About Georgia courier. (Augusta, Ga.) 1826-1837 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1835)
2 THE COURIER, By J. G. M’Whorter. TERMS. This Paper is published every MONDAY, WEDNES DAY und FRIDAY afternoon, at $6 per anuuin, payable Ln advance. COUNTRY PAPER—Published every FRIDAY after noon at $3 per anuuin, in advance, or *4 at the expiration of the year. /• No Subscriptions received for less time than six months, i ADVER TISEMENTS, not exceedinga square will be sorted the first time at 75cts.per square and 37 J for each continuance. Advertisements of one square, published Weekly, at 75 cents for the first insertion, and 50cents, for each contin uance. Persons advertising by the year will be charged 30 dol lars including subscription and will be entitled to oue square in each paper. When persons haV.i standing advertisements of several squares, special contracts may be made. No deduction will be made iu future from these charges. All advertisements must have the number ot insertion* marked on them; otherwise they will be inserted till for bid, and charged accordingly. SHERIFFS, CLERKS, and other public officers, will have 25 per cent deducted in their favor. RELATIONS WITH FRANCE. The following' Message was received from the President of the United States, by the hands of his Private Secretary, Mr. Donelson. The Message and accompanying Re port of the Secretary of State, were read, as follows. To the House of Representatives of the United States. I transmit to the House of Representa tives a Report of the Secretary of State, accompanied with extracts from certain despatches received from the Minister of the United States at Paris, which are com municated in compliance with a resolu tion of the House of the 31st ultimo. Be ing of opinion that the residue of the des patches of that Ministry cannot, at pres ent,be laid before the House, consistently with the public interest, I decline trans milting them In doing so, however, I deem proper to state that whenever any communication shall be received, exhi biting any change in the condition of the business referred to in the resolution, information will be promptly transmit ted to Congress. ANDREW JACKSON. Washington, 6th Feb. 1835. To the President of the United States, Department of State. Washington, Febuary 5. 1835. The Secretary of State, to whom has been refered the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 31st ultimo, re questing the President to communicate to that House, if not incompatible with the public ihterest, “any correspondence with the Government of France, and any des- Eatches received from the Minister of the Inited States at Paris, not hitherto com municated to the House, in relation to the failure of the French Government to carry into effect any stipulation of the treaty ofthe 4th day of July, 1831,” has the honor of the Department, no corres pondence has taken place with the Gov ernment of France since that communi cated to the House on the 27th Decem ber last. The Secretaryis not aware that the despatches recieved from the Minis ter ofthe United States at Paris, present any material fact which does not appear in the correspondence already transmit ted. He nevertheless encloses so much of those despatches, written subsequently to the commencement of the present ses sion ofthe French Chambers as may serve to shew the state of the business to which they relate since that time, and also that portion of an early despatch which con tains the substance of the assurances made .to him by His Majesty the King of the French, ata formal audience granted to him for the purpose of presenting his credentials; and he submits for the Pres ident’s consideration, whether the residue can, consistently with the public interest, be now laid before the House. JOHN FORSYTH. Mr. Livingston to the Secretary of State of the United States. EXTRACTS. Paris, Oct. 4th. 1833. Sir: On Monday I presented my letter of credence to the King, on which occa sion I made the address to him a copy of which is enclosed. ****** His answer was long and earnest. I cannot pretend to give you the words of it; but, in substance, it was a warm expression of his good feeling towards the United States for the hospitality he had received there, &c. &c. * * *As to the convention, he said, aesure your Government that unavoidable circumstances alone prevented its imme diate execution, but it will be faithfully performed. Assure your Government of this, he repeated, the necessary laws will be passed at the next meeting of the Chambers. I tell you this, not only as King, but as an individual whose prom ise will be fulfilled. Mr. Livingston to the Secretary of State— Extracts. I do not hope for any decision on our affairs before the middle of January. One motive for delay ;san expectation that the Message of the President may arrive before the discussion, and that it may contain something to show a strong national feeling on the subject. This is not mere conjecture, I know the fact, and I repeat now from a full knowledge of the case, what I have more, than once stated in my former despatches, as my firm persuasion," that the moderate tone ta ken byour Government, when the rejec tion was first known, was attributed by some to indifference, or to a conviction on the part ofthe President that he would not be supported in any strong measure " by the people, &. by others to a conscious 'ness that the convention had given us jnore than we were entitled to aek. » ♦ • • • • I saw last night an influential member ofthe Chamber who told me that * ’ ****** ] * * * and that the King had spoken of our affairs; and appeared ex- 1 tremely anxious to securethe passage of the law. I mention this as one of the many circumstances which, independent ; of official assurances, convince me that the King is sincere; and now I have no doubt of the sincerity of his cabinet, i From all this you may imagine theanx- i iety I shall fell for the arrival of the President’s Message. On its tone will depend very much, our reputation for en ergy I have no doubt it will be such as to attain both of these important objects. Extract. Mr. Livingston to Mr. Forsyth. Paris. Dec. 26th, 1834. •••••••• The Chambers were convened on the first instant under very exciting circum stances. The Ministers individually,and the papers supposed to speak their lan guage, having previously announced a design to enter into a full explanation o their continuance in office on the questions of approval by the chambers of their mea ures. This, as you will see by the papers, they have frankly and explicitly done, and after a warm debate »f two days which has just closed, they have gained a deci ded victory. This gives them confidence, permanance, and I hope influence enough to carry the treaty. I shall now urge the presentation of the law at as early a day as possible, and although I do not yet feel very certain of success, my hopes of it are naturally much increased" by the vote ofthis evening.—The conversations I have had with the King and with all the Ministers, convince me that now they are perfectfy in earnest and united on the question, and that it will be urged with zeal and ability. Many of the Deputies, too, with whom I have entered into ex planations on the subject, seem now con vinced that the interest, as well as the hon or of the nation requires the fulfilment of their engagements. This gives me hopes that the endeavors I shall continue to make without ceasing until the question is decided, may be successful. I he intimation I have conceived myself authorised to make of the serious conse quences that may be expected from anoth er rejection of the law; and firm determin ation of our Government to admit of no reduction or change in the treaty, I think have had no effect. On the whole I re peat, that, without being at all confident, I now entertain better hopes than I have for some time past done. Mr. Livingston to Secretary of Slate— Extracts. Paris, Dec. 22, 1834. Sir: Our diplomatic relations with this Government are on the most extraordina ry footing With the Executive branch 1 have little to discuss, for they agree with me in every material point on the subject of the treaty. With the Legislature, where the great difficulty rises, I can have no official communication; yet deep ly impressed with the importance to my fellow citizens of securing the indemnity, to which they are entitled, and to the coun try of enforcing the execution of engage ments solemny made to it, as well as of preventing a rupture which must infalli bly follow the final refusal to execute the convention, I have felt it a duty to use ev ery proper endeavor to avoid this evil. This has been, and continues to be, a sub ject of much embarrassment. My last dispatch, (6th December) was written immediately after the vole of the chamber ofDeput’e hid,a: i. was thought secured a majority to the administration; and it naturally excited hopes which that supposition was calculated to inspire. I soon found, however, both from the tone of the administration press, and from the language ofthe King, and all the Minis ters with whom I conferred on the subject that they were not willing to put their po pularity to the test on our question. It will not be made one on the determina tion of which the Ministers are willing to risk their port folios. The very next day after the debate, the ministerial Gazette, (Les Debates,)declared, that,satisfied with the approbation the Chamber had given to their system, it was at perfect liberty to exercise its discretion as to particular measures which do not form an essential part of thatsystem, and the communica tions I subsequently had with the King and the Ministers confirmed me in the o pinion that the law for executing our con vention was to be considered as one of those free questions. I combatted this o pinion, and asked whether the faithful ob servance of treaties was not an essential part of their system, and, if so, whether it did not come within their rule? Without answering this argument, I was told of the endeavors they were making to se cure the passage ofthe law by preparing the statement mentioned* in my former despatch. This, itis said, is nearly finish ed, and from what I know of its tenor, it will produce all the effect that truth and justice can be expected to have on preju dice and party spirit. The decision not to make it a cabinet question will not be without.its favorable ’ operation, • • • • • some of the leaders of the opposition, who may not be willing to take the responsibility of a rupture, be tween the two nations, by breaking the treaty when they are convinced, that, in stead of forcing the Ministers to resign, they wilUhemselves only incur the odium of having caused the national breach. In this view ofthe Subject I shall be much aided, if, by the tenor of the President’s message, ii is seen that we shall recent the breach of faith they contemplate. It is on all hands conceded that it would be imprudent to press the decision before the next month, when the exposition will be printed and laid before the Cham bers: On the whole, I am far from being san guine of success in the endeavors which I shall not cease to make for the accom plishment for this important part of my missionjand I expect with some solicitude the instructions for my conduct in the pro bable case of a rejection of the law. I ha ve the honor to be, &c. EWD. LIVINSTON, Hon. John Forsyth Secretary of State, &c. •The paper here referred to by Mr. Liv ingston, is a memoir to be laid before the commission which may be appointed to examine the law, intended to contain all the arguments and facts by which it is to be supported. Mr. J. Q. Adams rose and said: I move sir, that the message and the extracts from the despatches accompanying it.be printed, and referred to the Committee on foreign Relations, with instructions to re port forthwith on that part of the Mes sage of the President of the United States which relates to this subject. This motion gave rise to a debate, in which Mr. Adams, Mr. Cambreleng, Mr. Archer, Mr. Clayton, Mr. McKinley, Mr Lytle; Mr. Sutherland, Mr Hamer: Mr. R. M. Johnson, Mr Stewart, Mr Evans, Mr Patton, Mr E. Everett, and Mr. Gil mer, took part; The debate ended in a reference of the Message and Documents, without in structions, to the committee of Foreign Relations. The defence which Mr. Brown has offered to the impeachment of his conduct by the Senate’s Committee, is submitted to the public From Mr. Brown’s state ment, it would seem, that he scarcely de serves the horrible execration which has been visited upon his official conduct by the orators of the Senate. We condemn his investment ofmoney, whether on his own account or for others, to whom he stands in the relation of guardian, in Post Office contaacts. We condemn his borrowii.gfrom, orlending to eontractsors, without considering how far such deal ings with them may have been justified by law, or were influenced by good motives. It was wrong in Mr. Brown to enter into these arangements, because, by possibility, his connexion with the contractors might have operated on his official conduct, and ta say the least was certainly calculated to bring suspicion up on it, even when directed solely to sub serve the public interest. As soon as the facts became known to the President and Postmaster General, Mr. Brown was made sensible of thia, and promptly re signed his office. But we ask, is there any thing so mon strous in all this, taking the worst as pect of it, as to authorize Mr. Calhoun’s dreadful picture? Is the Government so rotten, that it is ready to fall to pieces? Suppese the worst. Suppose that Mr. Brown did profit to the amount of some three or four thousand, by participating in contracts of the Department, does it follow that nothing can save the country but revolution? The President has never allowed any officer to hold any station in the Government for a moment where ajust cause of suspicion could reach him; and is the Government to be abandoned whenever a subordinate officer of a De partment may become obnoxious to cen sure? Will it not suffice that the officer acknowledges his error, and quits his employment, and that other agents, and new guards, are thrown around the de partment to comtrol a discretionary pow er which may have been abused? Cer tanly no man but the archnullifier, who wishes to dissever the Union and dis solve the Governm.ent, would think that 'revolution,'' was "the rightful rem dy" to cure such mischiefs as are char ged in the Committee’s report, and are xplained in Mr. Brown’s address, which is presented in our columns. But we like the argumentom au homi nem sometimes, and although we would not follow, we will quote Mr. Calhoun’s own precedent against himself. Does he remember the Vandevreter case? The word Rip-Raps will awaken his recol lection. He will reccollect that he was strongly suspected of Ibeing a dormrnl partner in the contract for building the fortress, on which probably a million has been sunk, at the Rip-Raps, and that his first clerk, Vandeventer, was clearly con victed of holding an important interest in it, and dismissed from office by Mr. Bar bour. Did Mr. Calhoun c insider that the participation of his first clerk in this immense contract, made under his auspi ces, rendered the whole War Deprrtment "rotten," and that nothing could retrieve the Government but revolution? No; Mr Calhoun thought it all right that his con fidential agent and friend should avail himself of his position in the War office, to grow rich by contracts. He gave proof ofthis, by making it his first and most pressing suit to General Jackson on coming to the Presidency, that Vande venter should be restored to his place in the War office. Yes, the man who was convicted of participating in the great and most lucrative contracts of the depart ment, was propossed to the President by- Mr. Calhoun as the most fitting person in the country to fill the trust which he had abused—and it was because the Pre sident and Major Eaton repelled this so licitation that Mr. Calhoun took um brage at the Administration in its infancy and directed his first assaults on the Se cretary of War. But now what do we see? The same man who justified the illicit gains of his own first clerk, and partner in the con- tract made with his Department, is so outraged that Mr. Bary’s first clerk has invested in contracts the money of orph an children committed to his care, that he is not content with the ruin of the man, but he would pull down the Gov ernment itself?— Globe. AWFUL CONFLAGRATION. And Destruction of St. Philip's Church. Charleston, Feb. 16. Our City, which has for some consid erable time been exempt from fires of a ny great manitude, was visited yester day morning, between one and two o’- clock, by a destructive conflagration, which raged for three or four hours, lay ing in ruins upwards of fifty houses, and the most venerable and time honored of our Churches. The fire originated in a wooden building kept as a Sailor’s board ing-house, by Cornel June, at the North corner of State and Lingard streets, and the wind blowing freshly from the North East, swept the flames with desolating fu ry over the mass of wooden buildings to the South-West. The area covered by the fire is embraced by Market street on the North, State-street on the East,Church street on the West, and a line about mid way between Queen and Amen-streets on the South. The only houses remaining within this space is a range of brick buil dings at the angleformed by Market and and Church streets, seven on the former, and two on the latter street, and three wooden houses on the corner, and to the South ofthe corner of LingardandChurch streets, which were saved by the inter vention of brick kitchens, with dead walls between them and the fire.—The violence of the wind rendered it a work of great difficulty to arrest the progress of the flumes, and to prevent their extending a cross Church street. The house of Dr. Y. Porcher, at the corner of Church and Cumberland streets, was saved only by the blowing up of a large wooden house, immediately opposite, at the corner of Church and Amen streets. Sparks and burning flakes were driven to a great dis tance by the wind, setting fire to Lege’s Long room, a large wooden edifice, on the South West side of the burial ground of St. Philip’s Church and also to the cir cular Church, in Meeting street, the cov ering to the steeple and the roof of the porch of which were several times on fire —both of which edifices were saved at great individual risk, aided by the occa sional play ofthe engines. Several hou ses in Queen street, and others in the vi cinity ofthe fire, and some in remote parts of the city, one even as far as Logan street to the south west, were also ignited by the sparks,but were saved from destruction by individual vigilance. During the pro gress ofthe fire, the wind veered round to the eastward, and moderated its force. The course of the flames was almost, in every instance, except that ofthe blowing up ofthe house already alluded to, arrest ed by brick buildings, which speaks a lesson to builders that ought not to be for gotten. Had the fire crossed Churdh st. the extent ofthe conflagration would have been appalling indeed—no one can tell where its ravages would have ended. To the intervention of the spacious and ad joining burial grounds of St. Philip’s and the Circular churches, are we mainly in debted for the arrest of the fire at the point where it ceased. The houses des troyed were mostly of small value, and occupied by persons in moderato circum stances and many of them by persons of colour. The loss sustainedby the fruiterers, who occupied the wooden buildings onMarket -street must be severe; and we doubt not that the charitable spirit of our citizens will be needed and invoked to lessen in some measure the severity ot this calam ity to the sufferers. The amount of in surance on the property destroyed is va riously estimated at from ten to fifteen thousand dollars. Many of the sufferers, however are doubtless uninsured. The large Livery Stable, on Church street, occupied by Chapman & Bufort, containing a large quantity of grain, hay, &c, is entirely consumed. The horses, however, were all saved. We learn that a negro man, belonging to Mr. Schnicrlie, was let down by a rope upon the root of the Circular Church, on one occasion, to extinguish the flames. The most striking feature in this calam ity is the destruction of St. Philip’s Church, commonly known as the Old Church. This venerable structure, which has for more than a century (hav ing been built in 1723) towered among us in all the solemnity and noble propor tions ofantique architecture—constituting a hallowed link between the past and the present —with its monumentalmemo rials on the beloved and the honored dead, and its splendid new organ, (which cost $4,500) is now a smoking ruin. Al though widely seperated from the bur ning houses by its burial ground, the up per part of the steeple, the only portion of it externally composed of wood, took fire from the sparks which fell upon it in great quantities. It is much to be regretted that preventive measures were not taken in season, to save this noble and conse crated edifice. The flames slowly de scended, and wreathed the steeple—con stituting a magnificient though melan cholyspectacle, and forming literally a ? . j-"f fire—and finally wrapped the whole oody ofthe church in its enlarged volume. The burning of the body of the Church was the closing scene es the catastrophe, Twice before had this Church escaped when surrounded by fire. In 1796 it was preserved by a Negro man, who ascended it, and was rewarded, with his freedom, for his perilous exertion and again 1810, it narrowly escaped the de structive fire of that year, which commen ted in the house adjoining the Church Yard, on the North. We have been informed that the on ly monument of the interior of the Church which has not been totally destroyed, is one that, with an accidental and melan choly appropriateness, bears the figure of Grief. The Church was not insured, and the loss to the Congregation, is therefore, very great, but we hope not irretrievable. The remains of the steeple, and the front Portico of the Church fell into and blocked up the street to the West, about nine o’clock yesterday morning, and some apprehensions are entertained, that one or more persons are buried under it. We have been unable to ascertain how the fire originated-various opinions are afloat on the subject. AUGUSTA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18. O’ We regret, that an accident this morning broke down the whole outside form of our paper In consequence, we are unable to present our readers with but one side. This is the first oc currence of the kind which has ever happened to us. It is not characteristic of us, who gener ally present both sides. THEATRE. Mr. Cooper takes his Farewell Benefit Te night. The Hunchback is entirely new on our stage. Or Mr. Forbes makes us his last bow To morrow Evening,as Virginius&nd Tom Cringle. Extract of a letter from Washington, dated Feb. 7. “ Gov. Wolfe, of Pa., is spoken of as Post Master General. “ Mr. J. Q. Adams, in the House to-daj’, spoke in the highest terms of the President’s Message, sent in relation to our French affairs; and his remarks were of the most warlike char acter. Indeed, every person with whom I have conversed (members of Congress and others) express the opinion that there will be a War with France.”—Alex. Gar. FROM NEW*YORK. The U. L. brig Courier, Capt. Hull, arrived at Charleston from New-York, bringing us the Mercantile Advertiser & Advocate &. Gazette,of that city of T uesday morning, 10th inst. These papers contain no later foreign intelli gence ; but we are informed that a Courier & Enquirer, of the same date, was on board, con taining Havre dates to the 10th ult. which pa per was probably destroyed, as it could not be found. A passenger on board, informs us that he read the news contained in them, cursorily, and there was no mention made of the reception of the President’s Message, and that no action had yet taken place in the French Chamber of Dep uties, on the subject of the American Claims— neither did he recollect of seeing any political intelligence of importance. With regard to the markets, he can give no information. LATER FROM HAVRE—DIRECT. Capt. Ripley, of the brig Florida, at Charles ton, states, as his impression, that the Presi dent’s Message had reached Havre, and had produced much excitement at that place; but a s the letter of the 2d ult. (the latest received make no mention of the circumstance, there is probably some mistake about the matter. We find no political intelligence in these pa pers. The following is a full statement of the markets: “HAVRE, Dec. 31.—Since our last respects of 24th inst. our cotton market has remained calm. Sales amount to 1193 bales, of which 1011 bales were U. S., with a decline of 2 and 3 centimes upon the highest prices of a fortnigh s nee. We annex astatement of cotton for 1834, compared with 1833 and 1832. The limited de mand from consumers, leads us to conclude that their stocks are not yet exhausted; a cir cumstance that must be explained by the pro longe! and astonishing drought. The con sumption of the year must be about equal to that of last year, notwithstanding the increased out goings from the port of Havre. The outgoings from our port during the first 4 months of 1834, amiuntedto 81,000 bales,of which 72,000 bales were American. “The general aspect of affairs in France is favorable to the commencing year, and if our consumers of cotton should succeed in obtaining a decline of 5 to 10 centimes upon present rates, a considerable activity would most likely re sult, with firm prices except in the case of a quite improbable superabundance of supplies from theU. States. An increase of consumption is expected in France,as well as on the rest of the continent.” The House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts, balloted a second time for a Senator of the United States, with the following result:—For John Davis 268 ; for J. Q,. Adams 229 ; for other persons 35. So the House again elected Mr. Davis. It is understood, (says the Globe) lhat the Postmaster General has appointed Dr. Richard C. Mason, of Virginia, the Treasurer and Chief Clerk of the Post Office Department, in the room ofthe Rev. O. B. Brown, resigned. The high character of Dr. Mason, tor intelligence and honor, (whose attainments qualify him for much higher stations,) are sure guaranties that the duties of this responsible situation, will be performed in a manner satisfactory to the pub lic. FROM PORT AU PRINCE. A letter from Port au Prince, under the date of January 13th, says: “We have two French ships of war here, and it is said that the French Government has ac cepted the offer of this Government, made some time since. This Governmet is to pay 1,000,- 000 of francs in cash, this being the debt of La fitte, besides 41,000,000 of francs, to be paid in 45 years. We consider the affairs between the two Governments as finally settled.” The Louisiana N. Orleans Advertiser, gives an account of an affray, which took place a day or two since in the hall of the House of Repre sentatives. The parties were J. R. Grimes, Esq. and Alcee Labranche, Speaker of the House The former undertook to cane the latter, just as he entered the Hall to. lake the Chair. Pis tols were fired on both sides, in which a bye stander and Mr. Labranche were both slightly wounded. The House appointed a Committee to enquire into the affair, and report measures for punish ing the breach of privilege. It being rumored at Albany, that & justice of the peace of that city, had united in matri mony a white girl, (a foreigner,) to a colored man, great excitement was produced, and the populace seized the offending magistrate, and blacked his face, in token of their disapproba tion of his conduct, in legalizing such a union. Subsequently, this officer had found itnecessary to attempt his vindication before the people, which he does by declaring his ignorance that the fecial? was a white person. Nothing, (says the New York Commercial) can justify such an outrage —its existence,how ever points strongly to the repugnance which nature itself seems to have implanted to the amalgamation of races so distinct in many of their most prominent characteristics, as the de scendants of Europe and Africa. A serious accident occurred on the Rail Road on Sunday night last. The Horry, with a train of Freight Cars, with Cotton, on her way down, having met with an impediment, from breaking a joint, which could not be repaired until morning,the Engineer, Mr. John M’Cand less, went to sleep in the rear car, while on the main line of Road. The Columbia, with anoth er train from above, at a later hour, came down after her, and from there being no light on I the train of the Horry, they were unable to dis tinguish her, until the two trains came into col lision, breaking four freight cars and throwing the whole on Mr. M’Candless, who was killed by the weight falling upon him, and the Colum bia considerably injured. About 50 feet of the Road was also broken, which was repaired ea Monday. WASHINGTON ANNIVERSARY. Order of Celebration. The Committee appointed to make arrange ments for the celebration of the approaching Anniversary, have appointed Col. Robert W McKeen, Marshal of the day. A procession will be formed at half past 10 A. M., in front of the Planter’s Hotel, and proceed to the Presby terian Church, where, after Divine Service, the Farewell Address of Washington, will be read by William W. Wiggins, Esq., and an Address suitable to the occasion, will be delivered by Jas. T. Gray, Esq. The|order of the Procession will be as follows 1. Volunteer Corps. 2. General Officersand Staff. 3. Officers of the Army. 4. Orator and Reader. 5. Reverend Clergy. 6. Magistrates of the City and County. 7. Medical Faculty and Students. 8. Citizens. The Pews on the right and left of the centra Aisle, near the pulpit, will be reserved for tha Military. The authorities of the City and County, Rev. Clergy, Medical Faculty and Students, and tha citizens generally, are respectfully invited ta join the procession in the above order. Committee of Arrangements. F. M. Robertson, | W. P. Merriman, Samuel Bones, I S. C. Wilson, Geo. W. Lamar, | Jno. I. Cohen. JUDGEM LEAN’S O? INIONS. Knoxville, 23d Oct. 1834. My Dear Sir—As I am about leaving this place for Ohio, I have but a few mo ments to reply to your favor of the 23d instant. In my view, no powers can be exercised by the federal government, except those which are expressly delegated to it; and I should think that the experience we have had, ought to convince every one that any extension of the public powers must endanger the permanency of the Union. All judicial questions which arise un der the Constitution and laws of the U nion, are referable to the Supreme Court of the United States, and its decision is final in such cases. This tribunal is ex pressly vested with the power to decide such questions by the Constitution, which was adopted by the people of the respec tive States. The Supreme Court, then, has been made the arbiter in such cases by the States, and its decisions are bind ing on all litigant parties. But, if a political power be asserted by the federal government, which is contro verted by a State, and which affects the interests of such State, and it cannot be made a judicial question under the Con stitution or laws of the Union, there is no tribunal common to the parties; and, in such a case, effect cannot be given to the power. The decision of a sovereign State in such a c?se is as good as the de cision of the federal government, and, of necessity, there must be mutual forbear ance. An unconstitutional act of Congress imposes no obligation on a State, or the people of a State, and may be resisted by an individual or a community. No one, I believe, will controvert this. But is a State bound to submit to a sys tematic course of oppression from the Fed eral Government ? I answer no. It should remonstrate again and again until all remonstrance is vain and useless. An appeal should be made to the other States, in all the forms sanctioned by the Consti tution ; and ample time should be given for reflection. But if all these efforts shall produce no effect, and the oppres sion be continued —an oppression which withers the hopes of the State, and dries up the resources of its prosperity—and the people of the State are forced to the alternative of choosing, under such cir cumstances, liberty or slavery, they may, and should reject the latter, and assert the former by open resistance. This is an inherent, and an inalienable right, which may be asserted and maintained by every organized community. Instead of enlarging its powers by a rule of construction, which may be con tradicted or extended at pleasure, the Fed eral Government should act within the sphere allotted to it, and consider that the true glory of our federal system consists in attaining the great objects of its forma tion, with the least possible action upon ' the diversified and conflicting interests of ' the people. In this way, and in this way j only, can this system so eventful in its on-
