Page:State Papers on Nullification.djvu/370

 356 ent Commonwealth, in a tone of candor, confidence and affection. Appreciating thus sensibly, both the motives and objects which influenced the General Assembly of Virginia, to despatch at a moment so interesting, her Commissioner to this State, whose mission, even if the recent modification of the Tariff had not been adopted, would have challenged her high respect and profound consideration, she cannot permit the occasion thus offered, to pass, without making a few declarations which she regards as due to herself and the public liberty of the Country. In the first place. South Carolina desires to stand acquitted, and believes, on a calm and dispassionate reflection by her co-States, she must stand acquitted, of the charge of having acted with any undue precipitation, in the controversy hitherto pending with the General Government. For ten years she peti- tioned, protested and remonstrated, against that system of unjust and unconstitutional Legislation, which had equally received the reprobation of Virginia, before she resorted to her veto, to forbid its enforcement within her limits. In exercising this fac- ulty of her sovereignty, she believed she rested on those doc- trines which, in 1798 and 1799, had conferred on Virginia and her distinguished statesmen a renown so unfading. She now refers to this subject in no invidious spirit of controversy: but when Virginia asserted, in those memorable Resolutions of her General Assembly, "that she viewed the powers of the Federal Government as resulting from the compact to which the States are parties; as limited by the plain sense and intention of the instrument constituting that compact; as no further valid than they are authorized by the grants enumerated in that compact; and that, in case of a deliberate, palpable and dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the States, who are parties thereto, have the right, 'and are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective limits the authorities, rights and liberties, appertaining to them" — we conceived she had done nothing more or less, than announce the remedy which South Carolina has resorted to, through her State interposition. It is moreover asserted, in the Report explanatory of those Resolutions, that this right is a Constitutional, and not a Revolutionary right; and by the whole context of the powerful argument em-