by ncgociuiion ml, if it iNimnt
be thus accomplished, each has
a right to retain its own inter
pretation until a reference be
had to t ho mediation of other
nations', an arbitration, or the
fate of war. There is no pro
vision in the Constitution, that,
in such a case, the Judges ot
the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted Slates shall control and be
conclusive. Neither can the
Congress, by a law. confer that
power. There appears to be a
defect in this matter: it is a ca
sus omissus, which ought in
some way to bo remedied. Per
haps the Vice President and
Senate of the United States
or Commissioners, appointed,
say one by each State would
be a more proper tribunal than
the Supreme Court. Be that
as it may, 1 rather think the re
medy must be found in an a
mendment of the Constitution."
Thomas Jefferson, who drew up
the Kentucky Resolutions, of 179S,
against the Alien and Sedition Law?,
expressed his opinion of the relation
between the Stale and Federal Gov
ernments, in the following language:
"Resolved, That the several
States composing the United
States of America are not uni
ted on the principle of unlimited
submission to the General Gov
ernment; but that, by compact,
under the style and title of
n Constitution nf thn United
States, and of amendments
thereto, they constituted a Gen-
cral Government tor special
purposes, delegated to that Go
vernment certain definite pow
ers, reserving, each State to it
self, the residuary mass of right
to their own self-government;
and thnt, whensoever the Gene
ral Government assumes unde
legated powers, its acts arc un
authoritative, void, and of no
force; that to this compact each
State acceded as a State, and
as an integral party, its co
States forming, as to itsplf thn
O ' -. -
other party; that the Govern
ment created by this compact
was not made the exclusive or
final judge of the powers dele
gated to itself since that would
have made its discretion, and
not the Constitution, the mea
sure of its powers but that, as
in all other cases of compact
among parties having no com
mon judge, eflch party has an
equal right to judge for itself, as
well of infractions, as of the
mode and measure of redress."
This same doctrine was laid down
by James Madison, in the Virginia
Resolutions i;t 179S, drawn up by
him, and adopted, as the expression
of tin opinions of both branches of
the Legislature of Virginia, in the fol
lowing language:
"Resolved, That this Assem
bly doth explicitly and peremp
torily declare, that it views the
powers of the Federal Govern
ment, as resulting from the
compact to which the States are
parties, as limited by the plain
Bcnse and intention of the in
strument constituting that com
pact, as no further valid than
they are authorised by the grants
enumerated in that compact;
and that, in case of a deliberate,
palpable, and dangerous, exer
cise of other powers, not gran
ted by the said compact, the
States who are parties thereto
have the right, and are in duty
bound, to interpose, for arrest
ing the progress of the evil, and
for maintaining, within their re
spective limits, the authorities,
rights, and liberties, appertain
ing to them.
"Resolved, That the General
Assembly doth also express its
deep regret that a spirit has, in
sundry instances, been mani
bisted, by the Federal Govern
ment, to enlarge its powers, by
forced construct ions of the Con
stitutional Charter which defines
thiun; and that indications have
appeared of a design to expound
certain general phrases (which,
haviiiiT been copied from the ve
ry limited grant of powers in
the former Articles of Confede
ration, were the less liable to be
misconstrued,) so as to destroy
the meaning and effect of the
particular enumeration which
necessarily explains and limits
the general phrases, and so as
to consolidate the States, by
degrees, into one sovereignty
the obvious tendency and inevi
table result of which would be
to transform the present Kepub-
ican
system
of the United
States into an atsolute, or, at
best, a mixed monarchy."
(31:1 addition to the above, wc
;ive the following Resolutions, passed
by the Legislature of Ohio, in 1S21:
"Resolved, by the General
Assembly of Ohio, That in re
spect to the powers of the gov
ernments of the several Stutes,
that compose the American U
nion, and the powers of the Fe
deral Government, this General
Assembly do recognize, and
approve the doctrines asserted
by the Legislatures of Virginia
and Kentucky, in their resolu
tions of November and Decem
ber, 1798, and January, 1800,
and do consider that their prin
ciples have been recognized
and adopted, by a majority of
the American people. fThis re
solution carried in the House
yeas 58, nays 7.
"Resolved, further, That this
General Assembly do protest
against the doctrine, that the
political rights of the separate
States that compose the Ame
rican Union, and their powers
as sovereign States, may be
settled and determined in the
Supreme Court of the United
States, so as to conclude and
bind them, in cases contrived
between individuals, ami where
they are no one of them parties
direct. Carried, yeas 64, nay 1.
Extract from the Report introducing
the Resolutions.
"The resolutions of Ken
tucky and Virginia, and of Mas
sachusetts, Rhode Island, the
Senate of New York, New
Hampshire and Vermont, in re
ply, and the answer to these re
plies, by the Legislature of Vir
ginia, were a direct and consti
tutional appeal to the States,
and to the people, upon the
great question at issue. The
appeal was decided by the Pre
sidential and other elections of
1800. The States and the peo
ple recognized and affirmed the
doctrines of Kentucky and Vir
ginia, by effecting a total change
in the administration of the Fe
deral Government. In the par
don of Cullender, convicted un
der the sedition law, and in the
remittance of his fine, the new
administration unequivocally re
cognized the decision and" the
authority of the Stales, and of
the people. Thus has the ques
tion, whether the Federal courts
are the sole expositors of the
Constitution of the United States
in the last resort, or whether
the States, "as in all other ca
ses of compact among parties
having no common judge," have
an equal right to interpret that
Constitution for themselves,
where their sovereign rights are
involved, been decided against
the pretension of the Federal
judges by ihe people them
selves, the true source of legiti
mate power."
03" A frequent recurrence to
fundamental principles is abso
lutely necessary, to preserve the
blessings of liberty."
SENATE.
Wednesday, March 14. The
Mpportiomnent bill was read a
third time and Mr. Webster
moved its recommitment to the
committee from which it was
reported, with general instruc
tions for the report of a bill ap
portioning the representatives,
as nearly as may be, among the
several States, according to
their representative population
as compared with the represen
tative population as compared
with the representative popula
tion of the United States. Af
ter some discussion the bill was
laid on the table and a motion
made to reconsider the vote of
Monday last, by which the pro
position to represent fractions
was rejected, which motion is
still pending.
Thursday, 15. Mr. Smith
presented resolutions of the Le
gislature of Maryland in favor
of an appropriation by the gov
ernment in aid of the removal
of the free people of color from
the United States. The bill for
the establishment of a Law Li
brary, in connexion with the Li
brary of Congress, was consid
ered and ordered to a third rea
ding. The act concerning the
crnntin'T of patents to aliens for
useful discoveries and inven
tions was considered and order
ed to a third reading. The
resolution some time ago sub
mitted bv Mr. Clav in relation
to the tariff was taken up, and
Mr. Moore and Mr. lienton
spoke at length thereon.
Friday, 16th. The bill ap
propriating 85,000, and $1,000
per annum for five years, for the
purchase of law books for the
Library of Congress, was pass
ed. INI r. Robinson ofFercd a re
solution concerning the exten
sion of the privilege of franking
to members of the State Le"is
latures. The bill to exempt
merchandize, imported under
certain circumstances, from the
operation of the act of May,
1828, respecting the Tariff, was
considered, and, after some dis
cussion, laid on the table for
the present. The Senate resu
med the consideration of Mr.
Clay's resolution, proposing a
modification of the Tariff, and
Mr. libb spoke about two hours
thereon, when he gave way to
a motion to adjourn. The Se
nate adjourned to Monday.
Monday, 19. Mr. Dicker
son, from the committee on
manufactures, made an unfa
vorable report on the subject of
the reduction ot the duty on
alum salt. Mr. Bibb concluded
i.:., i
in lemarKs in opposition to
Mr. Clay's resolution on the
subject of the Tariff. Mr. For
sylh moved to refer the whole
subject to the committee
agriculture lost, yeas 18, nays
44. j no question recurred on
Mr. Nayne's amendment. Mr.
llayne moved a division of the
question; and the vote was first
taken on striking out the whole
of the original resolution, after
the word "resolved,11 and deci
ded in the negative yeas 18,
nays 2o. The amendment was
declared by the President to be
rejected by this vote, and the
original resolution consequently
adopted.
Tuesday, 20A. Mr. Hen
dricks introduced a bill making
an appropriation to improve
the navigation of the Wabash
and for a survey of the Kaskas
kia and White river. Mr. Ben
ton introduced a bill granting
to the State of Missouri 500,000
acres of land, to be applied to
purposes of infernal improve
ment. . At an early hour, the
Senate proceeded to the consi
deration of Executive business,
and when the doors worn open
ed, the Senate adjourned.
If. OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, March 14. The
louse resumed the considera
tion of the resolution for the ap
pointment of a select committee
to examine the affairs of the
Bank of the United States. Mr.
Wayne concluded his remarks
in favor of his amendment,
which he modified by striking
from it that part which required
the committee to act in I ho re
cess. After a further debate of
some length, a part of which
was of a personal character,
the question was taken and the
amendment rejected yeas 26,
nays 1G4. Mr. Adams then
proposed to amend the original
resolution by limiting the enqui
ry to the alleged violations of
the charter of the Bank, &c.
and directing the committee to
report by the 2lst of April.
Several ineffectual attempts
were made to amend this a
mendment so as to extend the
proposed enquiry, when it was
finally adopted yeas 106, nays
92. The resolution thus amen
ded was agreed to, the commit
tee directed to consist of seven,
and the House, at 8 o'clock, ad
journed. Thursday, 15th. The reso
lutions offered by Mr. Root, in
relation to an amendment of
the Constitution, changing the
mode of electing the President
and Vice President of the Uni
ted States, were taken up, and
after a few remarks from Mr.
Root, they were, on his motion,
referred to a committee of the
whole on the state of the Union.
Alter disposing of some oth
er matters, the military and ge-
ncrai appropriation oins were
taken up in committee of the
whole on the state of the Union,
and after various amendments,
juiu aomu uiiuace, inese Dills
were reported to the House;
when the military appropriation
bill was ordered to be engros
sed and read a third time.
Friday, 16. Mr. Adams,
the chairman of the committee
on manufactures, for reasons
stated, asked to be excused for
the remainder of the session,
from serving on said committee.
This motion was opposed by
Messrs. Cambreleng, J. S. Bar
bour, Drayton, Bates of Maine,
Speight and Mercer, and sup
ported by Messrs. Denny, Da
vis of South Carolina, and'Dear-
uouj. Aur. jcverett moved to
postpone the motion until Mon
day, and Mr. Stewart moved to
postpone it until Wednesday
next. At the suggestion of Mr.
Wayne, Mr. Adams withdrew
the request for the present.
Mr. Duncan, from the commit
tee on public lands, reported a
bill to establish a Surveyor Ge
neral's office in the States of
Illinois, Indiana and Missouri
ana in iiie territories of Arkan
sas and Michigan. -Consider.!
ble time was spent in the consi
deration of the general appro
pnation bill for the support of
government tor the year 1832.
Various amendments were pro
posed and agreed to, and oth
ers rejected or withdrawn. The
hill, as amended, was eventual
ly ordered to be engrossed f,
third reading.
Saturday. 17z. ATr Uoii
r. ' 1 1 j
rom the committee on Inrli
affairs, reported bills authoriz
ing the appointment of an Arront
to reside among the Choctaw
inuians, west ot the river Mis
sissippi, in pursuance of ih
treaty of lOSO.-Mr, Wickliflc
submitted a resolution directing
the committee on private land
claims, to enquire into the con
duct of the Commissioner of
the General Land Ofiice, touch
ing an official request made to
that officer by the committee on
the public lands. The resoh,
tion was amended, by directing
the enquiry to be made, bv tlin
committee on the judiciary, tUuj
agreed to.
Monday, 19. The
making appropriations for
military service and for
support of government for
year 1832, together with a I
number of private bills.
hills
tilt!
the
tin
aru0
were
read a third time and passed.--.
1 he bill amending the act for
the relief of the insolvent debt
ors of the United States, passed
at the last session, was taken
up and discussed but before
any question was taken, the
House adjourned.
Tuesday, 20f. Mr. Wilde
submitted a resolution for nn
enquiry into certain facts con
nected with nn increase of the
specie circulation of the coun
try. The bill in addition to an
act for the relief of the insolvent,
debtors of the United States,
was taken up and debated at
length, and after some material
amendment, was ordered to be
engrossed for a third reading
The House then adjourned.
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1832.
Cotton. By a reference to our
Price Current, it will be seen that th&
price of this article is still improving.
Fire. On Wednesday morning
last, about 4 o'clock, the citizens of
this place were roused from then
slumbers by the ringing of the bells,
accompanied with the appalling cry
of fire! fire! On hastening to the
spot whence the alarm proceeded, the
blacksmith shop of Mj. G. McWil
liams was found enveloped in flames,
and in a short time Ihe shop, with,
nearly all its contents were destroyed.
The fire was happily here arrested,
the wind, although strong at the time,
blowing in such a direction as only
to endanger a few buildings. This is
the third blacksmith shop which Mr.
McWilliams has lost by fire about
five years since the second one was
destroyed; he then erected one on the
commons, but finding it very incon
venient, a few weeks ago he had this
one erected on his lot, in the same
place the preceding one stood. It is
generally supposed that this fire was
also the work of an incendiary.
Prcs idc ntia I. Tli e Legislative
Jack son Convention of Virginia ad
journed, after a session of three nights.
without nominating a candidate for
the Vice Presidency, or appointing
delegates to the Baltimore Conven
tion. A Jackson Electoral Ticket
was formed and adopted on the third
night. A resolution declaring it in
expedient to nominate a candidate for
the Vice Presidency, was adopted
yeas 97, nays 34. A suggestion was
macie, but subsequently withdrawn, to
send delegates to the Baltimore Con
vention. A letter from Mr. Philip
P. Barbour was read in the debate on
the Vice Presidency, wherein he gives
consent that his name may be brought
forward, if it did not embarrass the
re-election of Gen. Jackson, or jeop
ardize an election of Vice President
by the people.
The Comet. The long talked of
and much dreaded Comet, it will be
seen, iS approaching. The "Time's
ielescopefor 1S3-3" designates this
as the comet of Encke, and says: "it
win pass its nerihelion thf
of May. The Comet of Biela will be
nearest to the earth on the 22d Octo
ber, when its distance will ht nhnut
fifty millions of miles. " In reference
to, any injury which the earth mav
sustain from the approach of Comets,
ine iclcfcopeadus: "The most likeijr