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Show 186 VIRGINIA HESOLUTIONS OF 1798. 'rhat this State having, by its Convention, which ratified the federal Constitution, expressly dcclnred that, among other essential rights, "the liberty of conscience and tho press can not be concealed, abridged, rcstrai ned, or modified by any authority of the United States," and from its extreme anxiety to guard these rights from every possible attack of sophistry n.nd ambition, having, with other States, recommended an amendment for that purpose, which amendment was, in due time, annexed to the Constitution,-it would mark a reproachful incon si~:;te n cy, and criminal degeneracy, if an indifference were now shown to the most palpable violation of one of the rights thus declared and secured, and to the establishment of a preceucnt which may be fatal to the other. That the good people of this commonwealth, having ever felt, and continuing to feel, the most sincere affection for their brethren of the other States; the truest anxiety for establishing and perpetuating the union of all, and the most scrupulous fidelity to that Constitution, which is the pledge of mutual friendship, and the instrument of mutual happiness, the General Assembly doth solemnly appeal to the like dispositions in the other States, in confidence that they will concur with this commonwealth in declaring, as it does hereby declare, that the acts aforesaid are unconstitutional, and that the necessary and proper measures will be taken by each for co-operating with this State in maintaining unimpaired the authorities, rights, and liberties, reserved to the States respectively or to the people. That the Governor be desired to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolutions to the executive of each of the other States, with a request that the same may be communicated to the legislature thereof, and that a copy be furnished to each of the senators and representatives representing this State in the Congress of the Uuitcd Stales. KEN'l'UCKY RESOLUTIONS OF 1798-9. KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS OF 1798 AND 1799. (Drawn by },[r. J efferson.) 187 1. Re olved, That the several States composing the United States of America are not united on the principle of unlimited submis ion to their general government; but that by compact, under the style and t itle of a Constitution for the United State., and of amcnrlmcnts thereto, they constituted a general government for special purposes, delegated to that government certain power, reserving, ench State to itself, the residuary mass of rights to their own elfgovernment, and that when oever the general governme11t assumes undelegated powers, its acts arc uuauthoritative, void, of no force; that to this compact each State acceded as a State, and is an integral party; that this government, created by this compact, was not made the exclusi vc or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself, since that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the measure of its powers; but that, as in all other cases of compact among parties having no common judge, each party has an equal right to judge for itself, as well of infractions as of the mode and measure of redress. 2. Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States having delegated to Congress a power to punish treason, counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States, piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the laws of nations, and no other crimes whatever, and it being true, as a general principle, and one of the amendments to the Constitution having also declared, "that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively or to the people," therefore, also, the same act of Congress, passed on the 14th day of Jn1y, 1798, and entitled "An Act in addition to the .Act entitled au Act for the punishment of certain crimes against the |
