. r.cjii; fjjtra/ id co/KUiii railoii
of I ith( r ti'iranrcd or tuihj ]iaijr>U‘iils.— 1st. To e ■
th., Mj,c:;amc Aut.s. f:naii not oe'm- -letira. >> un ^ ;f/,curcfl or tunt/ })aip}U‘}i!s.—lo eve-
■ ne cl”'ic ?t selectioiis on these ‘tiwiecrs, and a oue s’la!! pay tor vol. U. ,?/i•/'•/;'j/ accor-
■ oa.nT; v of li.rht readin.ir, ti-e bhiitor ho,.''S to reiater ] coadition.s, (i.i a.riicles I. and il..)
his. fdi‘el agreeable anl prof;t;ible lo till classes in al.- t January', (wh.-n ^'o. 1. will be is.^u'^i)
('i-in-v.' r>t’ tac* ciT'.ie ,^!ia!! !)!’. sent; or i.istea 1,
1)0 found above
IIAAIPTON.
Orders for the pap'’"? p/v.V, addressed to
■^e.e r’(iit'’;r of the Jetb'rsoniaa, Cliarlotte, i\.
'I. ill be ]promptly complied vrith.
I’of irraa-ters arc reciuosted to act as Agents lor
tae pa*.;f r. i:'. reeeivina; and te>rv. airaiai" eae names oj
hubscriaers ana their sub'script.aas.
it:' 'I’he Terms of the paper will
JO
Cha.rie*.e, *vxarcn o, 1^11.
PROSPECTUS
politic:)! iifw^paprr, to be issu-.d froni th.- olncc of ‘‘Tho
Tsorth Oarolina Standard,” io be entitled
THE F;XTRA STAaDAHD:
'niOJIA.S LORING, h’JHTOH.
HR EXTRA STANDARD is intended to ac
commodate those of om-f'elloA -cltizcns who de-
O:
a..n ('Xira copy o!* t!ie sae,ie> siia.ll !)!’ sent; or i.istea 1
if preferred !)v him and so ordered, a. copy ol eitlier
vol. V. or vob S. In like u-’anner, at same rate of de-^
ductio.], a. ay one j'.f^'soa may obtain any number ol
copi s t ) supply others.
2d. To every sn'ascriber., net thu.^ paying in ad-
vaurr. e.f the, ])ub!ieatioii, bat who shall do so, and in
all ott'.er res}>ects comply with t!ie above eon.ditions
before .Tuiv* 30di. tui ex'tra co}.y of either vol. 7 or
vol. S idiall be .-ent; an.I the sam(! to every new sub
scriber. ptivini as above required (in Art. I. and II.)
at the t.ime'of lii.> .subscription being orvlered.
3d. Every subscri'oer who has received all the
ba.ck volu’aies of the Farmers’ Register, and who
may be entitled by hi:; paynamt to either of the fore-
goinir premiuins, instead of tla'ai may, at his choice,
and i»y his direction, be credited for vol. 10, to be is
sued in ib VL
Ra.uArM-ts.—Ai’.y extra copy, sent as above stated,
\ ill ae (drccted ordy to the uoi'te of the individucil
.a_ commodate those o J' poJiti.-aj | eoiitted a. ii a,- t ; re:nium ; but seat to aa.y postoiiice
: ire a ! tl.at may be ,kv:red. Ti^o ..a.,,- ol' .V.ry sucSi
docLviues. and the nCv.E 0 fo>y vi’.l cr; nc v.'iil; the volume; l>nt the like
FdRor°dH to make tllis pul.licntion re„„we,l. .„,l .-imii:.r .-^.Ivanta-
acccplable to the p'abhc ; CBpceially that portion who
nre IHendlv to democratic Repuonean priticiples.
ire Iriendly to democratic l«.epuonc;
Tlio price will be $l per year, payable m ad c.cscs
in advt.ncc. A.s the price is low, the terms he
complied with—no paper will be sent to any oneith
out the amount of onf. dom.ar ^'To7th-'v-a- in'
pers will be discontinued at the end
less the advance :br the second year is scat b^ t.u.
tune the first expires. ^
T'lcdve copics will be sent to one ad(uv-s., ^
year, or to different individuals, on tne payment o.
ten dollars in advance. r
A spccimm number will be issued in a ie\*
Should the subscription justify the urmerl.i^ij^g,
the first mimbcr will be issued about the 1st o. . laj^
next. I^CKliNOr.
Raleigh, March 3, IS 11.
Notice.—All persona indebted to me for Reef;
cither by note or account, arc hereby notiiied
that my papers are now in the hands of A'Vm. Means
for collection. Those who see proper to make mnne-
diate payment, can do so without cost, otherwise
luuBt not be blamed for the conscquenccs.
THOMA.S GOODLAKE.
Mur'h IG, 13il.
arran:l Uicnl iiia\ be ren.jwed, and similar advanta-
TOs obtained by any subscriber hereafter, upon the
renew’cd performance of like conditions.
No agents or general collectors are employed for
the Farmers’ Register. But any subscriber, post
master. or other person, may obtain for his owm pro
fit the large allov»ances ollcred in the ibregoing pre
miums, bv pro'^uring tli-; benefits to the }ad)lication
for v/hichthe premivims are offered. Address
EDMUND RUia^'IN.
Pelersbm’g, Va., Oct. 31, 1840.
* It will be GS^ain required, (as formerly), that mail pay
ments phall t'6 nnde in iho notes or cli-.fks of spccie-payinq
6.7,?A:.9, should any such banks be in opnation m the JM-iies in
w’ddi -ubscriburs SLV.'rally reside, t ntd then, the pubht?lK-r,
like .ill oth.T crrditors, and lal>orers nt fine(ipnceP mnst su.)-
inif, ns rinw, to b j defrauded by the operation 0i the non-sp.v
cie puylny banking system, of the dirt rence in value between
the 6c6^of such bank paper and specie.
t “ A postmaster may encloee money in a letter to tae pub
lisher ot^ a mw-spr.per, to pay the subscnpnon of a ihjrd i^-
son c-.d frank the letter, if written by hunselt. (bi-iied)
Amos Kendall, Postmaster-General.
Warrants, Casas, and Casa Bonds
for Sale at this Omce
: wii'li ver ov- r the pi* is vcas supposed iv
be d I gat. d bv the ( ‘..n.stiiaiion, ;.s it o.igaLiIly
stood; and tli.'t the an;-ii'icn nt was iiii«nied as a
positive an i al scluto rescrvali'/ii of it.
But t!'a‘ cvifiuicc is ttdl s’rongcr. T he propo-
.‘-ition of am'n lm nts mad , by Congress, is mlio-
(b.iccd in th‘ foii.;wing t- :ms :
“ The (,‘onvcnti. 11 (d' a number of the Stab'^s,
liaving Jit thf‘ trno o! their tid .ipting tho C'OnsliiU-
tion t xprt sstcl a d' si.o. in ord' r to pievcnl niibcoii-
slritclions or abus-' of it.* powers, ihul futlh'-r decla-
ral-avyan l restriclivt. claiisis sla)uld be added; and
[is e xt( ndmg the groun t ol public conf/d* ncc in ilic
C4;>v. vnav nt. will h-sf insuie the btiuficent tiiaS of
its in^ti^litllal.” _ 1 • r
r!^^r-‘ is li;*' n'os* »^itisliictory niid ciiitli-Utic piool.
Itliatth' s vcial amMidm-ntt jv.opoSv,d, ueie to bi
consid icd as t:lb-i d-ch:ai-jry or ifiiinctive ; and
\v!i( thcr th ‘ (ua* or tne otlKr, as coiies])0ndmg
with the d> si.e t Xji. t ss d by a nu.no>. r oi lii-' Staits.
and its extending the giotuid ol pubiiC cenhdence
in t'a* i Jovi iuuif nt.
Ihid.r i anv otiior c(-nstruction of the nmcnd.ncni
relating to the }r.-'£s, than that it d ciarcd the piess
lo b • wlioilv  xeint)t Ko’u the pow( r of CongieSi.
the amen hn> nt c >uld neither be said lo coii^^pond
willi the ill sire t xpresSi-d by a numb:-r of the Slates,
nor be calculated to txUnd the g.oimd of public
cjnrideiice in th'- C^ovcrnm' iit.
N.iy, more; the construction employed to juslily
theS>'dition Act, ’ would e.xhibit a phenomenon;
without a parralU 1 in the pohtical woild. It would
exhibit a number ot rtspfclable States, as" denj mg
fust, that any power over the press was d-.legated
by the constitution, as proposing nt.xt that an amrnd-
mait to it should explicitly dtclaro that no such
power was d legated ; and finally as concui rmg in an
am ndm nt actually i.-.cognizing or delegating such
a power.
Is then tho Federal Goveinmont, it will be asked
d. stitale of every aiithorhy H r rctl:ainuig the li-
C'.'nti>usn( S3 of the press, and for sh .dding ilsclf
•i‘'jain=t ttio lil.ellous attacks which in y eo n.ade
on th. so Vvdio adininis.er it ?
The constiiutioii alone can answer this question
If no such power be expressly delegated, and if il
be not both necessary and proper to carry into exe
cution an express power : above all, if it be expic^
Iv forbidden, by a declaratoiy amendinent to lhc
Constitution, the answer must be that the 1- exieral
Government is destitute of all such authoril}.
And might it not be asked in turn, whether it is
not more probable under all the circumstancf s hicli
have been review’^cd. that the authority should be
withheld by,the Constitution, than that it should bo
left to a vague and viob*nt construction; A\hilst so
much pains were bestowed in (lunnerating othei
powers, and so n'lany less important pov. eis are in
cluded in the enumeration ?
Mi^ht it not be likewise asivcd, wdiether the anx
ious circumspection which dictated so many
liar limiUitions on tho general authority, v/ouId be
unlikely lo exempt the press altogether from that
authority? The peculiar magnitude of some of the
powers 'necessarily committed to the Fed«?ral Cjo-
vernment: the peculiar duration required lor the
fun-tions of sonic of its departments; llie pccu>iar
cite so niucli of s c'aon :
fiiither enact-d that if a ^ ^
utlei, or jiublish, or shall cause or procure to be
wiittf n. pi int. d, u""ered, or published, or shall know
ingly and V. ilhngly assist or aid in writing, prin
ting-,' uttering, or publishing any false, scandalous,
and malicious wriM'ng or writings a.gJiinst the Cio-
vernment of the United States, or eitlun- House of
the Congrts.3 of the United Stall s, vith a?i intK7it
to dcfar.xt the sai l iiorcni:ncnf, or either House of
the said Co7i/i rc!:-,or the President, or to bring ihan,
or either of them^ into eontempi or disrepute ; or to
excitc agamsi them, or either or any of them, the
hatred of the good ]»>^oj)/eof the United States^ c^'C.
I'hen SKch person.i being thereof convicted before
aay court of the I nitcd >Statcs, having ju risdiction
(hereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding
tu'o thousand dollars, and bff in?prisowient ?iOt c.i-
cceding tico^ea /v.”
Oa this |fart of the act, the /(.diov. ing observations
present th'-mselv? s;
1. 'rhe Contililuhon supposes tliat the Ih'csidt nt,
the Congress, ami each of its Houses, may not dis
charge ili( ir triK'ts. either IVoin denct of judgment
or other causes. Iknce tiiey arc all made re«pon-
circnoiia ; anu ixi - rtlUiiiing periods of
le\l AVith very great jioweis, jV _ /;/--*arus-.
sndijtctxl to aa iat'rnie(naTC iiulr-..^-- f^niier
\l. ShoukI il happ( n. as the constitution suppoc-^2 ^
it may iiap.pi n, thvsl eilinr ed tliese branches oi the
CJovcrmnent may not hav duly dischaiged its trust;
il is natural an 1 })ro]'»er, that accouiing to the cause
and degree of their faults, they should be brought
into ce'iiteinpt or disi*. pule and mcur liio nalred of
the people.
3. Wh. iher it has. iti any case, happened that the
p»rocedings of litliei. or all ol laose branches e\in-
ces such a violation of duty as to justify a contempt,
a disrepute, or hatred among the people, can only
bed termined by a free txannnation iheriof, and a
free comniunica'tion among the people thereon.
4 ^V'h'n vt:r it may have actually happened,
that proceedmgs oi that sort arc chargealde on all
or eiihcr uf tiie branches of the (j»oveanment, it is
ihe' duty as w II as th'^ right of intellig nt ;uid faith
ful citizens to discuss and promulg'" tlu m freely, as
well to control them by the censorship of the pub
lic opinion. t;s to piomotc a remieiy accoidin^ to
tlic rules of the* Constilulion. Anl it cannot be
avoided, that those v.dio arc to apply the remedy
miisl ft el, in some df gree, a contenq.l or hatred
g.dnst lh('t ansgressing paity.
As the act wa.s nass^'d on .Tuly I L I/Ob, and
is to be in force unt.i *>l;:rch o, Ic^Ol, it \\.ts. ol
course, that ebirmg its continuance, two elections of
the e ntn'o Tlouse of R. j)r s^ ntati\e'S. an oiecla.^n of
a part of the S nab', and an election of a Piesi-lent
vrore to take place.
G. Tiiat conscquf mly, during all these el:ctions,
intended by the constitution to preserve the purity,
or to purge the faults of the administration, the great
rcmc'lial rights of tho peeiple wxro to be (xercisrd,
and the rcspontsibihty of their puohc ageius to be
skrerncd, under the penalties of this act.
?Jay it not be asked of every intellig.^nt friend to
the hlWlesof this country, vchcthcr the power ex
ercised in such an act as tbi.s, ouglitnot to produce
great and universal alarm? Whether a rigid ex
ecution of such an act, in time past, would not have
repressed that i.iformation and communication among
the neople which is mdispcnsable to the just exei-
cise of their electoral rights? And whether such
an act, if made povpetual, and inforced with rigour,
would not, in tinie to come, either destroy our free
Qf governmciit. or pieparc a coiivulsion tnat
might prove equally filial to it?
In answer to sucli qu- stions, it has 1 "fn pieaetrd
that the writings and publications foibidlLn by the
act are those only which arc false and malicious,
and intended to defame: and merit is claimed for the
privilege allowed to authors to justify, b}'proving
the truth of tlicir publications, and for the liinita-
tions U) Avhicli the scntenco of fine and imprisoii-
mcnt is subjected.
To those who concurred in the act, under the ex
traordinary belief that the opinion lay betuecn the
passin'T of such an act, and leaving m force the com
mon l?w of libels, which punishes truth equally
withf^ilsehoods; and submits fmeanl imprisonment
to the inedfinite di.screti.^n of the court, the merit of
rood intentions ought surely not to be refused. A
like merit may perhaps be duo for the discontin
uance of the corporal punishment, which the com
mon law also leaves to the discretion of the court.
This merit of intention, howev'er, would have been
oTOiiter, if the several mitigations had not been
fimited to so short a period ; and the apparent iiy
consistency would have been avoided between justi
fying the act at one time, by contrasting it with the
rigors of the commom law otherwise in force; and
at another time, bv appo-iling to the nature of the
.\gain; Il is no less obvious, that the intent lo
lef! ne: or bring into cont'inpt or disrepute, or
iiatr d, wiilch i.s m-cao a C'^nliiion of the ofiuK»
created by tlie a't, c.itm./t. prevent i‘.s pernicious in
flux nee, on the freedom of tho press. For, oiniltitig
the cnquir}', how far the maliv-’/j of tho inunt is i.ri
inference of the liw from the nv ro publication; it
is manifestly impossible to punish ihe intent to bring
those who adminii-ter the government into disrepnt *
or con'empt, vrithout spiking at the right of freely
discussing public charactcrs and measures; bccaUso
those who engage in such discussiorvs. must expect
and intend to excite these unfavorable scntimtnts,
so ftr as they may be thought to be deserved, 'i’vi
prohibit, therefore, lire intent to excite those unf.iV0-
rable sentiments against those who administer th-j
Crovernment, is equivalent to ti prohibition of the
actual excitement of them; and to prohibit the ac
tual excitement of them, is equivalent to a prohibi
tion of discussions having that tendency and efilct:
which, again, is equuak nt to a proleclion of those who
administer the Government, if they should at anv
time deserve the contempt or hatre-d of tiic people,
against bt ing exposed to it, by free animadversions
on their characters and conduct. Nor can there bn
a doubt, if those in public trust be shielded l>y prii jl
laws from such strictures of the press as may ex
pose the^m to contempt or disrepute, or hatred, v/here
tiiey may deserve it, that in exact proportion as they
may deserve to bo r-xposed, will be the certaintj'
and criminality of the intent to expose them and
the vigilance of prosecuting and punishing it; nor
a doubt, that a Government (bus in'renched in penal
statutes, against the just andnaturai eilccts of a cul-
p-abLj administration. Avili easily evade the rrsponsi
biiity which is esscnti.il to a faithiul discliargc of
its dtriy.
more particuk-irfy*tfr?'r^ikv^^k-*
^lit of eltCi-
sible governm-nl. Tlie value nnd * irlciicy"cTlTns
right, d( pends on the knov.deelge of th-' ccmpira-
tive merits and demerits of tho candidates.for pubhc
trust, and on the equal f*-eedom, consequently, of
examining and discussing theS3 merits and demerits
of the candidates respectivei}’. It has been seen,
that a number of important -rbctions will take pLi'Z^i
whilst the act is in force; although it should not bo
continued beyond ihe torm to v.dnch it is limited.
Should there happen, tlien. as is extiemcly prooa-
ble in i elation lo some or e>iher of tlu.sc branches ct
the government, to bo competitions between those
who are. an:l those wtvj arc not, nier-ibevs of the
government, what will be the situation of tne com
petitors? Not equal; bccaiise tho f-.ar;icters ci
the former will be covcred b}' tho Sedition jVci
from animadversions exposing them to disrepuio
among the people; whilst the luter maybe e-xp-jscd
to the conlcmpt of the people, wdthout a violation
of tiie act. What will be tlie shimtion of the peo
ple ] Not free; because they will be c-inpclivd to
make their election between competiiors v.hcso pre
tensions they are not permitted by the act equaliv
to t xamine, to disctiss, and to ascertain An from
both th sc situations, will not those in pov/er ueiiy..
an undue advantage for continuing themseive-s in ir,
Vv-hich by impairing the right of election, en iang-rs
the hi ssings of the government founded cn it ?
It is with justice, therefore, that the Gaicral A^-
senibly have affirmed in the rcsohttion, as we-Il tiiat
the ri^^ht of freely examining public characters
and imasurcs, and' of free communication thereon,
is the only eli'ectual guardian of every other rignt,
as that tiiis particular right is levelled at. by tiio
power exercised in the “ &editicn Act^ ^
The resolution next in order is as loilows.
“ Tiiat this State having by its Convention, whtcji
ratified the Federal Constitution, expiessly elocl i*e
that among other essential rights, ••the libenv ed
conscience" and of the press cannot be caAccllcU,^
abridged, restrained or modified by any authorit\ or
the United States, and from its extreme anxiety to
guard these rights from every possible attack of so
phistry and ambition, having with other States re-
cominended an amendment for that purpose, v. Inch
nro.endmcnt w’^as, in due tim*^, anncxoi to the C i. /''.*
sUfition; it v.v/ild mark a reproachful incon:;ictcn-
cy and crimin d degcneracy. if an indifierence were
now shown to the most palpable violation of one^of
the ri£rhts thus declared and secured; and to tne
establishment of a precedcn^, wliich may be fatal
to the other.”
To place this resolution in its just h^nt, it v* ni
be necessary to rccur to the acts oi riitificatioii
Virginia, Vvdiich stands in tho ensuing form.
\Ve, the Delegates of the People of \ irginia
duly elected in pursuance of a recommenutitiou
from the General Assembly, and now met m Ccn-
vention, having fully and freely mves^gated and
discussed the proceedings of the L ederal Conv entioTi,
and being prepared as well as the mobt mature de,
liberation hath enabled us to dccide thereon; DO,
in the name and in behalf of the People of \ ir-
ginia, declare and make knov/n, that the powers
granted under the Constitution, being derived froni
the people of the United States may bo resumed by
them, whenever the same shall be perv. rted to tiieir
injury or oppression; and that every
orante'd thereby, remains with them anrf u“- their
w;«. That therefore, no right of any denoinina-
iton can be cancelled, abridged, re-st:;iined or modi-