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tKXi :fA'rH ih '-7 Vi-J n
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;1.IAIIGHL CO, ?I833
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IS
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4
t
d
to
t
.7- .. . ft JlKlUO'
published
in advance
"iuri five Counties
inore tlian
and ii
" IhR ftco isoTcrwejearatan-
AiwiiJ he -ilea for less than 'one
m 't t he twual uUx.
r?S " rT the wrbole sum m ad-
Tif idnn regularly, wiU he coaUnu-
tSwcPr , e jSditor the busin8
Pe!f S Sd, fcim a Editor ' of tfe
H"iSTliow that writ oatoth-
before the
!f tAvw this paper, ttwill be
renifm-
flrtpwr-. T the puruxcauoQ oi me
fist
Iidkr4 ibHnlbrm ''his OLD CIJS-
hr tliCT.'- i. r J r
l! !!i
and We fuDiic genei
i p. us Lt.s to Keo mat
1
arrr At)T
realiet!- htsusts comfortable.
WADDILL, Jr.
ii-i I tin it t f ielli nif lliroH'rh this
- - IT I t. k 1 5 t" T- ' -
-Vi.th t3tes;witf rlud at this illohsj
atientilil CtMnfortawe accoinmodatious,
& trusteeak tfH. announce to ;Uis
yKei thAtfthey Kai ve speeded in renewf
iyilir 'ii?eTtiejt with mm Amelia 1 horap-
kflii take kliSthrei i offtthw! Inutution. J. he
5p will dperaUphaain on the i5tb
A Hrannhe uiht tn this- Academy, aw tlte
limeat of , English, Arithinti, (icogriphy,
ChrwuitGT. rhiloajphv, floral; an.i
i If ithetbricJ Needle AVWk, Drawing
f iiaabf.Muswluid the Fncl Language,!
ft IIOKK,
i-
m R. RKLVflARDT,
iRiliUSOUR, j
Ci LEONARD, -
CfTMM'PV j'
i 5 :
J
' i if--
; ! OrtAr-UjJ : Nil. I : ! T -: : : . t .
-'i'r
i
':Caiter$ui : heretofore exi$tin bV
IwwW- ti Bubcriberi . in the town of Mori
;1
se vtontyj n the Mercantile bnsii
jrjlissoiyed by mutoallconsent AH claims
theMid nrlftTeJrahsffrred j to Robert Ci
i:ac4hycy t)iuidated ahd ; settled, ehheriy
JUliri CALDWELL.
.1 :
It C; PEARSON.
4 jiWIWii ft; V,'
rst,h, thankful for past fa
lftl-; rut hia frienda and the pobjic, that be
lll &4wi $a Scarry 'oil 4iie bosuiess in Mor-
pt w i just rectiyi , anu is tecei v
Si l-fniti.in every branch of bis
Pi:,!lyt tils' unremitted attetition
nfsinesgaii cieanef of !his Go6d4, he
opn to easyroj the conitihuance of a liber-
MS. rWr AA i r . r .1 1 .
: 4;,
IS
ifl Mttnnihed to aive to the cotintrv
jMN INf SoutK of Concord, i am feom
fm jnfc )ot or'kiQieiwise, re reqiiest-
rH Sojngier lind ultencei can be given.
W reoiwishingrjtoJ purchase GOODS
Friishrnflr ito porohase a small -
MM -odds'.
8M
"ifjManlagb to ap,.ly to? the
u his
Jt'jffll alstrjSILLL or RENT I my
'viuthibf Geiil Barhiiirt'T's Darner licit
niis; TIhe Ilocle is lapire and wi re
k'a good!Morv.Rooai, Cottht
iandjCiaiit tMher witli suitably
loiiui v, ' Having jour
a Kitcbei attached
S???orliFiU he received in
tS K!it(;i'tn4w -WAGON and a
l3 K W)P WlMULES j which I wU
p.BURKUEAD.
RMMcS bliharirf nrfitlJi'
fe1 U V considerable .ad;.
MK51 ' tiUeiccor-
f b Wi'-wnot sue the jfeller
!oitSt.?.r-iWedrom his purchase bv
I,.
it
kiS, ,0Eim or
i
ite PpaliptH -nore. New'ti sHu.tiaifeitcti State to itU the reiduary
fSftetUe. United States, ard ii- miuis of wfirto exercised by its 6wn sepa-?ivKTLMET,-
it the use of the rilovtirnait kM that whenever the Uener
Bk tprfliiwiill -be sbartHl bvlthe al eraepil assitnes the exerase jrfjwwere
toc
?fi?P-wrsnor,a
1 -.1 5,- 5 ' .. -
f5
, fr. ,T u Af. -1' ,
THE WrrCKMAS.
v. Si'EECH Olf MR. VE13STEH,
' i! ' h'. Jiff the -sxiUTE,;- . fcrt
IN REPLY to aiai G ALHO UNS SPEECH.
; "OS THE kttSiri. COLLECTION SltLl '
t y Delivered ailHe ICth Fehriary I to
- 0a4he 21st bf-Jahuarj, IStiSMt. jWAkios,
Chairman of Uie Judiciary. Caiumitteeintrodu
duced the bail further; to pruTide for the cUlectioo
of duties. !!; Tlx; ' " ;1 1 ." 1 ! ' y
s On the 22d! day of the tame month, LVr, Cal-
nptiu 6uon.ii spa nine loiiowing: rescmuausf .
yfiesolccify 'that the .peoplia & tie se.Teral
States compcM these United States ard United
a parties tola 'coosUtutional conipacttd-which
the DeoDle of leach-. Btate acceded as a separate
soyfcreiffn codiinunitT each unidinff itlelf by iu
oVn.parucaJtr ratiiicatiohj and' that the ilniani of
btftiecn the SMu ratifying the same, j T '
Jepecti rthat j the people f the 6eVeral
bu:es, thu united biy the csonsiituional cotnpact
in forming tfcalj instrucieiit; aud; in treaiiug a
(kneral Uoverntoenl ta carry into "eifect &
iects-tjr wiuoU ey were lormeu; deiostted to
that liovenUieat, ior tnat purpose, certain Uen-
1 - , rm t' I k fki Mint IO --b-rm-aMM aI
not dfiated by the compact, tts acta iue. imaa
ilrjW,.ajid?ftreot no enect; ana tnat in, ama
Utiimaut ' jsinotTrtade the j final judgd?of the
,' p.,ers deieateu to it, since that wouid make tls
ofiis pjen;t()tt tbitasia all other fcasesif of
comuiol judgilbiefi ias aniual. right jtoiue
tor iUelf, as iiiU, as! well .ot tne iatrioi ayf
tue liodtr aud measure of- rediee2 , i ,r-
I'hat tne ajertious that the peu
plaW t.'iese Uuited States, taklin cuileclive as
mditiduki afonuw,W ever hivd Deeii,rirted
on the 'priactlpfelof e 1 8occulpcu5t; jin4 as
sucii are now ilmed Into one natiou or jeoplef or
that ibey - halre ever been uaiud m a'y one
bia?e oi their' potitic&i eiisteufce, that thtjjwopie
of the eVeraj States qoinposingtue niotjl hw ve
uotis mliberf thereof, retained their suVreign
ty that he jjiyiance of their citueiw bfa been
trUsferrekione iiederai Uiveni:eit;:tiit tij-y
iiavtf parted with: Uie right of paaisairtg re&Sou
thritdgh tieir fh&cljre State; UoTerameaU; and
thai tney hae no the right of juugiiig u iUc last
resort as t4 th) extent ot the j'ef.f.retfva,
and of cunsedueace oi Uiose oekgated; (e not
only wiUiLtoisndation'iii whitht outar cnuiVy
to tne iuo4 certain and piaiu hUluiical 4o'4 aiui
the iiiearubl uejdactuiis of reason; and taatjaif ex-
ercisa ot pwrJon thejiart oi th Ueherii (ioV
ernmentior ahY of its oiepartuiotiM, claixuLi; au-
tnority frutn btieh erroneous assuiuttons, iiiust bi
necesaitv ne unCaus;nuaonai oiu; u$ua,aiioctly
Land inevitaMyijN suiiveit the soVoreig4ty joi the
to qestroyiUM icueiai caaxacieror ine
Uuioli, anuorbairon;iu rums a kaieUrtate$i' ti
ement, wiihout cousutuuoiial theck pr kirruu
tivn,an widi itwne3wiijrHMiiate uTtlih
UtoSivf IiUrtyitsellVf
On SaiurU4,iue i6ta of February A
iuuuspoxeu .obosKUju4o tne-tiuu :., i ii ;
iir. WeMci iloeddm. 1 j v J
Thegcutie'uiah horn South Cifroiina, said JUr,
Vv cutrir; h4siUionibha us' to So iuhiiiiujoi the
upiniLusui uuse(who shall couieaiiei u,: We
iuust uku ourlahanc, bir, as to the light in which
pLAtexuy am i ff regard us. 1 dd j nut decline ts
judgement, iiuttriijcdauijseii jjtbmiuruutfjf.
t eiiog Uia4 I km pertoiuiiiig my public du(
wan atngiehesi'ofi hart, ana toftiie ost; iuf uy
!Abui;y i teirieskiy trust my self No U)f 'cbirutiV,
nv ana ht-reattr, aiia ieave both my i4btiveaa4u
b character to itsdecision. ft' ! 1:
i Tiiu geuUeniah his terminated his ispecca in
a tone ot uireatiandlaeiiancei towardl t4is biji,
iveii -should li becdme a law of the janij .alto-
diT unusual ;io the hails of Congress ; j But i
saaii not suifef myself U be excited iuUj ivarmth
py ras uen c nciaon oi ute rueasure wuicq) jk sup
port:. fAaxongJ the feelings which at this tuouicttt
nil uty bressi,;iot the least is hatof rjjjLjt
the pM5itton4q i whicii the geutlemau lasi;uiacd
luinseif. Sir, he dues hiuiseif no justice;; Th'e
cause which he: has Espoused huds no basis in the
xi.eeuug trout jpathcue cuinmufiity. jj'it iiasrib
constitution, no succor uma ououo svmuainv. itu
loovnoiu ou wnicn to sianu, wiiiio ne uuiiii 014
piay the poWciril ot j his acknoWiodgd italtfuUi,
jt.ety thtng!botieaih hisetis iidlovJ auld irea
cliOtaS. lie hi a strong ii.au stnigging in
a uibxass; eyjt-lidVt to- exlricao nijnejf, oujy
sin liiin uetpur and dwti. . Aud I learituo io
seuiblance majfjpe tarneu suit furterj!l iejr
that i no friend pan eateiy oune .U his litiit, thit
no one can approach near ehouih to hold out a
neipiug nauu,i wivuoui Uttpigeivoi goiiigt. uowii
Iunie;talau(i ihc botiouuessf ueplhs m ituk
2crlwn;aaoorr4'' f
! 'X he hunoiXible gentlemaui
hasoeclared
howl iu awaii
Ihatoti
the Uecistvrf) oi the uestiaUjj
uay
aepend the cans- ot j-liaty
itsflt -Hani
of the
samb opinion j iui, then, str tnoi aoerty,i i Uich
1 think
i stakfsa oa ine cnrest not political
in smiAA;ir!)l ami lIiii'i'fli.il .hr.
liberty, m anjjgeueral and
but our'own, ieil uuUerblou:,
ana ion? iujoA ed
i
; Sll.l luTe,liiiirty!no less
ardently
than
the
gentleman, iu Whatever toriu sno ua.
peartu iu the prv&rcss ul'huuiait historv.
ex
hibtied iflLthe uaoUr States a4d4my,as Ueai
1cmg out again; U&d aui':dtt the darkness luf the
ct'iue oiiudie esand beauiiiig on' the jfurma
tion of neW cihfnunities, in njodern Europe,she
has, always aeflety where, fctiaimskoriu
Yet,ir it is qtir own lioerty , guarded by .onst
tutioas and secured by uiuou; it is that jiberty
which iii. cur yterial ',iaheritaac tifui.iulr.-v.eT.
labiihedJdtati liiuilhu peculiar Ameriuah liberty
to ihich 1 am 'ciiujuy Uevoudand the caiis of
which 1 now mean, to t&o utmost u power, to
xbaElain and defend;''. - Htf II' 1
! President, ir I considered Xbf coiistitut
oiqueoh!tlwbete..cs aUidOablal it is
uuporutnt,, ana it i suppueta mat its aecision.
.L:.t'i"J . . . . ' 1 - . . .
whit .1' migh. loow discuss iul ihu 'uiukt! !be to
lwmehtdtfMp ''aulttudei-l S4h lUmo-
meat has obce!eiisled; 'Phcre has bleu a- ItlmdVl
iuaf.ier iu
timev
. r; - r .i i - - .
" -f - 111 I I HlilMIIII ! Ml MH1 1 It
eiwer in twe oetiate or by tbe ctuntry
ia'lMn aar deffref lnthtenoMl.bt I me!
must confess, that, sorsethm ifood
orril tthe constitution tbo country ? mht
cppena oaan eiiort oi mine.. iut torcumstances
are changed, 'Since that daysn thepuUii? -piuioa
has beisxab awakened id this 'great qucs.
turn it has grasped it, i has reasoned . upon' it,
a becomes an intelligent ahdpatHi a mu
Wdl, and has settled if, er enow i in. t;e
I progress of etiJirrg; it, ty .
none can ; OisoDey tne authority . u $ tue petaia
themselves. ,:c ., i.; rtT'uVJ ' t u
' 1 shall hot; Jlfr. President, tollow , the; gentle
man, step ! by step! through the coarse- of, , his
speech. Much of f what hg.: has said, i he has
deemed necessary to the just explanation and de-J
fencv of his own political character and conddct
On this, I shall oiler no comment: Muchj Uv,
has consisted, of nhlospphic Vemark - upon; the
genera! nature ot political liberty, and the history
of free institutions y and of other topics,; ho gen
eral in tliejr nature, a to TjKkscsh, in uiy opiiuoni
only a remote bearing on Lhe&unmciato'subjc
of this debate. . .- - A ri,j 1 Z Tt
. Bat thr gentleman speech, made some days
ago, upon introducing his resolutions those. rto4
lutions themselves and parts of the speech , ri-jw
just concluded, may probably be justly regarded
as containing the Whole SwthCarulina doctrii)ef
That doctrine it is my pnrpre now id exaxuihe,
and to compare it with the constitution of the
United States. 1 shall not consent; sir, 'to make
any new constitution, Or to establish another torm
of Government, i will not undertake, to say
what a constitution br these United 5 tales ou?ht
to be. That question toe rpeople have .dwided
tor themselves, Ind I shall take the instrumeat
as they have established i and ,shiallehieavor
toniaintaih it, in its plain sense ; and meaning,
against opinions and notionsj which4 uimy judg-,
ment, threaten its subversion. if i ,
'lite resolutions introduced by ,th gentleman
were apparently drawn up with carej and broughi
forward upon deliberati on. I shall hot bo an
danger, thereore, f misunderstat-dii.gi him, 1d
those wLojagreo wah himjif LphjQd atlonjc
to these re8o!utkni and consider them as an au-
thentic 6tatementlif those' 'opinions lupoo the
great constitutioual question i by which 'tiie recent
proceedings in Souih Carolina are aitemptdd hi
be justified.- . li " . ; 'v f ifJ
. These resolutions are thiree in number.!
The third seems 'intended to enumeraie.; and
to deny, the' several opinions expressed in! the
President's proclamation, respectiiy .fiie itatu
and powers of k this tUoverument. : Oflirihrd
resdldtiou, 1 propose, at present, to take no; pdrj
ticular hoyce.. : J ..' , H-T'l!"' t '
The : two first Jresolutioiisaf th li&?oUble
lueuioer affirm these propositions, ji1- j
1. That the political system, tatde whic$ .we;
live, aud under which Congress is now asseuiblfd'
is a compttct, to which the people of the eral
States, as separate land . sovereign commuotties,
are the.pzrties, . . . ;j i ; i $ j.;
2. 'i hat. these sovereign parties have a iighl
to judge, a'ci for iiself. of iny alleged 1 vUitioh'
oi the coustituuon by CongTessj andin case jjof
Huth violation, to chose, each lor. itseii, its pwn
mode and measure pf redress . J f kj j
It is true, sir, th&tthe honorable member calls
rthis a "constitutional" 'compact;- but still "he
affirms it to 1 bo a!, compact betwem sovereign
Slates. What precise meanuig, then docs he
attach to the term ccr&tilutiotialf fhen abpl
''d to compacts betwjeen sovereign States the term
constitdti .-nal affixes to that, word (fifaphctl ja
delinite idea. Were we to h ar uf t lconrtii-
tioiiat league or treaty between England iand
Frauee, ot a constitutional convention between
Austria and Russi'4, we should not hdt rslaiiU
what could be intended by such a leagu, ibui'li!a
treaty r or such a con vention. In Ihese conriei
lons, the word is void ' ot all coouningj yet,siri
it is easy, quite easy, to see why tho Jionorablo
gentleman has Q3ed it in these resolutions, j lie
cannot open the book, and look upon pur! written
frame ot Government, without.seeing thai it is
calied a eonstitiUioh. This may well, be apral
linn to hiuK 1 1 threatens his whole doctrine of
cwnvacL and its darlinir derivatives, nulliiccition
and CM5iort, with instant cohfutatohbfecalud0
if. hejadctits. our-iu3trmerit ojf, Gornrneut 'to
be a constitution,, then, for that very reason,. it is
not a compact between sovereign; a consUution
of Government, and acompact bet'wetaoferigh
Powers, being things essentially unlike ih their
very natures, and .incapable et ever !;teing . the
same. Yet the word coitsiitution is on! the very
frou t of the instrument . He cannot overlook it
He seeks, therefore, to compfoiuise the tnaitrr,
and to sink all the substantial sense ; if! tbe
word while he retains a resemblance of tW
sound. He inlroduces a r ew Nord of liis
own, via:; compact a, rtingl lie prin
cipal idea, and designed to pi y the principal paj-t,
aud degrades constitution into an insiuifijaut,
idle epithet, attached to compact,. he f who
then stands as a 'fcomtttuiioiial comppct!?' Ar&
in this way he hopes to pass off a plausible giossf,
as satisfying the words of the instruments but he
will find himself disappointed. Sir, I; must say
to the honcraole jgeiuieon that, in our AnierU
can political gmmuiar, cokstitutioji s a npun
substantivej it imports a distinct and plear ieai
of itself; and it is hot to loicw its importance add
dignity, it is not the turned into a 'poor, arabigu ;
ous, senseless, unmeaning adjective, tint the purl
pose of accommodating any' new seti of politicar
nations. ' Sir, wc reject his new rul of syiitat
aiugether. ;We wjli not give up our J forms ; of
political speech to! the grammarians of the school
of nullification, jly the constitution we!' mean
not a 'VonatZuicontpaf,," but, simply and
directly, tin constitution, the fundamental law;
and if there be one word in the language, which
the people cf the iUnited States undersund, this
is that word. Wleknoiv no more ofal constitu
t tonal compact betwt-en sovereign' Powers, than
we know of a constitutional indenture of coi
partnership, a cofLtfiXuXioriaf deed of conveyance
or a ccuiii uto;uiZ bill of exchange.' 13 ut we
know what the' c6nstituion is; we ' know what
the bund cf our Union and the security of our
liberties is; and we mean to maintain " and defend
it, in its plain sense and iinsophisiicited tneank
ing. ' . ;' JJ ; !
The sense of !the gentleman's iproposition,'
therefore, is not at all affected, one way or tho
other, by the use of this word That proposition:
still is, that our system of Government is but;a
compact ttween Lthe pedplo of separate" and
sovereign tates - ' '.r'r;'-! ' . I
.Was. it Alirabeao, Ir. f Presidenii or wba;
otn f toaster of hnoian passions, who has , fold us
that words are things? They are indeed thingsj
and things. of mighty inflnence,; not ohly Jn adi
drisss to the passions 'ahd.Tt'gh-'wrought feelings
of 'mankind,' but in the"! discussion of. legal and
political quesiions also; " because a just conclusion
'U-jbfUnayudt reached, bytlie a-
ruit satfctiiuiion Jf one phrase, or one; word, for
another Of 'this we" have, I think, another
example hi the resolutions, before us
' ile ferst resolution i declares that the people pf
the sevewdtaieSdto the tSnstitutkirti
at to the OMiatitaubaal- compact as it is called;
tr tothe xnstitauo.ial-compact, as it is called;
corwUtutilm itself.W in tbe ratiScatibn of itf by
.we w me states, has been chosen for use
heTe, doubtless nbi without a well considered por-
pCseV-- .-cx-, t cf : . : t';
: i pe nitural converse of acccssiatv lis se cession;
ard.therefore, when it is stated that' the people
f the States ecceded u the , Union , it; inay ,te
morfijpliaslbly,.-: argued Utat !ttUy tnav secede
Ua.i it. If,;ia z-: -if theasUtutfjn;riothsni
was ftone. hut: acceding ' to a cotap'act, ip-Alu
Would seein necessary, tn order to break it up.bul
- Tws iyui uici isuue cjHnpaci. uut tae term is
stranger J It;' and! scscssioa iropliei V departii.g
mmsuchl
the; Unihd$taui havefased n sneh!iona of ex
pnonr!in i establish ingthe presa .jkvernmehu
f heytnot say tbatlthey accede to a ; league j
but theyj declare thaUliey cnhui;' and tkablis
"constitution.' ; i Such are t!xj! very I words of the
laswnrasjot itself! and i all the;States, " Without
an exception, ' (he lahgiiage .used by their con
ventions. lwas, that ,they gratified the conslihh
fan;" sorpe of them employing ihe 'adduiofial
word fjassented tow enjc iadobted'tbut all . of
them raMfyinga Thre : is more imparlance
than mayat first sightf; appear, in tl e,.troduc-'
w n! .of. this new word by the honorable inover of
hfe resolctiotisj' Jts adaption' and use are in
isjfen3ble to mainlain WpremisWfrocahich
ftis j main conclnsioh is i be afterivards iravv
Bnt, before slu wing. that, ' allow !rne( to Remark,
tha, this ph raseology lends to keep nut of sight
thjusf TKWofj'cdr previous political history, as
well -ao; to ; suggest wrong idea.4:as to what was
actOally done when the)fesent constitution was
agrcetl ;tdi q 1730, atid bef xii hls Jcoustitntion
aadopted, the United States bad already been
In a Uriioh , "more di Ious close, for f fifteen j years.
At least as far back ashe mecdng the Jrst
fJongressih I774rtlie had been, in'some mea
nrej arJ to 1 some national purposes united to
getherl Before the confederation 1781, tbey had
declared independence jointly, and had earned on
the war jointly both bysea and! land; arid this,
teas separate States,"but as one people, j When
therefare, they fonnedt that confederation; and
adopted its articles as articles of pp'rpetuaf union,
mey dkl hit come tigetherfor the first time; and,
therefore, they did not ajjeakif ihe StaW as ot
eeiftitothe confederation, althotiri it was a
leaue and nothing bula league, and; rested ; on
nothing biit plighted faitfi tor f its? lormance.
; Yet, even then, the Staps iverel not strangers' to
vlcli other tberd was tfjbond of Union already
lisisting betwewi thein; theyi iweref assiciated,
l ntte4 States; and th'eqSject of thdxrdxlerati6n
Wtoiake a stronger ix4 betted bond oflunion;
Their representatives Idelibera e together oh
these prorKjfeed articles of confederation and be-"
ing authLniid byHheir lfepaeetiVe HTates,!finaliy
ffatifikd mid confirviedit them Jj In as much as
tey Were jtlreadytn union, they did not j speak
t; acckd'm to the new articles of confederation,
hut of tatijyuig andcimjtrniinx ihkirit and this
language was not used inadvertently, because, in
the same instrument, accession is usea in its nro-
per sensc, wien applied to Canada, which was
altogether a? stranger to thecxistirjg Union.
f'panada,.says the-1 Itjf article, dcceditig to
this cont'ederatiori, and Jdtning in tl.e measures of
the United States; shall :ho admitted into the
Uni3u, !'( !:: -fiH ; H ' p-f t
! lifavin? thus usedVfoef iertna rali(i and
Jlrzn. even In regard tolre old n federation, it
Wcuw have; been strange indeed, if the people
tf the United States, after its formation, and
Mjiicn they jcame to esta!la!li tlid prrsent cimsttt
iiti'ih, had spoken f fho iStatts or tho people nf
(nelStaieR, us acccdiixg to ibis conslituti ml
Such language would have been; ill siiitcd to the
occasion, it would hale i implied an existing
saration or disonion amoiignhe States, such as
never has existed since! 1774, : No! such! lan
guage thereftre, j was iised. ! Thfe language
actually employed is, aIopt, ratify, ordain, c
idJilisfc :.r ; '. '!! I-
! hetefbre, sir, since fany Stato before she
can j prove her right to dissolve the Union, mut
show her authority to Undo what has bnen done, no
State rj at liberty to secede, on the ground that
she arid other States havu done nothing but ac
cede. Sheroust showtaf she hasfa right to
reverse what has. been ordained, to tmseftfe and
bterftroip what his beeif established, to reject
bat tbr people have adopted, and to rcnJk up
vfltat they have ratified because these are the
terms which express the transactions which! have
actually taken place. Ih otirer i; word's, she must
show jher rijriit to make a revolution,
i If, Mr. President, in! drawing these resolu
tions, the honorable member had rxmfined himself
jto:be uso of constitutiondltlanguage, there would
!liaye b.-en awide and afvpui hiatus between his
:prmi$os and his conclusion Leaving out the
two words compact an4 accession, which are
'hot! constitutional raixis oipxpression,and stating
thti matter prei ely as thf truth is, hls first res- lu
tiotij would have athirm that the ptople the
stverdt States ratified this constitution, cr jbrni
tyjGofannvtnt. These j Jare the very words of
SoTithjUarollna herself, iti her own act of tati.fi
cation. Let, then, his tirst resolution teli the
exact j truth ; let it state Jthe fact, pfftcisefy a
it exists ; let it say that ue peple ofjthe several
.States ratified a constitution, or torm tf Govera
nWnt; and then. sir. what will become of his in
ference in his second resolution, which is in these
wolds, viz: "thattas in attctlier casts af compact,
ainmx sovrcign parties. ! each has an equal right
t6 Judge for itself as teelT cf the infract ion as vj
the mode' and measitrc (frtdress? fit is obvi
ous is it not, sir, that this- conclusion requires
for its 8uppoit quite other' prwnjs8 , ; it requires
pretuises which sneak ofifcecmirt and of com
pact ; between 60vreigu Powers, and, without
such premises, it rvas : altogether unmeaning.
Mr, President, the honorable member wlj
truly state what the people did in! torming this
coostitutionLan.l then stale whit they must do
if they woufT how undo what they then did, he
will unavoidably state a lease of revolution. Let
us see if it be not so, ;le must srste, in the
first place, that the pojife tf the several States
adtted and ratified this cotisdtulioti, or form
ot Government; ami, m jthe next plade, he must
.tats; that they have aright to undo ; this t that
is t) say,' that they have a right to discard' the
form of Government which they have adopted,,
andto break up the constitution which they have
ratified. JNow, sin this is neither more nor I
tban saying that they havn a right to! make a
revolution. To rrject an established Gvcrnrant,
to break up a! political ctmsxitatiod. is 'revolution.
I deny that any than cav sUtAy actually, what
was: cone by the people, m 'establishing thepfes
eot cunstitation, and thensute, accurately, vrHa
the; peopIeV or any? part of tiiem, mnsf now! do
to gfet rid of its obligations,' witiaait ptau'ng an
undeniable1 causa tf the!overthrow"of Govero
rrint.i 1 addiit, of coti'se that the people maL.
if they choose; overthrow tha Government: But,
then that is- Revolution ' The dixlrthe now con
th oMijati .,-is and auttori!V r.f ti n 'An man
nj be set aside or rejected; wlUibut mvolution.
;that is f what I deny ; ?and what T ay is;
that nii; mahjrn state the W with historical
.ccucj, ana in ?uastiluilial Un juasre. without
ne "hiKbrable nUcmanVrirrhi;
rtghinirrely vtht does notand cannot exist
cntte the cbostiujtijn; greibjr to the
H' T0TCi!nlinnta
agefjranewvfcabnlaryiand to" sobstitote, ia
tho place of gam historical facts, 4 series of asi
80
rapijons. f a njs ia the reason whj it is hece
ry togive neirames to things, tosncak of the
sary
constitution, not as a &nttitntiAn: int -
pactl and ofthe rafifiauorUby the peupl; hot as
ratification,, but: as acts of aWion. V? f
Sir, I intend to hold the gentleman to the writ:
ten .record, . 'In the discussion of a f ismstitotumii
qoestioh, I hitei. to impost upohlhim the re
Jtramts of constitutional language! The rnhU
aave qrdawed a csUtntui;'can fthey reject ii
witnout ' reflation' ? 'I he have! establhhed a
tjrm of Government - can fthey Wrthrowi 1t
without revolution ?! These are the true ' uuei
tions. i ! -!-" - $"'; V --T-i
" A1,1 M how, Mr President, h inquire fur
ther mto the extent f if proomtioni 'contatnl ci
resantkf-js, and their nery farnsneru-es;
Wht-re sovereign coajmbnitiesl are ! parties,
there is no essential dirference between - a com
pact, a confjcfaiidn; and a lieago They all
equally region thp!htedtaitn of tbe ! sover:
WM-partr IfA league, ot cofederaWf tf but a
snbsistingf cT;cf;ntinuing treaty. j 14 i
gentleioa .resolnti&sw- thin'aQrmrm
erTectf that these twenty-fodr Unid States are
bsuhsisxingtteat i restinr
tor its. tulfilaient and Ciintiiuance on no inher
ller(!itsown,butonftTie plighted fiin of
Sate ; or, in5! other Words, that oqr Union
is but a league ; and, i as I eonsbuence from
this propcsiUon, they furthetaffiroi thaHlassovi
ereigns are - subject to no wperii I power, l the
States nmst decide," each foritself.of any alhtred
violation of the league ; and if such violation be
8nppo8iohaveredieaehthay adopt any
mode or measure jfredress whtcn it j shall think
P10!. '; Hi; ' !, .'. J ' r - -
Other COTsequences naturally follow, too,
from the mam proposition. If a leagas between
sovereign pnvers have no limitatioi as - to the
time of its duratioBand conlain nothing making
it perpetuaU itsubsisU only during the good pleat
sure of the parties, although ho violation be com
plained of.i If, in theopinioh of eiier party,?it
be violated, such party, may say thai he wUl bo
longerlulfilsits obligations oa his part, 'bit -'will
consider Urtj whjle league rcninpact at an end,
althqngh it migh t beon6 of its stipulations that it
should be perpetuarr Upon his prneiple, the
Congress ot th United States, irl 1798, de
clared null and oid the treaty of alliance be
tween; the United States and France, though it
profrd to bo a perpetual alliance. ; -
If the vioatirm of the Jeague be iecoinpinibd
with serious injuries, the suffering tkrtvl beitior
sole judge of his'own mode and meisure of ro--ditys,
has a right to indemnify Jiinfselfj by re
prisals on the offending membere Uie ifague;
and reprisals, if the case require it, rhay be" fbl
loedhy direct, avowed, and public var. f
The necessary import tf the resolionS, there
fore, that Use -United Stales ;arennicted
only by a league ; that it isf in the igewd plea
sure of ever v State to decide bw lontr h rh.nw
to remain $ member ofthrs league that any
State may determine the extent of her own ob
ligatums tinder it, and ; accept f or eject what
shall be decided by the, whole ; that she may al
so determine whether her rights hav been vi
lated, wliat is the extent of the injury! done her,
and what mode and measure of redress frer
wrongs may make it fit and! expedient for her"
to adopt Tha result of the whole bj that any
State may secede at pleasure; ibaV any Stole
may resist a law which sh; herstlf may choose to
say exceeds the power of Congress ; andthat,
as a sovereign irjwer, she thay redress hr own
arievahiVtt. Iiv iiAr awn mm: nt l.pr livrn rliir rtv-
won ; soe may maxe repnsais z sne may cruise
against tho property of ether members
Ot the
league ; she may authorize captures, and make
open war. : - h .;v j .;
If, sir, this be oar political condition, it is time
the people of the United States understood it.
Let us look for a moment to the practical e)n se
quences of these opiniuns. ! One Stale holding
au eiubarago law uacunstifutional,' ihay declare
her opinion, snd withdraw from tie Union.
Sne secedes. Arothpr; forming andlexpressing
tbe same judgmention a law laying duties on
imports, may withdraw also. SKk secedes.
And as, in her opinion, money has been taken
out of the pockets of her citizens illegally, under
pretence ot this law, and as she has power to
rediess their wrongs, bho may demad satisfac
tion; and, if refused, she. lnay takd it with a
strong hand, j The gentleman has himself
fironouticed the collection of duties! existing
awiK, to be nothing but robbery. Robbers, of
j-course; may be rightfully jdispossesd of the
fruits of their flagitious crimes; and, therefore,
reprisals! impositions on the commerce of other
States foreign alliances against thern, or wpen
wafi are all modes of redress justly pen to the
dcrption and choice of ! South CaroliSia; for she
is to judge of her "own rights, and toseek satis
faction for her own wrongs, in her owd way.
But, sir, a furd State is opinion, ( not only
that these laws of iiujxjst are constitutional, but
that it is the absolute duty vf Congress to pass
a,id to maintain such laws; and that by omitting
to pass and maintain thein, its constitutional
obligations would be grussljr disregarded. the
reluiquished the power of i ptotociijti, -Lbej might
al!ege,and allege truly, herself, ardgave it up-
ui vongiess, on uie laim iua i
exercise U. If Congrosi now refuse to exercise
it, Congress as she may insist, breaks the condi
tion of the granMr i tiius mlnifestiy vjobtes the
constitutiou, and fjr this viobiioa oftlie constil
uUooy ane "may threaten to secede also. I Virginia
may secede; and hold lb fobresscsin Ihe Cbea
peake. I ffhe Western States may secede, and
take to their own use the public tandl. Louis
iana may secede, if Jre chdose, fornt a foreign
alliance!; and hold the moutli u'the .Uississippi.
If one State may secede, lent ruajr do so t wenty
may da so- twenty-three may do 4 M
these secessions go on, one after another; what
b to constitate the' United Slates? Whose will
Utheiarmv? Whose thanavv? Who will
pay thrdebta? Who fulfil the publkj treaties?
Who perform the constitutrtJoalETiaranu? Wbu
govern this District and theTwritorhS? WTio,
retain iu pnrryV-rH 'I' 'IJ '''-'. 'j! ; "v "
': MrtPresideut every mAti nast seethattoese
are all questions which cad arise only fl& a
revolution. They presupwj the breaking up
of vhe government. While the eastitquo lasu,
they are repressed; tney tinng op " v,.
and startle us ool t from its
sumucm Twt canr come into existence only whdvi
IhcM ctestithtn is overthrown. j v T
- W fww,8irhich makes it heeei
savy.to abandon the use tf " masfi tntS.iil u d.
n:i irvwrfi:utiiin dJc xutpravide IU events
1
which must he preceded hy its own destrnctionl
&aciMio, Ucretore,Bce itlmust bring thes
seqneriu.gicyoLo Aa.,
frf:""0"1011 is eql."EVourib5kM:'
Wbaj w nvulnthm? W&y, sir, that is revolu-
o4,vhtch ovenarfts,or;cootrols, : 'or estiecess
tolly resists the exisdng jpiblic - authority, that
wbicji arrests the exercise of the supreme power; ..
fhat which introduces a twjw paramount author
mfa the rule of the State, Now,4 sirVthis if
fhe Ifecisevii'i'r It attempts t
SOperde .the,i supreme hrislaiive aathoritvl
m interrupts thecxrrcise luf the: accostomodj(h
dicai power. Under the kmeof an "ordiaaace;
u-rps nuii and void, withm f the State, all
;Cbe rvenue laws of the fjmted States; Is this
dt rMutiunary? Sir, so soon as this ordinaacA 1
shalijw earned into effect, a reeofulion. will have
aonfeoced in S. Carolina.: She will have throwrt
off thej authority to which I her ' citaana r
here&fiire been subject, f She will have declared
Ijer own opituons and bet own will to bqabuvMhA
lwsand aboTcthe novk-eriif those -whnareen'
fustedwith their atonlstratiop.? If she. make
Wd I these declarations, she w retolmionlzed;
As toher , it is as "distinctly a change of the at.
JWPi power, as the American; re volauon ot ffl6.
That revolution did not subvert!- Government ih i
i allots tonus. It did not st rb vert lavrs an J local
uumipaladrmnistrations. It only threw off the
domirji jn of a Power, claiming to bo aupcrioti and
t hae right, in many iinnortaht respects; to '
eieciso legislative authority. Thinking this
alith Jrity to ha ve been usurd or abused, thn
American colonies, now tho United Slater, bad A
ii dailance. and freed thmaselvea from it by means
if a ev.4utMruf Bst tha rrolutiori left.thaa
jfith heir ownj municipal flaws still" and tha)
forms . of local -government. If: Carolina . now
Sall f tfactually resist the laws of Congress, if
slioahall be her own juJie take her reiacdj in
to herown hands, obey the taws ofthe Union
heoshe pleases, and , .disubfy them' when she
jSeases, aba will relieve herdlf from a paramount
poweas distinctly as the -Americaf colonies did
the sme thing in 1776. In ' Irther ivoris she,
.jfiU achieve; as ti herself, a fevolation. " : ' '
j! But, sir, while practical nullification in South
Carolina would be, as to herself, actual and dis
tinct revolution, its necessary tendency must
4isa be to spread revolution, an 1 to break up the,
cbnstituuon, as to all tho otherAtes. It strikra
4l deadly blow at Uie vital principles oi that
whole Union. To allow state resistance to the !
Uws of Congress to be rightful and proper toad- !
tiit nullification in some States, and yet not exy
pect l see a dismemberment of tbe entire. Gov j
ernmeat,apperrs to me.th ; wildest illusion, and
thempst extravagant folly he gentleman seemsvi
not conscious of the direction or . the rapidity cf I
his own course. The current of his opinions i
sweeps him along, he knows not whither. To
begin with nullification, with the avowed intent,
nevertheless, not to proceed jto secession, dismem
herment, and geaeral revolution, is as if one wern I
tb take the plunge of Niagara, and cry eat that
he would stop half wi kwn. In the one cajm i
as in ;the other, the rash advimturr must go lo
the bcttoiU of the dark abys? below, nre it not
that mat abyss has no discovered buttnn i-
1-
I Nttjlification, if successfcj, arrests the power
of the; law, absol ves cittreus from tbir duty , sub
verts the foundation both of protection and obe
ienc, dispenses with oaths and obligation of sJa
lagiance, and elevates another authority to su-.
remermiwittdTm rsnnt-tirff revointioa? And7
ii raises to supreme command , four and : twenty
dwtioct povere,Jpaeh prof?ing to be'onder a !
Generil (ivrnment, and yet each setting itsf
laws at deihiice at pjeasore. Is noi this antr- s
dhy, a4 w(f as revolution? ' Sir, thecinstitntion i
df the UHtrd States was receivo.1 as a wh:b,St !
tho.jw holecjuntry.1 If itcannotsrand altojjHR- j
4r, ft cinuot stand in p;iri?"; ami, if tbriaws j
4innotJbe executed every jwhere. they, cannot
long be executetl. any whefe; Tlie genlleinan
very wfcll knnws that all duties and impostsTmust
be uniform throughout the jeotintry. : lie knows
that w cannot luvetnie ruleer one law f..r South
)D.aroliia, and another for othtr Stales. Ho must
jbee, therefore, and does see,! every man mi-s that
the o:iiv alterrJative is a j rspr-alof th& laws,
j ,,mjk
t -aipiiH" "ni ciiiniiBij., . aiivi iio I c"
peal k flomanded because a single State inter- '
jwses hr veto, apd threatens; resistance!-. Tha
ijresult of th gentleman's opinions, or rather the
lyery text of his doctrine, is. fhalno act of Ci
yress can bind all the States; the constitutional
;ity of fhich is not admitted by all ; or, in other
jwords, ithat no single State. is bound, against iLa
kwn dissent, by a law of it 'posts. This is pre
icisely he evil experienced under tbe old con
federation, and for remely of .which this consu
ltation was adopted. The leading object in
ftabiishthg this Government,' an object forced Hm
Hhe coufitry by the condition v( the times, and
lthe absolute necessity of the law, was to give
1 to Congress power to lay; and collect imposts
without: the corisent if particular States.: The
revolutnary debt renuined unpaid ; the national 'j
treasury was bankrupt; the country was desti
tute of -credit: Congress isned its requisitions
hn the States, and ths States neglected them;
Hhere was no power of coercioa but war; Conzress
could nM lay imposts, or other Uxes, by its own
authotity; tbe whle General Government, there
lore, was little more than a name. The articles
f coofoderation, as to purposes of revr.ueand
SfinanceWive nearly a dead letter. The coun
try sought to escape from this condition, at once
'feeble and disgraceful, by ctmtituting a Govern-
ment which should have power-cf itself to lay -
duties and taxes, and to pay ine punue ocot,
and provide for the general welfare; and to. lay
'these duties and taxes in all the States, without
asking- jhe consent of thej State Gvernments. '
This was the very power on vhichjtlie newon-r
stitution! uss to depend for; all iu ability to d
good; and, without it, it can be no Government,
now or at any time YeiU s'.ri is precisely a-
raimt tis ptwtr, so absqtely4ndispeasaLle'to
tho very bng oi me uaveroracoi, u.ai ,ouo,f
Carolini dircts her crdinahre Sbe attacks .
! tho Government in H authority'to raise revence.
the very main sprmg the wtoojesysiem ; ana,
if she luicoeeds, every movement of that system
must Mviubly cease. It is offloaTailihat she
idec!artsihat slie docs not resist the law as a rev
enue laiutasa UwCrirolectingrnanmicturcs.
It is a revenoe law ; it b the very Jaw by force
?of whicl the revmoe is collected; f it be arrested
m wry iate, the revenoe ceases in that Slate;
'it is, in a word, IN sMc rehance of the (Jovern- -ment
for) the means of maintaining itself end
iptrformiig its duties. - - -y ---W. . "
f Mr Prescient, the; alleged rMit rf a Stats to
SJeeida Mrtitutional questnias tor herself neees- '
karily leds to force, becatothit Stale most
iave thevsame right and rjecahsem'fiereatfitaks
decide difiertj and.! whcri these question
)v,tt-o-n KtsiMt'irthAre be nasnprriur now .
k. they lean be decided only by fheUw force
0n entering' bto tbe Uewo; tbeeopw w eari
laws fothmsselrcs, ia wraJUa -t-r -
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