T H E K ENT UC K Y R ESOLUT I O NS
OF 1 79 8
AN H IST O R ICAL STUD Y
BY
E T H EL B E R T D U D L E Y
Q AR F ELD
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PR E F
A CE
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T H I S littl e work was fi rs t s u gge ste d s eve ra l year s
ago by a sens e o f t h e inadequ acy o f th e hi storical
account s o f th e Kentu cky R e s olu tion s o f 1 798
Thi s feelin g h as steadily i n crea s e d eve r since and
i t s correctn es s mu s t b e app a rent t o every o n e
wh o h a s r e m arke d th e great influ ence th e se R esolu
tion s h av e had up on o u r co nst i tuti o nal and p olitical
hi sto ry Whil e th ey h ave b een t h e cau s e an d occa
sion o f much debat e an d t ran sitory discu s sion
th e re i s n o c onnecte d accoun t o f t h e cau s e s an d
c ircum stance s o f th ei r adoption an d th ei r relation
t o th e s ub s e qu en t history O f th i s country e xcep t
such as unde r m any l imitation s i s to b e foun d in
th e hi storie s o f th e Unite d S tate s unde r the Con
N on e o f th es e are calculate d t o mak e
s t it u t i o n
th e s ubj e ct p l ain t o t h e ave rage reade r an d th ere
i s s carcely o n e th at is n ot p o sitively in e rro r as t o
s om e importan t fact
Th e origi na l d ocum en ts many o f which have
always b e e n a cce s sibl e h ave b een sin gularly neg
l e c t e d and m isstatem ent s that at fi rs t c rep t in by
inadve rtence o r u nwarrant e d as s umptions n o t only
h ave n eve r b een co r rected by rec o u rs e t o the s ou rce s
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bu t h ave b een rep eat e d till th ey b ecam e t h e s ee d
o f e rror later writers c omp e ting with e ach o th er in
reiterating the mistakes Of all tho s e wh o p rec ed e d
them
The material s u s ed in this b ook wh il e n o p rin ted
work treating Of th e subj ects embraced in its p ur
view h as b e en intentionally neglected are chie fly
—
th e o riginal s ou rce s th e n ewsp ap e rs o f th e day
and the written accoun ts o f actors up on th e s tage
b ut e specially th e l etters an d m anu scrip ts o f th e
time and o f th e m en wh o we re th e l eade rs in th e
movem ents again s t th e Alien an d S edition laws
O f all th e s ou rces consulte d n one can b e comp are d
for intere s t an d impo rtance to th e hith erto almost
untouched sto re Of manu scripts formin g th e B reck
in r i d g e p ap ers an d c ontaining J ohn B reckinridge s
literary remain s
S ome part Of the c onten ts o f this volume h as
al ready b een p ub lish ed in a s erie s o f article s in
th e Magazin e s O f American an d We stern History
but in a very ab ridged form an d rath er f o r th e s ake
of p rovoking c riticism s which migh t l ead to a full
and complete treatment O f th e qu estion s connected
with th e R e s olutions than as a p ermanent c o n t r ib u
tion to American h i story
I t is h ope d that th e e videnc e h e rein s e t ou t may
be regarded as j ustifyin g a fin a l j udgment up on th e
important and somewh at m oo ted p oin ts o f th e real
m ove r o f th e R e sol ution s i n th e Kentucky l e gisla
ture and their true text I t is p erhap s to o m uch
to h ope that any final s oluti on O f th e p roblem s o f
au thorship an d inte rpre tation i s n ow o r eve r will
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b e reache d S om e new light has b e en foun d eve n
u pon the s e di fficult qu e stion s an d s om e advance
t oward s a fi na l statem en t o f all th e evidence may
h ave b e en m ad e even th ou gh th e d esire d en d h as
If n o othe r good i s a e com
n o t b een attained
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yet
if
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p
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du e t o J ohn B reckin ridg e th e m ove r and resp onsi
bl e au tho r o f the s e R e solution s b e recovered th is
wo rk h as n ot b een written i n vain
Thank s fo r aid an d en cou ragement are du e to
many frien ds wh o have adde d s o mu ch to th e ac
c o m p l i s h m e n t o f my task that I cannot deny myself
th e p ublic recognition O f their as sistan ce
Chief
among th es e are P rof Alexande r J ohnston Hon
Wm C P B reckinridge C ol R T D u rrett P re s
J ame s C Welling an d H o n J ame s S ch ouler
E T H E L B E R T D WA RF IE L D
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T H E K E NT U C K Y R E S O L U T I O NS
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hi story o f th e R e solu t ions o f 1 798 Of th e
cau se s which led t o th em th eir au th orship and
thei r in flu ence up on th e histo ry O f th e Unite d
S tate s involve s s o many p roblem s and th os e prob
l em s are o f s o nice a characte r th at an y o n e mu s t
n e e ds feel th e greates t h esitancy in und e rtakin g to
write it Q ue stion s th at h ave divi de d men int o
p artie s an d factions e sp ecially if b itter feelings
have b een engende r e d an d con flicts p rovok e d b y
th em m us t always affo rd di ffi cul t fi el ds f o r th e hi s
torian Th e p artisan finds littl e t o commen d in
th e conclu sion s of th e m os t righ te ou s j u dg e and if
th e doctrinai re h as p re e mp ted th e domain his
j udgments are ap t to p revail with th o se who s e
natu ral inclination s l ead in th e direction which h e
h as pu rsu e d Party passion o n each si de has d one
its wors t to make th e h istory o f th es e res olutions
di fficult and doctrinaire s have app eared to r e p r e
sent al most e ve ry p os sibl e p oint Of V ie w Much as
T
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th ey h ave b e e n discu s s e d and many as are th e
th eories that have b e e n promul gated concerning
them no attemp t h as as ye t b e en made to write
th ei r his t ory in a full an d connected form Ce r
t a i n l y i t may j u stly b e as signe d a plac e among
thos e departments O f Ame rican history e steeme d
wor t hy Of s eparate t reatmen t ; and n ow that the
mists Of p assion and p rej u dice that s o l on g forb ade
any att e mpt at a candid discu ssion are nearly d i s
s i p a t e d it may not b e to o mu ch t o h op e that th e
day i s at las t com e wh en a fair mind e d an d d i s
passionate narrative may b e written th e general
uncertainty that clin gs to the wh ole subj ect b e di s
and
s
om
e O f th e e rro rs that have crep t into
l
e
l
e
d
p
th e m os t w e ighty account s b e correcte d
A clear kn owl e dge o f th e cau se s that l e d to th e
—
R e solutions Of 1 798 9 i s indisp en sabl e to th e under
s tanding O f the p roblems connected with th em
They had the p rimary cau s e Of th eir existence n o t
in any temporary con dition o f affairs b u t in th e
great natural div e rsity O f s entiment common t o all
me n
Th e trend Of human thou ght constantly
l e ads men accordin g to their natu ral temp eraments
t o s eparate th ems elv e s into two gr e at partie s By
wh a tev e r nam es th ey may b e known at diffe rent
time s and places th e o n e m ay b e rou ghly d e signa t ed
as Cons ervative and the oth er as P rogressive
According t o t h e con dition Of p ublic aff airs th e
eff orts Of the o n e p arty are directe d toward s th e p r e s
e r va t i o n intact Of th e existin g governmen t and the
r e sis t ance Of all chang e o r towards th e s t e ady
s t r e ngthenin g o f th e hands Of au th ority and an
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increas e o f th e p rerogative of th e executive Whil e
th e othe r party in each ins tanc e adopt s an O pp o site
cours e Th e n atu ra l b ent o f th e o n e p arty i s tow
ards a stron g and highly centraliz e d government O f
th e oth e r towards a p u re d emocracy Th e o n e
finds its dan gerou s extrem e in ab solut e m on
archy with al l th e attendant th e orie s o f divine
righ t n on resistan ce an d s o forth whil e th e l atte r
find s its corre sp on din g e xtrem e in anarchy In
o n e form o r anothe r thes e O pp osin g th eo rie s are
always p r e s e nt in t h e s tat e
Imm e dia t e ly afte r th e
R evol utionary war h ad left thi s c ountry fre e b u t ex
h an s ted they b egan t o sh ow th em s elve s i n variou s
forms an d different d egree s O f inten sity in eve ry
p art o f th e lan d Th e gene ral p rostration an d th e
natu ral weigh t o f
i n e r ti a tol d h e avily o n th e
feebl e Federation an d th e maj ority O f thinkin g
men watch ed with regre t th e sl ow in sidiou s work
Th e e ss ential weakn es s o f the
o f disintegration
Fede ration wa s m o re and m ore widely recognized
till at las t th e tide s e t s tron gly toward s a more
e ffi cient government an d by c on s tant almost
h eroic efforts t h e dead weigh t o f opp osition was at
length raised and th e coun try fairly m ade a na
tion All bu t th e mos t unc omp romising foe s O f a
stron g central governm ent j oined in o n e way o r
anoth e r in th e m ovement Th e only n otabl e ex
c e p t i o n s we re to b e foun d among th e citi zen s of
tho s e S tate s which h ope d t o gain by opp res sing
their weake r neighb o rs an d m on op olizin g com
m erce wh en th e l ong impendin g ruin o f th e e ffete
c entral gove rnmen t sh ould b ecome an accomplished
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fact The re were many m en indeed wh o were for
s t rength ening th e fed e ral h ead wh o yet refus e d
assent to th e constitution O ffere d th em b ut th is was
on S pecifi c not on general grou nd s
When once th e youthful nation was l aunch e d o n
h er voyage with th e n ew Con stitution t h e r e was a
rapid and radical shiftin g o n th e part Of many Th e
term s Federalist an d Anti Fe deralist were applied to
very different m en a t date s s o n ear togeth e r as 1 788
and 1 790 ; and in a few m o re years th e re were fewe r
s till wh o retained th ei r o l d party nam e an d thi s
with ou t any change O f p rincipl e s S om e O f th os e wh o
o n variou s ground s had m ad e th e m os t determined
fi ght in thei r s eve ral S tate s again s t ratification b e
cam e u nder th e n ew o rde r o f things d evote d t o th e
party Of th e administration which claime d f o r itself
th e right to live un der th e h onorabl e symb ol o f their
late victo ry th e nam e o f Federal ist N O m ore no
tabl e instance O f thi s cl as s coul d b e cite d than th e
l eader Of th e Virgi n i a m i nority th e el o qu en t Henry
O nce committed t o th e n e w fo rm h e b ecam e o n e
o f th e P re sident s staunch es t coadj utors
O n th e
other h and M adison an d J e ffers on wh o had b e en
s o instrum ental in b ringin g ab ou t th e Annap olis
convention an d th e forme r O f wh om h ad playe d
such an abl e p art in th e Philadelphia c o n v e n
tion drifted in th e opp osite direction
J ef
f e r s o n wh o had wave re d s om e what at fi rst was all
for the Constitution if th e amendm ents which we re
event u ally s ecu re d coul d b e O b tained Bu t b y all
the dictate s O f h is taste an d temp er h e favored th e
l e ast c e ntralized form o f governm ent th at would
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su b se rve th e pu rpos es o f s ecu ring a p ermanen t
an d O f renderin g that union
u nion o f th e S tates
secu re again st fo reign in terference ; and earnestly
desire d th e wides t l atitu d e fo r th e exe rcis e o f S tate
and pers onal lib erty in dome stic affairs ; an d the s e
n atural p roclivitie s h ad b een confi rm e d and s tren gth
en ed by h i s re sidence in France M adison was by
natu re ve ry m oderate in his views I n early life h i s
position l eaned rath e r toward s th e cons e r vative and
centralizin g p arty , an d in th e las t years o f h is life
h e returne d t o th e s am e p osition b u t und e r th e i n
fl u e n c e O f h i s great chief and th e irres istible cu rrent
o f O pinion in Virginia h e as sum e d from th e tim e Of
th e fi rs t Congre s s fo rth a p osition n ot to b e distin
e ff e rs on s o long as th e
from
that
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l atter liv e d
I t i s safe t o s ay that a l arg e part o f th o s e wh o b e
cam e known afte r th e adop tion o f the Constitution
as Anti Fe deralists we re Old Federalists wh o con
s i d e r e d th e en d th ey had lab ored to s ecu re as a t
t a i n e d when th e Con stitu tion was pu t into e ffect
They h ad regarde d a stron g central gov e rnm en t as
only a le s s evil th an dismemb erment and wh e n th e
latt e r fate was avert e d th e y winc e d at ev e ry act that
carried th e sys tem th ey h ad helped to inau gu rate
into e fficient action
T he p eriod o f Washington s
administration was almos t entirely cons um ed in th e
work o f o rgani zin g th e new gove rnm ent and carry
ing o u t th e p rovis ion s Of th e Constitution Th e
asp ect Of affairs wh en a vigorou s nation fully
e quipped with all the in signia Of p owe r had sup
plante d th e weak and visionary fede ration was not
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n t r o o n ot z o n
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a l ittl e startling to men wh o h ad made thi s th eir
The p roph et o f su ch a change woul d
oéte no zr
h ave b een lau gh e d t o s corn h alf a doz en years b e
fore In deed few O f thi s clas s even th os e wh o
fancied t hemselve s m ost familiar with th e i n s t r u
m e nt th ou ght i t p os sibl e t o create su ch a p ower in
s o brief a space O f tim e o u t O f th e Constitution
This was doubtles s du e to a failu re to give adequ ate
weight an d consid eration t o two factors which we re
destined to eff e ct materially th e re sult ; fi rst th e
capacity o f th e country fo r great an d rapi d growth
and s econd O f eve n more immediate influence th e
mean s an d m eth o d s th a t woul d at once b e called
into b eing t o effe ctu ate th e plain p rovision s of th e
Constitution T o tho s e wh o o ccup i ed thi s p o sition
th e financial op eration s o f Hamilton we re n o t
m erely unlooke d for b u t they as su m e d th e asp ec t
o f unwar ranted an d even wicked violation s o f th e
Constitution T hu s step by s tep as th e work o f o r
g an i z a t i o n went o n th e cen tral gove rnment devel
oped a p owe r and patronage which was at onc e
su rp ri sin g an d high l y disapprov e d o f b y many
sometime ardent Fede ral ists an d th ereby s teadily
e stranging many from th e administration it built
up an oppo sition an d an opp osition that had a
fi rm e r party b asis than most o f th os e wh o compo s e d
it r e alized
This fun dam e ntal division Of p olitical op inion
which h as n ow com e t o b e u niv e rsally recogniz ed
m ay b e wholly o r p artly conceale d by the temper
o f certain tim e s or the ab s orbin g cl aims of sp ecific
measures b u t nevertheles s it is always p re sent,
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same direction and d rew a sharp line b etween th e
advocates O f a s tron g and Of a feebl e central gov
e r nm e n t
.
In addition to th e s e cau s e s there was a special
development Of what may b e call ed th e individu
”
alism which i s gene rally foun d as a p rominent
featu re o f that th eory o f governm ent which l ooks
towards lib eralism and democracy That is th e
dev e lopment o f th e imp ortan ce o f th e individual in
relation to th e S tate M r J e ffers on wa s a m o st
advanced advocate o f thi s p rincipl e U nde r h i s
leadership i t was gradually advanced and fi ndin g
a ready accep tance , e sp ecially in th e S outh an d
Wes t b ecam e o n e o f th e greates t force s in th e
d evelopment an d p ermanence O f th e p arty h e
fou n ded Th e noble system O f E nglish l aw whi ch
from th e tim e O f th e fi rs t s ettlements had been
fi rmly establish e d in th e c olonies had f o r s om e
time b een m arke d b y a comparativ e n eglect o f th e
individual a neglect wh ich in it s administration
had b een accentuate d t o s uch an e xtent that at
th e era Of o u r revolution E nglish j urisp rudence
seemed m uch t o o indiffe rent t o th e p ersonal rights
o f citizens
P roperty rights w e re p ref e rre d t o p e r
sonal rights and th e m o st tri flin g viol ation s O f th e
former we re visit e d with much m ore sp eedy and
severe punishmen t than th e mos t s eriou s as saults
u pon the l atter Th e l ib e l law was p eculiarly Op
p res sive and its adminis t ration h ad b een a s candal
and a sham e Th e p ros e cution s un der th i s law for
a centu ry b efore thi s c ountry achieved i ts i n de p e n
dence h ad b een en ough t o dis co urage th e m os t
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cou rage ou s friend s of fre e sp eech and a free p res s
From th is s ou rce M r J effe rs on d re w a wh ol es om e
d read o f any i n c r o a c h m e n t s u p on th e freedom o f
th e individual in whateve r sphe re an d cu rtailments
O f it were to o recen t and t o o great fo r i t t o b e
regarded as a fi gment o f his brain It app eale d to
him ve ry s trongly fallin g in as it did with h i s
n atu ral h ab it o f th ought M any regarde d i t as
s u fficiently gu arantee d by th e Con stitution b ut
h is fear an d unre s t were neve r satisfi ed even by
an d h e n eve r
s o p erfect a continuin g g u aranty
ceas e d t o watch ove r it j e alou sly H e sh owe d th e
fi rst fo rce o f h i s convictions o n this s ubj ect i n
th e p articular enum eration in th e D eclaration O f
“
Indep endence o f th e rights o f life lib e rty an d
”
th e p ursu it O f h app ine s s again in hi s insistence
u p on th e addition O f a b ill o f rights to th e C o n
s t i t u t i o n an d in h is watchfu l care th rou ghou t h is
career T here are m any in stance s in wh ich it
b eh oove s u s to keep in view th e dominan t i n fl u
ence Of thi s indivi dualism o n M r J effe rson s mind
It i s n o t only th e key t o many Of h is o wn acts b u t
to th e p roblem s th at af t e rwards grew o u t o f th em
wh en i t was attempted to wres t them t o a widely
diffe rent m eaning T h e natu ra l re sul t o f th es e i n
c l i n a t i o n s was e xhibited in h i s steady advocacy o f
a gene ra l gove rnmen t Of minimum p owe r a fos te r
i n g o f th e in flu ence O f th e S tates as th e natu ral
b ulwark s against a s tron g c entra l p owe r and his
unwearied stru ggl e fo r what was in deed th e great
en d O f all his p olicy a d emocracy Of th e pure s t and
simplest typ e p o ss es sin g all th e p ower capabl e O f b e
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ing l odge d in i t s hands and its e lf exercisin g as far a s
p os sible all th e function s o f gove rnment itself th e
mas te r its O ffic e holders th e s e rvants and dictating
and rightly requiring from all th e m os t republican
sim plicity
Such i n brief outline were th e s e ntim ents o f
th os e wh o regarde d th e vigo rou s p olicy s o p rompt
l y adop te d an d p ut into op eration u nde r Washing
t on wi th dislike an d distru st Th e ove rshadowing
influence o f th e P re s iden t h el d m any t o th e warm
S upport O f th e administration wh o would o therwis e
have b een in th e rank s of th e opp o sition an d a far
greate r numb e r yielded acquiescenc e to th e same
spell
The re was h owever a s t e ady growth
towards th e p rinciple s o f th o s e opp ose d to centra l
B u t fo r a lon g tim e th ey l ack e d b oth
i z at i o n
organization an d p arty nam e O f l e ad e rs t h ere wa s
n o lack
N e w Y ork Offere d som e b rillian t candi
date s fo r h eadship ; M as sachu setts h ers elf c oul d
h ave supplied an abl e champion ; b u t b y gen era l
consen t th e p o sition was acco rde d t o Virginia Not
at once indee d b u t gradually In th e H ous e o f
R ep res entative s M adis on quickly won th e fi rs t
place b u t h e was then as eve r afterwards s econd
to J eff ers on and by th e tim e that th e thi rd p re si
dential election had come J effers on was almo st
with ou t a rival H ad th e p arty b e en b ette r o rgan
i z e d with a cl eare r enunciation Of p rincipl e s th e y
woul d h ave mad e a mu ch b etter stand even thu s
early Th ey lacke d coh e sion s adly an d hi t herto
th ey were withou t any p arty nam e o f general a c
c e p t at i o n
Th e nam e o f Anti Fe de ralis t was to o
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n egative an d to s om e s t ill smacke d o f a fals e p o
th e nam e o f D em ocrat which was not u n
s it i o n
commonly given a t th e time was a t e r m O f rep roach
an d gr e w o u t o f th e unfortunate conduct O f G e n et
and the taste O f French affairs was th en fas t grow
in g bitte r in all men s m outh s They h ad al ready
b egun to give th ems elve s out as R epublicans and
then to j oin th e two nam e s into D emocratic R ep ubli
can s b u t as ye t this name h ad not become fairly
fi xed up on the p arty
S uch was th e general state Of affairs wh e n Adam s
b ecam e P resident an d J e fferson Vice President
M r J efferson with hi s unfailing p olitical sagacity
h ad remarke d th e weakne s se s in th e great b ody Of
m en wh o thou gh t with him and now began a s ys
t e m a t i c c ou rs e directe d toward s th e r e medyin g Of
thos e defects H is fi rs t impulse s towards a c o ope ra
tion with th e p olicy that M r Adam s migh t pu rs u e
were o f b rief duration
The i r p oin ts Of V iew were
h opele s sly at variance
Th e Pre siden t was an avowe d a dmire r o f the
B ritish C onstitution h e h ad pron ou nce d views O f
an aristocratical n atu re and h e was an u n c o m
p romising frien d Of s tron g gove rnment T h e Vice
P resid e nt gr e at as h e was was undeniably s u s
i
u
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o
s
and e sp ecially s o Of th e north ern Federalis ts
p
Even h e forgot that while at th e Court Of S t
J ame s M r Adam s had p ursu ed a most manly
and indep enden t cou rs e an d th at whateve r his
th eo rie s were h e had p roved his p atrio tism and
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republicanism in his m asterly l e ade rsh ip in th e fi rst
years o f the Co n tinental Con gre s s Th e distru s t
was p robably mutual b u t th e P resident was th e o n e
t o whom confidence an d co o p eration we re du e
an d instead o f that th e Vice P re siden t was th e
l e ader Of th e opp osition an d hi s rival fo r th e s u f
T h e situ ation was too much
f r a g e s Of th e p eople
Th e P re sident early gave
f o r th e administration
O ffence by inauspiciou s S p eech e s in regard to th e r e
l ation o f B ritish an d F rench influ ences an d kindre d
matters
Th e fri e nds Of F rance took e sp e cial ex
c e p t i o n to a remark t o th e effect th at th e American
and French revolution s p os se sse d n o t o n e p oint in
common
Madison an d J efferson criticis ed this
utte rance fre ely in their corresp onden ce and i t b e
came the text for a public warnin g again s t a man
wh o coul d h ol d su ch an opinion M e anwhil e ou r
relations with F ranc e we re growin g m ore an d m ore
complicated
Th e p e rfo rm ance s Of G ene t p ro
d u c e d a great revul sion o f fe e lin g o n th e p art o f
many ard e nt French symp athizers A n d from the
tim e Of his c omin g th er e was never quite th e sam e
feeling t h at had once p revail ed Wh en VVa s h i n g
t o n l eft O ffice A d e t s commis sion was su sp ended
an d th ou gh h e c ontinu ed in Philadelphia h e was
n o l onge r accredite d to th e gov e rnment Charle s
C o t e s w o r t h Pinckn e y h ad s e t o u t b e arin g M on roe s
recall and h is o wn cr e dential s to S t D en is W hen
h e arrived h e was r e c e iv e d wi t h m uch h auteu r
and finally info rme d that th e D irecto ry d e clined to
recogniz e him All this had tran sp ired in t h e l ast
days Of Washin g t on s adminis tra t ion bu t th e n e w s
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reached this c ountry when A dam s was i n
Th e country g e ne rally was e xasp e rated
au g u r at e d
by th e rej e ction Of Pinckn ey an d th e ci rcums tance s
of th at rej ection m ad e th e cou rs e O f France which
for a l on g tim e had b een d irecte d t owards a s ep ara
tion b etwe en th e e xec u tive an d a large b ody o f the
p e opl e m ore p atent than at any p reviou s tim e Bu t
Adam s d eclare d it t o b e h i s d esire t o h ea l th e dif
f e r e n c e s if p os sible an d t o d o all in hi s p owe r t o
p reven t th e b reach from widening In o rde r to
accomplish thi s h e s umm one d Con gre s s t o a sp ecial
s es sion in M ay an d e xp res sed h i s intention Of n om
i n at in g a commission t o b e s ent t o France t o e n
Thi s
de av o r t o b rin g ab ou t an accomm o dation
commis sion as fi rs t d rawn was to con si st of Pin e k
ney D ana an d M arshall b u t D ana d ecl ined and
Ge rry wa s s ub stitute d fo r him Ge rry an d Mar
shall s e t o u t p romptly an d j oin ed Pinckney in H o l
land T hei r cre dential s an d ins truction s we re ade
qu ate t o th e b roade s t scop e o f negotiation an d there
wa s great h Op e that th ey woul d b e abl e t o e ffect an
accommodation B u t at th e s am e time th ere was
a growin g distru s t Of French attitu de s and p a r t ic u
l a r l y Of th e increasing p owe r o f Bu onap arte
E ven
M r J efferson was doubtfu l what th e time s would
b ring forth Time slippe d away N egotiation was
slow an d communication b etween th e c ountrie s
imp erfect Public interes t was fairly o n tip t o e
Th e envoys h ad reache d Pari s early in O ctober
and s i x m onth s had n ow elap s ed
Ju s t at this
mom en t th e weigh t was lifted from th e P resident s
h eart which had b een s o s orely s tun g by in sul t and
had
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vitup eration T h e $ Y Z d e sp atche s arrive d and
we re made p ublic o n t h e 3 d o f Ap ril 1 79 8 A
tremendou s revulsion Of feeling was t h e result
“
”
M illion s f o r def e nce not on e c e nt for tribute
becam e the cry o n eve ry h and Adams was fo r
once almo st a p op ular h e ro Fe deralism was in
high feath e r A Fr e nch war s e e me d immin e nt and
f o r th e mom ent woul d h ave b een rec e iv e d with a c
clamation by all p arti e s Thi s s e e me d t o b e the
tim e t o p r e s s forward vigorou s m e asu re s that would
undo much pas t evil an d p r e vent m uch fu ture a n
n oyance The p rogramm e emb rac e d three acts
The fi rs t a ch ange o f th e natu ralization law ; the
secon d an alien act ; th e third a s e dition act
Th e e ffect Of th e fi rs t was to al te r th e p er i od o f
residence n e ce s sary to citizensh ip from five to fou r
teen years t o require a regis tration o f al l whit e
alien s an d to forbi d th e natu ralization o f alien
enemies T h e Ali e n Act p ermitte d th e b anishment
Of alien s u nd e r th e simpl e o rder o f th e P resident
an d in cas e o f refu sal t o d e p art it authori zed i m
p risonment and dep rivation Of the righ t to b ecom e
Th is was for alien friends fo r t h e act
a c itiz e n
drew thi s distinction Alien e nemie s coul d b e de
t ai n e d bani sh ed imp risoned all at th e discretion
o f th e P resident
This was a most remarkabl e
stretch o f auth ority b u t th e S e di t ion Act was far
more radical I t o riginate d in th e S e nate and
mu st h ave al arm e d n ot m e re l y the fri e nds of
France an d t h e R ep ublican p arty b u t e qually al l
cl e ar sigh te d fri e nds o f free dom and o f calm l egis
lation A S intro duc e d its fi rst section declared
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and th e public ation o f s editiou s libel s o n th e gov
Two c l au se s were added
e r n m e n t and its O ffic e rs
to modify th e effect Of thes e p rovision s S ection
th re e p ermitted th e truth in action fo r lib el t o b e
s e t u p as a d efence con trary t o th e p reviou s p r ac
t ice and s ection fou r l imite d th e c ontinu ance of
this act to th e p erio d O f th e cu rrent administration
that i s to M arch 3 1 80 1
E ven b efore th es e l aws we re enacted a feeling o f
alarm sp read everywh ere In th e extreme Federal
ist S tat e s n o doub t a feeling o f triumph and ex
u l t a t i o n p revailed b ut even in th eir b orders the r e
was n o lack Of dismay amon g th e minority
The
opp osition in Con gre s s lab ored strenu ou sly t o
prevent their p as sage b u t in vain
O nc e p assed
the country was th rown into a p erfect ferment
Th e differen t p ortion s of th e country we re affecte d
accordin g to th e dominant p olitical opi n i on Wh ere
th e F e d e r al i s t s were s trong p olitical feelin g b ore
th e m h eadl o n g into pro s ecutions unde r th e n e w
powe rs In th e R ep ublican S tates a sens e o f inj u ry
and dange r went han d in h and and th e qu e stion o f
th e hour was h ow t o rep el th e threatening d e é
s tru ction
M r J e ffe rson did n ot fail to s e e that th e great
opp ortuni ty fo r hi s p arty had c om e
His keen
p olitical s agacity detecte d in a n in stant th e fatal
mistake th e adminis tra t ion h ad made and h e
b egan at once to l ook abou t h im f o r th e b est
mean s to tu rn hi s opponents mistake to his o wn
advantage
Natu rally h e felt s om e delicacy in
appearing t o o fo rward in as sailin g a government of
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which h e him s elf was th e sec ond in O ffice Neve r
t h e l e s s h e l en t him s elf willingly to th e task o f
o rganizin g in a quie t way a sys tematic as sault upon
th e s e la ws Of Congres s an d at once opened a co r
resp ond e nc e calculate d to elicit th e b e s t j udgment
o f his coadj u tors an d gradually d rew ou t a p ro
gramm e o f action
Vi rginia wa s b y n o mean s unanimou s in repro
b atin g th es e l aws Sh e h ad a large and influ ential
b ody o f Federalists wh o we re l ed by b old an d
abl e leaders and as is no t infre qu ently th e cas e
with minoritie s largely con stitu te d Of th e wealthy
a n d cultivated
many Of th e Virginia Federalists
were e xtrem e in t h eir convictions and parti sanship
B ut th e influ en ce o f J efferson was p aramou nt an d
th e re sul t Of J eff e rs onian p rincipl e s s oon ap peare d
M e etin gs we re hel d in many O f th e
o n eve ry h an d
c ountie s u pon th ei r c ounty cou rt days at which
were ad opte d add re ss e s o r s erie s o f re s olu tio n s c o n
d e m n i n g o r p rayin g fo r th e rep eal Of th es e l aws
A mon g th es e countie s we re P rinc e E dward
Goochland O ran ge Au gu sta Amelia P owhattan
Louisa an d Caroline
E xcep t Kentucky i t made
th e great e s t S h ow o f resi stance
N ew Y ork N e w
J ersey and Penn sylvania s en t p etition s O f appeal
to C on gres s an d th e l atte r b eing e sp ecially
arou s ed by th e p la in p ersonal attack contained in
th es e laws up on th e p opular Gallatin was very
active in doin g what was p os sibl e to s e cu re t h e
repeal
I t i s a matter of g e n e ral regre t that s o few
o f M r J effe rs on s le tters written j us t at th is crisi s
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app ear in h is published works
Tho s e that are
b efore u s contain mo re exp re s sion s O f s u spicions of
s urveillance an d insp ection on th e part o f th e p ost
H i s gen
O ffic e th an O f opinion s O n th e s ituation
e ral view s are h oweve r su fficiently w ell known
H e wh olly Oppo s e d th e cou rs e th e gov e rnment wa s
p u rsuing bu t deplore d any th ou gh t Of viol ent
m easu re s arguing very forcibly in a l e tt e r to J ohn
Taylor o f Carolina that m en were p ron e t o diffe r
p artie s w e re in evitab le an d th e c onstant rul e o f
eith er p arty imp o s sibl e th at th erefore to consider
sece s sion and sep arate existenc e with N orth Caro
lina alone as su gges te d by him was to fl ee from
th e evil with ou t es caping i t ; that on e migh t thu s
continu e t o divid e and s ub divid e and yet n ever
attain th e d e sire d goal A t th e sam e tim e h e
recogniz e d th e imp o rtance even th e impe rative
n eces sity e sp ecially fo r party pu rpo s es o f p rompt
action and s oon cam e to share th e opinion o f
th ose wh o th ou gh t th at th e legislature s shoul d b e
m ad e t he m ou th p iece s of thei r p rote s ts In a les s
“
”
pleasing tone h e w rote to S T M ason :
The
Alien and S edition l aws are working h ard I fancy
that s ome o f th e S tate l egislatu re s will tak e s trong
groun d o n th is occasion F o r my o wn part I con
s ider tho s e laws as only an e xp e rim ent o n the
American m ind to s e e h ow far it will b ear an
avowed violation Of th e Con stitu t ion If thi s go e s
down we shall immediately s e e attemp te d another
act o f Congres s declarin g that the P re sid e nt s h all
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f
c ontinu e in O fl i c e du rin g lif e re s ervin g t o another
occasion th e transfe r O f th e su cce s sio n to his
h eirs and th e e stablish m e nt Of t h e S enate fo r life
At l eas t thi s may b e th e aim o f th e O liverian s
whil e M onk and th e cavaliers ( wh o are p erhap s th e
s tronge s t ) m ay b e pl aying their gam e for th e
res toration o f hi s m ost graciou s M aj esty G eorge
th e Th ird Th at th e s e things are i n contemplation
I h ave n o doub t ; n o r can I b e confident o f their
failu re afte r th e dup ery o f which o u r c ountrym en
”
h ave sh own th em selve s su sceptible
Thi s lette r
was written s o late as O ctob e r I 1 th wh en th e fact
th at s om e action would b e taken in th e legislatu re s
O f Kentucky an d Vi rginia was generally known
Th e ton e Of th es e remarks a tone common in
J effe rs on s letters i s remarkabl e f o r th e extreme
m easu re s h e attribu te s to hi s opp on ents an d al s o
for th e p e s simistic V iew Of p opular action Th e
qu e stion i s inevitably su ggeste d : D i d h e really
think the s e things o f men m os t o f wh om h e had
s erve d with many o f wh om h e h ad watche d from
th e vantage groun d of a p re sidin g O ffice r p r a c t i
cally with ou t a vot e o r th e p e opl e toward wh om
h e eve r p ractise d a wide Optim is m and showed a
c onfi dence h on orable alike t o h ims elf an d th em ?
O r o n th e oth er h an d was this ton e as sumed for
p u rp o s es o f p olicy t o u rge hi s foll owers on t o
spirite d action by p aintin g th e p ictu re i n th e m os t
s omb re col ors ? N eith e r alternative can b e r e
garde d as wo rthy o f a man o f such a vigoro u s
min d an d s uch a geniu s f o r p olitics
B ut it wa s in Kentucky th at th e greates t r e
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was evoked The f e eling in that S tate
was indeed li t tl e sh ort o f frenzy an d a singular
u nanimity was displaye d e v e n in th e m os t extrem e
acts an d s entim ents
T his grew ou t Of n o passin g
p as sion It was b as e d up on th e m os t vigorou s
el ements in h e r charac t e r as a p eople Kentu cky
was at this tim e s omewhat apart from th e r e st o f th e
Union
With th e singl e e xception o f th e newly
create d S tate O f T enne s s e e th e only o n e o f th e
sisterh ood wes t Of th e m ountain s o f v e ry recen t
and rapid growth sh e h ad t o a ve ry large degree
intere sts p e culiar t o h ers elf ; h e r n eeds we re not
clearly un de rstood an d s ometim es wh en un de r
stood dis regarde d by th e others H e r complaints
j u st an d unj ust h ad b een many bu t hitherto s h e
had n ot gain e d th e nation s ear B u t th e tim e w a s
n ow rip e f o r h e r to as sert herself an d a s s h e playe d
th e mo s t imp ortant p art in th e littl e d ram a th at
was th en h urrying u p on th e stage it i s imp ortant
to u nde rstan d th e circum stance s wh ich p rep are d
h e r fo r h er I dl e an d in o rde r th at it may b e quite
plain that i t was n o m ere chance which as signe d to
h er this place b u t a m anife st d estiny l ong in p re
p arin g thi s p oint wil l b e p re s e nte d s omewhat at
l ength
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C HA P T E R I I
K E N T U CK Y
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GR O W T H
L U
TI
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T OW AR D
ON
S
S
TH E
R E SO
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fi rst s ettlem ent effecte d in Kentucky only
date s from I 774 The wh ole o f he r g r o wh up to
1 798 was the refo re emb race d in t h e b rief p e riod
O f twenty fou r years
A n d in addition to thi s
the dark d ays O f th e R evol ution almost entir e ly
ch ecked emigration from th e older S tates
No t
only were the call s at h om e all engros sing bu t th e
Indian s under th e stimulu s Of B ritish excitation
were u nu sually warlike Thu s th e fi rs t years r e
a t e d th e Ol d story of frontie r s truggle
e
Th
e
littl
e
p
ground won was gaine d h ardly an d retaine d by
d esp erate mean s B u t th e war once ove r a p erfect
tide o f emigration swep t ove r th e m ountains Th e
termination Of a great war always throws up on a
country a b an d o f re stles s sp irits to whos e ex
i s t e n c e excitement h as b ecom e well nigh a n e c e s
S ome e scap e o r s om e p rop e r application o f
s ity
thi s S pirit i s n ece s sary t o th e p eace and well b eing
The vete rans Of t h e R evolu tion found
o f th e S tate
T
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A
d bl k h u
d t k d
w
ly
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f
tt l m t ti ll b u t t h
d f th
w m i th
t u f hu t
t pp
d th
t ade rs p o t th n t h b g i i g f t l tt l m t
on
an
r
fe w
se m
e se
’
sc a
tt
an c e
o
a
n
e
a
es
e n
e
se
o re
ere
s s
s oc
e re
e
e
an
a
na
nn n
21
re
s o
oc
e
o
o
o
-
en
n ers
ac ua
se s
se
’
,
o
ra
e
ere
th
e
w ar ,
’
e r s , an d
en
.
e
Ke n tu c ky s
G r o wtn
’
22
it in th e expl oration an d c ol onization of th e we s t
Th e st ory Of th e e ff ort s in th e m ore n ortherly
S tate s in th e settlement o f th e country n orth o f
th e O hi o h as b e en frequ en tly tol d
Th ou gh th e
s ou th ern emigration to Ken tu cky an d T e nn ess e e
h a s b een l es s ably deal t wi t h i t h as even m o re o f
intere st attach ing t o i t an d i s enlivene d b y inci
d ents full o f th e spirit Of romanc e In Kentucky
at th e cl ose O f th e war th e foun dation h ad b een
laid th e c ou ntry had been th oroughly e xpl ored an d
th e ne e d was m ainly of s ettl ers t o o ccupy an d
p oss e s s th e land Vi rgini a e ncou rage d emigration
in every way H e r sol diers rece iv ed l arge grants
an d m any occupie d th em in p e rs on Th e N orth
Carolinian s wh o had b een so p rominent in early
days h avin g given among othe r emin ent name s
th os e O f B oone h er typical pione er and O f Shelby
h e r fi rst govern or c on t inu e d to p ou r in Marylan d
to o sen t a large numb e r Of s ettlers E xcept from
th ese thre e S tate s th e re we re ve ry few emigrant s t o
thi s country t h os e from the m ore n orth erly S tate s
b ei n g m ore p rominent th an nu merou s Th e growth
was su rp ri singly rapi d in 1 790 th ere w ere al ready
m ore th an
inh abitants which n umb e r had
grown t o
in 1 800 a wonde rful exh ibit fo r
a p e riod o f twenty —S i x years I n 1 798 th e numbe r
o f inh ab it an t s mu st h ave app roximate d
Th e se were coll ecte d in s eve r al lit t le group s n ot
s cattere d b roadcast th rough ou t th e land
Th e
m ost important cen tre s we re in Fayette County
ab ou t L exington in Lincoln County ab ou t Dan
ville an d in J efferson County ab ou t Loui svill e
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I x c n t u c éy
’
24
Gr owtn
’
s
Virginia was always a ch erishin g m other to Ken
tucky Th e complication s did n ot grow o u t of con
s ciou s n eglect an d still le s s ou t of delib e rate o pp r e s
sion B ut th e di fficulties Of c ommunication were
very great th e wave O f immigration had ove rpas se d
th e mountains and a gre at uninh abite d inte rval was
thu s l eft t o m ake inte rcou rs e slow an d di fficul t
and as yet th e road was e xcee dingly dange rou s ;
while to delays and casualtie s growin g out o f b ad
roads an d m ountain pas se s th e uncertaintie s O f
travel throu gh a country inve ste d by rovin g b and s
Vi rginia natu r
o f ho stile savages h ad to b e added
ally s om etim e s l os t sigh t o f th e p eculiar n ee ds o f a
p art o f t he S tate s o cu t O ff s o badly rep re s e nted
and s o d istinct in its need s in h er l e gislation Th u s
littl e by l ittle complaints aro s e affectin g all b ranche s
o f th e governm ent j udiciary l egislative and e x e c u
tive and at las t thes e c omplaints grew to a demand
for complete indep endence
Th e first is su e actually rais ed grew o u t of military
affairs Kentu cky was singularly s itu ate d in re sp ect
to the Indians H er te rritory wa s a l m o st entirely
with out p e rmanent se ttlements I t wa s a common
hunting groun d ab oundi n g in gam e an d attracting
th e variou s tri b e s from th e b ordering S tates to
frequent exp edition s Natu rally enou gh collision s
were O f constan t occu rrence and it was almo s t as
m uch a battl e as a hunting ground j u stifying th e
Indian name which signifie s th e dark and bl oody
”
ground
T his ci rcum stan ce m ad e it e asie r to
plant the fi rst s e ttlem ents s inc e they were mad e o n
unoccupied ground b u t it made their maintenance
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R
e so
lu tio ns
2
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5
much m ore di fficult b ecaus e th e rovin g war
parties h ad n ot b een in any wi s e disp os se ss ed o r
reduced in numb ers an d m ade thei r p eriodica l
return s as o f O ld Th e only diffe rence appa
r e n t l y was that instead Of trib e slau ghterin g trib e
in thei r p redatory incu rsions th ey all n o w fel l
u p on th e white man
I t was an anom alou s state
an d it i s p rob able that th e Virgini a
o f affairs
auth oritie s di d n ot fully comp rehen d th e situ ation
A s omewh at anal ogou s exp e rience had fall en t o
th e l o t of th e s ettl ers in th e r e gi on we st o f t h e
m ou ntains at th e h ead waters o f th e New H olston
and other rive rs kn own collectively as the We st
”
e rn Wate rs which b ecame th e c ountie s o f Wash
i n g t o n Fincastle B o t t e t o u r t an d s o fo rth durin g
th e war p eri od wh o were th e victim s o f fre qu ent
raids from th e Che roke e town s j u s t within th e
dep th s o f th e wildernes s B u t th e Indian s were
th en unde r th e m ani p ul ation O f B ritish an d T o ry
agents an d at oth e r tim e s rarely p rov e d th e a g
re sso r s
Here
th
e
Indian
s
m
ade
dash
afte
r
dash
g
an d h arrie d th e s ettl ers sadly The only reme dy
was t o b e foun d in retaliation and th e arrangemen t
o f th e militia u nde r Vi rginia s laws m ade thi s m o s t
di fficult Th e governors disapprove d o f i t an d th e
federal war departm en t m ad e m ore than o n e c om
plain t Of th es e exp edition s as s tirring u p t roubl e
and violatin g t reatie s Th e Ken tuckian s we re i n
the grasp O f a n ece s sity that knew n o l aw an d
Col onel B enj amin Logan invite d a numb e r o f
militia O ffice rs t o an informal confe renc e at D an
ville in th e s umm e r o f 1 784 Those p re s en t d e
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26
nt u c
n
y
’
G r ow t/t
s
cided t o call a convention in D ecemb e r t o discu s s
th e military situ ation Th i s convention was o f th e
opinion th at Virginia ou gh t t o b e as k e d t o gran t a
s ep aration as o th er wi se th e go od o f th e we stern
c ountie s woul d b e p rej udiced b u t f e arin g a l ack
of au th ority th e qu estion was ref e rre d to anoth er
convention t o m eet in M ay 1 785 Thi s convention
al s o foun d i t e xp edient to refe r th e situation t o a n
oth er calle d t o m ee t alm os t imm e diately in Au gu st
A re qu es t for au ton omy wa s formally made to Vir
ginia an d a ddr e s e s we re m ad e to th e p eopl e s ettin g
for t h th e neces sity o f s ep aration
D urin g th e
c ours e O f thes e event s a stron g party had sp run g
up s o b ent o n s e p aration as t o b e willin g t o go to
th e greate st l e ngth s in order t o Ob tain it Th e talk
even th u s e arly was needl es sly viol e n t an d p oint e d
to m or e vigorou s m easu re s th an th e n ec e ssity O f th e
cas e s eem s to h ave deman ded T O m en o f thi s stam p
th e n ews that Virginia by an act p asse d in January
1 786 h a d acceded t o th e requ e s t fo r a s eparation
was almost a disappointment Thi s act au thori zing
th e p eopl e to e rect th em selve s into a S tate i s gen
It s full text
e r a l l y known a s th e fi rs t enab lin g act
was n ot re ceive d unti l s ome time aft e r th e rum or O f
its pas sage h ad arrived Wh en it was kn own ce r
tain c ondition s containe d therei n cam e as a r e lief
to th e e xt rem e p arty
Th ey we re simpl e an d
p rop e r b u t s om e o f th em we re very unp opul ar
The p rincipal condition s required fi rs t th e adop
tion Of a p rop e r con stitu tion a participation in the
debt o f th e Old S tate a recognition o f Old l and
grants an d e qu al treatmen t to Virginia l and
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27
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owne rs an d that th e con sent o f th e Federal Con
gres s b e Obtained b efo re Jun e I 1 78 7 to receiv e
th e n e w S tate in to th e Fe deration ; and th en th e
s eparation was to b e made p erfect u p on a day to b e
nam ed s ub s equent t o S ep temb e r I 1 787
Th e
delay n ec es sit ate d b y th e las t clau s e was eminently
u nsatisfactory t o t h e impatien t They chafe d u nde r
it b u t th e tempe r Of th e p e opl e sh owe d its el f as
fully c n r app o r t with th e Virginia p rogramm e and
th e situ ation was qu i e tly acc e p te d
M i s u n de r
standings h owever arose an d Vi rginia in O ctobe r
o f th e s am e year p as s e d an oth e r act delayin g the
s ep aration til l J anu ary I 1 789 an d fi xing J uly 4
1 788 as th e date p ri or t o which Congr e s s should
cons ent t o receive th e n e w S tat e into th e Fede ra
tion T hi s was very mu ch m or e unpop ular than
th e form e r act bu t was complie d with at th e time
b y quietly rec ognizing it as fin al
M eanwhil e t h e military affairs we re growing l es s
imp ortant an d th e two m eetin gs h el d in D anville
in 1 787 th e o n e in M ay an d th e oth er in S eptembe r
b rou gh t an oth er qu estion into p rominence A s the
country grew th e di fficultie s that we re fel t in t ran s
action s b eyond th e mountains we re greatly increase d
b y th e adven t O f comm erce T ransp or t ation of
large qu antitie s o f goo d s was b oth exp ens ive and
di fficul t An d th e p roducts o f th e S tat e were all
agricultu ral an d th e imp orts we re al l th e n ece ssarie s
Th e imports woul d com e
o f life excep t thei r food
to th em b u t at a high p rice th ei r e xp orts o n th e
oth e r b a n d c oul d with di fficul ty fin d a marke t at
any p rice A t s uch a time i t was onl y n a t u r a l th a t
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Ke n tu c ky s
G r owtn
’
28
th e great sys tem o f rive rs p ou ring their wate rs to
th e Gulf sh oul d b e p ointe d t o as th e natu ral avenu e
B u t S p ain owne d all th e we s te rn
o f th eir t rade
b ank o f th e Missi ssippi and the e astern b ank to 3 1
o f north l atitu de an d guarde d with j ealou s care the
tra ffic o n th e great western highway Th e re was
good reas on to b elieve th at th e we s te rn p o s s e s sion s
o f th e Fe de ration h ad a ri g h t of u se b u t this wa s
denied an d S pain h ad th e p owe r to enforce h e r
claim s Th e s ens e of th e imp ortance o f this ou tlet
t o Kentu cky c omme rc e grew rapidly an d was s tu di
o u s l y fostere d by th os e ove r has ty in their desire f o r
indep en dence and i t was n ot long till this qu es tion
b ecame th e m o st imp ortant o n e before th e p e ople
Th e m an wh o wa s to b e th e chief p romote r o f
thi s idea in all its ph as es and th rou gh it t o b ecom e
a m os t conspicuou s figu re in th e history o f th e
U nite d S tate s n ow fi rst app ears up on th e s c e n e in
Kentu cky This man was G eneral J ame s Wilkin son
H e was p os s es s ed o f that p recociou s geniu s s o com
m o n to extrao rdinary tim es
H e was a captain in
th e Continental army at eigh teen h ad s e veral o p p o r
t u n i t i e s of distin guishin g h ims elf was an aide de
camp to G en e ral Gate s at S aratoga an d fi nally l eft
th e army as B rev e t B rigadie r Gen eral H e came to
Kentucky in 1 784 as ag e nt o f a Ph ilad e lphia trading
comp any an d open e d a s tor e in Lexington it b ein g
the third d ry goods store in Kentu cky H e was short
o f s tatu re b u t sl en de r in b uild el egant in manne rs
easy in h i s addr e s s and althou gh al ready in the
m ost straighten ed circum stance s disp en s ed a free
h anded h ospitalit y that gaine d him many friend s
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2
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9
time went o n h e p roved h imself able enterp risin g
and indomitabl e and wh en th e opp ortunity wh ich
was n o w n ear at hand o ffe red h e d iscovere d an
el oquenc e of that declamato ry and fl ori d kin d which
was then s o p opular This was th e o n e thing n eed
ful to give him great p olitical in fl uence and i t fo r
a l on g tim e fl oate d h im o n th e highe s t tide o f p o p u
l a r i t y desp ite re flections o n h is tru th and p robity
which b ec a m e con stantly mo re and mo re wide
sp read H e w a s an early convert to th e n ec e ssity
th e M is sis sipp i trade to th e well b e ing o f
of
K e ntu cky and cam e into th e fi el d o f p o l i t i c s t o
p res s thi s single qu e stion Kentucky m eanwhile
overtu r e d Virginia to addre s s Congres s o n the
subj e ct and in compliance th erewith th e Virginia
del egat e s were instructe d t o u rge th e imp ortance o f
th e fre e navigation o f th e M is si ssippi o n Congres s
Th e conven tion calle d to mee t in J uly 1 78 7
p romise d t o b e m os t i mpo rtant and i t wa s exp ected
th at th e c onte s t o f th e two p artie s woul d b e very
sharp Wilkinson wh o s eem s t o h ave b een p e
c u l iar l y
ob noxiou s t o his O pp onent s an d the
f o m e n t o r of all di scord s uddenly di sapp eared
Th e time for th e convention cam e o n an d s till h e
did n o t app ear Th e convention op ene d and went
o n with its delib eration s in a quiet and unanimity
that had b een hithe rto u nknown and finally a d
r n e d withou t a single rippl e h aving b roken th e
u
o
j
smooth su rface o f thei r deb ates M eantim e s p e c u
lation wa s rife as to what had b ecom e O f Wilkin s on
Variou s repo rts we re cu rrent for a tim e b u t i t
cam e to b e ve ry generally u nderstoo d that h e had
As
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’
O
3
G r o wtn
gon e to m ake trial o f the Spaniards o n th e l ower
M i ssis s ippi It was quite t ru e Wishing to e u
force hi s plans by a n Obj e ct lesson h e collecte d a
valuabl e cargo and droppe d down th e river His
su cces s was greate r than h e dare d h op e for
”
Elated h e r e turned in great s tate in a ch ariot
d rawn by fou r h ors e s an d accompanie d by a
retinu e o f slav e s H e re in d e ed was a tran sforma
tion H e had dep arte d a bankrup t trade r b e r e
turne d like a m e rchant p rince N o r was it all
empty S h ow a display o n th e b o rrowe d m oney o f
to o tru sting friends as it h ad been m ore than
hinted th at his p reviou s littl e S h ow had b ee n He
displaye d with a flou rish o f trump ets a commercial
treaty with th e S pan ish au th o ritie s at N ew O rl eans
confe rrin g o n h im t h e righ t to exp ort thithe r all
“
th e p roduction s o f Kentu cky free o f duty and
offering o n b e h alf o f th e Spanish government
nine dollars an d fifty cents p e r h undredweight for
tobacco which h a d h ith e rto b een s ol d at two d ollars
H e re indeed was a s olid triumph o n e that scarcely
any o n e woul d refu s e to share
D espite th e glitte r of th e gold an d th e j ingl e of
th e d ollars the re was n o l a c k o f m en to ask th e
m eaning o f this tran saction and why i t was that
w hile th e rep re s entative s o f Spain in o n e place r e
fu s ed o n any condition s t o op en th e M is sis sippi to
trade in ano the r place oth e rs o n b eh alf o f that
country ente re d int o p rivate treaty f o r th e b enefit
o f a single S tate
Th e ch arge was easily s ugge sted
and instantly mad e that Wilkin s on had been b ribed
by th e S panish gov e rnment t o favo r th e cau se o f
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Ke n t u c ky s
'
3
2
Gr o wt/c
“
In a conversation I had with D on Ga r do qu i
th e Spanish mini ster rel ative t o th e M is sis sippi h e
s tated th at if th e p eople o f Kentu cky woul d e rect
th em selve s into an indep endent S tate an d app oint
a p roper p e rs on t o n egotiat e with him h e had
autho rity fo r that p u rp os e and woul d ente r int o an
arrangement with th e m f o r th e exportation o f th ei r
p roduce t o N ew O rl ean s o n te rms o f m utua l
”
advantage
J oh n B rown al s o wrote to George M uter Chief
J u stic e o f Kentu cky a le tte r s ettin g fo rth th e
s ame views an d adding th e th ou ght that i t wa s
not t o b e th ou gh t likely th at Kentu cky woul d h esi
tate any l onge r t o s eparate h e rself from Virginia
b y th e shorte s t if th e illegal way an d h e als o s ays
plainly that th e idea o f D o n G a r do q u i l ooke d t o a
s ep aratio n and indeed was c onditione d u pon a
s ep aration from th e U nite d S tates
A ffairs we re in thi s po s ture wh en th e que stion of
ratification o f th e Cons titution o f th e Unite d S tate s
E ach o f th e s even counties
was fin ally s ettled
which th en comp ose d th e district o f Kentucky s ent
two d el egate s t o th e Virginia c onvention : T he
men wh o h el d th e extrem e views o n th e su b j ect o f
indep en dence we re ve ry p opul ar mo re s o than th e
m easu re s th ey advocated wh en th e two could b e
s eparated an d they h el d n early all th e p rominent
O ffice s an d n ow forme d a great m aj ority o f th e
delegate s
O n th e qu e stion o f ratifi cation they
vote d th re e f o r and ele ven against J e ffe rson
County castin g i ts wh ol e vote f o r th e C ons titution
l ed b y t h e distin guish e d R obe rt B reckinridge ;
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Tow r ds
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R lu tio n s
t /ce
eso
33
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th e othe r vote wa s that o f Humph r e y M arshall o f
Fayette afterwards t h e Federalis t S enator and th e
historian o f h i s S tate Vi rgin ia was th e tenth
S tate to adop t th e Constitution Congres s h earing
o f this which occu rre d o n J un e 2 6 1 78 8 refu s e d
o n J uly 3 d
th e late st p o s sibl e date t o act o n
Kentucky s application t o b e receive d into th e
Fe deratio n an d rel egated th e wh ol e m atte r t o th e
new system which alon e i t concerne d
J ohn
B rown l eft f o r Kentu cky in dis gu st an d t h e feeling
i n that S tate ass um ed a m ore radical asp ect
Th e failu re o f C ongre s s t o take th e requi site
a ction togeth e r with furthe r complication s b e tween
Virginia an d K e ntucky n ow nece s s itate d an eighth
c onvention i n o rd e r t o d etermin e thi s que stion It
m e t in D anvill e in J uly 1 789 Th e contest in Fay
ette was again sharp b ut thi s tim e th e table s were
turne d an d Wilkins o n b y th e weight o f h i s pe r
s onal p opularity was electe d alon e o f hi s p arty
The o th er fou r m emb ers w e re from hi s opp onents
‘
an d h eade d by C olon el Marsh all
Wilkinson
read an e s say o n th e M is sis sipp i n avigation and i t s
imp ortance t o Kentu cky and th e n said th ere was
anoth e r p re sent wh o c ould more p rop e rly lay th e
m atte r before th e convention than h e could
Thereupon J ohn B rown ros e s aid b rie fly that h e
was as su re d th at if unanimou s Sp ain was ready to
grant almost any terms an d s a t d own A m otion
was made to refe r th e qu estion of s eparation with ou t
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th
h
M
h
ll
p
y
pi i t m g t h
1
Th
e
re
s
r
a
fa
e r of
ar s
a
on
,
a
e e
.
hi f J u t M h ll
d f i d f W hi g t
ld F d li t
C
e
e ar
e r
ars
s ice
-
r e n
e
e ra
as
o
s s
.
an d
a
n
u l
nc e
o n , an d
th
o
f H
e
ea
um
l di n g
Ke n tu c ky s
G r o wtn
’
34
the anteced e nt cons e nt o f Virginia to th e p e op l e
an d this m otion was carri ed b u t by th e e xertion s
o f C olon e l Crockett recon side red and th e c o n v e n
tion ende d by agreein g t o all th at Vi rginia n o w d e
m a n d e d an d as a re sult K e ntu cky p as s ed quietly
into th e Union in June 1 792
T h e univ e rsal sa t isfaction which followe d th e
admi ssion into th e Union p roved su fficiently that
th e gr e at mas s o f th e peopl e r e ally want e d that con
summation O t h er thin gs indeed they de sire d
but this fi rs t an d mo st an d th e o t h e rs in connection
wi t h it Eigh t years h ad elap s ed since th e qu e stion
o f s ep aration was fi rs t b rou gh t into p ublic n otice
Th e s e years h ad be en marked b y u nc e asing agi t a
tion Nin e convention s had b e e n held f o r t hi s
singl e purpo se involving fr e qu en t el e ctions an d
public canvass e s O th e r e lecti on s in th e n atural
cou rse o f events h ad occu rr e d and th e election o f
delegate s to t h e Virginia convention had b rou ght
ano the r sp ecial discu s sion before th e p eopl e The
wh ole concat e nation naturally produc e d an u n
h e al thy state o f mind E xtrem e measu re s had
been again an d again warmly advocated visionary
schem e s foste r e d and encou raged addre ss e s and
overtu re s to e ve ry b ranch o f governm en t fre qu ent
l y res orted to s o th at agitation h ad come to b e
almost t h e n ormal state of p olitical th ou ght Thi s
was almos t univ e rsal B eside s this the l eade rs of
the more radical s ep aratists had acquired a viol e nt
style o f o ratory an d a pas sion f o r discus sion that
coul d n o t b e readily pu t away e specially when the
darling probl e m o f th e navigation o f the Missis
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Tw d
ar
o
t/ce
s
R lu ti
eso
o ns
35
.
ipp i was yet uns olved I t was n o t too much to s a y
that they nev e r woul d b e conten t till thi s was s e
c u r e d Kentu cky was plainly th e m os t anti fed e ra l
of
S tat e s H e r vote h ad b een el even to thr e e
agains t ratification and this afford s a clu e t o h e r
instant opp osition t o th e administration wh e n taken
in connection with th e M issis sippi qu estion Th es e
thin gs combined to make he r th row h ers elf into th e
arm s o f th e French party an d when France planned ,
th rough G e net an exp edition agains t Lou isiana he r
ab andonment to that cau s e was complete A D emo
cratic club o f A m e rican origin manly and straight
forward i n its tone h ad l on g b e e n in existence at
D anville N ow a n umb e r o f D e mo cratic s ocieties
o n t h e Fr e nch mod e l b e gan to sp ring up
S eve ral
were form ed in 1 793 am on g th em o n e in L e xing
“
t o n which p roceeded t o r e solve that
th e right o f
th e p eopl e on th e wat e rs o f th e M i s s i s i p p i to its
navigation i s u ndoubted an d ough t t o b e p e r e m p
t o r il y demande d o f Spain by th e U nite d S ta t es
”
G overnment
Gene t s fou r agents app ear e d j ust
at thi s tim e and b e gan t o p repare f o r an e xpe dition
to t h e s outhwes t
General G e o rge R og e rs Clark
wh ose s u n was fas t s e t t in g in an o l d age o f dis sipa
tion receiv e d a commi s sion as Maj o r Gene ral in
th e Armi e s o f France an d Commande r i n Chief o f
”
th e revolutionary l e gion s o n th e M is sis sippi
Th ere was m u ch talk bu t apparently very little
action the commis sione rs b e in g m ore giv e n to
b raggadocio than warlike d e e d s Wash ington no
s ooner h eard o f this p roposed e xp edition th an h e
c ommunicate d t o th e government at Frankfort a
s
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K
6
3
e ntu c
éy
’
G r o w t/c
s
v e ry full account o f th e rel ation s th e n sub si sting
b e t ween this country an d Spain p ointing out th e
efforts b eing made to s ecu re t h e u s e o f the river
and the p re sent p ro sp e cts o f succes s an d cl osin g
with an inj unction to b e o n th e watch S ays M r
“
Let thi s communication then b e r e
R an dolph
as a warnin g agains t t h e dan ger to which
c e iv e d s i r
th es e u nau tho rized sc h eme s o f war may exp os e the
U nited S tat e s and p articularly th e S tate o f Ken
tucky L e t n ot unfound e d s u spicion s o f a tardi
nes s in gov e rnm e nt p romp t individual s t o rash
efforts in which they cannot be countenanced ;
which may thwart any favorabl e advance s to their
cau s e ; and which by s e izing th e direction Of t h e
military forc e mu s t b e rep r e sse d b y l aw o r they
will terminate in an archy Un d e r whatev e r a u s p i
ce s o f a for e ign agen t t h e s e commotion s we re at
fi rst raised th e p r e sent Minis ter Pl e nip otentiary o f
the French R epublic h as publicly dis avow e d an d
”
recalle d t h e commis sion s which hav e b e e n gran ted
This l e tter b ore dat e M arch 2 9 1 794 I t did not
h ave much e ffect in qui e tin g th e S tate E xtreme
views were e xpre s se d in th e D emocratic S ociety at
L e xington in the middl e of M ay and a public
m e e tin g was call e d o n M ay 2 4 t h at which th e most
viol e nt and in flammatory res olution s w e r e p assed
The only s tep tak e n was t h e s e nding o f a l arge p art
e
th
e
l
t
t
r
ab
ov
m
entioned
t
o
M
r
J
oh
n
B
r
ck
e
e
e
f
o
i n r i dg e t h e p resid e nt o f the s ociety t o advis e him
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1
L
K
tt
l u f py t J h B
d
i gt
ti S i ty f m I
D m
t u ky — B E K IN I E PA PE S
Le
on
ex n
e n
e nc os
e r an
c
.
e
R
ocra
C
re
o
c
R DG
oc e
o
o
co
ro
,
R
.
n
re c
s aa c
k i idg P
Sh lby G
e
nr
e
,
,
re s
’
'
t
ov r
Towa d
r
tne
s
R
eso
lu tio ns
37
.
the condition o f th e n egotiation and th e atti
tude o f th e admini stration toward th e W e s t
Ab ou t th is tim e J ohn E dward s one of th e first
S enato rs was calle d u p b efore thi s society an d in
a lo n g s eri e s o f que sti on s was catechize d as to what
the S enate h ad done e specially in s ecret s es sion
wh at s ecr e t oath s were re quire d o f S enators if any
an d what part h e h ad pl aye d in th e secret dram a
E dward s answere d in a dignified and manly way
an d th e s ociety g o t littl e s ati sfaction
In th e au tumn Wash ington n o t b eing s atis fied with
th e way things were going fo rward again c ommu ni
The action o f th e
c a t e d with G overnor Sh elby
gene ral governm ent was th rou ghout dignified b u t
fi rm while th e governor as s erte d that if an y man
had a right t o leave th e S tate any numb e r had th e
sam e righ t th at th e S tate recognized th e righ t o f
its citiz en s to b ear arm s and could not s e t up an
in quisition to in quire into t h e intent f o r which they
b ore arm s ; in sh o rt that th e gov e rnment desired
him to arre s t re spectabl e citi zen s o n th e su spici on
o f an intent which was u nthinkable
T h e Fre n ch sch e m e s gradually fell th rou gh and
a r e tu rn was had to t h e o l d chann el o f a treaty
with Sp ain In J uly 1 795 G overnor Carond e let
s e n t o n e Thomas P o we r to s e e wh at c oul d b e done
A l e tter was s ent t o J u dge S ebastian o f th e cou rt
o f appeal s of th e S tate wh o h ad b el onged to th e
I t was sh own
o l d coteri e o f Span ish inclinations
to others an d Gen e ral Wilkins on wh o was o n th e
no rth ern frontie r was again communicat e d with
I t i s unnece s sary t o attempt to unravel th e tortu ou s
of
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Ke n t u c ky s
’
8
3
Gr o wt/c
m aze o f th es e Sp anish negotiation s That th ey
existe d and that th ey we re renewe d in 1 797 cann o t
b e denied alth ough th e exact p art playe d b y th e
differen t actors i s as yet uncertain Whatever may
h ave b een th e wi she s o f a few a p e rio d was p u t t o
any general inclination to such a cou rs e b y th e
treaty with S pain in th e au tumn o f 1 795 which
O p ened th e M is sis sippi an d gave a place o f dep osit
at N ew O rleans S o great was th e reaction cau sed
b y th e exces s e s of Gen e t that th e Federalists were
abl e to el ec t H umph rey M arsh all t o th e S enate
an d this treaty carried it still further Th e great
m as s of th e p eopl e h ad always f e l t th em selve s
a part o f th e U nite d S tate s and h e sitate d to
think o f any p rop osi t ion looking to wards s epa
ration They r e c e iv e d this as earne st O f a d esi re
to l egislat e f o r th eir go od e qually with th at of
th e Ol de r S tate s and thou gh th e devo t ion to the
adminis tration was sho rt lived an d th ou gh th ey
s eriou sly opp os e d th e e xcis e s till cheri sh ed an a t
t a c h m e n t to France
an d blazed ou t agains t the
Alien and S edi t ion l aws th e s ee ds o f entire loyalty
h ad b een s o well s own that wh en the el ection o f
J effe rson p roclaime d th e triumph o f t h e extreme
D emocratic sch o ol they gave an adh erence to th e
U nion that h as b een sin c e re and enthu siastic to
th i s day
M o r e space has perh ap s b e en giv e n to this a c
count o f th e growth o f publ ic opinion in Kentucky
than was nece s s ary A n d yet it i s ve ry imp ortant
that it sh ould b e kep t well in mind in orde r to cl early
understand t h e natu re of th e m ovement re sul ting
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I f e n t u céy
'
O
4
’
Gr o w/l a
s
.
S uch was th e temp e r of th e p e opl e an d th e time s
in Kentucky wh en th e n ews was sl owly b rou gh t to
them o f th e p rogre s s o f events at th e seat o f gov
It d oe s not re quire any very acu te s t u
e r nm e nt
d ent o f h i s t o ry t o s e e h ow th e p eopl e an d th e time s
interacte d o n each o th e r n or h ow fully in accord
th ey were j u st a t th i s tim e Th e stubbl e was d ry ;
with t h e fi rst b reath o f flam e it was ready t o sp ring
into full blaz e I t was o n e great c o n fl a g r a t i o n from
th e mom en t th at i t was kn o wn th at th e Alien an d
S edition s acts we re l ik e ly t o pas s th e h ou s e s and
b ecom e laws
I t i s easy t o un ders t and th e p rofoun d imp re ssion
made in Ke n tu cky by th e A lien an d S e diti on l aws
wh en th e fe eling in oth e r an d l es s radically D em o
cratic S tate s i s rememb ere d and th ei r p as t history
considere d Th e very fram e o f society s eem e d to
b e shaken Th e s entiment was unanimou s that
th es e m easu re s were transgre s sion s of th e limit s
fi xed by th e Constitution and aimed at th e s u b ve r
sion of th e ve ry foun dation s of liberty A l l th e
ol d machinery was at once pu t in motion an d
county afte r c ounty p as se d re s olution s condemning
th es e laws Public dinn ers were h el d at which
toasts we re d runk in h ono r of F rance o f th e two
great O p p onent s o f th es e laws Livingston o f N e w
Y ork a n d Gallatin o f P enn sylvania to wh om J ohn
Nich olas o f Virginia was s ometime s added o f th e
”
“
Vice Pre siden t th e bulwark o f lib erty an d al so
t o th e righ t t o th e navigation o f th e M issis sippi to
th e inviolability o f the Con stitution etc th e P resi
dent i n all cas e s b ein g c on spicu ou s by th e ab sence
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To w ds
tne
ar
R s olu ti
o ns
e
I
4
.
any mention of his n am e A spirit o f oppo sition
was b orn of th e instant an d th e advocacy o f res ist
ance s t e adily incr e as ed T h e mean s and m ethods
o f that resistance alone forme d s ubj ect o f debate
Th e resolution s p as se d at a m eeting Of th e citizen s
o f th e influ ential county of Clark will give an idea
Th ey w e re th e
o f th e O pinion s exp re s s ed in all
fi rst of th e s eries an d p as s ed s o early as J uly 2 4 t h
of
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That every o ffi ce r of the F e d
e ral gove rnm ent wh e th e r l egislative execu tive o r
j u dicial i s th e s e rvant o f th e p eople an d i s am ena
bl e an d accountabl e t o them That b eing s o i t b e
come s th e p eopl e t o watch o ve r th eir conduct with
vigilance an d t o censu re an d remove them as th ey
m ay j u dge expedien t Th at th e mor e elevated th e
o ffi ce and th e m ore imp o rtant th e du tie s connecte d
with i t may b e th e m ore imp o rtant i s a s crutiny
and examination into the conduct o f th e o ffice r ;
An d that t o rep os e a blind an d implicit reliance in
th e c on duct o f any s uch o ffi ce r o r s ervant i s doing
inj u s tice t o ou rs elve s
R e s o l ve d That war with France i s i m
S e c o nd
p olitic an d m u st b e ruinou s to America in he r
p res ent s ituation
T ni r d
R e s o l ve d That w e will at th e h azard of
o u r live s and fortunes supp ort the Union th e in
depen dence th e Con stitu tion an d the liberty o f th e
United S tates
F o u r tn
R e s o l ve d That an alliance with G reat
B ritain would b e d angerou s an d impolitic ; that
sh ould defensive exertion s b e foun d n eces sary we
would rathe r sup p ort t h e bu r t hen o f th em alone
than emb ark o u r intere sts an d h appines s with that
corrup t an d tottering m onarchy
R if t/z
R e s o l ve d That th e p ow e rs given t o th e
Pre sident t o raise armies when h e may j udge n e c e s
F ir st
R
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e s o l ve d,
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Ke n t u c ky s
G r owt /c
’
2
4
—
numb er
—
s ary with ou t restriction as to
and t o
b orrow money to s uppo rt th e m with ou t limitation
as t o th e s u m t o b e borrow e d o r th e qu antu m o f
interes t to b e giv e n o n t h e l oan are dangerou s an d
uncon stitution al
R e s o l ve d That th e Ali e n bill i s u n c o n s t i
S i x t/z
t u t i o n a l imp olitic u nj u st and dis graceful to the
A me rican ch aracte r
S e ve n t/z
R e s o l ve d That th e p rivil e ge o f p rinting
and p ublishin g o u r s en t iments o n all p ublic qu e s
t ion s i s ine s t imabl e and that i t i s unequivocally
acknowle d ge d and s ecu r e d t o u s b y th e Co n s t i t u
t ion o f t h e Unite d S tate s ; th at all th e l aws m ade
to impair o r de stroy i t are void an d that we will
e xe rcis e an d as s ert o u r j u s t right in opp osition to
any l aw that m ay b e p as s e d t o dep rive u s o f it
E zg nt/c
R e s o l ve d That th e bill which i s s aid to
b e now b efore C ongres s d efining th e crime O f t rea
s o n and s e dition an d p res cribin g th e p unishments
th e refo r as it has b een p re s ented to th e p ublic i s
th e m os t abominabl e th at was e ve r attempte d to b e
impo sed up on a n ation o f fr e e m en
I Vz n t/z
R e s o l ve d Th at th ere i s a su f fici e n t rea
s o n t o b elieve and we d o b elieve that o u r lib erties
are in dan ge r ; an d we pledge ou rs elves t o each
othe r and to o u r country th at we will defend them
again st all unconstitutional attacks th at may b e
made u pon them
R e s o l ve d That th e fo regoing resol utions
T e nt/z
b e tran smitte d t o o u r rep r e sentative in Congre s s
by th e chairm an certifi e d b y th e s ecretary an d th at
h e b e requ e st e d t o p res ent t h em t o each b ranch o f
th e Legislatu re an d to th e Pre sident and that t h e y
al s o b e publi shed in the Ken tucky Ga z e tte
J A C O B F I S H B A C K Cl z
Atte st : R H I G G I N S S e c
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In Fayette County no soon e r was th e n e ws o f
t h e p as sage c f th e acts known than a spontan e ou s
Tow r d
t ne
s
a
R lu ti
eso
ons
43
.
ass emb l age gath ere d in Le xin gton Henry Clay
was a youn g man o f twenty on e at t h e time newly
come from Virginia alm o s t unknown an d h itherto
u n h eard Th e crowd hu stl e d him int o a wagon
and tol d him to tell th em th e s tate o f affairs It
wa s a s pl endi d op p o rtu nity fo r a b o rn o rator and
h e ably imp rove d i t H i s o wn opinion s and thos e
Y ou th gave b old
o f th e c rowd cl os e ly c oincided
ne s s t o hi s words if it detracte d from his j u dgment
S o throwin g h im s e lf with ou t re s erve into his s u b
i
n
c
t
h
e
den
ounce
d
th
e
h
ate
d
l
aws
with
b
old
e
v
e
c
j
t i v e s t o th e emin e nt s atisfactio n o f hi s h eare rs an d
T h e fi eld wh e r e in this youthful
h is own r e pu t e
champion fi rs t fl e she d h is blade was t o o imp o r t ant
to b e l e ft even to such an o n e
Th e two most ab l e
m emb e rs o f th e bar G e o rg e Nich olas and J ohn
B reckin ridge cam e to th e front at once
A
meetin g was hel d and r e s olu tion s were p as s e d o f
the sam e gene ral teno r with th os e which eman ate d
from other c ounties But Georg e Ni ch olas wa s
not conten t with this A fter pl aying a m ost i m
p ortant p art in th e Virginia conv e ntion which rati
fie d the Con stitu tion thi s abl e b arriste r m ove d t o
Lexington an d early b e came prominent b oth in
politics and at the b ar He was a b roth e r of J ohn
Nich olas memb e r of Congr e s s from Virginia wh o
ably combated thes e very laws and was p rominent in
secu ring the ir repeal An othe r b rothe r was Col onel
Wilson Carey Nich olas th e intimate friend o f Jef
f e r s o n s e nat or an d gov e rnor o f Virginia o n e o f the
abl e s t o f th e younge r generation o f Vi rginia S tates
men and a third J udge Philip Narb onn e Nicholas
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I {e n t u c éy
44
’
Gr o w t/c
s
ichm ond Virginia ; while a siste r was th e wife
Th e ir fath e r was R obe rt
o f E dmund R an dolph
Cart e r N ich olas th e l as t R oyal and fi rs t S tate T reas
t
u re r
of Virginia and a grands on o f ol d R ob er
“
”
Cart e r p opularly known as King Carte r, wh o
owne d sixty thre e th ou s an d ac re s in th e v all e y o f
Virginia an d was p residen t o f t h e council l i e u t e n
ant governor an d acting governo r o f th e p rovince
in th e good o l d days o f th e c ol ony H e thu s c o m
b i n e d th e factors n e e dful in th e S tate s o f Kentucky
an d Virginia nam ely d e m o c r a t i c s entim ents com
b i n e d with gr e at family in flu ence and distinguish ed
des cent I t s e em s a strange mixtu re bu t i t was the
Nich ol as h ad
o n e that gave th e greate s t in fluence
n ow retir e d from active p olitics b ut was s till in full
p ractice at th e bar and was a p rof e s so r in the l a w
department o f T ran sylvania Univ e rsity H e u se d
hi s p rivat e influ ence fr e ely and p ublish e d a card
entitle d The Political C ree d o f G eorge Nich olas in
th e Kentu cky Ga z e tte for A u gu s t 1 1 798 It i s as
foll ows
o
f R
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In vindication o f my righ t as a fr e e citizen o f
th e U ni t e d State s to an d as an ex e rcis e o f th e i n
valu abl e p rivilege o f sp eakin g an d publishin g m y
s entiments o f th e O fficial c onduct o f th os e wh o
have b een appointe d to admini ster the government
o f th e Unite d S tates an d which i s in its elf s o in e s
timabl e that th e wan t o f it mu st r e nd e r all oth er
earthly things o f n o value I d o s olemnly declare
that I d o verily b elieve that th e maj ority o f th e
Legislatu re o f the Unite d S tate s wh o voted f o r th e
‘
act entitled A n act in addition to th e act for th e
punishment o f c e rtain c rimes against th e United
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T w r ds
o
a
th e
R s o lu tio n
e
s
45
.
have violate d th at clau s e in th e Co n s t i t u
tion o f the Unite d S tate s which declare s that Co n
gr e s s shall make n o law re sp ecting an e stablishm e nt
o f religion o r p rohibitin g th e fre e e xe rcis e th ereof
ab ridging th e freedom o f sp eech o r o f th e
or
p res s o r th e righ t o f th e p eopl e p eaceably to as
s e mble an d t o petition the government f o r a r e dres s
o f grievances
“
An d I do fu rthe r s olemnly d e clare that I d o
ve rily b elieve if th e President o f the Unite d S tate s
hath app rove d t h e s ai d act and if any o f th e
j u dge s h ave b y any o ffi cia l trans action endeavo re d
to enforc e i t that they h av e als o violated that p art
”
o f th e Constitu tion
S tate s ,
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Thi s wa s followe d u p b y a lette r to a fri e n d in
”
Virginia which h e cau s ed to b e p rint e d and ve ry
widely circulated givin g a clear e xp res sio n to his
views Here th e activ e part tak e n by Nicholas
ceased
An e rro r h a s crep t i n to many o f th e
abl es t h istorie s o f th e Unite d S tate s t o th e effect
that h e introduce d th e R e sol u tion s into th e Ke n
tucky H ou se o f R ep resentative s in Novembe r
1 798 bu t h e w a s n ot a m e mb e r o f that b ody and
th e e rror is on e o f comp aratively recen t o rigin
O n th e 2 2 d o f Au gu s t a write r wh o sign e d him s elf
Philo Agis an d wh o vote d agains t th e oth erwis e
unanimou s re s olutions o f Clark County discus se d
the situation in a l ett e r to th e K e ntu cky Ga z e tte
He explains that his oppos i t ion to th e action taken
in Clark did n o t ari s e o u t o f any fri e ndship fo r the
p rinciple s enunciate d in the Alien an d S edition
l aws bu t o u t o f a h es ita n cy to adop t the m easu r e s
p rop o se d by th e R es olutions H e th en p rocee ded
to e xp re s s h is opinion of the p rop e r cou rse to b e
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Ke n tu c ky s
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6
4
Gr owtl z
“
pu rs u ed t o thi s effect
M y pl an i s this l et th e
legis l a ture o f Kentucky b e imm e diately convene d
by th e governor l et them pas s res olutions p raying
fo r a rep eal o f eve r y Obn oxi o u s and uncon stitutional
”
act o f C ongres s
Th i s plan rapidly grew in p o p u
N ot h o weve r i n th e call o f a
l a r i t y in th e m ain
sp e cial s e ssion th ou gh th a t was widely favore d at
fi rst b u t al l eye s by c ommo n c on s ent wer e directe d
t oward s t h e au tumn s es sio n o f th e legislatu re a s t h e
p rope r plac e f o r action on th e se l aws M eanwhil e
coun ty after cou nty f e ll i nt o l i n e with its re s olution s
all o f th em cl os ely al ik e in ton e mos t o f them i n
form A c om mon fo rmul a wa s ap p arently u sed
an d the great es t u nanimi ty wa s everywhere appar
ent Very b itte r fe elin g w as e nge ndere d in t h e
S tate a s th e au tu m n slip pe d a way by lette r s writte n
l
by over zeal ou s Fe de r a i st s in Kentu cky t o eastern
frien ds an d p u b lis hed by th em S om e o f the s e
l ette rs we re gro s s m isr ep re sentations an d when th ey
were copi e d int o Kentu cky p ap er s th e in dignatio n
that was stirre d u p wa s su ch th at i t woul d h ave gon e
h ardly with th e w ri ter s if they had b e e n di scovered
S ome o f th e eas tern pape rs a l s o gave garb led ac
counts o f th e p roceedin gs which cam e t o th em as
general news T hu s Pe te r P orcup in e g ave th e fo l
lowin g ac c ount o f th e m eetin g at Le x ington which
adop te d th e R esolu tions I t wa s publishe d o n th e
z r s t o f S e ptemb er and i s an ex cellent spe cimen o f
its clas s I t will b e n otice d t h at i t c onfu se s th e
Clark an d Faye tte m eetings designatin g th e former
by all th e reference s an d locating it at Lexington
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“
At
L e x i ng to n
Ken
tucky
a
mob
as
semble
d
(
)
on
Ke n tu c ky s
’
8
4
Gr owt/z
.
th rou gh N ich olas in flu enc e s uccee de d him a s A t
torney General This was J oh n B reckinridge T he
connection o f M r B reckinridge with th e Kentu cky
R es o l ution s an d al l th e circum stance s connected
with th em i s s o intimate an d h e has faile d s o e n
t i r e l y t o s ecure th e recognition which wa s h i s du e
from tho s e wh o came afte r him that his l ife and
l ab ors wil l b e recounte d h e re s omewhat at length
’
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C H APT E R I I I
f
OH N
B R E CK I N R I D GE
RE
SOL
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U
TH E
TI
ON
.
M OVE R
OF
TH E
S
.
J O H N B R E C K I N R I D G E was sp run g from a stu rdy
S cotch Irish stock H i s ancestry in the earlies t
days to which th ey can b e trace d l ive d in Ayrshire
an d are found sharing the sen t iment s fo r which
thei r friends an d neighb ors b ecame fam ou s They
were early conv e rted to P rote stan ti sm and b ecam e
s taunch Calvinis ts and Covenante rs in du e course
Th e wars o f the Pu ritan revolution b rou gh t l itt l e
good to thei r county o r th ems elve s and b e t wee n
kin g and comm on s , Papi sts an d P ro te stants Pre s
b yt e r i a n s and In dep e ndents and a hundre d f a c
t i o n a l b itt e rne ss e s th ey were s or e ly c ru sh e d an d
harried B ut there was even a wors e fate in s tore
for them Th e seemingly tir e les s stru ggl e o f years
wore itself o u t and s ank to re s t b eneath th e fi rm
h and of Cromw e ll and for a b ri e f space th ere was a
“
l ul l in th e storm b u t wh e n Charles th e S econd that
”
young man that was th e late king s s o n as Crom
well called him found hims elf fi rmly s eate d o u h i s
th rone h e woke once m ore th e o l d is sue s Fe ar
ing his ven geance th e h ead s o f th e B re ckinridge
family togethe r with m any o th ers wh o h ad playe d
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49
y
O
5
o
nn E r e c t: i n r
idg
e
a prominent part in th e wars o f th e Covenant for
s ook th ei r h om e s a n d fle d t o th e Highlan ds The
B reckinridge s foun d a saf e retreat in B readalbane
an d th ou gh they only remain e d th e re a sh ort time
w ith grateful h eart s th ey rememb er e d th os e wh o
h ad b efri ende d th em in a dversity an d th e n am e o f
th e ir highl an d refu ge comm em orate d f o r genera
tio n s in th e nam es o f new s eat s b eyond th e s e a
s till s ound s lik e an ech o o f h ome to a B reckinridge s
ear Wh en quie t h ad onc e m ore su cceede d to a d
ve rsity th e hunte d re fu gee s cross e d ove r int o
North I relan d and un d e r th e rul e o f William an d
Ann e re gaine d th ei r fo rm er p ro s perity t o a ver y
great degre e I t was p robably owin g t o th e e n
force d wan derings O f th e s e y e ars wh ich had b re d
a spirit o f unre st that in 1 72 8 a n e w emigratio n
b egan Th ere i s n o complete re cord o f thos e o f
thi s family wh o cam e t o Am e rica A family tradi
tion i s t o th e effect th a t th re e b roth e rs cam e ove r
togeth e r with th eir fam ilie s bu t alth ou gh thi s can
not n ow b e c e rtainly ascertained it i s p robabl e
th at a numb e r o f t h e family cam e t ogeth e r O f
th es e was A lexan d e r B reckin ridg e and with h im
came his wife an d a num erou s family H e fol
l owe d th e t rack his countrym e n we re marking
b roadly o u t we s t ward th rou gh Pennsylvania filling
th e great central valley th ence tr e ndin g s outhward
into Virginia an d sp readin g o u t in th e frontier
settlements
H e made a brief stay in centra l
Pennsylvania and th en rem oved t o Au gu sta
County Virginia and s e ttl ed upon a tract o f
land u p on a p art o f which n o w stand s th e town of
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m
I ll
e
R s o lu tio ns
e
t
n
of
o ve r
e
5
.
I
Staun ton Au gu sta wa s then th e frontie r c ounty
stretching away wi th a s ye t und efined limits t h e
h azy claim s of France an d N orth Carolina b ein g
to o indefinite to giv e it any certain b oundarie s
H e re th e fath e r o f J ohn B reckinridge R obert
B reckin ridge grew t o manhoo d an d succ eede d t o
hi s fath er s farm H e becam e a p rominent man i n
h i s commu nity b ein g Kin g s Lieutenan t o f h i s
c ounty and Col one l o f th e c ou nty l evies H e mar
rie d fi rst a M is s Po g u e wh o b o r e h im t wo s ons
Ale x ander an d R ober t B reckinrid ge an d after h e r
e ar l y d eath Lettice P re ston th e dau ghte r of J ohn
and Elizab eth Patton P re ston Th e P re st on s we r e
al s o from N orth I reland an d a family o f mo s t
marke d in dividu ality Th e foundation h o we ve r w as
E nglish and not Scotch Th e family cam e ori ginally
o u t o f Lancash ire o r th e we ste rn r idin g s of Y ork
sh ire in b oth o f which l ocation s th e re were stro n g
and kindre d s tock s o f th e nam e ; an d th e e x t r a o r
din a r y re semblance p re s e rv e d t o th e p resent day
b oth t o th e Y orkshi re an d Lancas hire branch e s an d
th e A me rican offsh oot s eem s t o S h ow th at t h e
N o rfolk family o f P res ton s i s a scion from th e
same stock Two of th es e P re ston s c ro sse d ove r
int o I rel and with th e army o f King William t h e
Third and se rve d ab ou t Londonde rry wh e re on e
From h im
o f th em m arried an d m ade h is h om e
J ohn Pre ston was descended
J ohn B reckinri dge th e second child o f this m ar
r i ag e was b orn o n th e s econd day o f Decemb e r
I 76 0
His early childhood was pas se d o n t h e o l d
e s tate b u t while he was stil l a ch il d h i s fa th e r r e
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5
B
a
m
r
2
rec
k in r idge
,
m ove d farthe r we s t and s ettle d n ear Fincastl e in
what i s now B otetou rt County wh ere h e s oon
afte r die d in 1 771 H i s el de r s on s had grown t o
m anh oo d b u t h e l eft a wife and five young chil
d ren fou r of wh om were s ons u p on th e very con
fine s o f civilization an d at th e b eginning o f a p erio d
Th e Virginia frontie r s u f
o f war an d d eprivation
f e r e d s eve rely th rough ou t th e R evol ution b eing
c onstantly ve xe d b y T orie s at h o m e th e inroads of
t h e s avage s s tirre d u p by B ritish and T ory agents
an d th e s carcity o f all th e c omforts o f life an d it
was n o t till the victo ry o f King s M ountain hu rle d
b ack t h e tid e o f invasion r e fl u e n t to th e s e a and
qu elle d th e res tle s s T o rie s in their mids t th at any r e s
p ite cam e to th e h aras s e d p opulation al ong th e wes t
e rn lines D u ring thes e years J ohn B reckinridge
al th ou gh only th e s econ d s o n o f his moth e r as
s ume d th e chief p art in b eari n g th e b u rden of th e
family His ch aracte r was early d evelope d u nde r
th e pre ssu re o f circum stance s and h e care d fo r th e
family p rop e rty sc oured the country as a s u rveyor
and occupied eve ry l eisure m oment with eage r an d
well directe d stu die s an d th e au tumn o f 1 778
foun d him prepare d to ente r college H e accord
i n g l y s e t o u t ove r th e m ountain s an d through th e wil
derne s s to the capital t own o f W il l i a m s b u r g h and
entere d him s elf at th e good ol d college o f William
an d Mary Here h e continue d for two years tak
in g eve ry advantage o f h is oppo rtunitie s and con
t i n u in g h i s su rveying in the western wilds in th e
vacation s H e wa s ab out to s e t ou t from h ome for
hi s third year at college when h e was el ecte d to
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M
Tne
th e
f
o ve r
o
R olu tio ns
es
53
.
ep re s ent his cou nty in th e H ou s e o f D elegate s
This was in th e autumn o f 1 780 wh en h e was only
n ine teen years o f age H e had m ade n o canvas s
and was in no tru e s en s e a candidate H is el ection
was th e re sul t o f o n e of th os e silen t m ovem ent s
wh en men are b rou gh t un der th e p res su re o f events
t o s elect th ose wh o can b es t rep res en t th em with
o u t regard to th e mu ch p re s se d claim s o f o ffic e
s eeke rs N 0 o n e coul d h ave be en mo re s u rp rise d
at his election than was J ohn B reckinridge him self
b u t h e ch eerfully u ndertook th e task imp osed upon
him an d s e t o u t fo r W i l l i a m s b u r g h
Th e H ou s e
h oweve r s e t aside th e election o n
o f D elegate s
account o f hi s youth feelin g n o doub t th at th e
ch oice was b oth unp receden te d an d out of place in a
tim e s o ful l o f dange r and demanding th e m os t
far sighte d c ounsel s B ut th e hardy frontiersmen
had not made th eir ch oice with ou t b ei n g convince d
an d p romptly r e el l e c t e d M r B reck
o f its w is dom
T h e h ou s e again s e t th e el ection aside
i n r i dg e
and again th e el ectors cas t their ballots as b efore
an d th i s tim e th e el ection wa s ac quie sced in and
th e young s tu dent l eft h i s academic p u rsuits in th e
o n e part of th e t own an d took his s eat in th e coun
cil h all at th e o the r
Th e younge st in any body o f men i s ap t to b e
th e obj ect o f kin dly intere s t to th e Olde r m emb ers
especially if h e unite s to ability and manlines s
modesty an d defe rence Th roughou t th e conte s t
ove r h is s eat young B reckinridge h ad sh own th e
qualitie s which raise d him to eminence in afte r
days and as s oon as h e took h i s s eat h i s qu iet u n
r
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54
o
nn E r e ct i n r i dg
e
,
assumin g ways made him a frie n d o f every one
The s e circumstance s early made him a man o f n o
small mark in th e distin guish ed b ody o f which h e
was a m emb e r an d th os e ab ou t him s oon came t o
understand th e sp e ll wh ich h ad cau se d the h ardy
m ountain ee rs t o p re s s h im u p on th em b y th e war
ran t O f th re e el ection s Thu s h appily h e ente re d
u p on h is p olitical career and hi s c on stitu ents con
t in u e d thei r supp o rt u ntil in 1 785 h e l eft their
district an d rem ove d t o A lb emarl e C ounty D u r
ing th es e years h e was often p rominen t in th e
H ou s e o f D elegates His nam e app ears u pon
many imp ortan t committee s an d h e to ok a favor
ing p art in th e legislation o f th o s e years directe d
toward s th e d evelopmen t o f th at p art o f th e S tate
which afterward s b ecam e th e S tate o f Kentucky
In th e intervals o f legislative labors h e devote d
h im self t o th e stu dy o f l aw an d bein g adm itte d
t o th e b ar in 1 785 h e resigne d h is s eat at th e c o n
e lu sion o f th e s e s sion o f that year and b egan his
p ractice in th e c ou rts o f Ch arlotte sville
In th e same year h e married M is s M ary
H opkins Cab ell a woman o f m ost b rilliant and
original min d an d o f h ono rabl e descent Th e
Cab ell s were an Old We s t o f E ngland fam ily livin g
ab ou t From e in S omersetshire I n th e o l d chu rch
o f S t Nich olas in that town a m emorial window o f
th e Cabel l fam ily dating from early Tu do r time s i s
o
f
b
e
s
een
an
d
th
e
elder
b
ranch
th
e
family
e
t
t
o
y
o ccupyin g t o thi s day its ancien t s eats in th e neigh
b orin g counties s till own s and claim s its A m erican
kindred
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6
5
n
E r e c t i n r i dg
e,
pl e s and th e e xercis e o f a vigorou s logical facul ty
his rep utation grew steadily th rou gh ou t his l ife
O n e o f th e e arlie st a s it was th e high es t p os sibl e
te s tim onial s t o hi s su cces s was giv e n b y J ohn M ar
shall wh o wh en h e was call ed to th e b ench o f his
n at ive S tate tu rne d ov e r to M r B reckinridge h is
unfinish ed b u sines s
M r B reckinridge h ad b een p ractising law a l it
tl e m ore than five years wh e n M r J effers on at
that time S ecretary of S tate under Washington
emb raced an opp ortunity to show hi s confi denc e
in him in a public mann e r
Kentucky was in
an uncertain temp e r and t h e vacant o ffice o f
attorn ey n eeded a cap abl e man to fill it
The
P re sident was casting ab ou t for su ch a man and
fi nally appointed M r B reckinridge
J e ffe rson
wrot e t o h im e nclo s ing th e comm is sion and u rge d
him t o accept it H e s aid that the P re sident wishe d
i t an d h ad heard h im sp oken o f by others than
h ims elf in high term s S u ch p res s ure was t o o
flatte ring t o b e easily re sisted b ut this m an was o f
t o o noble a natu re t o yiel d u nwi sely to h ono rs even
wh en th ru s t up on h im an d h e d ecline d th e o ffice
while in l ate r years h e accep te d th e s om ewhat sim
i l a r p os t o f A ttorney Gene ral o f Kentucky when
calle d to it unde r l es s outward p re ssu re b ut with
greate r p romis e of u s efulne s s
S oo n after this h e again tu rned h is attention t o
p olitics an d was chosen t o r e p resent th e district
comp o sed o f th e countie s of Alb emarle Amhe rs t
Fluvanna Go ochland Louisa S p o t t s yl va n i a O r
ange an d Culp ep e r in th e third Congre s s which
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h
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e so
lu
tio
ns
57
.
ass em b led in th e Au tumn o f 1 793 F o r a m omen t
it s eeme d as if h e was onc e m ore t o take hi s place
by th e s ide o f th e com rade s o f hi s early p olitical
l ife and b ecom e a m embe r o f that littl e coterie O f
eminen t R ep ublicans an d statesmen wh o s o abl y
rep resente d this p art of Vi rginia in th e high es t
p o st s o f S tate and nation B u t th e p romis e was
cu t sh or t b y th e d emand s o f hi s p rivate affairs In
the inte r v a l b etween his election and th e as semblin g
o f Congre s s h i s pl a n s u nde rwen t a complete m eta
m orph os is an d h e re sign e d th e s eat h e h ad neve r
occupied and s e t o u t f o r Kentu cky
H e went at once t o Le xington th e county s eat
o f Fayette C ounty th e capital o f th e S tate an d the
large st an d mo s t imp ortant town wes t o f Pitt s
b u rg
Two o f h is broth ers an d h i s only siste r
had already rem ove d to th e neighb orh oo d o f Le x
i n g t o n and h i s half b roth er R ob ert B reckin ridge
wh o was at thi s tim e a m embe r o f th e H ou s e of
R ep resentative s sp en t a large p art o f th e year th ere
in attendance o n th e meetin gs o f that b ody There
t o o wa s G eo rge Nich olas h is frien d of many years
s tanding n o w th e leader o f th e Kentucky bar and
high in p olitical in flu ence
B esides th e s e th e re
were many others b oth friends an d relative s in an d
ab ou t th e fl ou rishin g littl e town A lth ou gh h e
p rop ose d t o devote h ims elf mainly to th e p ractice
o f h is p rofes sion h e pu rchas e d a large t ract o f lan d
containing ab o ut twenty fiv e h undre d ac res lyin g
to th e n orth o f th e town ab ou t s i x mile s dis tant
Th e place receive d the n ame o f Cabell s D ale
i n h ono r o f h i s wife and a law o ffic e was b u ilt
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8
5
o
nn B
rec
an d hi s p ractice carried
in g
to n
k in r idge
on
,
b oth th ere an d i n Le x
.
Hi s p ractice and repu tation grew rapi dly an d h e
s oon foun d him s elf am on g th e fo remost m embe rs
H e had b een
o f th e b ar and a l eade r in p olitics
in Kentucky on l y a few m onth s when h e was mad e
pre sident o f th e D em ocratic S ociety o f Lexington
which in th at day wa s e st eeme d a very high h on o r
an d in th e l egi slatu re which conven ed late in 1 794
h e receive d th e A nti Federalis t o r R epublican vot e
for th e United S tate s S en ate Th is election comin g
as it did in th e h eigh t o f th e reaction t oward s Fed
e r al i s m b rou g h t ab ou t by th e indiscretion s o f th e
agent s o f th e French D irectory was practica l ly u n
conte sted and th e vote given to M r B reckinridge
w a s merely complimen tary
b u t it was c ertainly a
high t e stimony to th e e steem in which h e wa s al ready
h eld in h i s adop ted S tate an d as th e s equ el sh owed
i t was an earne st of futu re supp ort an d triumph
The Fe deralists d ropp ed E dwards who had b een s o
sh arply catechize d by th e D emoc ratic S ociety at
Lexin gton an d elected Humphrey M arsh all
M r B reckinridge n o d oub t owe d th e h onors s o
early accorde d him ve ry l argely t o th e influ ence o f
h i s b roth er Gene ra l R o b e rt B reckinridge
Al
thou gh only h alf broth e rs th e greate s t confi dence
an d affecti on always existe d b etween th e m T h e
el de r b roth er togethe r with h i s o wn b rother Al ex
ande r B reckinridge had s erve d with cou rage and
distin ction in th e Vi rginia line du rin g th e R e v o l u
tion as a company O ffice r taken p rison e r th ey lay
for many m onth s in a p ris on ship in Charle ston
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59
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harbor and did not obtain thei r releas e until the
cl os e o f th e war S oon afte r thi s th ey plunged
into th e We stern wil dernes s as su rveyo rs and
finally s ettled in J effe rs on Coun ty K e ntu cky near
th e s ite o f Louisvill e
H ere they s oon becam e
p rominen t Al exande r B reckinridge was electe d
to th e Kentucky convention o f 1 787 and th en
m ove d away
R ob ert B reckin ridge b ecam e an
o ffice r in th e active and e fficient militia wh ich n u
de r the ineffi cient p olicy o f Virginia b ore th e
wh ol e b u rden of p rote ctin g th e fronti er from In
dian fo rays and ro s e s teadily till h e becam e a gen
e ral o fficer H e b egan hi s p olitical caree r in the
Virginia Hou s e o f D elegate s whe re h e rep res ente d
his c ounty His n ext s ervice was in th e Virginia
Constitutional Convention wh e re h e m anfully stoo d
f o r ratification despite th e stron g an t i fe deral s enti
ment s o f th e district o f Kentu cky His colleagu e
from J effers on County als o voted for ratification a s
did H umphrey M arsh all o f Faye tte th e remain
I ng el even vote s b eing cas t against it Hi s action
thou gh unp opular at the time won him rep utation
I n the fu ture an d in su red hi s el ec t ion to th e con
v e n t i o n which drau ghte d th e fi rst constitu tion o f
h is S tate and to th e fi rs t legislature
Up on th e
as semblin g of th at legislatu re h e was ch o sen
sp eaker o f th e h ou se which p ost h e h el d by r e
re
l
ection
s
until
h
e
retire
d
from
p
olitics
at
a
t
e
e
e
d
p
th e end of h is fourth se s sion H e was thu s at th e
s ummit of hi s in fluen ce when h is b roth er cam e to
Kentu cky an d h e left n o stone u ntu rne d to aid him
and fur t h er his advancement
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60
B
r ec
k in r idge
,
Alth ou gh J ohn B reckinridge was thu s from th e
very b eginning o f hi s residence in Kentucky con
n e c t e d with p olitics
i t was n o t u nti l D e cemb e r
1 79
th
at
h
e
h
el
d
o
f
fice
an
d
th
e
inte
rval
was
full
5
o f activity in th e p ro secu tion o f h is
p rofes sion
H i s p ractice was s oon very larg e b oth in civil an d
criminal l aw b u t h e tu rne d hi s attention p a r t i c u
l a r l y t o real e state l aw
Thi s was at once th e mo st
imp ortant an d th e m o st lucrative law b u sines s
Th e col ony o f Vi rginia u nder th e c rown h ad c o n
t a i n e d many large an d u noccupied grants b eyon d
th e m ountain s Th e S tate of Virginia early b egan
to m ak e oth ers and after th e war immen se t racts
were g iven to th e s ol diery Th e s e gran ts were
made o n worthle s s o r m ere pap er s urveys t o a
large extent an d late c ome rs fin ding this to b e th e
”
“
case an d that it left many go re s an d co rne rs
u nconveye d even whil e th e n eighb orin g lan ds
were c ove re d by s eve ral conveyances ob taine d
“
”
blanquet
grants cove rin g immens e t racts for
th e p u rp o s e o f ob tainin g th e u nconveye d p ortions
In ad dition to th e complication s natu rally incident
t o su ch a s tate of things f u rth e r v e xation s had
arisen ou t o f th e con flic ting claim s o f Virginia and
Kentu cky Virginia in th e acts enablin g Ken
tucky t o e rect h erself into a S tate h ad always c on
d i t i o n e d it u p on th e recognition o f h e r lan d grants
and the p rotection o f th e h old e rs o f t h os e l ands
wh o remained in th e m othe r S tat e
Bickerings
aros e o n this sco re as was natu ral from th e vexa
tiou s que stion s that sprang u p M r B reckin ridge
b ent h i s en ergi e s t o th rid th e maze s o f this tangle
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er
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R olu ti
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/
ze
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o ns
es
6
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1
with distinguished succe s s All b u t the most
acute mind s found th em selve s h op el es sly at fault
b efor e th ey h ad progre ss ed far an d th e few wh o
su cceed ed were consequently rewarded by a large
p ractice
M r B reckinridge s repu tation in this
departmen t p enetrated t o th e Virginia capital and
h e was aske d t o take ch arge o f th e claim s of th at
S tate B u t th e retaine r reach ed him j u st afte r h e
had accepted from G overn or Sh elby th e p os t o f
A tto rney General o f Kentu cky and h e was fo rce d
t o d eclin e th e fl atte rin g o ffe r
Th e el ection o f a governor to succe e d Governo r
Shelby took place on th e 1 7t h day o f M ay 1 796
Unde r th e o l d fi rst con stitution th en in force thi s
was by el ectors afte r th e m anne r of th e Fe deral
Con stitu tion
Th ere were p rop erly fift y s even
memb ers o f th e electoral college bu t only fift y
th ree v ote d on th e day appointe d b y law Th e
vote s tood : For B e n j amin Lo gan 2 1 f o r Jame s
Garrard 1 7 ; fo r Th omas T odd 1 4 ; fo r J ohn
B rown 1
Th e electors p roce ede d t o anoth e r bal
lot as suming that there was n o el e ction an d that a
maj o rity vote wa s n ece ssary to a choice T odd
an d B rown were summarily dropp ed and Garrard
receivin g a maj ority was decl are d el ecte d B en
j amin Logan app eale d to M r B reckin rid ge as
A ttorney G eneral f o r h i s c onstruction o f th e con
s t i t u t i o n upon th e point
H e d ecline d to answe r
as A ttorn ey General th inkin g i t beyond th e scop e
o f hi s o ffice
b ut p repar e d f o r h im an abl e an d
elaborate O pinion as a lawyer which was p ublishe d
in th e L exin gton Kentu cky Ga z e tte fo r M ay 2 8t h
an d
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62
E r e cé i n r
idg
e
,
and l e d t o a sharp controversy M r B reckinridge
th ou ght th at th e electors h ad plainly exc e eded
th eir p owers ; that u n d e r th e c on s titu tion Logan
was elected an d th at even if Logan was n ot electe d
that Garrard was ce rtainly n o t elected as t h e article
o f th e c on s titution h aving b e en m odelled o n th e
n ational Constitution th e sam e p rocedu re woul d
b e p rop erly applicabl e if any alth ou gh th e Ken
tucky articl e omitted th e p rovision for a reference
t o th e h ou s e e xcept in cas e o f a tie s eeming to
imply a plu rality electi on L ogan app ealed t o th e
s enat e by th e law m ade arbiter o f gube rn atorial
conte sts but afte r a sharp fi ght th e s enate d odged
th e m atter by d eclaring th e law which gave them
j u ris diction uncons ti tu tional an d Logan s cas e
wen t b y d efault B ut M r B reckinrid ge s argument
wa s n eve r refuted
G overno r Garrard was installe d o n th e I s t O f
J un e 1 796 an d in D ecemb e r o f that year M r
B recki n ridge re sign e d hi s o ffice Du ring his i n
c u m b e n c y o n e thin g had b een b rou gh t h om e t o
h im with great force
Th e Kentucky Crimin al
C ode then in u s e p re scrib ed th e death p enal ty in
n o le s s than o n e hundre d an d si xty cas e s exten d
ing i t t o s ome o f th e m ost t rivial o ffences The
othe r p enal tie s it p res crib ed we re e qually s evere
T o h is b road an d humane min d such a cod e was
barbarou s and a blot u pon th e S tat e b u t h is j u dg
m ent c on demned i t even m or e o n t h e groun d that
its very s everity was an effectu al barrie r t o its
application s inc e j u rie s sh rank from convicting
criminal s wh ere th e punishment was s o d i s p r o p o r
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64
n
idg
E r e ct i n r
e
,
p referm ent now s eemed s ecu re an d thenceforth
h is ri s e was rapid H e str e nu ou sly opp os e d th e
m ea n s u s e d to b rin g ab ou t th e s econd c o n s t i t u
t i o n a l convention o f 1 79 9 b u t wh en that c o n v e n
tion b ecam e a s ettle d fact h e accep te d a place in
it an d was s o active that i t h as b een said th at th e
c on stitu ti on th en p rodu ce d was mo re th e work o f
h i s h an d than o f any oth e r m an s
H e was electe d
t o th e l egislatu re s o f 1 799 and 1 80 0 an d by b oth
In th e forme r h e
o f th em h e was ch osen S peake r
fu rthe r dis tin gu ish e d hi m s elf by th e res olu tion s o f
1 799 an d in th e l atte r th e p romis e o f s i x years b e
fore w a s fulfill ed and h e was electe d to th e S enate
o f th e Unite d S tates to s u ccee d hi s o l d competito r
Humph rey Marshall H e wa s n o w j u s t forty years
o f age and had b een in p olitics twenty years dur
in g which tim e h e h ad s u rely an d steadily risen in
th e eye s o f th e pe op l e with an almo s t unbroke n
caree r of s ucc es s
M r B reckinrid ge t ook h i s s eat in th e S enate
up on th e inau gu ration o f h is o l d chi e f M r J e ff e r
H e h ad s e t o u t from Ken
s o n i n M arch 1 80 1
tu cky takin g hi s whol e family with him b ut wa s
advised i n Virginia t o l eave th em with his relative s
in that S tate a s th e much talke d o f
Federal
town o f Washington h ad very ill accommodation
t o offe r th e great thron g o f p eople crowdin g thith er
H e followed this advice an d u pon arrivin g in th e
t own if it can b e dignifi e d wi t h such a nam e foun d
i t diffi cult t o obtain even a l od gin g f o r him s e lf
Th e new P re sident and th e new Con gre s s were
alike R ep ublican t h e S enate fo r th e fi rs t time an d
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/1e
o ns
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65
.
th e e ra o f R epub lican simplicity which th e P re si
dent intro duced by ridin g h ors e back to h is i n au g u
ration an d o n dism ounting tying h i s democratic
stee d to th e fence wa s c ontinu ed b y a cl os e atten
”
“
tion to b u sines s Th e midnigh t appointm ent s
fi rst fell u nder th e P re s iden t s h and an d in cl os e
c onnection th erewith a b ill t o repeal th e j u diciary
act o f th e las t s es sion was to b e intro duced Th e
reconstitution o f th e h ou se s con s equen t up on the
new administration and th e fo rmation o f th e Cabi
ne t l eft th e n ow dominant party with ou t l eade rs
and th e P re siden t s in fluence was su ch that wh om
s oeve r h e sh oul d s elect would be regarded as th e
l eaders o f th e administratio n in th e two b ranch e s o f
th e Congres s
A l thou gh M r B reckinridge n o w made hi s fi rs t
app earance in nation al affairs h e was intru ste d
b y M r J eff ers on with th e bu sine s s of introducing
th e b ill to rep eal th e j u diciary act Thi s ext ra
o rdinary exhibition o f con fi dence and e steem
pl ace d M r B reckinridge in th e front rank of
statesm en an d h e s o well j u stifi e d th e t rus t by h is
conduct o f thi s m atte r an d in hi s s ub s e quent
caree r in the S enate that hi s comrade s readily
acquiesce d in th e e stimat e o f th e P re siden t The
rep eal o f the j u diciary act h avin g b een carried
th rou gh M r B r e ckin ridg e was n o t cal le d up on to
act i n any matte r o f fir s t clas s imp o rtance until th e
L ouisiana pu rchas e came u p A s a Ken tuckian b e
n a t u rally was p romp t to secon d a m easu r e which
secu red finally and completely th e darling Obj e c t
In eve ry way h e l ent his aid and
o f hi s S tate
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66
E r e c k i n r i dg
e
,
advice to b rin g th e matte r t o a h app y is su e N one
o f th e d oubts an d di fficul tie s that fo r a time s too d
in th e way o f th e P re siden t affected him Th e
Mi ssissippi t ra ffic was e s sential it was then b e
l i e v e d t o th e life an d devel opment of th e S tate s
b eyon d th e mountains an d s o l ong as th e m outh
o f that rive r was in th e hand s o f a fo reign p owe r
th ere w a s n o certainty th at th e rive r would remain
op en A n d far sighte d s tate smen even in th at
ear l y day h ad b egun to catch s om e glimp s e o f t h e
growth o f th e W e st th rou gh th e vi stas of th e fu ture
an d th ou gh t th at th e wes te rn bank o f th e great rive r
ough t to b e s ecu red at any p rice When th e p ur
ch as e had b een p u sh ed th rough o u th e resp onsi
b i l i t y o f th e Preside n t h e b ecam e very anxiou s to
kn ow h ow Congres s and th e p eopl e would regard
h i s action
Congre ss wa s s ummoned t o m ee t earl y
in th e au tumn In th e m ean t ime h e wrote t o M r
B reckinridge u rgin g him t o d o what h e c ould
toward s th e d esire d end an d p arti cularly to imp re s s
u p on th e we ste rn m embers wh o coul d b e relied on
to supp ort the administration th e neces sity of
b eing o n h and p romptly at th e b eginning of th e
s e ssion
M r J effe rs on was very doubtful wheth er h e had
any warrant in th e Con stitu tion for th e s tep h e had
taken After his u sual m ann e r in s uch a dilemma
h e wrote to a n umb er o f hi s confr e re s an d asked
th ei r advice H e finally came to t h e conclusio n
that an am endment t o th e Con stitution was n e c e s
sary t o mak e the acqu isition o f t e rri t o ry good and
exp res s ed a desire t o th row h ims elf u pon th e tender
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67
.
m ercies o f p os t erity to j u stify wh at h e believed t o
have b een a b r e ac h at leas t o f the lett e r Of t h e law
A ccordingly h e s ent d rau ghts o f an amendment
som ewhat diffe rently worde d in th e s ev e ral cases t o
a n u m b e r o f gentlemen among wh om was M r B reck
M r B r e c k in
i n r i dg e askin g their op inion o f it
ridge was n ot t o b e b rou ght to th e view o f h i s
l eader an d declined t o introduce th e bil l a u t h o r i z
ing th e s ubmission o f such an amendm ent t o th e
p eople A fte r a goo d deal o f d oub t and h esitancy
o n o n e side an d great fi rmne s s an d decision o n th e
oth er th e m atte r was fi nally d ropp ed NO amend
m ent was offered an d th e acquisition of Lou isiana
pas s e d into a great p recedent Had M r J effe rs on
p revailed and M r B re ckinridge b een ove rruled
th e b arrie r t o th e annexation o f T exas an d th e
purchas e o f th e Floridas an d Alaska might we ll
h ave b ecom e in superabl e
Wh en Con gres s as sembl ed th e fi rs t qu estion afte r
th e S enate h ad ratifie d th e treaty was t o decide
what step s were n ece ssary t o as se rt th e ownership
M r J effers on came t o th e conclu sion
o f L ouisiana
th at th e warrant o f Congres s wa s p re requ isite t o
any occup ation o f th e n ewly acqui re d territory an d
M r G allatin actin g fo r him wrote to M r B r e c k i n
ridge
I send in th e sh ap e o f a bill th e sub stance
of which [ wh at
th e P re sident s eem s t o think
neces sary in order t o authorize h i m t o occupy and
temporarily gove rn Louisiana Will you c on sul t
with you r friend s and decide whethe r au th ority b e
”
nece ss ary an d if s o what form sh ould b e given it
V i de l e tt e r s o f J e ffe r s o n t o L e v i L i n c o l n a n d M di s o n
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7am
68
E r e c é i n r i dg
e
,
Up on this p oint t h e re was no diff erence of opinio n
an d t h e authority was given to th e P r e sident in an
act p as s e d earl y in th e s e ssion
Th e energy activity a n d decision which M r
B reckin ridge displaye d in thi s conne ction raise d
h im in th e e s timation e ven o f th os e with wh om h e
had l on g b een o n intimate te rm s an d wh e n th e n ext
election drew n ear h e was m en t ione d very p romi
u ently fo r th e R e p ublican nomination f o r th e Vice
Presidency H e n eve r lack e d warm an d stau nch
friend s an d as s oon as hi s n am e was m en tioned
th ey came forward an d p res s ed hi s claim s with
convincing effe ct M r J effe rs on with an h onora
bl e de si r e t o b in d al l s e ction s fi rmly to h i s growing
party was very u nwilling that th e can didate s for
th e two p rincipal o ffice s in th e country sh ould
com e from th e S tate s o f Virginia an d Kentucky
It
s o recently o n e and s till clo sely kni t t oge th er
did n ot n eed his emin e n t foresigh t to s e e th at
j eal ou sy would b e calle d forth b y such action and
th at such j ealou sy woul d at once b e almo s t certainly
fatal to th e party an d n ot without s om e foundation
H is friends were quick t o u rge M r B reckinridge
to forb id that h is nam e sh oul d b e u sed an d th e
distinguish ed Allan M c G r u d e r wrote o n M r J ef
f e r s o n s b eh alf an d laid th e m atter plainly b efo re
him M r B reckin ridge wh o l os t n o op p ortunity
o f p roving his l ove and l oyalty t oward s hi s great
lead e r readily l istened to th e s e con sideration s an d
did n o t p ermit his name to b e p re s e nte d to th e
cau cu s wh ich made th e n omination s N e v e r t h e
l es s quite a num b e r o f vote s were cast fo r him
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Tne Move r of t/ze R
e so
lu tio ns
69
.
Levi Lincoln re signe d th e p osition of A ttorn ey
G eneral at th e clos e o f J effe rs on s fi rst term and
Smith o f M arylan d the n S ec retary o f th e Navy
was appoin t e d t o succee d him in o rde r that Jacob
C r o wn i n s h i e l d migh t b e given th e Navy D epart
men t bu t th e latte r p referred t o rep res ent M as sa
c h u s e t t s in th e H o us e o f R epre s entative s and Smi th
was shifted b ack t o hi s ol d p o s t an d the A ttorney
General ship wa s again l eft vacan t whereupon th e
P residen t wrote to M r B reckin ridge u nder date o f
Au gu st 1 80 5
Th e o ffice o f Attorney Gene ral fo r
th e Unite d S tate s b ein g n ot ye t p e rmanently filled
I h ave an oppo rtunity o f p roposing it fo r you r
accep tance B oth i ts du t i e s and it s e m olum ents
are too well known to yo u t o rende r i t necess ary
for m e t o p articularize them I shall with t h e
greate r pleas ure l earn that yo u acc ed e t o my wishe s
in availing th e public o f you r s e rvice s a s you r
geographical p o sition will enabl e you t o bring into
o u r coun sel s a kno wl edge o f th e We stern inte re st s
an d circum stance s fo r wh ich we are ofte n at a
l os s an d s ometimes fail in o u r d esi re t o p romote
th em Hoping th at in you r p atriotism an d p erhap s
in othe r circum stance s yo u wil l fin d motive s s u ffi
cien t t o induce you to b ecom e a p art o f o u r admin
i s t r a t i o n I wil l p ray yo u as s o on a s you shall have
be en ab l e to form a deci sion t o b e s o go o d a s t o
”
c ommunicate i t to m e
D espite th e kindly u rgency
of this le tte r M r B reckin ridge h eld back H i s
p re sent p osition was congenial an d h e was as s u re d
o f a continu ance in it and alth ou gh i t c ould no t
bu t b e a p l easu re to b e as sociated with such men
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o u72
Y
E
l
r e c ?i n r
idg
e
,
as fo rmed th e Cabinet h e ye t s e riou sly d oubte d if
it was n o t b ette r t o continu e in th e S enate I t was
n ot u ntil som e fu r t h e r p r e s su re h ad b ee n b rou ght
t o b e a r u pon h im that in D e c e mber 1 80 5
he
acc e pte d th e Attorney G ene ralship
H i s b ri e f lif e was n o w n e a rly sp ent
A s ingl e
year in t h e C abin et c omp l ete d h i s care e r an d afte r
a p ainfu l an d p rot r acte d illne s s h e die d at hi s h om e
at Cabell s D al e o n th e 1 4 t h day o f D ecemb e r 1 80 6
age d forty si x year s an d twelv e days H i s d eath
cau sed d ee p an d wi des pread re g ret ; f o r h e had
du rin g h i s b rief experienc e o f n ati onal p olitics
ach ieve d a wide and growin g f a m e and h ad i de n t i
h e d h ims el f s o cl osely with th e h ead s o f h i s p a rty
that t h e ey e s o f man y al read y turne d t o him as t o
o n e wh o was s om e day t o attai n e ve n t h e ch iefes t
pl aces N o b ette r in stanc e o f thi s fe el in g can b e
qu oted n o r c a n t h e pe rm anenc e o f th e imp re s sio n
h av e a b ett e r illu str a tio n than Al b ert Gal latin s
d eclaration m ade man y y ear s af terward s in a l ette r
t o a friend S ai d h e
D u r in g t h e twelv e years I
was i n t h e T reasu ry I w a s an xi ou sly l o okin g fo r
s om e m an that coul d fill my plac e the re an d in t h e
gene ral d i recti on o f th e nati onal c o ncern s fo r on e
indeed tha t coul d replace M r J effer son M r Madi
B r e ckin ridge o f Kentu cky only
s o n an d mys elf
app eare d an d died th e e ccentri citie s o f J ohn
”
R andolph s oon de stroye d h i s influ ence
In p e rsona l app earanc e M r B reckinridge was
tall an d s triking
H e was ove r s i x feet in h eight
o f a spare and m u scular build sh owing in th e grace
an d strength o f h i s fi gu r e th e effect s o f th e t raining
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7onn
7
2
E r e c é i n r dge
,
t o mel t into fe elin g when once th ey yiel d to th e
dictate s o f th ei r h e arts s urpris e by th e d ep th even
while they charm by th e g e nuinenes s o f th eir emo
tion His wife wh o b y h e r sp righ tly and ready
wit an d sp arkling conve rsation had in h is lifetime
b een s uch a c ontrast to him at his death was p ro s
t r a t e d by h er grief an d by exces s o f we epin g c o m
h
e r e yesight wh ich had n o t b een
l
t
e
l
d
estroye
d
e
y
p
strong b efore an d in a life p rol onge d more than
fifty years s h e ch erish ed in darknes s th e memory
“
ligh t o f h er
o f him wh o h ad b ee n in life th e very
”
eyes and was at l en gth laid to sleep in th e grav e
wh ere hi s dus t h ad lain fo r half a centu ry
M any years ago a eulo gy wa s p ronounce d up on
J ohn B reckin ridge which th ou gh pitch ed in t o o
oratorica l a key t o b e qu ote d at l ength in thi s
place contains a p as sage de scriptive o f h i s p e rs onal
characte r which is at onc e t o o vigorou s an d too
el o quent to b e p as se d ove r I t is as foll ows
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O f th e p rivate life
this man I h ave h eard a
character s till more remarkable S impl e in hi s
manne rs grave an d lofty in hi s carriage s elf —denie d
in his p ers onal h abits an d a s trange r to th e
common wan ts and i n fir m i t i e s o f m an n o efforts
we re too great n o labors too immens e n o vigil s to o
protracte d n o dange rs to o immin ent n o di fficultie s
too insurmou ntabl e fo r his great conc e ntrate d
indomitabl e ene rgies An d yet this fi rm and earn
es t S pirit an d thi s vigo r alm os t au ste re were tem
p ere d by a gentlen es s towards th os e h e l oved s o
tender th at th e devotion Of hi s friends knew no
b oun ds and directed by a frankn e s s and g e n e r o s
ity toward s all m en s o s triking and ab solute that
”
e ven th os e he coul d n ot tru s t t ru sted him
of
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TI ce Mo v
O ne
of
h is
R e s olu tio n s
l
ze
t
of
er
73
.
s on s R ob e rt J effe rson B reckinrid ge
wh o at h is death was a ch il d o f s i x years o l d h a s
left it o n record th at wh en h e h ad grown to man
h oo d h e s ough t to learn from th e o l d men wh o
kne w him well s om ething of th e fath e r that h e
could b y th e u tm os t s tretch of hi s m em o ry b u t
j u s t recall a n d th at in sp eakin g of him th ei r eye s
woul d fill with tears
S uch was th e man up on whom th e chief
p art in th e adoption of th e Ken tucky R es olu
tions devolve d In al l re sp e cts h e was wo rthy
called to o ccu py and the
o f th e place s h e wa s
m easu re s he advocated and even high e r p rais e
m ay b e containe d in th e fu rth e r dictum which
i s no l es s tru e that h e n eve r h eld an O ffice no r
advocate d a m easu re which was not worthy o f him
H i s claims to b e rememb e re d fo r wh at h e wa s
and did are great and j u st an d h e i s m ore over
wo rthy o f rememb ran ce as th e foun de r o f a family
wh ich for achievement force o f intellect an d per
sistence is comp arabl e t o th e b e s t o f A m erican
s tocks His s ons J o seph Cab ell B reckinridge John
B reckinridge R o b e i t J effers o n B reckin ridge an d
William Lewi s B re ckinridge were all m en of mark
eith e r in p olitics o r th e Ch u rch h i s gran dson J oh n
Cabell B reckinridge h olds a m emorabl e place in
Am erican hi story while a numbe r o f o th ers o f his
descendants o n th e b ench at th e b ar in Congre ss
in th e m inistry an d th e army p rese rve an d p e rpet
u ate th e ability an d fam e o f th e nam e wh ich was
honorable wh en h e re ceive d i t an d t o which h e
and hi s b roth e rs gave a pe rm anent l u stre
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CHA PTER
TH E
RE
SOL
IV
U T I ON
S
.
Kentu cky legislatu re assemble d o n th e 7t h
day o f N ovemb er 1 798 A s s oon a s an o rganiza
tion h ad b een e ffe cted th e gove rn or J ame s Gar
app eare d in p ers on an d m ad e th e op enin g
r ar d
addres s accordin g t o th e cu stom o f that day H e
called attention t o th e variou s qu estion s th at de
m a n d e d l egislation an d finally afte r a r e s u nze o f
th e p olitical situ ati on an d th e p rominen t p o sition
occupied th e rein b y th e l at e l egislation in Congres s
e sp ecially as t o alien s an d s edition h e conclu de d
with th e foll owin g recommen dation
Pe rmi t m e th e n to sugges t t o you th e exp edi
ency o f you r declaring fully in b eh alf o f you rselve s
an d o f th e respe ctabl e p e opl e whom you rep re s ent
you r fi rm attachment t o th e Fe deral Constitution
and you r determination t o support th e gene ral gov
e r n m e n t in every m easu re which i s auth orize d by
th e commis sion u nd e r which i t acts whil s t at th e
s am e tim e b y enterin g you r p rote st agains t all
uncon stitu tional l aws and imp olitic p roceedings
tempering th e b ol d fi rmnes s o f freemen with that
m ode ration which indicate s a l ove o f tranquillity
u
f
will
rai
se
h
igh
the
characte
r
you
r
c
ountry
in
o
o
y
THE
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74
Tn R
e
e so
lu
ti
o ns
75
.
e steem o f th os e wh o s e goo d opinion yo u shou l d
b e solicitou s o f acqu irin g an d convinc e th e friend s
o f liberty and o f man that wh ateve r may b e th e fate
of their cau s e in oth e r countrie s Ken t u cky rem ot e
from th e c ontaminatin g in flu enc e o f Eu ropea n
p olitic s i s steady t o th e p rinciple s o f p u re republi
c an i s m an d will eve r b e th e asylu m o f h e r pers e
”
c u t e d v otarie s
A c ommi t te e o f th re e wa s ap pointed t o conside r
thi s addre s s an d re p ort a reply b a c k t o th e Hou s e
M r J oh n B reckin ridge o f Fayett e County was o n e
an d h e p roce ede d at once t o
o f thi s committee
give n oti ce that h e woul d o n to morrow m ove t h e
H ou s e t o go int o a committe e o f t h e wh ol e o n th e
state o f th e commonwealth o n th at part o f th e gov
e r n o r s addr e s s which relate s t o c ertain u n c o n s t i t u
t i o n al l aws pas se d at th e lat e s e s sion o f Congres s
and that h e woul d th e n mov e certain r e s olution s o n
”
that s ubj ect
I n accordance with thi s n otice th e H ou s e r e
s o l ved it self int o a committ e e of th e wh ole o n th e
8th , with M r Cal dwel l in th e ch air an d a c on
catenation o f re s olution s were introduce d by M r
B reckinridge as follows
I R e s ol ve d That the s ev e ral state s comp osin g th e
Unite d S tate s o f America are n o t u nite d o n th e
p rincipl e o f unlimite d submis sion to thei r G ene ral
G overnment bu t that by compact unde r th e s tyl e
th e
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1
Tl ze (F r an k fo r t
798
.
T
e nc e
an
I
hi p
t
d
p u t ti
dd
n c ua
a
re ss .
s
as sa
fo r
o n,
th
an d
g
K
,
e
,
e
i ts
n
a
en
tu ky )
like
um b
di ti
c
c
re
er
o n,
,
P a l l a di u m
k bl
b
i g
ub di t
i m pl
m ar a e
o f its
s
i s a fa r
as
or
sa
e
b
i gl
l u
e
se s,
i ts
th
w
o e
N o ve m
,
n
a
na e
e
of
s n
c a
e
13 ,
er
se n
h l
Tne R olu tio n
6
7
es
s
.
an d titl e o f a Con s titu tion fo r th e U nite d S tate s and
o f amendments th e reto th ey c on stitute d a General
G ove rn ment fo r sp ecial p u rp o s es d el egate d to that
G overnment c e rtain d efinite p owers re servin g each
s tate to itself th e re siduary m as s o f righ t t o thei r
and that wh enso eve r th e
o wn s elf G overnm en t
G ene ral Gove rn m e nt as sume s un del egate d p owers
its act s are u nau th o ritative void an d o f n o force
That t o this c ompact e ach state accede d as a s tate
and i s an integral p arty its c o states fo rm ing as t o
its elf th e othe r p arty T hat th e Gove rnment c reate d
by this c ompac t was n ot m ad e th e exclu sive o r final
d
e o f th e e xtent o f th e
p
owe
rs
d
el
egate
d
to
u
j g
its elf sinc e that woul d h ave m ade its discretion and
n ot th e c on stitution th e m easure o f its p owers bu t
that a s in all o the r case s o f c ompac t among partie s
h aving n o c ommo n J u dge e ach p arty h a s an e qual
righ t to j udg e fo r i ts elf as wel l o f infractio n s as o f
th e m ode an d m easure o f redres s
I I R e s o l ve d That th e Constitution o f th e United
S tate s h aving d elegated t o Congres s a p owe r to
punish treason c ounterf e iting th e secu ritie s and
cu rrent coin o f th e Unite d S tate s p iracies an d
fel onie s c ommitted o n th e H igh S eas an d offence s
a g ain s t the l aws o f nation s and n o othe r c rime s
wh ateve r an d i t b ein g t ru e as a general p rinciple
an d one o f th e am endments t o th e Cons titution hav
“
ing als o declared
th at the p owers n ot delegate d
to the Uni te d S tate s by the Cons titution no r p ro
h ib i t e d b y i t t o th e s tate s are res e rved to th e state s
”
respectively o r to th e p eople th erefo re al s o the
s ame act o f Congre s s p as sed o n th e 1 4 th day of
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Tn R s olu tio n s
e
e
77
.
July 1 798 an d entitled A n act in addition to th e
act entitle d an act fo r th e p uni shment o f certain
crim es agains t th e U nite d S tate s
as al s o th e act
p ass e d by them o n th e 2 7t h day o f J un e 1 798 e n
“
titled A n act to pu nish frau d s committe d o n th e
B ank o f th e U nite d S tat e s ( an d al l o the r th ei r
acts which as sume t o c reate d efine or p u nish crime s
oth e r than th os e enum e rate d in th e c onstitution )
are altogethe r voi d an d o f n o force an d that the
p ow e r to c reate d efin e an d p unish s uch othe r
c rime s i s res erve d an d o f righ t app e rtain s s olely
and exclu siv e ly to th e respective state s each within
its o wn T errito ry
I I I R e s o l ve d Th at it i s t ru e as a gene ral principle
and i s al so exp re ssly declare d by o n e o f t h e amend
“
m ents t o th e Constitution that th e p owers n ot
delegate d to th e Unite d S t ate s by t h e Constitution
n o r p rohibite d b y i t t o the s tates are res erve d t o the
state s re sp ectively o r to th e p eopl e
an d that n o
p owe r ove r th e freedom o f religion fre e dom o f
sp e e ch o r free dom o f th e p re s s b e ing del e gate d to
th e United S tate s by th e Con s titu tion n o r p rohibite d
b y i t t o th e s tate s all l awfu l p owe rs resp ecti n g th e
same did o f righ t remain an d were r e se rved t o th e
states o r t o th e p eople T hat th u s w a s manife ste d
th eir determination t o retain t o th em s elve s th e righ t
o f j udging h ow far th e licentiou snes s o f sp eech and
o f th e p res s may b e ab ridge d with ou t l es senin g thei r
u sefu l free dom an d h ow far thos e abu se s which
canno t b e s eparated from th eir u s e sh oul d b e toler
ate d rathe r th an th e u s e b e de stroye d ; an d thu s
als o th e y gu arde d agains t al l a b ridgmen t b y th e
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R
T ne
8
7
eso
lu
ti
o ns
.
U nite d S tate s o f th e free dom of re l igi ou s opini o n s
an d exe rcis es an d retained to th em s elv e s th e righ t
o f p rotecting th e s a m e as t h is s tate by a Law p as s ed
o n th e general deman d of i ts Citizens h ad al ready
p rotecte d them from all h uman re straint o r inter
ference
And th at in addition t o thi s general
p rincipl e an d exp re s s d eclaration anoth e r an d
m ore sp ecial p rovi sion h a s b e e n m ade b y o n e of
th e amendments to th e Con stitu tion which exp res sly
declares th at Congre s s shall m ake n o law re spect
ing an E s tablishm ent o f religion or p rohib itin g t h e
free exerci s e th ereof o r ab ridging th e freedom o f
”
sp eech o r of th e p res s th e reby guardin g in th e
same s entence and un de r th e s am e words th e free
dom o f religion o f sp eech an d of th e p res s ins o
mu ch that whateve r violate s eith er throws d own
th e s anctu ary w h ich covers th e oth ers an d that
lib el s fal seh oods and defamation e qually with
h ere sy an d fal s e religion are withh e l d from th e
cognizance o f fe de ral t ribunal s That therefore
th e act o f th e Congres s o f the U nite d S tate s p as se d
“
o n th e 1 4 th day o f J uly 1 798 entitle d
An act in
addition t o th e act f o r th e p unishment o f ce rtain
”
crim e s again s t th e Unite d S tate s
which doe s
ab ridge the freed om o f th e p res s i s n o t law bu t i s
al togeth e r void an d o f n o effect
IV R e s o l ve d T hat alien friend s are u nde r t h e
j urisdiction and p rotection o f the laws o f the s tate
wh erein th ey are ; that n o p owe r ove r th em h a s
b een del egated t o th e U nite d S tates n or p rohibite d
to th e individual s tate s distinc t from th ei r power
over citizen s and it being tru e a s a gene ra l p rinci
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Tn R s olu tio n s
80
e
e
.
”
ce rning Aliens
i s c ontrary t o th e Cons titu tion
“
o n e amendment to which h as provid ed th at
no
p e rs on sh all b e dep rived o f libe rty with ou t du e
”
p roces s o f law an d that anoth e r h aving p rovided
“
th at in all criminal p ro s ecutions th e accu se d sh all
enj oy the righ t to a public trial by an impartial
j u ry to b e informe d o f th e nature and cau s e o f th e
accu sation to b e confronte d wi t h th e witnes se s
agains t him t o h ave c ompul so ry p roce s s for O b tain
ing witne s se s in his favo r and to h ave th e assis t
”
ance of coun sel for h is d efence th e s am e act u n
d e r t ak i n g to au th oriz e th e P resident to rem ove a
p erson o u t o f th e U nited S tate s wh o i s u nder the
p rotection o f the law o n his own s u spicion with
with ou t j ury withou t public trial
o u t accu sation
withou t confrontation Of th e witn es s es against him
with out h aving witne s s e s in hi s favo r with ou t de
fence withou t cou ns el i s contrary to the s e p rovi
sions al so of th e Constitu tion is the refore not law
b ut u tterly voi d an d o f n o force
Th at transfe rrin g th e p owe r o f j u dging any p er
s o n wh o i s un der th e p rotection of th e laws from
th e Cou rts to th e P residen t o f th e Unite d S tates a s
i s u ndertak en by th e s am e act con cernin g Aliens i s
against th e article of th e C on stitution which p ro
“
vide s that th e j u dicial p o we r o f th e Unite d S tate s
sh all b e ves te d in cou rts t h e J udge s o f which shall
”
hol d the ir o ffice s du ring good b eh avio r and that
th e s aid act i s voi d fo r that reas on als o ; an d it is
furth e r to b e n oted that th is t ransfe r o f J udiciary
p owe r i s to that magis trate o f the General Gove rn
m ent wh o al ready p o sses s e s al l th e E xecu tive
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Tl i e Re s ol u tio ns
8I
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an d
a qualified negative in all th e Legislative
p owers
VI I R e s o l ve d Th at th e constru ction applie d b y
th e Gene ral Gove rnment ( as i s evince d by sundry o f
thei r p roceedings ) to th os e parts o f th e Con stitution
o f th e Unite d S tate s which del egate to Congres s a
p owe r t o lay and coll ec t taxe s d uties imp osts an d
excis es to p ay th e deb ts an d p rovid e fo r th e c o m
m on defence and gene ral welfare o f th e Unite d
S tate s and t o m ake all laws which shall b e n e c e s
s ary an d prop e r fo r carrying into e xecution th e
p owers vested by the Constitution in th e G overn
ment o f th e Unite d S tates o r any department
thereof goes to th e de st ruction o f all th e limits
—
p rescribed to their p owe r by th e Con stitution That
word s m eant by that instrum en t t o b e s ub sidiary
only to th e execution o f th e l im i t e d p o we r s ough t
n ot to b e s o con stru e d as them selve s t o give u n l im
i t e d powe rs nor a p art s o to b e taken as to des troy
th e wh ole residu e of th e ins trum en t Th at th e p ro
c e e di n g s o f th e Gene ral G ove rnmen t unde r c olo r of
t he s e articles will b e a fi t and n ece ssary s ubj ect fo r
revisal and co rrection at a tim e o f greate r t ranqu il
l i t y whil e tho s e specified in th e p recedin g r e s olu
tion s call fo r imme diate re dres s
VI I I R e s ol ve d That th e p recedin g R e s olution s
b e transmitte d to th e S enators and R ep resentative s
in Congres s from th is Commonweal th wh o are
he reby enj oined t o p re s ent th e sam e to their r e s p e c
tive Hou se s an d to u s e th eir b e s t endeavo rs t o
procu re at th e n ex t s e s sion of C ongres s a repeal o f
the afore sai d unconstitu tion al and obn o x i ou s acts
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Tn R
82
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R
e s o l ve d
l astly
eso
lu
ti
o ns
.
Th at th e G ove rno r of thi s
Commonweal th b e an d i s h ereby auth o riz ed and re
qu e ste d t o commu nicate th e p rece ding R e s olution s
t o th e Legislatu re s o f th e s eve ral S tates t o as su re
th em th at thi s Comm onwealth con side rs union fo r
s p ecifi e d N ational pu rp os e s an d p articularly fo r
th ose sp ecifi e d in th eir late Fe de ral Compact t o b e
friendly to th e p eace happines s an d p rosp erity o f
all th e s tate s : th at faithful t o th at compact a c
co rdin g t o th e plain intent and m eanin g in which it
wa s understoo d an d acceded to b y th e s everal
p artie s i t i s sin cerely anxiou s fo r i ts p re servation
that i t doe s al s o b eli eve th at to take from th e state s
all th e p owe rs o f s elf gove rnm ent an d transfe r them
t o a gene ral an d cons olidate d G overnm ent withou t
regard to th e sp ecial delegation s and re s e rvation s
s ol emnly agree d t o in th at com pact i s n o t fo r th e
p eace h appi n e s s o r p ro sp e rity o f thes e s tate s
An d th at th erefore this Commonweal th i s dete r
mined as i t doub ts not its Co state s are tamely t o
submit t o u ndel egate d an d cons equ ently unlimite d
p owers in n o m an o r b o dy o f men o n earth that
if th e act s b efo re s p ecifi e d sh oul d stand th es e con
e lu sion s woul d fl ow from th em
th at th e G en e ral
G overnm ent m ay p lace any act th ey think p rope r on
th e lis t of c rimes an d p unish it thems elve s wh ether
enume rated o r n ot enum e rate d by th e Constitu tion
as cognizabl e by th em : th at th ey may transfer i ts
cogni zance t o th e P re sident o r any oth e r p e rson
wh o may h im self h e th e accu s er c ou ns e l j udge
an d j u ry wh os e s u sp i c i o ns may b e th e evidence
h is o r d er th e s en tence h i s o ffi ce r th e execu tione r
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R s lu ti o ns
T /z e
e o
83
.
and his b reas t the s ole reco rd o f th e tran saction :
that a ve ry nume rou s and valuabl e descrip tion o f
th e inh abitants o f th es e s tate s b ein g b y thi s
p rece dent reduce d as outlaws t o th e ab solute
d ominion o f o n e m an an d th e b arrie r o f th e
Con stitution thu s swep t away from u s all n o
rampart now remain s again s t th e p as si on s an d
th e p owe r o f a m aj ority o f Congre s s to p rotect
from a like expo rtation o r oth er m ore grievou s
punishmen t th e m inority o f th e s am e b ody th e
Legislatu res J u dges Gove rno rs an d Counsellors
o f th e s tates n o r th eir othe r p eaceable inhab itants
wh o m ay ventu re to reclaim th e constitutional
rights and libertie s o f th e states an d peopl e o r
wh o fo r othe r cau s e s goo d o r b ad may b e o b n o x
iou s to th e views o r m arked by the s u spicion s o f
th e President o r b e th ou gh t dan ge rou s t o hi s o r
th eir election s or o th e r inte r e sts public o r p e r
s onal : that th e friendles s ali e n has in dee d b een
sele cte d as th e s afes t subj ec t o f a fi rs t e xp eriment
b u t th e citizen wil l s oon follow o r rathe r h a s al
ready followed ; for al ready h as a S edition A ct
m arke d him as i t s p r e y that thes e and s ucces sive
acts o f the s am e characte r unles s arre s te d on the
th reshold may ten d t o drive th es e state s into revo
l u t i o n an d bl ood and will fu rnish n ew calumnies
against R epublican G overnmen ts and new p rete xts
for thos e wh o wish i t to b e b elieved th at m an can
n o t b e gove rne d b ut by a r o d o f i ron :
that it
woul d b e a dangerou s delu sio n we re a confi dence
in th e men o f o u r ch oice t o silence o u r fears f o r
th e s afety o f o u r righ ts : th at confi dence i s eve ry
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Tn R
84
e
eso
lu
ti
o ns
.
whe re t h e paren t o f desp otism : fre e gove rnment
i s foun de d in j eal ou sy and n o t in confidence
i t i s j eal ou sy and not c onfi dence which p r e scribe s
l imite d Constitu tion s to bin d d own tho se wh om we
are oblige d to tru s t with p ower th at o u r C o n s t i t u
tion h as acco rdin gly fi xe d th e limits t o which and
n o fu rthe r o u r confi dence m ay go ; an d l et the
h one s t advocate o f confi den ce read th e Alien and
S e di t ion Acts an d s a y if the C on stitu tion h as n ot
b een wi se in fi xin g limit s to th e Government i t cre
ated and wh eth er we sh ould b e wi s e in d e stro ying
th o se limits Le t him s ay wh at th e Gove rnmen t i s
if it b e no t a tyranny wh ich th e m en of o u r ch oice
have c onfe rre d o n th e Pre sident an d th e P resident
o f o u r ch oice h as as s ente d to and accepte d ove r
th e frien dly s trangers to whom th e mil d spirit o f
o u r Country an d its laws h ad pledged h ospitality
an d p rotection : th at th e m en o f o u r ch oice h ave
m ore respected th e b are su spicion s o f the President
than th e s olid righ ts of inn ocenc e th e claim s o f
j u stifi cation th e sacred force o f truth an d th e
fo rm s an d sub stance o f law and j us tice
In
que stion s o f p ower th en let n o m ore b e h eard of
confiden ce in m an bu t b ind him d own from mis
chief by th e chain o f th e Con sti tution That thi s
Comm onwealth d oe s th erefo re call o n i t s Co states
for an e xpre s sion o f th eir s entiments o n th e acts
concerning A lien s and f o r th e puni shment o f ce r
tain c rim e s h ereinb efore sp ecifi ed plainly d e c l a r
ing wheth e r th es e acts are o r are n o t authorized
by th e Fe dera l Compact ? And i t doubts n o t that
their s ens e will b e s o announced as to p rove th eir
attachmen t unalt e red to limited Governmen t
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Th e
eso
lu
ti
o ns
85
.
gene ral o r p articular and that th e rights
and l i b ertie s o f th ei r C o state s will b e exp o se d t o
n o dange rs by remaining embarke d o n a comm on
b ottom with th ei r o wn Th at th ey wil l concu r with
thi s Comm onw e alth in c on siderin g t h e said acts as
s o p alp ably agains t th e Con stitution as t o am ount
to an un disguis ed d eclarati on that th e Compact i s
no t m eant t o b e th e m eas ure o f th e p owers o f th e
Gene ral G overnmen t b ut th at it will p rocee d in t h e
exercis e ove r th es e state s of all p owe rs wh ats oeve r
That th ey wil l view thi s as s eizin g th e righ ts Of th e
state s and cons olidatin g th em in th e h ands o f th e
G en eral G overnment with a p owe r as sume d to bin d
th e s tate s ( not m erely in cas e s m ad e fe deral ) b u t in
al l c as e s wh atsoever b y laws mad e not with thei r
cons ent bu t by oth ers against th eir cons ent That
thi s woul d b e to su rrend e r th e fo rm of G ove rnment
w e h ave ch os en and to live unde r o n e d e riving i t s
p owers from its o wn will an d n o t from ou r a u
t h o r i t y ; an d that th e C o s tate s recu rring to th ei r
nat u ral righ t in case s n ot made federa l , wil l c oncu r
in d eclarin g th es e acts voi d and o f n o force and
will each u nite with this Comm onwealth in requ est
ing their rep eal at th e n ext s e ss ion o f Congres s
E D M U ND B U L L OCK S H R
J O H N C A M PB E L L , S S P T
wh ethe r
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u fR p
A tt t
mb
I N SE N AT E N
A tt t
A pp d N 1 6 798
Pa s s e d t h e H
o
se
o
es
,
o v.
,
I
o v.
,
I
,
n an
o
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c o nc
s
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rr e
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,
.
H A RR Y T O U L M I N
S
e c re
t y
ar
of
,
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J A M E S G A RR A RD G K
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,
B Y T H E G OV E R N O R
.
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,
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,
1
ve s
,
e r 13
.
t ti N
O I 798
T H O M AS T O DD C H R
im u l y
u d in
798 u
B T H U R S T O N Clk S en
re se n a
,
o ve
es
r o ve
e
.
.
St t
,
a e
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R
Th e
86
eso
lu
ti
o ns
.
Th e s e res olution s we re und e r dis cu s sion Thu rs
day Friday an d S aturday th e 8th 9t h an d r o t h
o f N ovemb e r and were reporte d to th e H ou s e an d
adop te d o n th e 1 0 t h ins tant They calle d forth
ve ry littl e debate ; b u t that d eb ate was vigorou s
an d distinctly up on th e very p oin ts at i s su e
Th ere wa s a rare u nanimity in th e H ou s e s o
much s o that th e opp osition was confined s o
far as th e wh ol e s eries was concerned to M r
Will iam M u rray o f Franklin County B ut h e was
a man o f high p owe rs an abl e l awye r a cl ear
thinke r and a fo rcibl e d eb ater
H e grasp e d th e
s alient p oin ts of th e c ontrove rsy with fi rmn es s an d
if h e did n ot su ccee d in convincin g h i s au dience
b e anticipate d th e gene ral argument s o f th e p arty
to which h e b elon ge d for many years Hi s b ias
towards Fe deralism p revented h im from attaining
eminenc e H e was o n e o f th e numb e r to whom
th e c ommunications from th e Sp anish governo r in
1 793 an d 1 79 7 we re sai d to have b een s ubmitted
an d i t has b een charge d th at his op p o sition m ay
“
h ave b een dictate d by a d e sire to b alanc e his a s
ye t unpublish ed relation t o t h a t i n t r i g u e ; it c er
f ainly was a favo rabl e opp o rtunity f o r h im t o p u rge
”
hims elf o f that iniqu it y
The re is n o j us t ground
H e was in all things a t yp i
fo r s uch a su ggestion
ca l Federalis t b oth in p rofes sion and in hab it s o f
though t I t woul d h ave requi red a m os t facile and
acu te mind indeed to handl e th e argument s against
th e s e res olutions with th e vigo r and ability which h e
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Se e
Sh l
a e r,
p
A me r
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I I
4
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i
c an
Co m m o n
w l th
ea
s.
”
K
t ky
e n uc
.
By N S
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.
Th e
88
R
eso
lu tio n
s
.
had recou rs e t o th e mos t viol en t th e m o s t i r e g u l a r
m ode s o f opp osition Th ey h ad n ot me rely a t
temp te d to S how th e improp ri e ty o f th e laws which
th ey complained o f an d endeavor b y p eaceab l e r e
m on strance t o obtain redre s s bu t h ad denie d th e
auth ority o f Con gres s to en act s u ch laws Th e
l egisl atu re o f Kentu cky we re n o w calle d up on t o
do what ? T o s tretch forth th eir hand s t o supp ort
th e ark o f th e Constitution
Y e t at th e ve ry m o
m ent th ey are callin g u p on yo u t o p res e rv e t h e
Constitu tion at th e ve ry m oment th ey are calling o n
you t o d ecl are what i s an d what i s n o t th e theory o f
you r Con stitution are th ey n o t temptin g you to
violate the Con stitu tion are th ey n o t callin g u pon
you t o e xe rci s e a p owe r which nev er h as b een del e
gated t o th is b ody ? While e xclaimin g again st usu r
p a t i o n will you you rs elve s b ecom e u su rp ers ? B e
cau s e th e Con stitution o f the Uni te d S tates h a s b een
violated will yo u viol ate you r o wn Con stitution
Wh e re i s th e clau s e wh ich has given you th e cen sor
ship ? Where i s the clau s e which h as auth orize d
you t o rep eal o r to declar e void th e laws o f t h e
Unite d S tate s
I f w e h ave b een e l ecte d by ou r fellow citiz en s
to watch over th e inte res ts o f o u r commonwealth
sh al l we con sum e o u r tim e shall w e dive rt o u r a t
tention from th e obj ect s fo r wh ich we wer e sp ecially
s ent h e re in fab ricating the orie s o f government
an d p ronouncin g void th e acts o f Con gres s ? If we
tu rn o u r attention t o t h e C on stitution o f th is S tate
we sh all fin d that i t h as delegated th e s everal powe rs
th e e x
o f government t o th re e dis tinct b ranch e s
th e l egislative an d th e j u diciary
e c u t iv e
H ere M r M u rray enum erated th e s everal p owe rs
lodge d with e ach
An d wh ere says h e in thi s
dist ribution doe s th e p ower o f c enso rship reside ?
D oe s i t b elon g t o th e G overnor t o pas s a j u dgment
o n the p roceedings o f Congres s ? N O l th e obj e cts
o f h i s auth o rity are t o app oint S tate o ffice rs t o e x
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Th e
e so
lu tio n
s
89
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amine S tate acts to s up erinten d th e e x ecu tion o f
S tate l aws and to recommend t o o u r attention Ob
n s o rship th e n
S
tate
p
olicy
D
oe
s
th
e
ce
t
o
f
e
c
s
j
“
reside in thi s H ou se N o fo r it i s th e legislative
”
p ower o f thi s c ommonwealth only that i s ve ste d
in the General A s sembly I ts p owe r o f impeach
m ent h a s connection m e rely with o u r S tate o ffi cers
N o r d oe s i t b elon g t o th e j u diciary ; fo r there i s a
j udiciary d epartment e s tablish ed by th e C o n s t i t u
tion o f th e Unite d S t ates I t b elongs then t o th e
p eopl e at large Le t m e n ot b e tol d th at we th e
m emb ers o f this H ou s e are a p art o f th e p eopl e
an d h ave a s su ch a right to take cognizance o f
Federa l tran sacti on s
We are s ent h e re n ot to act as s o m any indi
vidu a l citizen s b u t as a c onstitu te d b ody an d it is
in that capacity only we h ave a righ t to act within
th es e walls O u r p ro ce ed ings are th e p roce edings
o f th e l egis l ature o f Kentucky only ; n o r can any
thin g which we think o r s ay o r do as in dividu al s
obtain a place in o u r j ou rnal s
What then follows ? I t certai n ly follows that
instead o f con sumin g o u r tim e o n obj e cts to which
o u r p owers d o n ot e xtend we ou gh t to b e b ending
o u r attention to th e obj ect s fo r which o u r c o n s t i t
u e n t s s ent u s ; we ou ght t o b e p ro vidin g f o r th e
welfare o f th e commonwealth o f Ken tucky Th e
p owe r which we p os s e s s a s m embe rs o f this legis
l a t u r e i s as mu ch derivati ve as th e p owe r o f C on
gres s we are as much re strained b y constitu tio n al
sanction s we are as much confi ne d within particular
b ounds
Bu t are we n o t going b eyon d th os e
b oun ds ? Are we n o t in takin g u p thes e re s olu
tion s goin g b eyon d th e b oun d s o f S tate legislation
Th e Constitution o f th e Unite d S t ate s was ren
dere d nece ss ary b y a want o f energy i n th e former
c onfederation U nde r that confede ration credit
had e xpired Th e U nited S tate s were th e contemp t
m oney wa s n eces sary f o r carry
o f foreign nations
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Th e
0
9
R o lu tio ns
es
.
ing o n th e government ; b u t money c oul d not b e
raise d by m ean s of taxe s no r b orrowed o n th e faith
Unde r th e s e circum s tance s we were
o f th em
obli g e d t o form a cl o se d uni on an d th e p res ent
Con stitu tion o f th e Unite d S tate s attained e xist
ence
This Con stitution h e sh owed was n ot
m erely a coven ant b etween integral S tate s b u t a
c ompact b etween th e s eve ral individual s comp osing
th o s e S tates A ccordingly th e Con stitution com
“
men e e s with th i s form o f exp res sion :
We the
”
p e opl e o f th e U nited S tates n o t we th e thirte en
S tate s o f Am e rica
In thi s Con stitu tion o f th e U nited S tate s a s in
th e s eve ral S tate c o n s t it u ti o n s t h e p owers o f govern
m en t are distrib ute d in to th ree d ep artments
Co n
gre s s lik e the S tate ass emblie s i s p os se s s ed o f l egis
lative au th ority
T he p owers an d dutie s o f t h e
P resident o f th e U nite d S tates re s embl e th os e o f
th e s eve ral S tate gove rnors ; an d t o th e j u diciary
an d th e j udiciary al on e i t b el ongs t o d eclare what
acts o f th e l egislatu re are law an d what are n ot
law An d to th eir h ono r b e it said that th ey have
with an indep endence b ecomin g their ch aracte r
declare d an act p ass e d by Co n gre s s n o law H e
refe rre d t o an act auth o ri zin g th e j u dge s o f th e ci r
cu it c ou rts t o c ertify th e p e rson s entitl ed to p en
sion s allowing an app eal h owever t o s om e b ranch
of th e e xecutive o r p robably to th e h ead s o f de
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t
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n
t
a
e
s
p
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O n thi s l aw i t
wa s
h eld that the auth ority o f
cou rts was pu rely a j u dicial au thority an d n o o t he r
and wh en e xe rcisin g th is j udicial auth ority n o a p
p eal coul d c onstitu tionally lie to an execu tive o f
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fic e r
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Th e Con stitu tion o f th e United S tate s h as re s e rve d
certain p owers t o th e p eopl e an d to th e S tates
re spectively
B u t doe s that article o r does any oth er articl e
give to th e S tate l egislatu re s any au th ority to c e n
.
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9
Th e
2
R s o lu tio ns
e
.
Th e ob se rvation s h oweve r o f th e gentleman
th ou gh new and u ne xp ected h e woul d en deavor to
an swer I t h ad b een admitte d that th e l aws which
were th e s ubj ect o f c omplaint we re imp olitic Th ey
coul d th en take n otice o f imp olitic acts b ut if i m
p olitic acts m ay b e c en su red thos e which are u n
cons t itutional m ay certainly a f o r ti o r i n ot only b e
cen sure d b u t may b e declared void
I t h ad likewi se b e e n admitted th at th e p owers o f
th e General G overnm en t are altogeth er derivative
that th e y are derive d eith er from th e p e opl e o r
from th e S tat e legislatu re s Th e doctrine s o far
i s go od bu t I ask s ai d h e are n ot th os e deriva
tive p owe rs enume rate d and limite d to ce rtain
specifi e d pu rp o ses ? and i s n ot th e residu ary mas s
retaine d s om ewh e re
Wh ere th en is it retained ?
E ith e r in th e S tate l e gislatu re s o r in th e p eopl e
Th e S t ate G overnm ents can n ot entrench o n th e
p owe rs del eg a te d to th e Gen e ral G overnm ent an d
th e Gen e ral G ove rnment can n o t entrench o n th os e
which are retained If then th e Gen eral Govern
m ent sh oul d tran sgre s s the limits p re scrib e d t o
them by th e Con stitution h ow are th ey t o b e r e
st rain e d Are th ey to b e restrained by th ems elve s
I s th eir dis cretion to b e th e only measure of th ei r
p owe rs ? Th e idea is ab s u rd
Liken it t o a
comm on cas e If my agent exceeds th e p owers
which I h ave del egate d to him am I to su pplicat e
h i m t o review his condu ct an d t o ch ange i t
No
That would imply a dis creti onary p ower in him
eith er t o adh ere t o o r to abandon hi s e rro rs and
m iscondu ct
I con side r th e G en eral As s embly as
th e gran d in qu e st o f th e c omm onwealth
They
are b ound in du ty as well as by oath t o supp o rt
their o wn as well as th e Fede ral Con stitution and
all attempts to violate eith er from wh atever quar
te r Offe red d eman d th ei r earliest conside ration
and rep reh en sion Th e l egislatu re i s th e consti
t u t i o n al and p rop e r o rgan th rou gh which th e will
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R s olu tio ns
Th e
e
93
.
th e p eop l e i s kn own and wh en kn own e ffe c t u
ally e xecute d o n o rdinary o ccasions th erefo re an
articl e declarin g that th e p eopl e throu gh their
l egislatu re had a righ t t o c en s ure th os e wh o at t emp t
a violation o f thei r righ ts woul d n ot b e more ab
s urd th an d e b asing
If Con gres s receive d n o cens ure from th e S tate
l egislatu re s from wh om i s th e censu re to com e ?
Th e gentl eman s ays from th e p eopl e Y e t wh en
th e p eopl e take u p t h e s ubj ect an d exp re s s thei r
s entiment s o n it th ey are stigmati ze d with th e ap
p ellation o f irregular as semblie s tu mul tuou s m ob s
— m e re sp rou ts from o n e roo t fo rce d into u nnatu ra l
growth b y intrigu e and amb ition When th e legis
l a t u r e come s fo rward a n e w c ry i s rais e d ; thei r
p owers are deman de d th e constitu tional articl e i s
called for S ir I l ook fo r n o su ch article ; th e
p owe rs o f th e l egislatu re we re an teceden t t o th e
Cons titution an d were n ot s u rrendered wh en that
Constitution was adop ted I s i t p o s sibl e th e gen
t l e m a n can m ean that Congre s s are th e s ole j udge s
o f th e p ropriety and con stitutional ity o f all acts
don e b y th em
Will h e s a y th at in n o cas e i t can b e p rope r f o r
th e s eve ral S tate s t o come fo rward an d sp eak on
the s ubj ect o f congres siona l p roceedin gs ? Th e
doctrine o f pas sive ob edience an d non re si stance
h as grown rathe r unfashion abl e an d obs ole t e t o b e
n ow revived M y idea M r Chairman o f th e tru e
relative situation o f th e S tate Government s and o f
th e Gene ral G overnment i s concis ely b u t clear l y
s tate d i n the fi rs t re s olu tion b efore you S o lon g
as I regard my libertie s I shall op po s e th e p rincipl e
n o w conten ded f o r by th e gentleman o f a cons oli
date d gove rnment T o b e explici t s i r I consider
th e c o S tate s to b e alon e p artie s t o th e Federal
compact an d s o l e ly auth ori ze d t o j udge i n th e las t
re s ort o f th e p owe r e xercis e d unde r that compact
C ongres s b eing n ot a p arty b ut me re l y the creatu re
of
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Th e
94
of
R
e so
lu tio ns
.
th e c ompact and subj ect as t o it s as sum ption s
o f p ower t o th e fi nal j u dgm ent o f tho s e by wh om
a n d f o r whos e u s e its elf an d i t s power s were all
c reate d I do n o t c on sider C ongre s s therefore
th e l ords and masters o f th e S tate bu t as th eir s e r
vants Th ey are n ot as I b efore sai d a party in
th e Federal comp act b u t agen t s int ru sted with a
limited au th ority w h ich if th e y exce ed th ey are
am e n able t o th e a u t h o rity by which th ey we re con
stitu ted
Wh e n th e governm ent o f th e Unite d
S tate s e n a c t i mp o l i ti c laws w e c an only s a y : W e
p ray y o u t o rep ea l them A s t o m atte rs o f mere
p olicy th ey are i t i s admi tted v es t e d with a dis e re
B u t wh en th ey p as s laws b eyon d
ti o n a r y p ow e r
—
t h e l imit s o f th e Con sti t u ti on law s which th e y are
n o m ore a u th oriz e d t o p ass th an th e G ran d T u rk
w e d o n o t ask a rep eal b u t ou gh t t o m ak e a legis
l ativ e de cl a ra t i on th at b e in g un c on stitu tional they
th eref ore void an d o f n o effec t L e t i t b e
ar e
gran te d that h o nes t j udge s may r efu se t o ac t up on
th em ; bu t Cong r es s it s elf if it b e p os s e sse d o f
virtu e an d wis dom will o n th e rep res entati on s o f
th e S tate l egi sl atu re s expunge thei r uncon stitu tional
procee di ngs fro m t h e an n al s o f th e U nit ed S tate s
If u pon th e rep re sentatio n s o f th e S tate s from
wh om th ey d e r iv e th ei r p o wers th ey sh oul d n eve r
t h e l e s s attemp t t o enforce them I h esitate n o t t o
d eclare i t as my O pin ion th a t it i s th en th e ri gh t
and du ty o f th e s everal S tate s t o nullify th os e act s
op e r a ti o n
a nd t o p r o te c t th e i r
c i ti z e n s f r o m th e i r
B u t I h o p e a n d tru s t su ch an even t will n eve r h ap
p en and th at C on gr e s s will alway s h ave s u ffi cien t
virtu e wi sdom an d p ru d e nce u pon th e rep res enta
tion o f a maj ority o f th e S tat e s t o e xpung e al l
obnoxiou s l aw s wh atev er An d afte r all wh o are
th e j u diciary th e b ody in which th e gentl eman
places su ch u nb ounded c onfi den ce
Wh o are th ey b ut a p art o f th e s ervants o f t h e
p eopl e c reate d by th e Fe deral comp a c t ? And if
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Th e
6
9
Re s ol u tio ns
.
Th e argum ent wa s in i ts elf ab l e and vigo r
an d to th e smalle st d etail s playe d up on th e
ous
ch ord s of l ocal p rej udice s an d s elf inte re s t Th e s e
sp eech e s forme d th e centre o f de b ate A numb e r
sp ok e up on th e s ubj ect i n th e m ain
o f o thers
b riefly and th eir remark s we re n ot regarded as o f
su fficient valu e to b e p re served s o th at n ow n othin g
e xcep t th e nam e s o f th e othe rs wh o sp ok e are p re
s erved
Th e re s o l ution s p as s ed s u b stantially a s p ropos e d
Th e amendments agree d to out O f a numb e r p ro
“
p ose d were th e foll owing
In th e l as t lin e bu t
o ne
o f th e
sixth R e s olu tion b efo re th e word
‘
n eg a t i ve
i t wa s agre e d to in sert
In
th e ninth R e s olution twenty fif t h lin e afte r th e
‘
‘
word a r e i t was agreed t o in se rt t a m e l y
An d
in th e n inth R e solution sixty seven th line f o r
“
”
“
n e c e s s a ry
i t was agre ed t o s ub stitu te may te nd
i t was
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to
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1
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Thu s amen ded th e re solution s pas s e d the Co m
m i t t e e o f th e wh ol e an d th e H ou s e
M r Mu rray
vote d again st th e wh ol e s eries A single vote wa s
adde d t o h i s again s t th e s econd third fou rth fifth
si x th s eventh and eigh th an d a total o f th re e we re
cas t again st th e ninth
Th ey were then s ent to th e S enate an d afte r an
un succe ssful effort t o amen d them made b y J ohn
P op e they were unanimou sly concu rre d i n o n th e
1 3 th
day o f N ovembe r an d were app roved by
G overnor Garrard on th e 1 6 t h
Thu s in the inter
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k
T h e Pa l l a di u m , F r a n fo r
t
,
Ky
.
,
No v
.
13, I
798
.
,
R
Th e
eso
lu
tio n
s
97
.
va l b etween th e 7th o n which day th e legislatu re
as semble d an d h eard th e governor s add res s an d
th e 1 6 t h the s e important re s olve s de stine d to have
a p rofound in fluence n ot only o n th e histo ry o f th e
S tat e bu t o f th e Union were su ggeste d offere d
p u t th rou gh th e two legislative b odies an d S ign e d
b y th e go verno r S uch action u p on s o imp ortant
a subj ect s eem s on fi rs t th ou gh t imp rop erly p re
in t ruth th e event wa s only the
c ipitat e ; b u t
n atural re sul t o f l on g and m atu re p rep aration and
th e re solution s we re only a th o rou ghly revise d an d
p erfected fo rm o f th e opinion s h el d and e xp re s s e d
b y a large p rop ortion o f th e citi zens for m onth s
p reviou sly an d th e subj ect h ad b een s o th o rou ghly
ventilated an d s o exhau stively deb ate d in all kind s
th a t th e m easu re ne ede d bu t t o
o f ass emblages
b e su gge sted t o receive instan t an d un qu alifie d
as sent
Th e favo r acco rded t o th e re sol ution s in th e
legislature wa s n ot greate r th an th at with which
th ey we re receive d everywh ere throu gh ou t th e
S tate Th e p eopl e o f Kentucky as h as already
b een s aid we re rem arkab ly u nanimou s o n th e
p olicy dem ande d b y th es e unpopular l aws M r
B reckinridge t o o wa s a man in whom th e peopl e
fel t a s tro n g and growin g confi dence an d th e r e
sul t wa s a compl ete as sen t t o th e action o f th e
l egislatu re
There we re indeed , n o t a few s o m e
o f th em m en o f eminent talent s an d p o s it i on who
l ooke d u p on th em with regret Chief amon g th es e
was H umph rey M arshall th e S enato r wh o had
b een e l ected by th e F e de r al i s t s in th e m o me n t o f
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Re s olu tio ns
Th e
8
9
.
h igh e s t reaction b rou gh t o n b y th e in s o l enc e o f
G enet H e had b een a vigorou s Fede ralis t from
th e earlies t times a strong pl eade r for p atient
waitin g o n th e pl easu re of Virginia and Congres s
in th e m atte r o f s e p aration an e a rne s t advocate of
ratification in th e Virginia cons titutional c o n v e n
tion wh olly opp o s ed t o any intrigu e t o Obtain th e
c oveted M is si s sipp i t rade and th e cap stone o f h is
Fe deralism was place d wh en h e vot e d for th e hate d
l egislation o f thi s year in Con gre s s I t i s tol d with
much evidence o f tru th that wh en h e retu rne d from
th e s e ssion of 1 798 t o Kentu cky a b ody o f his i n
d i g n an t c on stitu ent s app reh en ded him at nigh t an d
were abou t t o s e e wh at effe ct a b ath in a n e i g b o r i n g
h orsep ond would h ave o n Fe deralist s entiment s
D isplaying rather m ore p opular gifts th an u su al h e
appeal e d to th eir p revailin g r e ligiou s s entiments and
insisted th at it was quite ou t o f place to pu t a man
u n der th e water till h e h ad had an opp ortunity t o r e
”
l ate h i s experience
The app eal was s u cces sful
and mounte d u p on a cask h e delivere d a h arangu e
which s o please d his auditors th at th ey rel eas ed
him an d s ent h im h om e with ou t h i s b ath H e was
n ow p olitically dead in Kentu cky bu t h e took a
sh arp tongue d revenge o n th e time s an d th e l ead
e r s in after years in hi s able b u t p artisan history
H e was t h e l e ade r o f th e Fed e ralists
o f Kentu cky
an d wh at c ould b e d one th ey did Bu t as a v e ry
p rominent gentlem an of Wo odford County s aid at
“
th e tim e in a letter to M r B reckinridge : Y ou r
R e solutions h ave given th e pal sy t o th e friends of
th e Fe deral adminis tration in this quarte r which
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Th e
1 00
eso
lu
ti
o ns
.
th e invitation and too confi dently e x p ecte d that
th a t re spon s e woul d b e favorable
T h e Virginia H ous e d i d n o t a s s embl e until s ome
time af ter that o f Kentucky an d thi s qu e stion was
n o t b rou gh t up until th e 1 3 th o f D ec em b e r
The
H ou s e then re sol ve d i tself into a Commi tt e e o f th e
wh ole with M r J ames B reckinridge in the chair
u p on res olution s which h ad b een o ffered b y M r
J oh n Taylor o f C aroline as follows
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IN
TH E
H
FR
OU
SE
D
Y
IA
,
OF
D
E E A ES
L
D e ce m
b
G
T
er,
21
,
,
1 798.
l
R e s o l ve d, That th e G enera Ass embly o f
Virginia d oth u ne quivocally exp res s a fi rm re solu
t ion to maintain a n d d efen d th e C on s titution o f
t h e Unite d S tate s , an d th e C ons tit u tion o f thi s
F i r st
.
S tate again st e ve ry a g g res sion e ith e r foreign o r
d omes tic a n d that th ey will s uppo rt th e G overn
m ent o f th e U nited S tate s in all m easu re s war
ranted b y t h e former
S e c o n d T hat this A s s embly mos t s olemnly de
clare s a warm a ttachment t o th e Union o f th e
S tates to m ain tain which it pl edge s all its p owe rs
and th at fo r th is e n d it i s th eir d uty t o watch
over an d opp o s e e ve ry infraction o f tho s e p rinci
ple s which con s titu te th e o nly b asi s o f that union
b ecau s e a faithful o b s e rvance o f th em can alon e
s ecu re i ts e xis tenc e an d the public happ in es s
T h i r d T h at thi s A ss embly d oth e xplicitly and
p eremptorily d eclare th at it views th e p owe rs o f
th e Federal G ove rnm ent a s resultin g from the
comp act t o wh ic h th e S tate s are partie s as limite d
by th e pl ain s en se an d inten tion o f th e instrument
c ons titu tin g that c ompac t a s n o furth er valid than
th ey are autho ri zed b y th e grants e nume rate d in that
compact an d th at in cas e o f a deliberate p al p a p l e
an d da n ge rou s exe rcis e o f o the r p owe rs n o t granted
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T /ze
by
Re s olut io ns
I O1
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th e said c omp act th e S tate s wh o are p artie s
th e reto h ave th e righ t a n d are in d uty b oun d to i n
t e r p o s e for arre stin g th e p rogr e s s o f th e evil and
fo r m ai n ta i n i n g withi n thei r re s p ective limits th e
auth oritie s right s a n d lib ertie s app e rtaining t o
them
F o u r t/z That th e G eneral As s embly d oth a l s o
e x p re s s i t s d eep regret that a spiri t h a s i n su n dry
in s tan ce s b een m anife s ted by th e Federal G overn
men t t o e n large i ts p owe rs by force d c o n s truction s
o f th e c o n s titu tional ch arte r which d e fine s th em ;
an d th at indication s h ave app e are d o f a de s ign t o
e xp ou n d ce rtain gene ral phrase s ( whi ch h aving
b een copie d from th e v e ry limite d grant o f p owers
in th e form e r Article s o f Confederatio n were th e
le s s liabl e t o b e mi s con strue d ) s o as to de stroy th e
m eani n g an d effect o f th e p articular e n umeration
which n ece s sarily e x plai n s a n d limits th e ge n e ral
ph ras e s ; an d s o as t o cons olidate th e S tate s b y
d egree s into o n e s overeignty th e o b V i o u s tendency
a n d i n evitable resul t o f which would b e t o tran s form
th e p re s ent republican s ys tem o f th e U nite d S tate s
into an ab s olu te o r at b e s t a mixe d m o n archy
F if i /z That th e Ge n eral A s s embly doth p a r t i c u
l ar l y p rote s t against th e p alpabl e a n d alarming i n
fractio n s o f th e Con s titution in th e two late cas e s
“
”
Alie n an d S edition Act s pa s s e d at th e
o f the
la s t s e s sion o f Co n gre s s ; th e fi r s t o f wh ich e x e r
cise s a p owe r nowh ere del egated t o th e Federal
Gover n m e n t an d which by u n iting l egi s lative an d
j u dicial p ower s t o th os e o f [ th e ] execu tive s ubverts
th e ge n e ral p ri n ciple s o f fre e gove r n m en t a s wel l
a s the particular o rganization a n d p o s itive p rovi
an d th e othe r o f
s io n s o f th e Fe deral Con s titution
which act s e x e rcise s i n like ma n n e r a p owe r n o t
delegated b y th e C o n stitutio n bu t o n th e c o n trary
expre s s ly a n d p o sitively forbidden by o n e o f th e
ame n dments the reto —a p owe r which m ore than
any o th e r ou gh t t o p roduce universal alarm b e
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T ke R
102
l
’
e s o u tzo
m
.
cau s e i t is l evelled agains t the righ t of freely e x
am in in g
p ublic ch aracte rs an d mea s u res and o f
fre e c ommunication amo n g th e p eopl e the reo n
which h a s eve r bee n j u stly d eem ed th e o n ly effect
ual guardian o f eve ry oth e r righ t
S zx t/z That this S tate h avi n g b y its co n ve n tio n
which ratifi e d th e Fede ral Co n stitution e xp res s ly
“
d eclare d that amo n g oth e r e s s e n tial right s
th e
lib erty o f c o n s cie n ce a n d o f th e p re s s ca n n ot b e
ca n celled ab ridged re s trai n ed o r m odifi e d by any
”
au th o rity o f th e U n ite d S tate s an d from i t s e x
t rem e an xiety t o guard th e s e rights from every
p os sibl e attack o f S ophi stry o r ambition h avi n g
with o the r S tates recomme n ded an ame n dme n t for
that p u rp os e which amen dme n t was in du e tim e
—
an n e x e d t o th e Constitu tio n i t woul d mark a r e
r o ac h f u l i n co n sistency a n d crimi n al dege n eracy if
p
an i n diffe rence we re now sh own t o th e palpabl e
violatio n o f o n e of th e righ ts thu s declare d a n d
s ecu red a n d t o th e e s tabli s hm e n t of a p receden t
which m ay b e fatal t o th e othe r
S avan t/z T hat th e good p e ople o f thi s Commo n
wealth h aving e ve r fel t a n d conti n uin g t o feel th e
mo s t s i n cere affection f o r thei r b reth ren o f th e othe r
S tate s th e tru es t a n xiety fo r e s tabli s h i n g a n d p e r
t
u
a
t
i
n
th
e
u
nion
f
all
a
n
th
e
m
o
s
t
s
crupulou
s
e
o
d
g
p
fidelity t o th at Co n s titutio n wh ich i s th e pledge o f
mu tu al frie n dship a n d th e in strume n t o f mutu al
h appin e s s th e Ge n e ral A s s em b ly doth s olemnly
app eal t o th e like di s p o s itio n s o f th e o th e r S tate s
in co n fidence that they will concu r with thi s C o m
m o n w e al t h in declaring a s it doe s h e reby d eclare
th at th e act s afo r e s aid are u n co n stitu tio n al ; a n d
that th e nece ssary a n d p rop e r mea s u re s will b e
taken by each for c o ope rati n g with thi s S tate
i n m ai n taini n g u n impaire d th e auth oritie s right s
a n d l ibe rtie s re s erve d t o th e S tate s re s p ectively o r
to th e p eopl e
E zg /zt/z T hat t h e Gove r n or be de s ir e d to t ra n s mit
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Th e
I 04
R s olution s
e
.
vigorou s s upporte rs o f M r G eo rge Keith T ay l o r
an d th e debate wa s p rolo n ge d a n d s evere in th e
party as sau l ts from b oth s ides M r Jame s B r e c k in
ridge , th ough i n th e chair an d adding n othi n g to
th e d e b ate th rew th e weigh t o f h i s in fl u ence which
wa s v ery con side rabl e i n to th e s cal e o f th e opp o s i
tion t o th e res olutio n s H e wa s a b roth e r o f John
B reckin ridge b u t a d ecide d Fe de ralis t an d in th e
n e x t l egislatu re wa s th e opp onen t o f J ame s M o n ro e
in th e canva s s f o r th e governorship and thou gh
b eaten m ade a m os t c re ditabl e rac e agai n s t that
emi n ent Rep ublican an d futu re P re s ide n t
T h e re sol u tion s cam e to a v ot e o n th e z r s t o f
D ecemb er afte r m o re th an a week had b een c on
s um e d i n d e b ate an d we re p as s e d in th e H ous e by
s ixty th re e T h e o ri gi n a l d raft
o n e hund re d t o
h ad b een am e n de d in th e c ommittee s o that th e
“
third res o l utio n third li n e which read t o which
”
“
th e S tate s a l o ne are p arties h ad th e word a l o ne
s tricken o u t an d th e s eventh re s olution after th e
declaration th at th e act s aforesaid are u n c o n s t i
”
“
tutio n al l os t th e p regn an t clau s e a nd no t l o w
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f
f
B ei n g s en t t o th e S enate a fu til e e ffort was made
to amend when th ey pass ed b y a v ote o f fou rteen
t o th re e o n th e 2 4 th day o f D ecemb e r a n d wer e
duly app rove d b y th e gover n o r
T hu s th e S tate s o f Ke n tucky an d Virginia
took the ir s tan d s ide b y s i de i n a b o l d p rote st
agains t th e acts o f Co n gre s s Th e m oth er S tate
n s tanc e
ielde
d
the
p
recedence
i
n
th
i
s
i
t
o
th
e
y
dau ghte r T h e res olution s o f th e l atte r we re no t
ou t
e nti r e ly nn l l , vo i d, a n d o
no
or ee or
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
R s olu tion s
Tl i e
e
ly
IO
.
5
p ass e d at an e arlie r date b u t th ey b reath e d
m ore spontaneou s ly an d u n an imou s ly th e spirit o f
th e p eople an d what is o f far m ore imp ortan ce ,
we re d raw n with a fi rme r ha n d a n d s truck with far
m ore cou rage a n d far l e s s re s erve at th e very p oint s
obj ected to Th e o n e faltered s om ewhat qualified
exp re s s e d i n b road an d uncertai n ge n e ral t e rm s
th e ideas th at th e oth er in strume n t deal t with with
pitile s s sp ecificatio n Th e re ason fo r this u s e o f
gen eral term s in th e Virgi n ia Re solutio n s i s e x
pl aine d in a l ette r from M r M adi s on t o M r J e ffe r
Mr
s o n written o n th e 2 9t h o f D ecembe r 1 798
M adis o n a s h a s already b een remarked was th e
author o f th e s e re s olu tion s a n d in a s ort o f re tro
s p e c t i v e way sp eak s o f th e m otiv e s which h ad dic
t a t e d th eir form
I t m ay b e s aid in p a s si n g that
M r M adi s on did n ot in all p ro b ability s e e a copy
b efore c o m
o f th e Kentucky re solve s as p a s se d
l
w
t
i
n
his
o
n
work
th
ou
gh
th
ei
r
g
e nera l te n o r
e
p
g
wa s k n own to him b efo re th e e n d o f N ovembe r
th rou gh a s e t o f re s olve s s e n t h im by M r J ef e r s on
Ju s t what thi s pap e r
o n th e 1 7th o f that m o n th
wa s wil l b e c o n s idere d at l e n gth later o n
To re
turn th en M r M adi s o n s ay s
on
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I h ave not s een the re s u l t o f th e di s cu s sion s at
Richmond o f th e A lie n and S edition l aw s I t i s to
b e feare d th at z ea l may forget s ome c on s ide ration s
which ou gh t t o temp e r their p rocee ding s Have
you eve r co n sidere d th orou ghly th e distinction b e
twee n th e p owe r o f th e S tate an d that o f th e legi s
l a t u r e o n qu e s tio n s relati n g t o th e Fe de ral pact ?
O n th e s upp o s itio n that th e former i s clearly th e
ultimate j udge o f i n fraction s i t does n o t follow that
.
.
,
R olu tion s
T ue
I 06
es
.
th e l atte r i s the l egitimate organ e sp ecially as th e
conve n tion was th e o rgan by which th e comp act
was m ade Thi s wa s a rea s o n o f great weigh t fo r
u sin g genera l exp re s s io n s th at w ould l eave t o othe r
S tate s a ch oice o f all th e m ode s p o s s ibl e o f concu r
ri n g i n th e s ub s tan ce a n d woul d s hield th e G e n era l
A s sembly agai n s t th e charge o f u s urpatio n in th e
very act o f p rotesti n g agains t th e u su rp ation o f
Co n gres s
,
.
,
,
1
.
H
oweve r m u ch this wa s t ru e it was e qu ally tru e
that th e s ub s tan c e w a s th e s am e and th e ap pare n tly
milde r re s ol utio n s o f Virgi n ia e nu n ciate d th e same
doctri n e s a s th e more catego rical on e s o f Kentucky
B oth o f th em pl ai n ly claime d th e right o f th e S tate s
to j u dge o f i n f ractio n s o f th e Co n s titu tion The
plai n u n var n i s h e d s tateme n t of th e Ke n tucky i n
“
s trume n t
that t o thi s compact [ th e Co n s titution ]
each S tate accede d a s a S tate a n d i s an i n tegral
p arty its c o S tat e s forming as t o it s elf th e other
”
p arty a n d th at each p arty [ i e each S tate ] h a s
an e qual righ t to j u dge for itself a s well o f i n fr a c
”
tions a s o f th e m ode an d m ea s u re o f redre s s has
indeed n o di rect p arall e l in th e o th e r s erie s b u t
th e s am e doctrin e i s in effect there S o t o o while
th e K entu cky Res ol utio n s declare that whe n s oeve r
th e ge n eral gover n me n t a s s ume s u ndel egated p ow
e rs
i t s act s are u n au th oritative void a n d o f n o
”
“
force an d th at c ertain sp ecified l aw s are al t o
”
g e the r v oid a n d o f n o e ffect ; M r Madi s o n s draft
al s o co n tai n e d s imilar word s an d th ou gh s tricke n
o u t by th e H ou s e o f D elegate s th e s ame theory i s
in volve d in oth er statem e n t s which remai n n otably
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1
Madi o
s
’
n s
W o rks
,
vo l
.
ii p
.
,
.
1 49
.
R s olutio ns
T ue
I 08
e
.
th e s lave t rade wa s p ut an e n d to at once Th es e
s am e men c omp elle d to yiel d to th e nece s s ity of
s om e comp romis e we re ye t u nwilli n g to s tai n the
“
Con s titution with a n y recog n ition o f th e S outh s
”
p eculiar in stitu tio n
an d
s omewhat unca n didly
s ough t b y this imp er s o n al phra s eol ogy to com
p oun d with th eir co n s ci e n ce s fo r s an ctio n ing in
fact an iniquity they c oul d not acknowledge in
words which th ey rightly j udged were to b e m ore
en du ri n g th an b ra s s H ence fo r a State to u s e a
cl au s e t o supp or t an argumen t wh en that clau s e
h ad b een a conce s sio n t o a s ection o f which i t was
a p art fo r a sp ecial e n d a n d wa s e n j oyed b y th em
t o that end at th e very tim e wh en th e subj ect
—
u nder debate w as wh olly foreign to i t was a pal
l
a
e
attemp
t
to
take
an
unfair
advantage
b
No t
p
only s o but it wa s wofull y i n consistent when th e
m atter in h an d wa s a n alleged ill e gitimate e x te n s ion
o f co n s titu tio n al p rovi s io n s to subj ect s not within
th e inte n tio n o f th e fram er s
O win g to th e s pecifi c all egatio n s o f th e Kentucky
Re s olution s an d th e v igorou s language in which
th ey were couched th ey b ecam e alm os t a p arty
platform fo r th e p arty s tru ggling toward s o rganiza
tion M r J efferson and all th o s e wh o thought
with him s a w th e impo rtance o f m aking th e alien
and s edition acts th e i s s u e in th e comi n g co n te st s
Thi s a n d all th e sim il ar s tretche s o f th e n arrowe st
b oun d s of co n s titu tional p rovisio n s were ventilated
as saulted a n d sy s tematically h aile d a s th e outcome
o f B riti s h a ffiliations a n d m onarchial te n dencies
Th e d rift o f public opi n ion w a s n o t s l ow i n show
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R s olu t io n
T ko
in g
e
s
10
.
9
itself an d as th e fear o f war gave way to
certai n ty o f p eace th e u n wi s dom o f all e x treme
m easu re s gre w m o re an d m o re plai n A n ti Fede r
a l i s m n o w fully fl e d g e d Republica n i s m grew rap
idly i n th e cou n try
A s yet th e Co n gre s s wa s
s tro n gly Federali s t an d in th e h eigh t o f the p ride
that goe s b efore a fall ; an d j u s t as its oppo n ents
were growi n g truly dan gerou s di s inte gration and
decay s p ran g up i n th e Fe deralis t p arty a n d th e
very Cabinet it s elf b ecame th e h otb ed o f i n trigue
a n d dis order
N othi n g e s cap e d th e watchful eye
of the chief of the new party an d h e continue d to
play h i s s trong card with vigo r an d p rudence
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V
R E S OL U T I ON S
TH E
AND
.
EF OR E
CON GR E S S
B
TH E
S TA T
ES
.
A S T A T E of h opeful e x p ectancy followe d th e
decided action o f th eir l egi s latu re s in Virgi n ia
a n d Ke n tu cky
Th ey b elieve d th ey h ad done th ei r
duty an d th ey n ow wai te d t o s e e h ow th ei r d e
c l ar at i o n s
woul d b e receive d in th e othe r S tate s
a n d in Congre s s
In Kentucky the re wa s n o t a
si n gle p ro s ecution under th e alien and s edition
acts an d that S tate had do n e certai n ly th e u tm os t
that c oul d have b ee n e x p ecte d of it I t re garde d
th e me re p a s sage o f th e acts as a menace t o th e
lib ertie s o f i t s p eople a n d it was quick to de n y th e
p owe r in any p art o f th e general government t o carry
ou t th es e act s o r in deed th e righ t of Congre s s
to o ffer th i s m enace even had there b een n o i n t e n
tion o f carryi n g it ou t T he situ ation in Virgi n ia
th ou gh differe n t wa s n eve r s eriou s enough t o lead
to a n y thi n g like o rgan i z ed resistance I n deed i t
i s n o w imp o s sibl e to decide j u s t h ow far a n d in
j u s t wh at form re s i s tanc e was contemplate d b y
th e s e Resolution s
At p re s e n t the s e two S tates
we re content to p rote st a n d await th e recep tion
thi s p rotes t s h oul d m eet with in the oth er
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1 10
,
1
I
R s olutio n s b fo re
T ue
2
e
tue
e
ment an d co n stitu te d au th orities o f th e U nited
State s and o f dan gerou s ten de n cie s an d th erefore
n o t a fi t s ubj ect fo r th e fu rth e r c on s i de ration o f th e
G e n eral A s s embly
,
,
.
D el aware was very th orou ghly Fe derali s t and n o
oth er s entime n ts were t o b e e xp ected th e n ce s o
m akin g what m e rriment th ey coul d ove r th e air
a s o f a carefu l m oth e r guardin g h e r child ren from
—
m o ral p ollution c ontai n e d in th e l a s t s entim ent
reply th e Republican s awaite d develop
o f thi s
m ent s B u t Febru ary an d M arch b rou gh t only
th re e replie s and all o f th em u nfavorabl e Th e
fi rs t wa s b rief an d from Rh od e I sland Li ttl e
Rh ody h ad d rifte d aroun d from he r uncomp romis
ing n o n fe deral n otions an d in a few categorica l
s ente n ce s said a goo d deal th at was decided de
th e Fe de ral j udiciary al o n e c ould dec i de
c l ar in g
th e que s tion o f con stitu tionality th at th e oth e r
l egislatu re s h ad b een m eddli n g i n what wa s none
“
o f th eir b u s i n e s s a n d that thi s l egislatu re
i n tne i r
”
“
b
eli
eve
d
th
es
e
laws
with
in
the
r i va te op i ni o ns
p
p owers del egate d t o C o n gre s s a n d p romotive o f th e
”
welfare o f th e U nite d S tate s
Ne x t cam e M as
argu
s ac h u s e t t s with a l ong a n d abl e docum en t
m e n t a t iv e and c omp rehe n s ive th e chief p oint s o f
which were an in s i s tance u p on th e s ol e j uri s diction
o f th e S up rem e C ou rt o f th e U n ite d S tate s in que s
tion s o f con s titutio n ality th e distinction b etween
lib erty a n d fre e dom of sp eech an d of th e p res s in
c o n tradi s ti n ction t o licen s e an d a l e s s p ointe d bu t
sig n ificant allu s ion to th e e x ercis e and th e p rop riety
o f th e e x e rcis e o f common l aw p owe r s b y th e S u
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Sta te s
Co ngre s s
’
a na
I
.
I
3
p reme Cou rt New York came next with a reply
from th e S e n ate taking i n b riefe r form much th e
same grou n d s Thi s wa s pas se d M arch s t h Th ere
wa s th en a lull till th e middl e o f M ay wh en C o n
n e c t i c u t pa s s e d a reply o f th e s am e character with
N ew Hamp
o u t adding any thi n g to th e s itu ation
shire was more e x cited b y th e red fl ag o f d e
m o c r ac y and n o l es s z ealou s th an th e oth e r S tate s
o f N ew E n gla n d an d s om ewh at m ore radical in
lan guage and a s se rte d n ot merely d evotion to th e
Co n stitu tion an d app robation o f th e act s o f C o n
gres s b u t gave voice to a warlike outb ur s t wo rthy
H e r lon g re s olu
o f a m ore s outh ern b irthplac e
tio n followi n g a very sh ort p reamble wh ich m e rely
recite s th e exciti n g cau s e an d th e m achin ery o f
action i s worth qu oti n g
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Th at th e Legislatu re of N e w H amp
shire u n e quivocably e x p re s s a fir m res olution t o
maintain an d defe n d th e Cons titution o f th e U n ited
S tates and th e constitution o f thi s S tate agai n s t
every aggre s s ion eith e r foreign o r dom e s tic an d
that th ey will s upp ort th e G over n me n t of th e U ni
te d S tate s in all m ea s u re s warran te d by th e fo rme r
T hat th e S tate L e gi s l atu re s are n ot th e p rope r
tribu n al s to dete rmin e th e c on s titutio n ali ty of th e
l aws o f th e G e n e ral G over n m e n t that th e du ty of
s u ch deci s ion i s p rop erly an d exclu sively co n fi n e d
to th e J udicial d ep artm e n t
That if th e Legi s latu re o f N ew Hamp s hire fo r
m e re s p eculative p u rp ose s we re to expre s s a n opin
i on o n th e acts o f th e Ge n e ral G over n me n t com
”
“
th e A lien an d S e dition B ill s that
m o n l y called
opinion would un re se rvedly b e th at th os e act s are
constitutio n al an d in th e p rese n t critical situ ation
o f o u r country highly e x pedient
R
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e s o l ve a ,
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Th e
1 14
R s olutio n s b fo r
e
e
th e
e
Th at th e con s titutio n ality a n d e x p ediency o f th e
act s afore s aid h ave b een very ably advocate d an d
clearly d em o n strate d b y ma n y citi ze n s o f th e U n i
t ed S tate s m o re e s pecially by th e minority of th e
Ge n eral A s s embly of Virgi n ia Th e Legislature of
N e wH a m p s h i r e t h erefo re d eem it u n n ece s sary by
a n y t rain o f argum e n ts t o attemp t fu rth e r illu s tra
tion o f th e p rop o s itio n s th e truth o f which it i s
co n fi dently b elieved at thi s day i s very generally
s een and ack n owl edged
,
.
,
.
Th e l ast S tate t o exp re s s h e r s entim en t o n th e s e
re s olutio n s wa s Ve rm ont In s imilar te rms with
the oth er N ew E n gland State s s h e replied o n th e
0
t
3 h day of O ctob er
Thu s replie s were received from s e ven S tate s
New J e r s ey and Pennsylvan ia
o u t o f th e fou rtee n
made n o n e a n d n one of th e S ou th ern S tates I t
was rumored that N o rth Caroli n a h ad v ote d th e
Virgi n ia Re s olu ti o n s u n der th e table s o M r Madi
b u t wh ateve r were
s o n write s t o M r J e ffer s o n
th e s e n time n t s of that S tate no o ffi cial actio n wa s
taken Thi s h oweve r w as su ffi ci e n tly certain from
th e known p olitical b ia s o f the v ari ou s S tate s that
i t wa s no l onge r to b e h op ed th at th e two m em o rial
i zin g S tate s would b e supp ort ed b y th e requisite
numb e r t o form even a maj ority o f th e th en si x teen
S tate s Thi s fact when it becam e apparent threw
a wet bl anket o n th e hi gh h op e s o n ce ascertai n ed
From u n i on o f S tate s a s S tate s n othi n g was at
that tim e to b e h op e d for
N o t o n ly was thi s s o bu t oth e r S tates alth ou gh
th ey did not s e n d repli e s to th e S tates maki n g
M adi s o n s W o rk s v o l ii p 1 5 2 See a l s o p s t p 1 4 6
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Th e
I 16
Re olutio ns b efore
th e
s
O
amid th e c ou gh s a n d j eer s o f th e maj o rity Living
s ton o f New York Gallatin o f Pe n n s ylvania a n d
J oh n Nich ola s o f Virgi n ia sp ok e agai n st t h e adop
tio n of th e committee s report
M r J efferson writi n g to M r M adi s on u n der
“
date o f Feb ru ary 2 6, 1 799 s ays
Ye s te rday wit
n e s s e d a s ca n dal ou s s ce n e i n th e H ou s e o f R e p r e
s e n t ative s
It w a s th e d ay f o r taki n g up th e rep ort
o f th eir committ e e agai n s t th e Alie n a n d S edition
law s etc Th ey h el d a cau cu s an d decide d that
n ot a word s h oul d b e s p oken o n th ei r side in an
swer to a n y th i n g that mi gh t b e s ai d o n th e oth e r
Gallati n took up th e A lien an d Nichola s th e S edi
tion law bu t after a little wh i l e o f comm on s ilenc e
th ey b egan to e n ter into l ou d conver s atio n s laugh
cough etc s o that fo r th e l a s t h ou r o f these g e n
t l e m e n s s p eaki n g th e y mu s t have h ad th e lu n g s o f
Livi n gsto n
a vendu e m a s ter to h ave b een h eard
h owe v er attemp te d to sp eak B ut aft e r a few s e n
t e n c e s th e Speake r called h im to orde r and tol d
him wh at h e wa s s ayi n g wa s no t to th e qu estion
I t wa s imp o s sibl e to p rocee d T h e qu e s ti on wa s
taken an d carried in favo r o f th e rep ort fift y t wo
t o forty eight
Livi n g s to n s att e mp t t o sp eak wa s o n a m otion
that th e Committe e o f th e wh ol e ri s e in orde r to
give time fo r th e th orou gh ve n tilation o f th e s u b
e
c
t
Th
e
Federali
s
t
obj
ecte
d
n
two
grounds
s
o
j
Th ey co n s idered thi s whol e m otion a qu e s tionable
subj ect fo r deb ate te n di n g to p oi s on th e p ublic
m i n d , b u t e s p ecially di d they de s ire to cu t it o ff
n ow wh e n th e sand s of th at s e s s ion b eing n e arly
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Sta te s
Congre s s
’
a na
II7
.
tim e was most p reciou s
T hey th erefo re
p re s s e d for an immediate vote Th e Republican s
o n th e oth e r ha n d co n fidently t ru s te d i n th e b elief
that th e p ri n cipl e underlying the s e law s w a s fro m
th e very n atu re o f th e ca s e certain to b e u n p opular
wh e n onc e th e e a r o f the multitud e was reache d
They th e refore fou ght s trenu ou s l y fo r a compl ete
and ful l de b ate o f even th e minu te s t p oi n t Th e
immen s e numb e r o f s ignatu re s o n th e p etitio n s fo r
repeal e specially in th e M iddle S tate s e n cou raged
them to redo u ble d e fforts The s e e ffo rts gai n e d
th em ve ry little grace in th e Hou s e b ut when th e
Sp eaker went s o far as to tell Livi n g s to n that th e
qu e stion o n the alie n bill had al ready b een de
c ide d an d th at o n the occa s ion o f th e pa s s age o f
that act nearly a year b efo re h e h ad al ready
”
spent all h i s bitte r n e s s an d all h is th reats
he
p res s ed th e gag s o far as to i n su re much sympathy
fo r the cau s e o u t o f th e do or s o f Congres s
The infatu ate d Fe derali s ts into xicated with s u c
ce s s were u tterly b l i n d to the s ign s o f th e time s
Th e re wa s n o lack o f abl e m e n in that o n ce great
p arty b ut there wa s a wan t o f men of t r uly
p opular gifts , wh o could under s tan d that th e p e o
ple cou l d n o t b e driven b u t migh t b e l ed wh o
coul d look to th e p eopl e with th at c atholic c o n fi
dence th at wa s the O p e n s e s ame to every heart
in th e wo rd s an d acts o f J effe rs on That s tate s
man with u ne rrin g eye had s om e tim e b efore o b
s er v e d th e way public opi n ion wa s drifti n g
On
th e I 3 t h o f February o f this year he wrote t o M r
1
J e ff ers o n s W o r k s v o l iv p 299
r u n,
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Th e
1 18
R s olutions b efore
th e
e
“
Stew a rt in Virgi n ia :
A wonde rfu l and rapid
cha n ge h a s take n place in Pe n n s ylvan ia J e r s ey
Co n gre s s i s daily plie d with
a n d N ew York
p e titio n s agai n s t th e Al ie n a n d S editio n l aw s and
s tan ding armie s
S eve r al p art s o f t hi s S tate
nt
Pe
nn
ylva
n ia ]
are
viol
e
that
we
fear
an
s
s
o
[
in s u rre ction
Thi s will b e b rou gh t ab ou t by
som e if th ey can It i s th e o n ly th in g that we
h ave t o fear Th e appearan ce o f an attack o f
force a g ai n s t th e gove r n m e n t woul d ch eck the
p re s e n t cu r re n t of th e M iddle S tat e s an d r al ly
th em arou n d t h e g o ver n ment ; whe reas if su ffe red
to go o n it wi l l p a s s o n t o a reformatio n of abu s e s
T h e mate ri al s n o w bearin g o n th e p ubli c mi n d wil l
i n fallibly re s t o re it t o i t s rep ublican s ou n dne s s i n
th e cou rs e o f th e p r e s e n t s u mmer if th e knowledge
o f the fact s can o n ly b e di s s eminate d am o n g th e
p eople U nder s epar at e c o ve r you w i ll r e ceive
som e pam phl e t s written by G e orge Nich ol as o n
the acts of t h e l ast se s s io n Th e se I woul d wi s h yo u
t o di s t ribute not to s o u n d men wh o h ave n o occa
s ion o f t h e m bu t t o su ch a s h av e bee n m i s led are
candi d and wil l b e o pen t o th e c o nvi c tion o f truth
”
and are o f in fl u en c e am o n g th eir neighbo r s
Th e
s am e s en ti m e n t s we r e re p eated in a l ette r t o E d
mun d P endleton o n th e fol l o win g day an d we re
accom pani e d b y an u rge n t r e qu e s t that h e woul d
l end hi s gr e a t i n fl uence t o h elp o n th e m ovement
I n deed eve n i n earlie r letters a s in th at to M r
M adi son on th e 3 o t h o f J an u a ry th e s am e h op e s
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’
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l
J
e
e
’
r so n s
W or k s
,
iv p
I d m p
vo l
3
.
.
e
,
,
9
.
2 86
.
2 80
.
.
I de m ,
p
.
2 87
.
Th e
I 20
Re s olutio ns hef o r
e
th e
h ad a more tru stwo rthy b eare r of h i s advice t o
Ke n tu cky Colo n el Nich ol as wa s unabl e to accept
th e invitation and M r J effer s o n p roce e ded t o lay
o u t hi s pla n i n a letter o f th e 5 t h o f S ep temb er
as
follows
.
.
,
1
,
D EA R
You r s o f A ugu s t 3 0 th cam e duly t o
h and I t was with great regre t we gave u p th e
h op e o f s e e i n g you h ere b u t c oul d n o t b u t c o n
sider the ob s tacl e as legitimate I had written t o
M r M adi s o n as I h ad b e fore i n forme d you a n d
had s tate d t o h im s om e ge n e ra l i deas f o r c o n s ider
ation an d co n s ultation wh en we sh ould m eet I
th ough t s om eth ing e s s entially n ece s sary t o b e s ai d
in o rde r t o avoi d th e infere n ce o f acquie s cence ;
that a re s ol ution o r d eclaration shoul d b e p a s s ed
1
A n s wering th e reas onings o f su ch o f th e S tate s
a s h av e ve n tu red i n t o th e fi el d o f rea s o n and that
taki n g s om e n otice
o f th e committe e o f Congre s s
too o f th o s e S tate s wh o have eith er not a n s w e red
at all o r an swe re d withou t reas o n i n g ; 2 M aki n g
firm p rote s tation agai n s t th e p rece dent an d p rinci
pl e a n d r e s e r vi ng th e righ t t o mak e th is p alpabl e
violation o f the Fe deral c ompact th e grou n d o f d o
i n g in fu tu re wh ateve r w e m i gh t n o w righ tfully d o
s h ould rep etiti o n s o f th e s e an d oth e r violatio n s o f
th e c omp act re n de r i t e xp edient 3 E x p re s si n g in
affectionate an d c onciliatory language o u r warm
attach m ent t o u n ion with th e si s te r S tate s an d to
th e i n strum ent a n d p ri n ciples b y which we are
unite d a n d we are willi n g t o s acrifice to thi s every
thi n g b u t th e right s o f self gover n men t i n th o s e i m
p ortan t p oi n t s which w e h av e n eve r yielded a n d in
which alo n e w e s e e lib erty safety a n d h app ine s s
that n ot at all di s p ose d t o make every m ea s u re o f
e rro r o r o f wro n g a cau s e o f s cis s io n we are willing
to l ook o n with i n dul ge n ce a n d t o wait with
J e ffers o n W o rk s v o l iv p 3 05
—
SI R z
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Sta te s
Co ngre s s
a nd
12I
.
p atience till tho s e pa s s ion s and delu sions shal l
have pa s s e d over wh ich the Fe de ra l gove rnment
have artfully e xcite d to cove r its own a b u s e s and
c o n ceal i t s de s ign s fully co n fi dent that th e goo d
s e n s e o f th e A merican p eopl e and thei r attachm ent
to tho s e rights which we are n o w vindicating will
b efore it shall b e to o late rally with u s rou n d th e
tru e p ri n cipl e s o f o u r Federal compact Th is was
o n ly m eant to give a ge n e ral idea o f th e c omple xi on
and topics o f such an i n strume n t M r M wh o
cam e as had b een p rop o sed d oe s n o t concu r i n
th e r e s e r va ti o n p rop o s ed ab ove ; a n d from this I
reced e readily not only in d efe re n ce to his j udg
m e n t b u t b ecau s e as we s hould n eve r thi n k of
s eparation b ut fo r rep eated a n d e n ormou s viola
tio n s s o th es e wh en th ey o ccu r will b e caus e
enou gh o f th em selve s
T o th e s e topics howeve r s h oul d b e added ani
m adv e r s i o n s o n th e new p rete n s ion s to a c o m mo n
l a w of th e Unite d S tate s
I p rop os ed to M r
M to write t o you b u t h e ob s e rve d you kne w h i s
sentiment s s o p erfe ctly from a fo rm er co n fe renc e
it was unneces sary A s t o th e p rep ari n g an y thin g
I mu s t decline it to avoid su s p icion s ( which we re
p retty s tron g in s ome quarter s o n th e late occa
sio n ) an d b ecau s e th e re remai n s s till ( afte r thei r
late l o s s ) a mas s o f tal e n ts in Ke n tucky s u fficie n t
fo r every pu rp o s e Th e only obj ect o f th e p re s e n t
commu n ication i s to p rocu re a co n cert i n th e gen
e ral plan o f action a s it i s e x tremely desi rabl e
that Virginia an d Kentu cky shoul d pu rsu e the
sam e track o n thi s o cc asion B e s id e s , h o w could
b
ette
r
whil
e
away
th
e
road
from
h
e n ce
to
u
o
y
Ke n tu cky than in m editating thi s very s u bj ect
a n d p reparing s omethi n g you rself than wh om n o
b ody will d o i t b ette r Th e lo s s o f you r b roth er
and th e vi s it of th e ap o s tl e Mar s hall to Ke n tu cky
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1
mitted
pri te d w o r k re t o e d b y Mi
f o r M ay 5 1 887
in
O
T h e N at io n
n
s,
,
.
s
r
ss
R
a d o l ph
n
in
Th e
122
Re s olut ions hefo r e
th e
e x cite anxiety H oweve r we d oub t n o t that h i s
p oi s on s wi l l b e effe ctu ally cou nte rworked Wi s h
i n g yo u a pleasa n t j ou rn ey a n d h appy retu rn I am
with gre at an d s i n ce re e s t eem dea r s i r you r a ff e c
t i o n at e friend an d s e rvant
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
Th e l o s s o f Ge o rge N icho l a s ab ove allu ded t o ,
wa s i n dee d a gre a t l o s s both t o h i s S tat e a n d h i s
p arty Alth ou gh no t th e m ove r of th e re s olution s
o f th e p re ce di n g yea r a s h as been s o oft e n claime d
for him h e wa s active an d in fl u ent i al in di s s e m i
natin g th e Republican do ctri n e s b y sp e eche s let
ter s in th e p ublic p re ss an d c o n trove r s ia l pam
h
l
t
n
Th
e
hon
orabl
e
p
o
ition
h
e
had
fo
r
e
s
s
w
o
p
hims elf m ore o ve r gav e th e gre ate s t weight to al l
h e did
D e spite the advic e thu s c onveye d by s o emi n en t
a m e s s e n ge r from s o high a qu arte r whe n th e Ken
tucky l egi s latu r e me t i n N ovemb e r i t w a s at fi r s t
th ough t wi s e t o let th e m a tt e r drop B ut aft e r a
time le s t th ey sh ould b e th ough t t o reced e from
th eir forme r p ositio n an d ac quie sce i n th e deci s ion s
o f th e oth er S tate s i t wa s d e cided that s ome r e
as se rtion of th e p rincipl e s enunciate d th e p recedi n g
year shoul d b e made
,
,
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,
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,
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,
,
1
.
f o ll o wi g e x tract f ro m a l etter writte b y Mr B rec k
t o Mr J e ffer o gi v e
c l ear idea f the gr ou d
acti o the e tire i depe de ce f y thi g that C o l o e l
N ich o l a may have rec o mme ded
d c o tai
u ch a preg
a t a ll u i o t the fee l i g i the Se ate eve the i regard
l l i fi ti
t o the c l a u e c o tai i g the w o rd
that it i
w o rth q uo ti g at l e gth
1
The
i n r i dg e
n,
of
n
n
n
s
.
n
n
n
n
n
s
s
n
o
n
E
,
s
s
our
n
o n,
n
”
s
.
R A N K F OR T
SI R
n
s
n
ca
s
n
ns
n
nu
t ook the l i b erty b y the l a t p o t
pr o ceedi g o f
L egi l at u re (
w i
I
n
n
n
F
AR
an
n
o
an
o
n n
n
n
D
n
n
s
n
an
s so
.
s
s
no
o
f
n s
,
K
Y
.
,
Dec
.
9,
1 799.
i c l o i g t o y ou the
e i o ) i u pp o rt f
n
ss
s n
n
n s
o
Re s olutio ns
Th e
1 24
hefo r e th e
side ration s u n d ry re s olution s p as s ed b y s eve ral state
l egislature s o n th e s ubj ect o f th e alien an d s edition
laws a n d had com e to a re s olution the reu p o n which
h e d elive re d in at th e clerk s table wh ere i t w a s
read an d unanim ou s ly agreed t o by th e h ou s e a s
follows
,
,
’
,
,
“
Th e rep re s entatives o f th e goo d p eopl e o f thi s
c ommonwealth in ge n eral a s s emb ly c o n ve n ed h av
in g m aturely c o n sidere d th e an s wers of su n dry
s tate s in th e U n ion t o their re s olution s p a s s ed at
th e l as t s es s ion respecti n g c e rtain unconstitu tional
l aws o f Congres s commonly called th e alien an d
s edition laws would b e faithl es s indeed t o them
s elve s and t o th o s e they rep re s e n t were th ey sile n t
l y to ac quie s ce in th e p ri n cipl es a n d d octri n e s a t
temp te d to b e mai n taine d i n all th o se an s wers th a t
T o again enter the fi el d
o f Virgi n ia o n ly e x cep ted
o f argumen t an d attemp t m ore fully o r forcibl y t o
e x p o s e th e u n con s titu tio n ality o f thos e obno x i ou s
l aw s woul d it i s apprehended b e as u n necess ary a s
u n availi n g We c an n ot h owever b ut lament th at
i n the di s cu s sio n of th o s e i n te re s ting s ubj ect s b y
s undry o f th e l egi s latu re s o f ou r s i s te r s tate s u n
fou n de d s u gge s tion s an d uncan did i n si n uatio n s
derogato ry o f the tru e characte r an d p rincipl e s o f
th e good p eopl e of thi s commonwe al th have b een
sub s titute d in plac e o f fai r reasoning an d s ound
argum ent O u r opinio n s o n thos e alarm i n g meas
u re s o f th e gen e ral governm ent togeth er with ou r
reas on s fo r tho s e opi n io n s were d etailed with d e
c e n c y a n d with temp e r an d s ubmitte d t o th e d i s
c u s s i o n a n d j udgme n t O f o u r f e l l o w citize n s th rough
Wh eth e r the like dece n cy an d
o u t th e U n ion
temp er h ave b een ob s erved in th e a n swer s of m ost
o f tho s e S tate s wh o h ave denied o r attempted to
obviate th e great tru th s co n tai n e d i n tho s e Re s olu
tio n s we h ave now only to submit t o a ca n did
world Faithful t o th e true p rinciple s o f the fede ral
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Sta te s
gr
a nd
Co n
ess
125
.
union uncon s ciou s o f a n y design s t o distu rb the
h armo n y of th at unio n and a n xiou s o n ly t o e s cap e
th e fa n g s of de spotism th e goo d p e opl e o f thi s
commonwealth are regardle s s o f cens ure o r calum
n i at i o n
L e a s t h oweve r th e s ile n c e o f this com
m o n we al t h sh oul d b e co n s tru e d into an acquie s ce n ce
in th e doctrine s a n d p ri n cipl e s a dva n ce d an d a t
temp te d t o b e m aintain ed b y th e s ai d a n s wers , o r
l eas t thos e o f o u r fellow citi zen s th rough ou t th e
Union wh o s o widely d iffer from u s o n the s e i m
p ortant subj ect s sh oul d b e delu de d b y th e e x
p e c t at i o n that we shall b e deterre d from wh at we
conceive o u r duty o r sh ri n k f rom th e p rincip l e s
co n tai n e d in th o s e Re s ol uti on s th erefore
R e s o l ve d Th at this comm o n weal th considers th e
fe de ral union u p on th e te rm s a n d fo r th e p urp os e s
s pecifi e d in th e late c omp act as co n du ci v e t o th e
lib erty an d h appi n e s s o f th e s everal S tate s th at it
doe s n ow une qu ivocally decl are i t s attachm e n t to
th e U n ion and t o th at c omp act a g reeabl e t o i t s
o b viou s an d real inte n tion an d will b e amon g th e
l ast t o s e ek its di s s olution th at if th o s e wh o a d
ministe r th e ge n e ral gove r n ment b e p ermitte d t o
transgres s th e limits fi xe d by th a t compact b y a
total d i s regard to th e s p ecial delegati o n s o f p owe r
th e rei n c o n tai n e d an a n n ihilation o f th e s tate
gover n m e n t s a n d th e e re ction u p on th ei r rui n s of
a ge n eral c on s olidate d gov e r n m e n t will b e th e i n
evitab le co n s e que n ce that th e p ri n cipl e an d c o n
S tate
s truction contende d f o r b y s un dry o f th e
l egi s lature s that th e genera l gove rnm e n t i s th e
e x clu s ive j udge o f t h e exten t o f th e p ower s d el e
gate d to it s top n othin g short o f d e s p otism s i n ce
th e di s e r e ti o n Of th o s e wh o admi n iste r th e gove r n
m e n t and n ot th e Co ns ti t u ti o n would b e th e
mea s u re o f th eir p owe r s ; that th e seve ral s tate s
wh o form ed that i n strument b ei n g s overeign and
ind ep endent h ave th e un qu e stio n able righ t to
j udg e of it s i n fraction and that a n u l l i fic a t i o n b y
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Re s olutio ns hef o r e
Th e
1 26
th e
th os e s overeigntie s o f al l u nautho ri ze d acts done
unde r col or o f that i n s trum ent i s th e rightful
remedy ; that thi s c omm onwealth doe s u p o n th e
m ost d elibe rate reco n side ratio n de clare that th e
s aid ali e n a n d s edition laws are in th ei r opinio n
p alpable violation s o f th e s aid Con s titu tion an d
h owever ch eerfully i t m ay b e di s p ose d t o su rren der
i t s O pinion t o a m aj ority o f i t s s i s te r s tate s in
matter s o f o rdi n ary o r doub tful p olicy yet i n
m omentou s regulatio n s like th e p re s e n t which s o
it
v itally woun d th e b e s t rights o f th e citize n
woul d co n side r a sile n t acquiescenc e a s h i ghly
c rimi n al ; that al th ough thi s commo n wealth a s a
p arty t o th e Federal comp act wil l b ow t o th e laws
o f th e U n ion y e t i t d oe s at th e s am e tim e declare
th at it will n o t now n o r eve r h ereafter c ea s e t o
opp o s e in a con stitutiona l man n e r eve ry attemp t
from wh at qu arte r s oeve r offe re d t o violat e that
c ompact A N D F I N A L L Y in o rde r th at n o p rete x ts
o r argum e n ts may b e d rawn from a supp os ed acqu i
e s c e n c e on th e p art o f thi s commonwealth i n th e
con s titutio n ality o f th o s e law s a n d b e th e re b y u s e d
as p recede n t s fo r s imilar futu re violation s o f th e
federal compact this commo n we alth d oe s n o w
”
ente r agai n s t them i t s S O L E M N P R O T E S T
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The only really remarkabl e thin g in thi s docu
ment i s that it fo r th e fi r s t time u se s th e fatefu l
word n u l l i fic a t i o n in thi s co n n ecti on T here wa s
indee d litt l e en o u gh differe n c e b etwee n the d e c l a
ration s o f th e re s ol ution s of th e la s t year a n d this
an d this word wa s freely u s e d by M r B reckinridge
in th e d ebate o f th e p re ce di n g year but thi s wo rd
which afterward s b ecame th e watchwo rd o f s e c e s
s io n h a s b een s addle d with th e wh ole bu rde n o f th e
extrem e s t advocate s o f S tate s righ t s while th e m o s t
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Re s olutio ns
Th e
I 28
h efo r e th e
”
“
calle d s o mu ch temp e r fi rmne s s an d p ropriety
th e s cen e wa s onc e m ore s hift e d to Virgi n ia Th e
answe r o f th e variou s S tate s to th e re solu tion s of
1 798 we re refe rre d t o a committe e o f which M r
Madi s on was on e an d o n him d evolve d th e lab o r
Thi s
o f p reparing the rep ort of that committe e
rep ort was don e with M r M adison s invariabl e
p ai n s takin g care T h e re solu tio n s a n d eve ry p oint
made agai n st th em we re taken u p o n e by o n e a n d
carefully e x ami n e d an d an swered I t i s sup e r fl uou s
to s ay th at th e result wa s m asterly I t was a mo s t
e x h au s tive e x p o sition o f th e p o s ition o f a Republi
can i n regard to th e que s tio n s awake n e d by the
wh ol e di s cu ssio n of th e p as t t wo years Th e repo rt
which was e x tremely l e n gthy w a s co n clu ded b y a
“
b rief re s olu tion to wit R e s ol ve d Th at th e Gene ral
A s s embly havi n g carefully an d re s p ec tfully a t
te n de d to th e p roceedi n g s o f a n umb er o f th e S tate s
in a n s we r to th ei r re s olutio n s o f D ecemb er 2 1
1 79 8 a n d havi n g accu rately and fully r e e xamined
an d r e co n s idere d th e latte r fin d it t o b e th eir i n
di s p en s abl e duty to adh ere t o th e same as founde d
in truth as co n s o n a n t with th e Cons titutio n a n d as
co n ducive t o its p re s e rvation an d m ore e s p ecially
to b e th eir duty t o renew a s th ey d o h ere b y re n ew
‘
th eir p rote s t agai n st th e Alien a n d S edition Act s
a s palpable a n d al arming infraction s o f the Co n s ti
”
tu tio n
Th e re we re a few mi n o r ame n dme n ts
m ad e i n th e rep ort which p as s ed th e H ou s e by a
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J effer o W o rk v o l iv p 3 8 T Jo h B rac k e ridge
J e ff er o i variab l y mi pe ll the ame f oll owi g
M
pe ll i g pec u l iar t o the P e nn yl va ni a b ra n ch f the f a m i l y
1
-
s
s
r
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n
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s,
n s
s
n
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n
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ss
s
1
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s
n
n
o
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n
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a
Sta te s
a nd
Co ngre s s
I 29
.
vote o f 6 0 to 4 0 th e minority b ein g still s trong
M r Madis on h ad felt ve ry anxiou s ove r th e S e n ate
which wa s nearly e qu ally divide d b u t h e foun d it
”
“
an d
i n rath er a b ette r s tat e th a n w a s e xp ected
th e maj ority fo r h i s rep o rt was decided th e vote
b ei n g 1 5 t o 6
Th e m atte r h oweve r was n ot s uffe re d t o re s t
th ere bu t a s e t of res ol ution s was b rou gh t in by
“
Wm B Gile s
instructing th e S enato rs t o u rge
th e repeal of th e u ncon s titutional acts th e di s band
i n g o f th e army a n d a p rop e r arra n gement o f the
”
militia
Th e d e b ate wa s heated o n th e s e res olu
tions b ut th e maj ority was fixed a n d a n y attemp t
b eyond m ere verbal am en dme n t to s top o r m odify
th e action p rop os e d in th em wa s wh olly vai n Th e
vote wa s ab out two to o n e o n th e p oint s up o n which
i s su e was taken
T he work wa s don e b efore th e end of January
Th e Republica n s h ad carrie d th ings with a
1 80 0
high h an d in b oth Kentucky a n d Vi rginia I n th e
forme r there was n o con s i derabl e obj ection fo r th e
wh ol e commu n ity was well n igh as o n e man ; b ut
in th e l atte r i t was far diffe re n t Th e rem n an t o f
Federali s m h ad alway s b een m o s t abl e a n d re s pect
ab le M a n y Of th e m os t h onore d o f h e r s tate s men
b elo n ge d to that p arty an d th e party, in i t s rank
a n d fil e was compo s e d o f th e mo s t weigh ty citizens
Wa s hi n gto n H enry an d J ohn M arshall we re th e
h o n orabl e h e ad s of th e p arty
Keith Tayl o r
Gene ral Le e and J ame s B reckinridge i t s active
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Madi o t o J e ff er o
l etter pp 1 5 6
s,
s
n
s
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1-
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n.
Madi o
s
’
n s
W o r ks v o l ii
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,
s
evera l
1
Th e
0
3
R s olutions h f o r e
e
e
th e
leader s Any b ody th at c oul d mu s te r such m en wa s
d e s e rvin g of high co n siderati on ; b ut i t wa s ove r
ridden h e re with th e s ame viol e n ce th at th e e qu ally
re s pectable min ority in C o n gre s s e xpe rienced Th e
b egi n n i n g o f thi s s e s sion o f th e legislatu re was th e
signal f o r th e fall o f Virginia Fed eralism Mu ch
h ad b een e x p ecte d o f H e n ry i n th i s s e s sion ; b u t
h e die d b efore it b egan J u n e 6 1 799 Washi n g
t on t o o p as s e d away o n th e 1 4 th o f D ecemb er
Wh en M on roe wh o wa s regarde d a s th e ve ry m os t
dange rou s o f radical D em ocrats was elected by a
v ote only slightly les s th an th e p arty s stre n gth
o ve r J am e s B recki n ridge all thi n gs b egan t o b e
very unp romisi n g J oh n Nicholas that fair mind e d
s tate s man wh o th ough what h e called a s upp orte r
”
in fin e a Fe de rali s t h ad s o ably
o f gover n me n t
opp o s e d th e alien a n d s edition bill s clo se s a letter
t o M r B reckinridge at thi s time with thi s wail by
way o f p os tscript
“
General Wa s hington i s dead Col onel Gambl e
o n e o f th e m os t imp o rtan t r e a l A m e r i c a n m erchants
in thi s S tate it i s reported b roke ; th e legislatu re
carrying every thi n g with a high hand t o terrify
men i n to their way o f thinking ; H enry taken off
j u s t as h e h ad g o t r i g h t in sh ort P rovidence an d
every thin g els e s eem s to b e agai n s t o u r s ide this
year I hop e we sh al l b egin a n e w o n e b ette r o r
”
s e e ou r e rro r if we are wrong
A n y h op e o f a chan ge fo r ma n y year s t o com e
Th e S tate wa s n ow wholly give n ove r
w a s vain
to th e Republica n p arty with i t s illu s triou s citize n s
J effe rs on Madison and M onro e at th e helm wh o s e
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R olut io n s
Th e
I 32
es
.
c ence in th e Republican p olicy M r J effers on c o n
t i n u e d to h old the co n fide n ce of his p arty and
p a s se d it o n t o M r M adi s o n an d alth ou gh th e
H artford co n ventio n rea s s e rte d mu ch th at wa s fi rs t
p romulgate d in th e Re s olutio n s of 1 798 th e New
E ngla n d Fe de ralists did not ve n tu re to fou n d th eir
pleas o n an y su ch p recede n ts an d s o for year s the
re s olu tio n s an d th e qu estion s co n n ected with and
growi n g o u t o f th em s lumb ered I t was a n e w cen
tu ry and in a large degre e , a n ew ge n eration that
wa s t o b e vexe d b y t wo imp ortant a n d p erhap s i n
s o l u b l e p robl em s c onnecte d wi t h th es e Re s olution s
T h e fi rst o f the s e i s connecte d with th e au thor s hip
o f th e Kentucky Re s olution s o f 1 798 an d th e s econ d
with th e the o ry o f go v e rnm e n t e x p re s s ed o r i n
tende d t o b e e x p re s s ed in them Thes e p roblem s
o r s o mu ch o f th em as m ay b e p rop erly di s cu s s e d
within the s cop e o f thi s littl e wo rk wil l n o w b e
considere d
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VI
A U T H OR S H I P OF
TH E
.
T H E K E N T U CK Y R E 5 0
'
.
L U T I ON S OF
1
798
.
was early an O pen s ecre t that th e Vi rginia
Re s olu tion s of 1 798 th ou gh p re se n ted in the l egis
l a t u r e by J ohn T ayl o r o f Caroli n e a m an in all
re s p ect s competent to h ave d rawn s u ch a n i n s t r u
m e n t were from th e p e n of M r M adiso n That
di s tinguish e d s tate s man h avi n g de s ce n de d in to th e
list s an d a s s umed the l eade rship i n th e action o f
th e Virginia legis l atu re of th e following year this
circum stance was ve ry naturally divul ged an d was
op enly av owe d amon g othe r s by J oh n Taylor
hims elf Alth ou gh a s M r J effers on said in h i s
l ette r o f S ep temb e r 5 1 799 to Wil s on Carey
Nich olas already qu ote d th ere had b een s u s
i
i
n
c
o
s th at h e h ad had s om e m ore o r le s s p romi
p
n e nt p art in th e S tate p rote s t s again s t th e alien a n d
s edition l aw s the s e s u s picio n s did n ot take form
fo r many years M a n y of h i s own party knew th at
while h e ab s tai n ed from a s s umi n g a n y public c o n
n e c t i o n with th e m ovem e n t o f 1 798 a n d 1 799 in
opp o s ition to th e acts o f Co n gre s s h e was in th e
fu l les t sympathy with it a n d had written many le t
t ers t o th ose h e tru ste d in eve ry p art o f th e coun
I
T
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I
33
I
A uth ors h ip of th e
Th e
34
try plainly exp re ss ing h i s opinio n s and o utlining
th e p olicy which h e th ou gh t wis e s t t o p ursu e That
h e had h ad any fu rth e r connectio n with th e p r o
te s ts of th e l egislatu res was b elieve d b y few if a n y
a n d if a n y o n e k n ew that h e had a n y oth e r rela
tion t o th em th ey ob s erve d th e m o st complete
sil enc e M r B reckin ridge lived an d di ed with th e
full O dium an : th e ful l credit acc ordin g as m en
regarded i t o f th e au th orship as well as o f th e
advocacy o f th e K entucky Re solution s of 1 798
I t h a s neve r b een p retende d that th is wa s onc e
calle d in qu e s tion du ring h i s life I t wa s a matte r
which am ong his friends wa s often adverte d t o
an d i t was e s teeme d h i s ch ief titl e to th e rem em
b rance o f p os te rity ; i n Kentucky i t wa s a s h as
already b een s ai d b oth n otoriou s an d ofte n p res s ed
as a claim fo r p olitical p referment ; wh ereve r h e
went i t wa s th e act b y wh ich h e was kn ow n T o
some m en h e wore it like th e b ran d o f Cain up on
h i s b row f o r in thi s day we can s carcely form an
adequ ate concep tion o f th e height o f p arty p as s ion
which th en p revailed o r th e b itte r invective s u s e d
against p olitical O pponents ; t o oth ers i t wa s like
a civic c rown H e died with th e s e m ingl e d p rais e s
a n d imp recatio n s in hi s e ar s b u t with th e p raise s
fast b ecomi n g d ominant s o that n on e could d oub t
th at hi s fame a n d h old u pon h i s c o u n t r ym e n s hearts
we re l argely b oun d up i n th i s imp ortant wo rk A s
tim e slipp e d by great change s o ccu rre d T h e war
o f 1 8 1 2 b rou gh t n e w m en a n d n e w i s su e s
M an y
o f th os e wh o had fou ght th e b attle s o f th e o l d
r é gime were dead th e K entucky l eade rs o f 1 798
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I 36
A u th o rs hip of th e
Th e
b ased th e s tatem ent bu t it i s n o t imp robab l e that
i t wa s th e printe d works o f J ohn Tayl o r Th e
s tat e me n t w a s
b rou gh t to th e n otic e o f J o s eph
Cab ell B recki n ridge th e e l de st s o n o f J ohn B reck
i n r i d g e at th at tim e S e cretary o f S tate o f Ke n tucky
I t was regarde d b y J ohn B re cki n ridge s friend s a s
—
e n tirely withou t found atio n indee d a s o n e of
“
thos e creati on s ou t of th e wh ol e cl oth wh ich
e ditor s o f p arti s an n ew s p ape rs are th ou gh t not i n
frequ ently t o in dulge in Had it b ee n i n d erogation
o f th e right s o f th e l ivi n g th ey fel t it wa s a thi n g t o
b e ligh tly pas se d b y but th e claim s o f th e dead are
s o e a s ily p ostp o n ed t o th e s lighte s t p reten s ion s of
th e livin g th at th ey felt that s om e refutation w a s
advi sable Wi s hi n g t o s tan d u pon s u ch s u re groun d
th at n o o n e sh ould eve r be abl e to r e a s sert s o ba s e
l es s a rumo r with a n y h op e of b ei n g b elieved Cab ell
B recki n ridge wrote to M r J effer s o n up o n th e s u b
t
e
c
c
onfi
dently
exp
ectin
g
a
comple
te
n
cate
a
d
j
r i c al
denia
l
of
th
e
allegation
A
copy
o
h
i
f
o
s
g
l etter was pre serve d in th e l ette r b ook o f J o seph
C ab ell B re ckinridge an d i s h ere p ublish e d in full
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O
F R A NK F
RT
No v
,
1 9,
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1 82 1
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D EA R SI R
I h ad n ot e x p erience d th e effect s
o f you r cando r a n d obligi n g indulg e nce o n a former
occa s ion an d o n a s ubj e ct co n n e cted with the
— If
,
hi l etter i
imp o rta t l i k i the evide ce which
h o w c o c l u ive l y that G e o rge N ich o l a had
c o ecti o
with the l egi l ative acti o f the e year
d that the f o ll o w
w
writte t o Mr
C a b e ll
i g l etter o f M r J e ffer o
N ich o l a
t to
p ub l i hed
B rec k i ridge
d
w o r k I t w fir t p ub l i hed b y the a u th o r
i M r J e ffer o
the M g i f W t H i t y f o r
f thi m o o graph i
A pri l 1 886
1
s
T
n
s
n o
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n
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s
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n
n
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no
s
n
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an
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az ne
as
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no
nn
an
n
as
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es ern
s or
K
e ntu e
hy
R s olu t io n of
I 37
s
e
memory o f my fath e r I sh oul d feel an i n s up erabl e
relu ctance t o trouble yo u with thi s l e tte r A ve ry
b rief n arrative w ill e xplain i t s obj ect
I n th e Richmo n d E nqu i r e r o f S eptemb er 4 t h in
an editorial s tricture o n c e rtain article s that had
app eared in th e N a ti o na l I n te l l ig e ne e r th e write r
in su pp ort o f h i s p ri n cipl e s refer s t o th e auth ority
o f you r nam e a n d op i n io n s a n d e xp re s s e s h im s elf
“
in th e followi n g word s
We p rote s te d again s t th e
pu tti n g M r J fo rward as th e chief o f a new p arty
a n d th at th e doctri n es w e h el d o n th e great qu e s
tion o f sup remacy in ca s e s o f c olli s ion b etwe en th e
gove rnments was th e doctri n e of th e o l d Rep ublican
p arty o f M r M adi s on s rep ort o f 98 an d o f th e
Ke n tucky re s olu tio n s p e n n e d by M r J effer s on
”
him self
Wel l k n owi n g that th e res olutio n s h ere
allu de d to were i n troduce d into th e l egi s latu re o f
Kentu cky b y my fath e r a s h i s o wn p ro d u ctio n I
wa s greatly a s tonish ed by th e a s se rtio n o f th e e ditor
Co n vince d as I am th at th e m o ve r of th e re s olu
tion s wo uld n ot h ave co n se n te d thu s t o app ropriate
th e lab o r e ven o f h i s illu strio u s friend I d i d b elieve
th e a s sertion t o b e u n tru e
T o a man th e m easu re of wh os e fam e an d u s efu l
ne s s i s full an occu rrence l ike th e p re s e n t m ay b e
regarde d with i n diffe re n ce B u t wh en you rem em
b e r th at th e p rovi de n ce o f G od arre s te d at an early
p e rio d th e au s piciou s care e r o f him wh o s e lo s s I
h ave c au s e s o d eepl y t o deplore yo u will e xcu s e
—
nay app rove th e s en s ibility which I fee l o n every
s ubj ect c o n n ecte d with h i s j u s t [ fam e ]
I f I am
n o t deceive d in th e te m p e r o f th e ti m e s th e day i s
at han d wh en t h e s tru ggl e O f 98 i s t o b e re n ewe d
with deci s ive ch aracteri s tic s o f co n s olidati n g i n tent
an d th e s e S tate s are t o mai n tain a s eco n d co n te s t
f o r th e p u rity an d e xten t o f th ei r ancient righ ts
A t such a c risis involvi n g th e s afety a n d p e rpetuity
o f s ome o f th e m o s t s acre d p ri n ciple s o f American
freedom th e recollection o f similar events — t h e
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The
I 38
A u th o rs hip
f
(
th e
corresp ondin g sentime n t s an d act s o f d ep arted p a
— will b e reviewe d with p eculiar i n terest a n
r
t io ts
d
p owerful effect an d I can distinctly p erceiv e th e
valu e o f yo u r written declaratio n t o in s u re j u s tice
t o th e m em ory o f o n e whom l oving you larg e ly
c o n tribut ed t o e xalt B elievin g that I can n ot give
a b ette r e vi de n ce o f th e s incerity a n d re s pect o f th e
p re s e n t application th an by omitti n g all for m al a n d
affecte d ap ologie s for h avi n g m ade it I h a s te n to
as su re yo u o f my h igh c o n s id e ratio n a n d t o o ffe r
you m y s ince re s t wi s h e s for you r co n ti n u ed h ealth
a n d h appines s
J C A B E L L B RE C K I N R I D G E
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T o thi s l ette r M r J effers o n s e n t th e foll owi n g
.
reply
:
M O NT I CEL L O
,
D
ecem b er
11,
1 82 1
.
D E R SI R
You r lette r of D ecemb er 1 9th
place s m e un der a dilemma which I can n ot s olve
b u t by an e xp o s ition o f th e nake d truth I woul d
h ave wi s h e d thi s rath er t o have rem ain ed a s h i t h
e rto w ith ou t i n quiry b ut you r inqui rie s h ave a
righ t t o b e a n s we r e d I will do it a s exactly as th e
great lap s e o f tim e an d a wa n i n g m em ory will
enabl e m e
I m ay mi s remembe r indiffe rent cir
c u m s t an c e s b u t c a n b e righ t i n s ub s tanc e
A t th e
tim e when th e Republican s o f o u r c ountry were s o
mu ch alarme d at the proceeding s o f th e Fe de ral
ascendancy in Co n gr e s s in th e E xecutive an d th e
J u diciary departm e n ts i t b ecam e a matte r o f s eri
o u s con side ratio n h ow h ead c oul d b e made agai n s t
th e i r e n te rp ri s e s o n th e Co n stitu tio n The leadi n g
republican s i n Co n gre s s fou n d th em s elve s o f n o
u s e th ere b rowb eate n as they w e re by a b ol d an d
overwhelmi n g maj ority Th e y co n clude d to reti re
from th at fi eld take a s tan d in th eir s tat e l egi s la
tu r e s a n d e n deavo r th ere to arre s t th ei r p ro g re s s
Th e Alie n a n d S edition l aw s fu r n i s h ed th e p a r t i c u
lar occa s io n The s ympath y b e t w e e n Vi r g i n s] a n d
—
A
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A u th o rs hip of th e
Th e
1 40
n i c at e
d
with i s my doub t I thi n k M r M adison
was e ith e r with u s o r c o n s ul ted b u t my mem ory i s
unce rtain as to mi n o r d etail s I fear d ear s i r w e
are n ow i n s u ch an oth e r c risi s with thi s diffe rence
o n ly that th e j udiciary b ra n ch i s alo n e an d si n gle
hande d in th e p re s e n t as saults o n t h e Constitu tion
b u t i t s a s s ault s are m ore s u re an d d eadly as from
an age n t s e emin gly p a s s ive a n d u n a s s uming M ay
yo u a n d you r c ontemp o rari e s m ee t th em with th e
s ame determin ation a n d effect as y ou r fath e r and
“
”
h i s did th e alien an d s edition law s an d p re s erve
inviolate a c o n stitu tion which ch eri s h e d in all i t s
ch a s ti ty an d p u rity will p rove in th e en d a b le s s
in g t o all th e n ati o n s o f th e e arth With th e s e
p rayer s accep t tho s e f o r you r o wn h appine s s and
T H J E F F ER S O N
p rosp erity
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This lette r i s n o w am on g th e B recki n ridge pap ers
in th e p o s s e s sion o f H o n Wm C P B recki n ridge
Ke n tu cky I t i s written u p on a
o f Lexi n gto n
singl e sh eet folded a n d b ears up on th e o utside th e
“
addres s
J Cab ell B reckinridge Frankfort Ken
”
“
tucky togethe r with M r J efferson s frank an d
th e Charl ottesvill e p ost mark ; an d o n th e reve rs e side
may s till b e s een th e t race s o f th e wafe r which wa s
u s e d t o s eal it I t i s written th rou gh ou t in M r
J effers o n s well known and ch aracteri s tic h and
From thi s th e original l etter th e foregoi n g copy
I n th e J e ffer s on p ap e rs at Washington
wa s m ade
“
a copy o f thi s l ette r i s p res erved i n de x ed D ec
”
to J Cab ell B reckin ridge u n de r th e year
r i th
“
and b eari n g th e cap tio n Th J e ffer s on to J
1 82 1
”
Cab ell B reckinridge
By s om e s tran ge e rro r
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1
L
1 887
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etter
of
Mi
ss
S
.
N
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R
a d o l ph
n
:
T h e N a ti o n ,
May
5,
K
e n tu e
hy
R s olu tion s of 1 798
e
.
14 1
’
h oweve r i t appe ars in J effe r s o n s p ri n ted wo rk s a s
”
H o w th is e rro r aro s e h a s
to
Nich olas E s q
n eve r b ee n e x plaine d It c a n o n ly b e conj ecture d
that by s om e acciden t th e e dito r h ad om itte d th e
caption an d u ndertook t o s upply i t whe n th e
manu scrip t its elf was not at h an d T o o n e wh o
was acqu ainte d with th e i n timate connection of
th e Ni c h o l a s e s with th e affair s o f Kentucky in 98
and 99 an d wh o had in cl o s e j u x tap os itio n t o th i s
l ette r a num b e r o f l e tte r s t o W C Nich olas o n
“
‘
th e genera l s ubj ect th e infe renc e that
you r
”
fath er wa s Geo rge N icholas a n d th at this lette r
h ad b e en add re s s e d to o n e O f h i s s on s migh t have
appeare d l ittl e l es s than ce rtai n U n les s ve ry c o n
ve rsant with th e h isto ry o f th e m ovem ent agains t
th e a lien a n d s edition l aws h e woul d not at onc e
cal l t o mind th e nam e o f B reckin ri dge ; for J oh n
B reckinridge h ad b e en dead many years and h i s
once famou s name wa s almo s t fo rgotten T h e facts
in th e cas e sho w b eyond a sh ado w o f a d oub t that
th e l e tte r wa s addre s s e d t o J Ca b ell B recki n ridge
an d
alth ough this wa s at o n e time a matte r o f
s om e doub t M r J effers o n s p apers s o credit i t
”
T h e refore the
Nicholas E s q caption mu s t
h ave sp ru n g from p ure co n j ectu re
Th ou gh like many othe r things fou n de d on
fancy an d n ot o n fact th e e di t or s concl u sio n was
wron g that did n o t p revent i t s gai n i n g cre den ce
M adis on bei n g misled b y it in later
e v en M r
1
See the o rder o f the s e l etters i n J e ff er s o n s p ub li s he d
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w o rk
s
3
R
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T h e N a t i o n , M ay 5
n
Ne w L
a d o l ph
,
ight
artic l e b y Mi Sarah N ich ol a
the R e o l u ti o f
1887,
on
ss
s
ns o
s
A utho rs h ip of th e
Th e
142
years B u t th e m o s t remarkabl e fact connected
with th i s e rro r i s that s om e o f th e de scend ants
o f G e orge N ich ola s
b ein g th e m s elve s p e r s uade d
b y th e apparen t evidenc e O ff ere d b y M r J e ff e r
s on s p rin te d w ork s claime d for h im th e p art
th at was re al ly pl aye d b y M r B re ckinridge in
th e fa ce o f th e m o s t c onvi n ci n g p ro of t o t h e c o n
t r ar y
For it m u s t b e re m emb e re d th at h oweve r
m u ch t h e t r u e stat e o f t h e c a s e wa s l os t s i gh t o f
e l sewh ere a n d wh a t e ve r error s crep t int o t h e m os t
re li abl e h i stori es i n K entu cky i t nev e r ceas e d t o b e
k n own an d rememb ere d that M r B reck i n ri dge was
T h er e i s n o qu es
t h e ch ief m ove r i n thi s m atte r
tion th at t h e N i c h o l a s e s w e re p e rfectly h one s t in a l l
th at th ey s ai d an d wrote n o r i s th ere any doub t
that s o l o n g a s h e l ive d Ge o rge N ich olas s hare d
th e i n m o s t c o un sel s o f t h e acto r s in thi s littl e
dram a
Bu t th ey s eem t o h ave acte d u nde r
a mi s t a ken z e a l f o r wha t th ey fan cie d were t h e
righ t s o f th ei r g r e a t an d long de ce a s e d k i n s man
and u po n convictio n s whi c h th ough s in ce re wer e
no t acc o rdin g t o kn o wl edge I t w a s fi r st c laime d
”
that th e
N ich o l as
l et t er was written t o
S amu e l Smith Nich olas o n e o f t h e s on s o f G eorge
Nich ola s T h i s cl ai m wa s m a de i n an o b itu ary
n otic e o f Samu el S N ich ol as in th e Cincinn a ti
I n J an ua r y
Co mmo ne r : toward s the e n d of 1 86 9
J u dge Ri ch a rd H awe s th e hu s b an d o f th e
1 870
youn ge s t dau gh ter o f G eorg e Ni ch ola s in a len gthy
c ommunication t o th e s ame j ou r n al de n ied that
‘
D ecem b er 1 86 9
T h e C i n ci n n ati C m m n e
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J a u ary 1 870 I am i de b ted t o C 1 R T
D u r ett f o r a M S c o py f thi l e t ter
I have b ee u ab l e
t o fi d a fi l e f thi j ou r a l
’
I bid
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n
r
n
o
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o
n
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s
n
s
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0
as
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n
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n
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A uth o rs h ip of th e
Th e
1 44
Th e l etter s o f M r B re cki n ridge a n d M r J e ff e r
s o n a n d th e wh ol e ch ain o f event s c on n ecte d with
them th e m otive s a n d th e allu s io n s i n th em are all
s o e n tirely s upporte d by co n tempora n eou s h is tory
th at th ey s eem t o p u t the matter on a s ou n d basi s
J udge H awe s letter on th e oth er h an d i s wa n ti n g
i n accu racy b oth on imp o rtan t m atter s a n d i n
detail s Nel s o n Nich ola s may h ave had a copy o f
the l etter t o M r B reckinridge which as it b ore o n
its face n o evidenc e o f th e p e rs o n t o wh om it wa s
addres s ed an d the addre s s o n th e back would n ot
un n atu rally b e omitte d m igh t well have b ee n m i s
l eadi n g I f M r J effe rson s edito r committ e d thi s
error J u dge H awe s wou ld h ave far greate r excu s e
f o r rep eati n g it
T he e xi s te n ce o f th e oth e r letter
s eem s to b e eve n m ore clearly r e fu ted by th e facts
h ereafter to b e d e tailed I t mu s t ever b e regrette d
that an y cau s e o f co n t rov e r s y s h ould h ave ari s en
b etwee n th e de s ce n da n t s o f men wh o loved each
oth e r s o well an d i n life k n ew no diffe re n ce o f s e n ti
m e n t a n d th e mi s app reh e n sio n s which have given
ri s e to th e disp ute a n d contro v e r s y ove r thes e
matter s were m o s t u n fo rtu n ate
Thu s M r J effers on s let t er which it wa s s o con
fid e n t l y b elieve d would fo rever vi n dicat e M r
B recki n ridge s title to th e au tho r s hip o f the Re s olu
tio n s o f 1 798 le d i n cide n tally t o a controversy
which did much toward s taki n g from h im th e entire
c re dit b oth a s au th or a n d advocat e
T he s tate
m ent s i n thi s l e tt e r in regard to th e drau gh ti n g o f
th e re s olutio n s m oreove r s eeme d to de n y what
M r B recki n ridge s friend s h ad alway s claime d for
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K
e nt u e
R s olut io n s of
hy
1
e
8
79
4S
I
.
him namely that h e was th e autho r o f th e re so l u
tio n s an d th es e s tateme n ts were receive d b y th em
with great bitte rne s s o f sp i rit a n d th ey maintained
an d s til l mai n tai n th at up on a full inves tig ation o f
all th e facts i t i s tru e notwith standi n g M r J e ff e r
s on s d eclaratio n s th at h e was th e respon s ibl e a u
th or T h e Ni c h o l a s e s t o o hav e taken i s s u e with
th e s tatemen t s o f thi s l etter c laimi n g that i t d oe s
n ot d o j us tice to C ol onel Wilso n Carey N icholas
p art in th e m o v ement H ence a controve rsy h a s
ari s en compare d to which that o cca s ione d b y th e
e rro r of th e e dito r o f M r J effers on s work s wa s
a s n othing
Almo s t e very fact s tated b y M r J e ffe r
s o n i n th e lette r h a s b een qu e s tio n e d and a lmos t
every p osition c o n trove rted M r B reckinridge s
frien d s h ave a s s ailed M r J effers on s claim th at h e
wrote th e re s ol utio n s ; the Ni c h o l a s e s h ave go n e
fu rth er a n d have argu ed that J effers on s o wn
l et t ers i n dicate that th e m atte r was b rough t to his
n otice that th e p roj ect was form e d a n d th e pla n s
p erfected b y C olonel Nicho las who only s ought th e
advice a n d app roval o f th e Vic e P re side n t an d h ave
denie d that t h e alleged co n fe rence eve r o ccu rred
upon th e grou n d o f certain i n ference s from thei r
correspo n de n ce at the time The re a r e un doubte d
l ap s e s o f m emo ry in th is l ette r s uch a s th e g iving
O f th e date o f th e l ette r re plied t o as D ec 1 9t h
in stead o f N ov 1 9th an d the anticipation o f M r
M adi s on s electio n to th e Virgi n ia legisl ature by a
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1
May
T h e N a ti o n ,
R s
ns O f
W ar fie l d
the e o l u ti o
.
5
an
Ju e 2 1 887
Mi R a d o l ph
d
n
ss
n
,
ight
d rep l y b y E
Ne w L
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,
an
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on
D
.
A uth o rs hip
The
1 46
of
th e
year a n d th e s e are refe rre d to an d dwel t u p on a s
evide n ce s o f th e feeblene s s o f M r J effe rs o n s mem
T h e fact s s o far a s
o r y at the time o f writi n g it
k n own h oweve r do not mak e a very clear ca s e
eithe r fo r t h e o n e sid e or th e oth e r ; b u t as th ey
are i n th em s elve s i n te re s ti n g a n d imp ortant th ey
will b e s e t forth i n ou tli n e b efor e any attem pt to
s tate a co n cl u s io n i s made
Up on th e adj ou rnme n t o f Congre s s i n mid s u m
m e r 1 798 th e Vice P re s i de n t returne d t o M o n ti
cello M r B re ckinri dge afte r t aki n g a n activ e par t
in di re ctin g th e outcrie s agai n st t h e odiou s act s of
Con gre s s l at e i n J uly a n d e a rly i n Au gu s t s e t o u t
s oon afte r o n a vi s it t o h i s o l d h om e i n Virgi n ia
T h e re cord O f h i s doin g s a s recorde d i n h i s l etter s
th at h av e b een p r e s erve d i s lam e n tably s m all I t
i s ce rt ai n ly k n o wn that h e s a w John Ni ch olas an d
Wil s o n Carey Nich ola s that h e s a w J effe r s o n with
wh om h e had b een on such intimat e te rm s i s hardly
op en to qu e s tio n s i n ce h e was at Ch arlotte s vill e
wh e n M r J effe r s on was at M o n ticello I t i s not
u n ti l O ctobe r th at th e l ette rs now ex tan t b egin to
sub s titute s oli d fact s fo r th e mi s ty form s o f th e
re alm s of co n j e cture Th e fi r s t l ette r i s from J ef
“
f e r s o n t o W C Ni ch ola s an d in it h e s ays :
I
e n ti rely app rove o f th e confi de n c e you h ave rep os e d
in M r B reckinrid ge a s h e p o s se s s e s mi n e e n tirely
I h ad imagine d it bette r th e s e re s olutio n s s hould
h ave originate d with N orth Carolina b u t p erh ap s
the late ch an ges in th ei r rep re s e n tation may indi
cate s om e doub t wh eth e r th ey woul d h ave p as sed
In th at cas e it i s b ette r th ey sh o u l d com e from
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A uth o rs hip of th e
The
148
l ay
’
in o n e o f my n eighb o r s h ou s e s two o r th ree
weeks s o that I did n o t receive it until a few days
ago s o that I h ave n ot had time t o p ay attention
to th e requ e st m ad e in you r lette r ; indeed I d o
n ot think mys elf c ap ab le o f d rau ghti n g any thing o f
s o great imp orta n ce
I thi n k that th e mai n p oi n t s
t o which th e legislatu re o ugh t to attend are th e
Alien an d th e S edition l aws and th e laws r e s p ecti n g
—
n
n
raising regular s a d vol u tee r s all of which are
c e rtainly u n co n s titutiona l in th e m os t dangerou s
in stance s ; th e first affecti n g th e trial b y j u ry th e
—
s eco n d th e free d om o f th e p res s th e two great
p all adium s o f lib erty B u t I thi n k th e las t is th e
m o s t highly d an ge rou s b ecau s e if in th e p re sen t
instan ce s th e E x ecutive d o e s n o t ab us e the p ower s
with which Co n gre s s h as i n ve s ted him i t will b e
c om e a p opular p rece den t for givi n g th e s am e
power s o n s om e futu re occasion
I feel great
a n x iety that th e c onduc t o f o u r l egi s latu re shoul d
”
b e fi rm s pirited a n d c on s titutional
From th e s e l etters i t app ears that the l ittle group
—
mentione d i n M r J effe r s on s letter him s elf Col
W C N ich olas J ohn B re cki n ridge and M r M adi
s o n were all m ore o r l e s s intimately co n necte d with
th e plan for introduci n g a prote s t again s t th e alien
an d s edition laws i n to th e K entucky l egislatu re
I t fu rth e r app ears that M r J effers on had at fi r s t
de s ire d t o h ave th e p rot e s t c om e from No rth Caro
li n a b u t h ad b ee n ove rruled in thi s in favor o f
Ken tu cky ; a n d o n O ct 5 t h co n cede s to the p ower
that ove rruled h im whateve r it wa s i t s wis dom
th e autum n al el ectio n retu rn s evide n ced a
s in ce
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K
hy
e ntu o
R olutio n of [ 798
s
es
I
.
49
ch an ge o f opinion i n N orth Caroli n a which ren
dere d it doub tful if th e re s olu tio n s coul d b e gotten
“
throu gh that l egislatu re Th e entire co n fi dence
in regard to th e matte r unde r discu s s io n mo reove r
p oint s to an intimate k n owl edge of each oth er s
—
view s to a knowledge s o intimate indeed th at it
coul d s carcely h ave s prung from any thing l e s s that
a ful l discu s s ion face to face whil e th e allu s io n to
a p re ve n te d vi s it o f M r B reckinridge s which at
fi rs t sigh t m igh t s eem t o indicate th at h e had no t
s een M r J effers on at all o n re fl ection s eems rathe r
“
t o i n dicate th at th e delicacy an d m otive s for its
”
omi s sion were n othing el s e than an adoption o f
M r J effer s on s well k n own caution a n d an u n
willingne s s to app ear s o fre qu e n tly at M o n ticello
l e s t when h e s h ould b ri n g forward th e re s olu tion s
in N ovem b er m e n sh oul d at o n ce recall h i s fr e
qu e n t visit s a n d connect th e Vice Presi dent with
th e anti admi n i s tration action o f Ke n tucky The
v i s i t om itted t o o coul d o n ly ha v e b e en o f th e mo s t
formal ki n d for as h as al ready b een mentio n ed
Jame s B reckinridge th e b rothe r o f J oh n B r e c k i n
ridge allude d to wa s a s tro n g Fe derali s t a n d wa s
destine d s oo n afte r to l ead th e oppo s itio n to th e
Vi rginia Re s olutions
All o f th e s e fact s an d circum s tance s p oint s o
strongly towards a con s ultati o n of at l eas t J effers on
Nicholas a n d B reckinridge o n th e s ubj ect o f re s olu
ti on s p rotesti n g agai n s t th e law s o f th e l ate Con
gre s s that M r J effer s o n s te s timo n y that s uch a
c on sultation took place i s p owerfully co rro b orated
Th e cau s e of th e o rigina l ab andonment o f North
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A uth o rs h ip of th e
Th e
I 50
Caroli n a i n favo r o f Kentu cky as th e fi r s t tou rney
fi eld can n ot b e s o wel l explai n ed m o re ove r by any
othe r hyp oth e sis than th at after it h ad tak e n form
M r B reckinridge app eared fresh from ardent Ken
tucky ma s s meeti n g s full o f th e ide a o f a l egi s lative
p rote st an d eag e r to try h i s youthfu l p rowe s s in h i s
o wn S tate i n a cau s e s o e n thu sia s tically p opular ;
an d that h e carrie d h i s p oi n t and wo n fo r Ken
tucky th e p rivilege o f op e n i n g th e fi r s t gre at que s
tion o f con stitu tion al con s tru ction
I t i s very h ard to se e h o w al l th i s evidence o f a
con sul tation i s t o b e s e t a s ide in favo r o f any oth e r
th eory I t h as b een sh arply a s s ailed a n d th e evi
de n ce fo r i t keenly critici sed A ve ry i n geniou s
th eory adva n ce d b y Mi s s S arah Nich olas Ran
d o l p h a desce n dant O f b oth Col Nicholas an d M r
J effe r s on su gge s t s that n o s uch m eeti n g ever took
place bu t th at thi s supp o sed m eeti n g wa s th e o u t
growth i n M r J effer s on s failin g m em ory o f th e
r e m l n i s c e n c e s o f th e m eeti n g which h e p rop os e d
in h is l etters o f Au gu s t 1 799 t o Col onel N ich o l as
that th ey shoul d h old togeth e r with M r M adison
with regard t o th e app rop riate action fo r K entucky
t o tak e in th e ensu i n g au t umn s e s sio n of i t s l e gi s l a
tu re Thi s m eeting di d not take place owin g to
Colonel Nich olas early d epartu re f o r K e n tucky to
s ettl e th e affairs o f Ge orge N ich olas th en recently
dead T his th eory i s far t o o tenu ou s NO m emory
once robu st can b e thought thu s t o h ave c onfu s ed
a supp o s e d a n d a p ropo s e d m eeti n g wh en o n the
form er hun g th e d eepes t thi n g s o f s tate craft A nd
9
1
J e ff er s o n s W o r k s v ol i v
T h e N a t i o n M ay 5 1 887
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2
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A utho rs h ip of th e
Th e
2
5
1
am ong th e m a n u scrip t s [ of M r J effe r s on] b o th in
h i s o wn han dwriti n g
O n e i s a rough d raught and
”
th e oth e r very n eatly and carefully p rep ared
Th e s e re s o l utio n s h ave ge n e rally b ee n s poke n o f
”
as the J effers on draught in contradisti n ction t o
th e Kentucky Res olu tio n s actu ally adop te d a n d in
orde r that th e two form s may b e compared the s e
re s olu tio n s are h ere r e p roduce d in a foot note
It wil l b e ob s erve d that thi s d raugh t diffe rs from
the tru e K e ntucky Re s olu tio n s in a numbe r of
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,
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,
1
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,
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,
2
-
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3
J e ffer o
b y edit o r
1
s
W o rk
’
n s
s
diti o
E
.
p
n 1 85 6 ,
4 64
.
vol
,
See page
3
ix
.
N
.
o te
a n te .
75 ,
J EF F E R S O N R ESO L U T I O NS
hat the everal State c o mp o i g the U ited
I t
State
merica are t u ited
the pri cip l e Of the
l imited ub mi i o t o the G e era l G o ver me t ; bu t that b y
a c o mpact u der the ty l e d tit l e f a C o tit u ti o f o r the
d o f ame dme t theret o they c o tit u ted a
U ited State
G e era l G o ver me t f pecia l p u rp o e d e l egated t o that
G o v r me t certai defi ite p o wer re ervi g each State t o
it e l f the re id u ry m a f right t o their w l f g o ver me t
d that whe o ever the G e era l G o ver me t a u me
d l
gated p o wer i t act are u a u th o ritative v o id d f f o rce
that t o thi c o mpact each State acceded a State d i
i
t g
State f o rmi g t o it e l f the o ther party
l party i t
th t the G o ver me t created b y thi c o mpact w
t made
the e x c l u ive o r fi a l j u dge f the e x t e t f the p o wer de l e
gated t o it e l f ; i ce that w ou l d have m ade i t di creti o
tit u ti o the mea u re Of i t p o wer bu t that
d
t the C o
a ll o ther ca e f c o mpact am o g p o wer havi g
i
c o mm o j u dg e each party h
eq u a l right t o j u dge f o r
d mea re o f
it e l f we ll f i fracti o
f the m o de
dre
l d T hat the C o tit u ti o
f the U ited State
2d R
havi g d e l egate d t o C o gre a p o wer t o p u i h trea o
f the U ited
c ou terfeiti g the ec u ritie
d c u rre t c o i
St te piracie d fe l o ie c o mmitted
the high ea
d
o ff e ce agai t the l aw f ati o
d
o ther crime what
d it b ei g tr u e
a ge era l pri cip l e d
f the
ame dme t O f the C o tit u ti o havi g a l o dec l ared that
the p o wer t de l egated t o the U ited State b y the C
pr o hi b ited b y it t o the State are re er v ed t o
t it t i
n
.
s
9
T HE
R e s o l ve d , T
of A
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Re s oluti o ns of
e nt u e h
K
y
I 53
mi n or p oi n t s i n the fi r s t s even re s olution s o n ly o n e
o r two o f th e s e al teratio n s b ei n g o f a n y material
s ig n ifi ca n ce bu t i n t h e eighth a n d n i n th re s ol utio n s
,
,
the State re pective l y the pe o p l e
theref o re the act f
C o gre pa ed the 4 th Ju l y 798 d e tit l ed A act
i additi o
t o the act e tit l ed
act f o r the p u i hme t f
certai crime agai t the U ited State ;
a l o the act
pa ed b y them the day Of Ju e 1 798 e tit l ed A act
t o p u i h fra u d c o mmitted
the B a k f the U i t ed
State ( d a ll o ther th ir act which a u me t o create
defi e
p u i h cr me o ther tha th o e e u merated i
the C o tit u ti o ) are a l t o gether v o i d d Of f o rce d that
the p o wer t o create d efi e d p u i h u c h o ther crime i
re erv d d o f right appertai
o l e l y d e x c l u ive l y t o
the re pective State each withi i t w territ o ry
R
l d T hat it i tr u e
a ge era l p ri cip l e d
3d
i a l o e x pre l y dec l ared b y
f the ame dme t t o the
C o tit u ti o that the p o wer
t de l egated t o the U ited
State b y the C o tit u ti o
pr o hi b ited b y i t t o the State
were re erved t o the State re pective l y
t o the pe o p l e ;
p o wer o ver the freed o m o f re l igi o f reed o m f
d that
peech
freed o m f the pre b ei g de l egated t o the
U ited State b y the C o tit u ti o
pr o hib ited b y it t o
the State a ll l awf u l p o wer re pecti g the ame did Of right
remai
d were re erved t o the State
the pe o p l e that
th u w ma ife ted their determi ati o t o retai them e l ve
the right f j u dgi g h o w f ar the lice ti ou e f peech d
f the pre
m
b e a b ridge d with ou t l e e i g their u efu l
freed o m d h o w far th o e ab u e which ca o t b e eparated
fr o m their
h ou l d b e t ol erated rather tha the
b e de
tr o yed ; d th u a l o they g u arded agai t a ll ab ridgme t
b y the U ited State f the freed o m f re l igi ou Opi i o
d
e x erci e
d retai ed t o them e l ve the right Of pr o tecti g
the ame
thi State b y l aw pa ed the ge era l dema d
f i t citize
had a l ready pr o tecte d them fr o m a ll h u ma
re trai t
i terfere ce d that i additi o t o thi ge era l
pri cip l e d e x pre dec l arati o a o ther d m o re pecia l
pr o vi i o h b ee made b y
f the ame dme t t o the
C o tit u ti o which e x pre l y dec l are that C o gre hall
ma k e l aw re pecti g e tab l i hme t Of re l igi o
pr o
h i b i t i g the free e x erci e there o f o r ab ridgi g the freed o m f
peech o f the pre
there b y gu ardi g i the ame
te ce d u der the ame w o rd the freed o m f re l igi o f
peech d f the pre ; i o m u ch that whatever vi ol a t e
either thr o w d o w the a ct u ary which c o ver the o ther
s
n
ss
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n
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,
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n,
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n
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an
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ay
an
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ss o
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n n
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nn
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use
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ns
s,
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an
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s
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s
an
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an
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A uth o r s h ip of th e
The
I 54
th e re i s th e m o s t radica l diffe rence T h e eighth i n
th e J effe r s o n drau gh t i s l o n g a n d decl amatory whil e
th e n i n th is a sh ort directo ry clau s e p rovi di n g that
.
,
,
that l i b e l f a l eh oo d d defamati o eq u a ll y with h ere y
d fa l e re l igi o
are withhe l d fro m the c o g iza ce f federa l
tri bu a l that theref o re the act f C o gre f the U ited
State pa ed
the 1 4 th day Of Ju l y 798 e titl ed A
act i additi o t o
act e titl ed
act f o r the p u i hme t
O f certai crime agai t the U ited State
which d o e
ab ridge the freed o m f the pre i t l aw bu t i a l t o gether
v o id d f f o rce
l d T hat a l ie frie d are u der the j u ri dicti o
4t h R
f the l aw
d pr o tecti o
f the State wherei they are that
p o wer o ver them h b ee de l egated t o the U ited State
pr o hi b ited t o the i divid u a l State di ti ct fr o m their
p o wer o ver citize
d it b ei g tr u e
a ge era l pri cip l e
d
f the ame d m e t t o the C o tit u ti o havi g a l o
dec l ared that the p o wer t de l egated t o the U ited Stat e
b y the C o tit u ti o
pr o hi b ited b y it t o the State are
erved t o the State re pective l y
t o the pe o p l e the act f
f the U ited Stare
the C o gre
pa ed
the day Of
Ju l y 798 e tit l ed A act c o cer i g a l ie
which
u me p o wer o ver a l ie frie d t de l egated b y the C o ti
i
d of
f o rce
t ti
t l aw bu t i a l t o gether v o id
l d T hat i additi o
t o the ge era l pri cip l e
s th R
t de l egated
we ll the e x pre dec l arati o that p o wer
are re erved a o ther d m ore pecia l pr o vi i o i erted i
the C o tit u ti o fr o m abu da t ca u ti o h dec l ared that
the m igrati o
imp o rtati o f u ch per o
y Of the
State w e x i ti g ha ll thi k pr o per t o admit ha ll t b e
pr o hi b ited b y the C o gre pri o r t o the year 1 8 8 that thi
c o mm o wea l th d o e admit the emigrati o f a l ie f rie d de
cri b ed the ub ject f the aid act c o cer i g a l ie
that
a pr o vi i o agai t pr o hi b iti g their migrati o i a pr o vi i o
agai t a ll act eq u iva l e t theret o it w ou l d b e u gat o ry ;
that t o rem o ve the m whe emigrated i eq u iva l e t t o a pr o
d i
theref o re c o trary t o the
h ib i t i
f their migrati o
d v o id
aid pr o vi i o f the C o tit u ti o
l d T hat the impri o me t Of a per o u der
6 th R
h i fai l
the pr o tecti o f the l aw f thi c o mm o wea l th
u re t o Ob ey the imp l e o rder o f the P re ide t t o depart t o f
the U ited State
b y the aid act e titl ed
i u derta k e
act c o cer i g al ie
A
i c o trary t o the C o tit u ti o
ame dme t o f which h pr o vided that
per o ha ll
d that
b e deprived f l i b erty with ou t d u e pr o ce o f l aw
an d
s,
an
s
n
s,
o
n
an
n
no
an
n
,
n
n
s
1
s no
n
,
,
as
an
n
n
n,
s
n
s
n
s
n o
e s o ve
s,
s
,
n o
,
s o
n
n
n
o ne
n
n
o
,
n n
n
n
n
as
s
ns,
”
s
on
s
n
n
n
,
n
n
s
s
s
n
.
s
s
n
n
s
n an
ns
s
s
n
,
an
s,
ns
as
,
n
n
n
n,
n
s
n n
n
s
n
on o
no
s
,
0
s O
,
n
ns
as an
n o
s
s
ns
ss
ns
ns
n,
as
s
s
,
no
s
s
as
n
n
n
.
n
s
n o
s
as
no
s
n
n
s
”
ns
n
n
n or
s no
ns ,
an
n
ns
n n
n,
n
,
o
s no
ss
s
re
on
ss
s
,
s,
,
n
n
s
s
”
s,
n
e s o ve
.
n
or
,
n
,
n
n
s
s
n
ns
s
o
,
s
as
n
n, nor
s
.
n
as
n s
s
n
s
s no
s
n
n
n
n
o
ns
o n,
s
s,
,
s
s
n
an
ns
ss
n
s
,
n
n
n
”
n
as
no r
u
s,
s o
no
,
n
,
n s
s no
ss,
n o
one
“
.
e s o ve
.
n
o
1
n
ns
o
o
o
an
n
s
n
ss
,
n
an
n
on
ss
s,
an
s
n,
s
n
n,
an
,
ou
s
n
,
n,
ns
n
no
as
ss
s
an
n s
,
A u th ors hip
Th e
I 56
of
th e
Ke n tucky Resol utio n s i s a directo ry clau s e total l y
u n like th e n i n th of t h e oth e r p ap er an d th e ninth
i s th e e ighth o f th e oth er m uch re du ce d a n d greatly
s h orn of i t s declamatio n a n d v e rbiage
at a time o f greater tra n q u i ll ity whi l e th o s e
a n d c o rrecti o n
s pecifie d i n the precedi n g re s o l u ti o n s ca ll f o r immediate r e
,
.
,
,
dre
ss
.
hat C o m m ittee f C o fere ce d C o r
re p o de ce b e app o i te d wh o ha ll have i charge t o c o m
m
i t
the precedi g re ol u ti o t o the l egi l at u re f the
evera l State ; t o a u re the m that thi c o mm o wea l th
the am e e teem f o r their f rie d hip d u i o
ti
i
which it h m a ife ted fr o m that m o me t at which a c o mm o
da ger fir t u gge ted a c o mm o u i o ; that it c o ider
u i o f o r p eci fied ati o a l p u rp o e d particu l arl y f o r
th o e pecifie d i their l ate federa l c o mpact t o b e frie d l y t o
the peace happi e
d pr o perity f a ll the State
that
f aithfu l t o that c o mpact acc o rdi g t o the p l ai i te t d
m ea i g i which it w u der t oo d d acceded t o b y the
evera l partie it i i cere l y a x i ou f o r i t pre ervati o ;
that it d o e a l o b e l ieve that t o tak e fr o m the State a ll the
p o wer f e l f g o ver me t d tra fer them t o a ge era l
d c o o l idated g o ver me t with ou t regard t o the pecia l
de l egati o
d re ervati o
ol em l y agreed t o i that m
pact i
pr o perity f the e
t f o r the peace happi e
State
d that theref o re thi c o mm o wea l th i determi ed
it d oub t t i t
State are t o ub mit t o u de l egated
d c o eq u e t l y u l imite d p o wer i
m
bo dy f
m
earth ; that i ca e f
a bu e o f the de l egate d
p o wer the m em b er f the G e era l G o ver me t b ei g
ch o e b y the pe o p l e a cha ge b y the pe o p l e w ou l d b e the
c o tit u ti o a l remedy bu t where p o wer are a u med which
have t b ee de l egated a l l i fi t i o f the act i the right
remedy ; that every State h a at u ra l right i ca e
t
withi the c o mpact (
f d i ) t o u ll ify o f their
w a u th o ri ty a ll a u mpti o
f p o wer b y o ther withi their
l imit ; that with ou t thi right they w ou l d b e u der the
d o mi i o ab o l u te d u l imited O f what o ever m ight
ci e thi right f j u dgme t f o r them that everthe l e thi
c o mm o wea l th fr o m m o tive f regard d re pect f o r i t
State h wi hed t o c o mm u icate with the m the ub ject ;
that with them a l o e it i pr o per t o c o mm u icate they a l o e
b ei g partie t o the c o mpact d o l e l y a u th o rized t o j u dge
i the l a t re o rt o f the p o wer e x erci ed u der it C o g re
b ei g t a party b u t mere l y the creat u re f the c o mpact
8 th
s
e s o l v e d,
R
.
T
n
n
n
un ca e
s
nu e s
s
n,
n
s
n
n
n
s
ss , an
n
s
s,
o
s
s
s
s
s
-
s co-
n
n
s
nu
or
n
an
s
ca
n
s
n
non
ce
n
er
s
s
n
n
s
s
no
e x e r
s
,
n
,
an
n
s
an
s
,
s
s co
on
s
,
ss
s
n
n
no
n
,
s
s o
s
s
n
n
,
as
n
ss
on
n
o
o
n
s
s
s,
,
s
ns o
ss
n,
,
n
c as u s
s
n
an
no
n
,
n
n
n
s
n
s
n
n
s
o
s
an
s o
co
s
s
,
as
n
or
n
o
,
n
n
s
n
ss ,
s
s
n
an
n
s
s
n
no
o
s
n
n
on
ns
n
s
n
,
s,
s
,
ns
ns s
,
ns
n
,
,
s no
s
s
an
n
s
an
n
an
s
n
n
n
as
e n,
an
s,
n
n
no
s
an
n
s
s
n s an
s
n
ns
o
s n
ns
,
n
n
as
s
an
n
n
,
n n
n
,
n
,
an
s
n
n
s
con
n
s
s
o
n
s
s
s
s
an
s
s
n
as
n
ns
s
ss
n
n
n
s
,
n
s
n
o
a
s
n
,
s
s
n
o
,
n
ss
,
R olu tio n of
[ {e n t u e hy
I 57
s
es
chief significan ce o f th es e ch an ge s lie s in
th e alteration i n t h e directo ry clau s e T h e J e ff e r
s o n d rau gh t s n i n th re s olu tio n i s a n o rdinary d i r e c
tory clau s e p oi n ti n g o u t i n what m an n e r th e com
t o the fi n a l j u dg
a n d s ub ject a s t o i t s a s s u mpti o n o f p o wer
it s e l f a n d i t s
s
m e n t o f th o s e b y wh o m a n d f o r wh o s e
p o wer s were a ll created an d m o dified that if the act b ef o re
the s e c o c l u s i o n s w ou l d fl o w f r o m
s pecified s h ou l d s ta n d
them that the G e n era l G o vern m e n t may p l ace a ny act they
thi n k pr o per o n the l i s t o f crime s a n d p u n i h it them s e l ve s
w hether e n u merated o r n o t e n u m erated b y the C o n s tit u ti o n
a s c o g n iza b l e b y the m
that they may tra n s fer i t s c o gn iza n ce
t o the P re s ide n t o r a n y o ther per s o n wh o may him s e l f b e
Th
e
.
’
,
,
u
,
e
,
,
n
,
,
s
,
,
the acc u er c ou e l j u dge d j u ry wh o e u pici o may
b e the evide ce h i o rder the e te ce h i o fficer the
ti
d h i b rea t the o l e rec o rd o f the tra acti o
;
that a very u mer ou d va l u ab l e de cripti o o f the i h b i
ta t f the e State b ei g b y thi precede t red u ced
t
l aw t o the a b o l u te d o mi i o Of
m
d the b arrier o f
the C o tit u ti o th u wept away f
a ll
rampart w
d the p o wer o f a maj o rity i
remai agai t the pa i o
C o gre t o pr o tect fr o m a l i k e e x p o rtati o o r o ther m o re
p u i hme t the mi o rity o f the ame bo dy the
g riev ou
l egi l at u re j u dge g o ver o r
d c ou e ll o r
f the
State
their o ther peacea b l e i hab ita t wh o
m ay v e t u re t o rec l aim the c o tit u ti o a l right
d
d pe o p l e
l ib ertie f the State
wh o f o r o ther
ca u e g oo d
b ad may b e ob ox i ou t o the view
mark ed b y the u pici o
be
f the P re ide t
th ou ght da ger ou t o h i o r their e l ecti o
o ther i tere t
p ub l ic per o a l that the frie d l e a l ie h i deed b ee
e l ected the afe t ub j ect o f a fir t e x perime t bu t the
citize wi l l oo f o ll o w ; rather h a l ready f o ll o wed ; f o r
a l ready h a editi o act mar k ed him i t prey that the e
d u cce ive act
f the ame character u l e
arre ted at
the thre h o l d ece ari l y drive the e State i t o rev o l u ti o d
b l oo d d wi l l f u r i h w ca l u m ie agai t rep ub l ica g o v
m
t
w prete x t f o r th o e wh o wi h it t o b e b e l ieved
d
that m ca o t b e g o ver ed bu t b y a r o d Of ir o that it
w ou l d b e a da ger ou de l u i o were a c o fide ce i the m
Of
ch o ice t o i l ce ou r fear f o r the afety o f
right
that c o fide ce i everywhere the pare t f de p o ti m F ree
g o ver me t i f ou ded i jea l ou y d t i c o fide ce it
d
t c o fide ce which pre cri b e l imited
i jea l ou y
t o b i d d o w th o e wh o m we are ob l iged t o tru t
ti
ti
,
s
ns
,
n
oner
,
,
n
s
s
n
ns
n
one
n
ss
ns
ns,
s
n
n
s
an
s,
o
s
or
,
,
n
ne
e n s , an
an
n
n
n
n
s
tu
s
o ns ,
,
n
s
n
n
s
n
s
n
n
n
s
no
n
s
n
n
n
s
,
n
n
s
s
an
n an
ns
s
s
e n
s
n
s
n
nn
our
ss
n
s
n
s
,
s
n
,
ne
n
n
s
s
n s
as
s s,
as
s
ss
an
or
n
n
as
s o
s
n
s
n
ss
n
ss
,
s
s,
s
s
n
s
s
s
s
ns , o r
n
an
s
o
s
s
as
as
n
n s,
or
n
s
o
s
n
,
n
s
n
an
,
s
or
,
ns
ns
s,
s
no
n
n
s
no
,
nor
s
s
us
n
or
e rn
an
n
n
s
as o u
an
,
s,
s,
s
a
n,
n s
s,
n
,
ss
s
an
an ,
or
ns
n
s
,
s
s
e x e cu
s
n
s
ns
s
,
s an
s
n
n
ns
s
s
s
n
ns
n
s
s
,
s
s
n s o
an
,
s
,
an
,
,
an
en
our
o
s
no
s
s
n
n
s
s
.
n
con
s
A uth ors hip
Th e
I 58
of
th e
m it t e e
app oi n te d i n the p recedi n g res olu tion should
p roceed Th e K e n tucky Re s olutio n s m ovi n g u p
th e sh ort re s olutio n t o th e eighth place m ake it
m erely an o rde r fo r th e tra n s m i s s io n o f th e Res olu
tio n s to th e Co n gre s s me n o f th e S tate W i t h i n s t r u c
”
tio n s to p re s s f o r a repeal o f th e O b n oxiou s acts
while in th e ni n th i n s tead o f ap poi n ti n g a s p ecial
c ommittee th ey auth oriz e th e gove r n or to commu n i
cate th e Re s ol u tion s t o th e o th e r legislature s In
vi ew o f th e fac t that th ere was s eriou s doub t among
th e Virginia state s men whethe r th e p owe r to act in
th e p remi s e s wa s em b raced in th e o rdinary p owers
.
,
,
,
,
.
with p o wer that ou r C o tit u ti o h acc o rdi g l y fi x ed the
l imit t o which
d
f u rther ou r c o fide ce may g o A d
d Sedi
l et the h o e t adv o cate f c o fide ce read the A l ie
fi
h
i
ti o act
if
the
C
o
tit
u
ti
o
b
ee
wi
e
d
t
y
i g l imit t
the g o ver me t it created
d whether we
h ou l d b e wi e i de tr o yi g th o e l imit L t him y what
the g o ver me t i if it b e t a tyra y which the m o f
ch o ice have c o ferred ou r P re ide t d the P re ide t
f
ch o ice h a e ted t o d accepted o ver the frie d l y
tra ger t wh o m the mi l d pirit f
c ou try d i t l aw
f
had p l edged h o pita l ity d pro tecti o that the m
ch o ice ha v e m o re re pected the b are u pici o o f the P re i
de t tha the o l id right o f i o ce ce the c l aim f j t i fi
cati o the acred f o rce o f tru th d the f o rm d ub ta ce
f l aw
d j u tice
l et
m o re
i q u e ti o
f p o wer the
b e heard o f c o fide ce i m bu t b i d him d o w fr o m m i
chief b y the chai
f the C o tit u ti o ; that thi c o mm o
wea l th d o e theref o re ca ll i t
State f o r e x pre i o
d f o r the
o f their e time t
the act c o cer i g a l ie
p u i hme t o f certai crime herei b ef o re pecified ; p l ai l y
dec l ari g whether the e act are o r are t a u th o rized b y the
F edera l c o mpact
A d it d oub t
e e wi ll b e e ou ced
t that their
t o pr o ve their attachme t u a l tered t o l imited g o ver me t
d l i b er
whether ge era l partic u l ar ; d that the right
tie i their State wi ll b e e x p o ed t o
da ger b y
mai i g em b ar k ed i a c o mm o bo tt o m with their w that
they wi ll c o c u r with thi c o mm o weal th i c o ideri g the
aid act
pa l pab l y agai t the C o tit u ti o
t o am ou t
ns
s
n
n
an
,
n
no
s
n
s
n
s
n
n
s
our
s
n
as
s
s
s
on
ss
o
s
o
n
,
nn
s
s
,
an
o
n
s
n
n
ns
s
n s
n s
n
on
n
n
s
n n
ns
n
s
s
s
n
an
n
s
no
,
,
n
ss
an
s
n
n
n
s
s
no
n,
,
n
o ur
us
s
s an
s c o-
s
o
s o
n
on
s
s
,
an
ns
s
ns
s
n
an,
O
,
n
en
ns o
s
n
s,
an
n
n
s
n
s
n
our
an
s
n,
an
,
,
s
n
n
an
n
s
en
,
s
x
sa
e
.
nn
n
s
an
,
no
n
n
as n o
n
s,
o ur
o
n an
n
n
n
.
n
ns
o
s
n
n
n
sa
n
as
,
o
an
s,
n
,
.
n
s no
s
n
n
s O
n n
s
s as so
n
s
an
s
no
s
n
ns
ns
ns
n as
n
re
s
o
n
s
as
an
n
n
n
n
n
n
so
n
or
c o-
ns
n
n
n
,
1
Th e
60
A u th o rs hip of th e
ki n d u nde r th e s e circum stances migh t well have
had s om e deep er s ign ifican ce than a m ere orderi n g
o f th e re s olu ti o n s
f o r if it wa s i n te n de d that this
clau s e s h oul d b e a me re direction f o r effectuating
th e p rovi s ion s o f th e in s trument i t wa s p rop erly
th e las t re s olution b u t if th e draughtsm an i n te n de d
t o as s e rt a p ri n cipl e an d emb ody a p oi n t of p oliti
cal doctri n e in it th en th e l ogical s equ e n ce de
m a n d e d th at it sh ould p recede th e decl amatory
clau s e which th ereup on b ecam e th e fi n al re solve
b oth l ogically a n d l ocally M r M adi s on s aw this
and adopte d th e former order a n d declare d h i s o b
M ore notable p e rhap s bu t
j e c t i o n t o th e l atter
really l es s s ignifican t i s th e omi s sion out of th e
l ong declamatory re s olutio n o f th e clau s e s in which
th e word n u l l i fic a t i o n occu rre d I f in droppi n g
th e s e clau s e s a n y actual chan ge o f meani n g had
th ereby b ee n effecte d this would h ave b een a m o s t
m ome n tou s alteration b ut as will b e s h ow n in th e
n ext chapte r th ough th e reby verb ally omitted
every exp re s s ion ne ce s s ary to c onvey a n y idea at
that day inclu de d i n the word n u l l i fic a t i o n had a l
ready b een introduced i n to th e p ap e r b y e qu ivale n t
word s a n d ph ras e s
Two que stio n s n aturally s u gge s t th em s elve s for
wh at pu rp o s e and b y wh om were th e cha n ge s
made
In t h e fi r s t place th e re i s n o known rea
s o n which coul d h ave dictate d t h e s e cha n ge s u n l e s s
th e p refere n c e o n th e part o f M r B recki n ridge fo r
actio n by the ordinary S tate auth oritie s in s tead o f
an extraordi n ary committee b e s uch a reaso n
If
made by him they sh owe d a free dom o n h i s part
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
R s olutio ns (f
[ {e n t u e hy
e
1
6
1
which coupled with h i s ve ry lat e requ e s t to Caleb
”
“
Wallace to draw s omething referre d to i n the
l ette r qu ote d ab ove from Wallace to B r e c k in
ridge woul d s eem to indicate a very indep e n dent
attitude o n th e part o f th at ge n tl eman toward s the
res olutio n s a s fi r s t dra wn T o adva n ce th e n to th e
qu e s tio n o f wh o m ad e th e al te rati o n s while i t mu s t
b e freely admitte d that th ere i s n o direct evidenc e
t o b e p rocu red th e circu m s tan ti al evid e n ce woul d
s eem to indicate th at h avi n g c o n s ulte d with th e
Virgi n ia p arty l eader s M r B reckinridge b rou gh t
b ack t o K entu cky th e J effe r s o n drau gh t and afte r
fu rthe r consideratio n p erh ap s afte r furth er c o n
s u l t a t i o n f o r i t h as already b een s een that h e was
o n th e fi el d at Frankfort s om e tim e b efore th e l egi s
l a t u r e m et h e m odifie d a n d r e or dere d th e re s olu
tion s accordi n g to hi s own b e s t j udgm e n t a n d in
that form p re s ente d th em to th e H ou s e of R e p r e
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If this v iew b e correct an d M r B recki n ridge
after diligent p rep aration a n d afte r p rocu ri n g vari
o u s O pinion s from l eadi n g Republica n s o n th e a c
tion to b e taken fi n ally made u s e o f a d rau gh t
d raw n p robab ly b y M r J effe r s o n aft e r co n sultation
with C 01 Nicholas an d h im s elf as th e ba s i s o f th e
re s olutio n s introduced by h im i n to th e Ke n tucky
legi s latu re o f 1 79 8 h i s part woul d h ave b een s o
domi n a n t a n d s o i n dep e n de n t that it would h ave
b e en n o exaggeratio n o f h i s p art fo r him to claim o r
t o acquie s ce in th e claim s made s o con s tan tly for
him th at h e wa s th e au tho r o f the re s olve s S uch
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1
A
n te
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page
14 7
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Th e
I 62
A uth ors h ip
f
(
th e
claim s woul d h ave re s te d o n a s oli d b asis an d
w oul d n o t in any wi s e h ave run cou n ter to th at hi gh
s e n s e o f h o n or which h e s o rightly valu e d a n d for
which h e was s o d eeply re sp ected T h i s would b e
doubly tru e if h avi n g r e ceive d aid from M r J e ffe r
s o n o n ly am o n g oth er s a n d that u n de r a s trict i n
j unction o f s ecrecy h e had not di s cl os ed th e
comparatively mi n o r p art played by Mr J efferson
in th e affair On th e othe r h and it i s s omewhat
h ard t o reco n cil e th e idea advan ce d by M r J e ffe r
s on s l ette r with th e k n own ch aracter of M r B reck
in r idg e
S u ch a o n e migh t well h ave con s ente d
t o b ear th e odium an d abu s e that cam e from th e
maj ority o f th e S tate s for h is chief b u t it i s di fficult
t o b elieve th at h e could h ave s a t in s il e n ce u nde r
th e p rai s e o f h i s o wn S tate and of h is comrades i n
th e Republica n ran k s an d th e adulatio n that was
not u n commo n els ewh e re when J effer s o n b ecame
th e bel ove d l eade r of a large p art o f th e cou n try
I t i s well t o remark in thi s connection his inde
n d e n c e o f M r J effer s on illu s trated in his l etter
e
p
co n cerning th e action o f th e foll owi n g year There
h e relate s with th e simpl e s t an d m o s t s t r ai g h t fo r
ward m an n e r h i s i n te n tion o f di s regardi n g th e
advice co n veye d throu gh Colo n el Wil s on Carey
N ich ola s to rea s s e rt th e pri n ciple s e n unciate d in
th e Re s oluti o n s O f 98 ; a n d h e goes o n to s ay
that m ove d n o t by th i s advice bu t by a fear l e s t
s ile n ce migh t b e mi s co n s tru ed i n to a cha n ge o f
s entime n t
th e legi s lature had fi n ally decided t o
take actio n
Thi s i s th orou ghly in accorda n ce
with h i s n atu ral attitude an e ve n m ore decided
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A uth o rs hip
Th e
I 64
of
th e
a s s i s tance i n th e p rep ar a tion o f a s uitable d raught
from variou s p erson s bu t e s pecially from Th oma s
J effe rs o n wh o h ad i n de p e n de n tly co n ceive d a s im i
lar de s ign with regard to North C aroli n a an d p rob
ably al s o Virgi n ia A t a co n fe re n ce at M onticello
M r B reckinridge M r J effer s o n a n d Col on e l
Nich olas ou tli n e d th e p olicy to b e p u r s u e d a n d
M r J effe r s o n at th e r e qu e s t o f h i s comp an io n s
emb odie d i t i n a d rau gh t wh ich p a s s e d i n to M r
B reckinridge s h and s Thi s d rau ght h e made th e
b asi s o f th e p ap e r h e offere d in th e legi slatu re b ut
h e subj ecte d it t o a s earchi n g revi s ion in the cou r s e
o f which i t was altere d a n d m odifi e d in imp orta n t
re s p ects and to a ve ry marked e xten t All thi s wa s
don e u p on h i s s ole re sp o n sibility and th e docum ent
wa s o ffe re d a s h i s a n d afte r a f e w ve rb al ame n d
m ent s p as s ed u n der h i s spon s orship Th e s enti
m ents e x pre s s ed we re th e comm on p rop e rty o f th e
whol e p arty s imilar u ttera n ce s havi n g p roceede d
from many i n formal a s s emblie s and th e general
cou r s e p u rsu ed was ge n erally recomm ended i n b oth
Virgi n ia an d Ke n tu cky ; b ut th e execution o f th e
plan i n all i t s p art s wa s i n M r B recki n ridge s h an d s
an d th ough h e u s ed a drau gh t largely comp ose d
b y M r J effe rs o n h e u s ed it a s a p rivate d ocume n t
su gge s tive rath e r tha n final an d made alte ratio n s in
it o f s o radical a n atu re a s to S h ow that h e did
n o t regard him s elf a s a m e re co n duit by which
M r J effer s o n wa s to h ave acce s s to th e Ke n tucky
l egi s latu re an d th at it did n ot o ccu r t o him that
M r J effe r s o n s o regarde d him In s hort h e was
th e maste r workman M r B reckinridge was n o t
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K
e n tu e
hy
Re s olutions of
16 5
th en th e ab s olute s ol e auth o r o f th e Res olutio n s a s
a p ap e r N or o n the othe r h an d was M r J e ff e r
N or in th e s am e s en s e i s th e s culp to r wh o
so n
m oul ds th e clay a n d p ut s th e fi n i s hi n g touch e s
th e marble th e sol e m ake r o f th e s tat u e :
on
neve rthel e s s th e marble cu tte rs who follow h i s
direction s are little more th an m echa n ical a pp l i
a n c e s fo r reachin g th e artis t s e n d
Th e design
and th e fini s hi n g and p e r fecti n g are m ore i m
p ortant tha n th e tech n ical skill that i s s o e s s en
tial to s u cces s
M r J e fie r s o n was th e greate s t
m aste r of h i s day in frami n g a s tate p ap er and it
d oe s not detract from M r B recki n ridge s j ud gm en t
that h avi n g formed th e pla n o f the cam pai g n O f
1 798 in Kentucky h e s ough t thi s great craft s ma n s
aid and u s ed h i s s ple n did p ower s in re aching h i s
goal A n d i t speaks grea t thi n gs fo r h i s i n de p e n
dence an d self c o n fid e n c e th at h avi n g s u ch a p iece
o f work h e u s e d s uch free dom in changing it t o s ui t
h i s o wn v iews an d th e o b serve d wan ts o f K entucky
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VI I
D OC T R I N E S
TH E
A ND
.
EF F E C T S
R E S OL U T I ON S
OF
TH E
.
Kentucky R e s o lu tio n s of 1 798 w ere o f th e
natu re o f a p olitica l m an ife st o an d a s su ch i n cu rred
a dan ge r which fre qu e n tly attach e s t o s uch fulmina
tion s They di d n o t c o n templat e imm ediat e actio n
an d s o wan ted th a t re s trai n t which th e very natu re
o f th e cas e imp o s e s up on all de cl a ratio n s which
are i n te n de d t o b e acted o n at o n ce o r to b e
com e a rul e o f condu ct Whil e th ey we re m ean t
t o e x pre s s th e s entiments o f th e K e n tu cky p e ople
th ey we re al s o i n tended t o i n vite c o Op e r a t i o n and
gau ge t h e p ol itica l feelin g th rou gh ou t th e country
The s e circu ms tance s did n o t invit e a calm an d
equ abl e state m en t of an exact a n d well d e fin e d
p olicy n or a s trict limi tation o f e v e ry exp re s s ion
t o th e m eas u r e o f a ctio n fo r which th e de c l a r
ant s w e r e prep ared O n th e c o n trary every cir
c u m s t an c e s e em s t o S how th a t th ey were temp te d
t o go v ery f ar i n b ol d declar atio n s wh ich th ey
tru ste d th ey might n eve r h av e t o re d e em in dee d s
Thu s th eir platfo rm for it wa s v ery like a party
platfo rm n atu rally ten de d t o p res e n t a m ax imum
p olicy an d to d ecl ar e a willi n gnes s to go to th e
T
HE
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1 66
I
T h e D oc tr
68
i
ne s a nd
l egislatu re s p oke rheto rically declaring i n heigh t
e ne d m etaphor s th e fact s that woul d have stirre d
up few to l i s ten if cou che d in s imple lan gu age ;
an d in p rop o s i n g th e rem edie s f o r th e p a s t a n d
th e p reventive s for th e fu tu re it l au n che d i n to
b old invective an d grav e m enace
Th e s i s te r
S tate s stil l h eard with col d hearts an d th e s am e
kin d o f u tteran ce was indulge d in th e foll owi n g
“
”
year in th e s olemn prote s t o f th e re s olutio n s o f
1 799
They did n ot p ut th eir words into action
b ut waited Th e tid e was al ready u p on th e tur n
in 1 80 1 M r J effe r s on b ecam e P re s iden t M r M ad
ison S e cretary o f S tate M r B reckin ridge S enator
in C o n gre s s and with a D em ocratic a dm i n s t r a
tion a n d Con gres s th ere wa s n o n ee d o f fu rth e r
act o r declaration Th ey s a t down in p eace a n d
p ower and p ointi n g t o th e declaratio n s o f 1 798
pronou n ce d them th e tru e rep o s itory o f th e p rin
c i p l e s o f their party and left it to a younge r gen
c ration t o try what coul d b e made o f th em i n actual
p ractice I t woul d d oubtl es s h ave b een far h ap
pier for th e c ountry if they could h ave b een tried
an d te s ted at once by p ractical exp eriments as the
p rincipl e s o f th e Fe de rali s ts were trium ph antly
p rove d in th e fi rst years o f o u r natio n al life B u t
th ey were to b e ha n de d down o n ly as th e rally
ing cry in th e gath erin g for a great an d n ota b l e
triumph
Th e victory o f J eff e r s o n ia n D em ocracy in 1 800
w a s compl ete an d fi nal a n d th e n e w ce n tu ry wit
n e s s e d a cha n ge o f r é gime o f th e m o s t radical
ch aracte r In v e ry ma n y re sp ects the re h as been
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Efl e e ts qf th e
R s olutions
e
169
.
retu rn to th e ol d orde r o f thi n gs and p robab l y
can neve r b e T h e o l d Fe deralis t p arty had many
fin e old fa s hio n e d n otion s which were a goo d d eal
tinged with ari s tocratic memorie s of the colonia l
day s and which we re fo rwarded by th e natu ral
nobility o f Wa s hington a n d th e tas te f o r s how that
amounte d to a foible in Adams I n deed although
th e country gene rally was feeling afte r th e demo
”
cratic simplicity which J effe rson intro duced i t
wa s a n ew thing a n d they did n ot k n ow e x actly
h ow it was to b e attained withou t s acrifi ci n g th e
dignity o f th e gover n me n t T he n e w p re s ident
b roke th e spell when h e rode t o th e C ongre s s
hou s e and tie d h i s h ors e to the fence an d went
in T he n cefo rth it was th e e s sence n ot th e s e m
b lan ce o f autho rity that wa s all p owerful T he
n e w o rder o f thi n g s e x ercis ed a great s p ell ove r
th e p op ulace an d th e Fe deral p arty m el ted away
a n d l eft th e fi el d more an d m o re t o th e n ew party
till i n 1 8 1 6 when M r M onro e wa s ch osen to th e
chief magistracy the re was p ractically n o oppo
s itio u
I t i s th e e x p erience o f many centu rie s th at th e
royal minis ter natu rally s e ek s t o e x al t th e p r e r o g a
tive o f th e c row n and the l ead er o f th e admini s tra
tion to strength en th e h ands o f governme n t Non e
coul d e x p ect a party i n p ower to b e ins tant in s e a
s o n a n d o u t o f s eas on t o c urb its o wn a u th o rity
H ence it wa s that wh en M r J effer s on an d hi s fol
l ower s foun d th e c ontrol of affair s i n th eir b an d s they
grew far le s s j eal ou s o f th e ove rgrown centra l gov
e r nm e n t
and while they in s ome m easure p runed
no
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Th e D
0
7
o c tr i n e s
an
d
away g r o wth s that th ey we re in a s ense p l e dge d
to rem ove th ey n everth el e s s fostere d a n d grafte d
i n oth e rs which hardly h armo n i zed with their p olicy
The ta s k o f c o n s t i t u
o f th e o l d day s o f oppo s itio n
t i o n a l co n st r u ction was natu rally a di ffi cul t o n e and
eve n u nde r th e teach in g o f th e Re s olutio n s o f 98
th ere wa s room f o r diff ere n ce s of opinio n N O on e
coul d s e t up an e x ac t s tan dard There were few wh o
dare d attemp t t o exclud e certain plain an d obviou s
p owers which we re only given to t h e c en t ral g o vern
ment by impli c ation from th e C onsti t u tion Th e
gre at controversy lay a s t o wh ere th e l imit o f i m
plication was t o b e s e t Th e s am e man migh t well
d raw h i s b oun d s di ffe re ntly at diffe rent time s an d
a p arty c oul d hardly b e expe cte d t o ob se r ve e n tire
con siste n cy o n s uch a p oint H enc e it wa s th at
th e Republican o r D em ocratic party s h i fte d i t s
grou n d o n man y occa s io n s
Th e fi rs t te s ti n g o f th e p rinci p le s of 98 by th e
J effers onian s th at h ad a n y importance occu rre d in
1 80 3 i n co n n e ctio n with th e p u rcha s e of Loui s iana
Th at m e asu re was e x tremely p opular and th ere
wa s n o qu estion th at th e m aj ority o f the p eople
were eage r t o give thei r s anction t o it T he futu re
o f th e n e w We s t was b eginni n g t o d awn o n the
mind s of many men an d th e op enin g O f th e way to
th e Gulf and o f th e great country b eyon d th e M is
Bu t th e P resi
s i s s i p p i to b e an imp ortant obj ect
de n t was se riou sly i n doub t if u n de r th e C o n s t i t u
tion th e re wa s an y p ower t o acqu ire territory T he
unh appy remnant o f th e n obl e O l d Fe de ralist party
torn by internal dis sen sion s b roken by revers es
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I
Th e
7
2
Do ctr i n e s
a nd
t h i s time and he feared that if hi s p arty c ommitte d
i tse l f to the p o l icy of p rocu ring an amendment it
wou l d l ose L oui siana It required a two t h ir d s
v ote to p ass such a b i ll and the Fe d era l ists h a d a
v ery active remnant sti ll in the fi e l d
The resu l t
sh owe d that thi s wou l d h a ve b een a rea l danger
For when the treaty cam e u p for ratification in th e
S enate on l y one F ede ra l ist G en er a l Dayton vote d
for it U nder whatever p ressure o r in d ucement
h e forme d hi s o pinion M r B rec k inridge was fir m
in th e c onviction t h at n o s p eci al au thority was
n ece ssary in th e p remises an d thoug h p ressed to
intro d uce som e measu re into the S enate steadi l y d e
c l i n e d an d op p o se d the p o l icy wit h suc h success t h at
the p roj ect was ab andone d an d the P resi d ent was at
l ast c ontent wit h an act auth orizin g h im t o o c cupy
an d temp orari l y govern th e n e w territory This i s
a strange and instru ctive commentary on the fa ll i
These m en certain l y
b i l i t y o f human j u dgment
were in the fu ll e st symp athy five years b efore an d
affected to l ay d own the l imits of m otion under
j u st such c onditions ; and yet in the first test , s o
imperfect was th e ru l e of c onduct t h at b ot h ad
hering to it t h ey were found in diametrica ll y opp o
site p ositions I s it any wonder t h at in the h ou r of
fi ercest confl ict those wh o e qu a ll y ac k now l edged
the authority of th e K entuc k y R eso l utions s h ou ld
h ave differed n o l es s radic a l l y
But it was not l ong b efore an even more singu l ar
contrast wa s to b e e x hi b ited to th e wor l d in this
conne c tion T h e eagerne ss of the W est an d South
force d M r Ma d ison t o gi ve h i s san c tion to the
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Efl e e i s
f
o
R
I ke
e so
lu t io ns
I
.
73
war of 1 8 1 2
Th e measures p recedin g th e war,
the n on intercourse act the em b argo and the war
itse l f weighe d fearfu ll y o n c ommerci a l N ew E ng
l an d There to o the l ast b ro k en remains of Fed
a hop e l es s and therefore
e r a l i s m l angui shed in
b itter opp osition The b urden l ai d u p on them
at l ast seeme d greater than they c ou l d b ear and in
1 8 [ 4 a convention of de l egates from the N ew E ng
l and St a te s met a t H artford C onnecticu t agree ab l e
to the ca ll of the M assachu setts l egis l atu re The
committee whic h recommende d the c a ll in g of thi s
convention sp o k e wit h mu ch vigor in its rep ort
“
and dec l are d th a t when the n a tiona l comp a ct i s
vio l ated and the citizens of th e S t a te are oppresse d
b y c rue l and unauthorized l aw thi s l e gis l a ture i s
b ound to interpose its p ower an d w r est from th e
”
opp ressor hi s victim
Tw en ty si x de l egate s
came together an d d e b ate d the situation p r o and
very l itt l e to their own
e o n b ehind c l ose d do ors
satisfa ction an d great l y to the a l a rm of th e country
and e sp eciall y o f th e P resident The re su l t wa s a r e
p ort which discourage d precipitation o r any imme
d iate action an d whi l e i t firm l y asserted th e right
of a St a te to resist oppression dec l a red that in th e
opinion of the convention the tim e for suc h action
had not c ome On e p aragraph wh ic h is character
i s t i c of the who l e rep ort i s particu l ar l y worth qu ot
ing It dec l a res
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In case of de l i b erate d a ngerou s
,
an d
p al p a b l e
v e y fu ll ep o ts o f th e n tece d e n t l egis l ti v e cti on
d t h e p o cee d i n gs o f t h e H tf o d c on v e n ti on see N i l
1
an
,
For
R eg i s te r ,
r
r
r
ar
r
1 8 1 3 —1 8 1 4
.
a
a
r
,
a
es
'
I 74
T oe
Do ctr ine s
’
ma
e
infra c tion of the C onstitution affectin g the s o ve r
e i g n t y of the St a te an d l i b e r tie s of the p eop l e
it i s
n ot on l y th e right b u t th e dut y o f such a S t a te t o
interp o se its a uth ority for th eir p rotection in the
”
m a nner b est c a l cu l ate d to secure th e end
M r M adiso n at that time P resident wa s h ar
assed and a l m o st in desp a ir at the dar k out l oo k
on eve r y side In hi s e y e s the H a rtford c o n v e n
tion was th e gathering of a b ody of arch conspira
tors R est l es s and une a sy h e watche d i t with
arme d men an d to hi s ears these wo r ds came l i k e
t h e wic k e d v oice of treason It may we l l b e i n
quire d i f h e re m em b ere d that it was he who si x teen
years b efore had p enned the thi r d reso l ution of the
V irgini a s e r ies d ec l aring
“
That in c a se of a de l i b erate p a l p abl e and
d angerou s e x erci se o f p owers n ot g r a nted b y the
compact the States who a r e p a r ties th ereto h a ve a
right an d are in du ty b ound to interp o se for
arre sting the p rog r es s of the evi l and for maintain
ing within their resp ective l imits the authorities
”
rig h ts and l i b erties a pp ert a ining t o them
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The one i s sc a rce l y m ore than a n echo of the
other an d t h e p a r a ll e l is heightened b y t h e fa ct
t h at t h e sentiment of the seventh reso l u tion e x p ress
ing attachment to th e U nion which M r M adison
s o constant l y insiste d in l ater l ife wa s a l ways to b e
tak en in connection with the thi r d reso l ution has
its counterpart in the report o f this convention
In one m a teria l resp ect the dec l a rations of this
convention differed from those of 1 798
The
m e a su res of redres s p rop o sed were ver y different
In the fo r mer case an app ea l had b ee n m a de to the
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I 76
Doctr in e s
T /ze
an
d
the o l d Federa l ist party Thou gh that p arty h a d
out l ived its mission and from b eing the repository
of many no bl e p rincip l es and the champion of
m any honorab l e m easu res h ad sun k throu gh too
great gree d of p ower into a b ody of wrang l ers and
o b structionists it sti l l had some abl e mem b ers who
retaine d a l iving ho ld on t h e p rincip l e s that had
once b een its g l ory an d were b ound to its p oor
s k e l eton b y the sp l en d ors of its traditions The
one sentiment that sti ll survive d with unimpaire d
vigor an d p ervade d th e b o som of every mem b er of
t h e faction was a h atre d of the R ep u bl ican p arty
of al l its l eaders an d all its m easures It foun d i t
s e l f n o w p rof e s sing t h at p arty s o l d p rincip l es b ut
i t was unwi l l ing to ac k now l edge the fountain
w h ence the y sp rang N ot h ing wou ld h ave d rawn
t h em to suc h a p rofes si on Th e R epu bl icans a l so
were somewhat b ac k ward i n seeing the resem bl ance
T h ey at l east s a w nothing uncon stitu tiona l in the
l aws now c omp l aine d of no r c ou l d they discover
any anal ogy b etween 1 798 and 1 8 1 4 Thu s a par
tisan spirit bl inded t h e eye s of b oth p arties an d
w h i l e th e one shran k from drawing a prece d ent
from the p romu l gations of th e other that o ther
l o o k e d with u nmas k ed c on d emnation on the reas
sertion in a l most i d entica l l anguage of their great
fundamenta l p arty p l atform
There was a happier issu e ou t of their trou b l es
near at h an d than t h e N e w E ng l and F e d e r a l i s t s
dared even to hop e for The Americ a n C ommission
ers o b taine d far b etter terms than the U nited S tates
ha d any j u st cau se to e x p ect and c onc l u d ed a
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Ef
e ol s
R
e
M
of
eso
lu t io ns
I
.
77
treaty with G reat Britain the provisions of which
in some imp ortant p oints were quite i n d e fi
nite an d these we r e made t o assum e a favorabl e
asp ect f r o m the time l y victory at New O r l e a ns
which c l osed the wa r of 1 8 1 2 b eing gained indee d
after th e treaty was agreed to Th e resu l t was a
v ery gen er a l s a tisfaction with the administration
an d t h e h ands of g o vernment which had for a time
b een weigh e d d own b y th e travai l of wa r were n o w
steadi l y strengthened and rai se d up M onro e c a me
into th e p residency with what has b een ca ll e d th e
”
era of goo d fee l ing and fo r a tim e J effersoni a n
D emocracy was a l most the on l y p o l itica l creed pu b
l i c l y p rofessed
The evi l of to o un l imite d a pro s
r
e
M a ny me a sures were
p i t y soon showe d itse l f
carrie d through the h ou se s of C ongress th a t wou l d
not h ave b een considere d b y the same p arty at
an ear l ier d a te at a l l constitutiona l E ven M r
M a d ison h a d di fficu l ties in app l ying the doctrine s
of 1 798 to p ractic a l l egis l ation H e vetoed the
b i l l s for i nternal imp r ovements b u t g a ve hi s consent
to the b an k whi l e others p erh a p s e qu all y entit l ed
to represent the spi r it of his party supp orte d
the measu re s directed towards intern a l deve l op
ment b ut b itter l y con d emned the U nite d S tate s
Ban k A s the who l e p ower an d patronage b ec a me
more and m ore fi x ed in the one party the u n c e r
tainty of its po l icy steadi l y increased
Natur a l
tendencie s towards disru ption b ega n to show them
se l ve s as time p asse d and p e rson a l di fficu l tie s b e
tween the l eaders especia ll y o u th e e l ection of J ohn
Q uincy A d am s to the P resi denc y afforde d occasion
for the entrance o f the wedge of s e p a r a tion
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8
7
D o ol ni n e s
o
a nd
An d indee d al l men cann ot b e ortho do x T h e
infirmity of hum a n natu re i s to o great fo r m en to
h o l d any faith re l igiou s p o l itic a l o r of W hat k ind
soever in p e r fect pu r ity and a ccord for any g r eat
l ength of time The p a rty of J efferson M a dison
an d M onroe might b e a l l o r n ear l y a l l the p eop l e
But even if th a t were s o it wou l d b e imp o ssi bl e to
p ersu ade them of it They might ho l d each m an for
h im se l f the o l d p rincip l e s pure b u t there was yet
no c onsensu s of Opini on S ome of the sacred fl ames
had died away up on th e a l t a rs But every man
thou ght it was hi s n eigh b or s an d n ot hi s own
There was the orac l e sp o k en p l ain l y in a l l men s
ears in that year of b l essed memory 1 798 b u t
none cou l d s a y for another what h ig h p riest shou ld
interpret t h e mystic wo r ds The d ivision of opinion
b egan whi l e th e who l e c ountry sti l l share d the ven
e r a t i o n for M r
J efferson An d it was som e time
b efore any p a rty aros e that was wi l l ing t o cite the
e x amp l e of th e F e d e r al i s t s At first it was an
internecine war an d each fa ction l o o k ed upon
every other as schismatic
Th e first great strain put up on the d octrine s of
1 798 in the D emocratic p arty itse l f
wa s th e fir s t
fruit of the S out h C aro l ina form of th e doctrine of
N u l l i fic at i o n as deve l op e d in the tariff controversy
of 1 82 9 and the succeeding ye a rs
P resident
J ac k son M r C a l hou n a n d M r C l a y we l l r e p r e
sented at that time thre e ph a ses of p o l itic a l tho ugh t ;
a n d yet they a l l were p repared t o st a n d u p on the
K entuc k y R e so l uti ons W hen in his g r eat de b ate
upon the Fo ote reso l ution s in th e Sen a te of the
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Do m i n e s
T /ze
1 80
a nd
/
arguments to restrict the e x ercise of any
a n d a ll imp l ied p owers
It i s d istinct l y dec l ared
th a t there i s no common j udge b et ween the p artie s
“
b ut eac h p arty has an e qu al right to j u d ge for
itse l f as we ll of infraction s a s of the mode an d
”
m e a sure of redress
The l ast sentenc e contains the pith of th e pro b
l em W hat e x act l y do es thi s mean ? H ow far i s
this to b e pu she d ? If it i s to b e tak en a s meaning
that upon any grievance real o r fancied against the
genera l governm ent o r ag a inst any in d ividua l State
a State has the indefeasi b l e righ t to p rocee d to act
in a sovereign capacity as it sha ll see fit or that
in stant l y up on the assumption of this right to j udge
it may remain o r cease to b e a me m b er of the
federation as it sh a l l e l ect then here i s the fu ll y
fl e d g e d doctrine of State s rights
E a ch State has
”
“
“
t h e right t o j u d g e
of infraction s an d a l so of
”
th e mo d e and measu re of re d re ss
This sentence
tak en a l one wou l d s eem to give to the U nion no
fi rm er tie th a n that of a n y l eagu e of S tate s for
w h atever purp oses united an d to dep end for p er
m an e n c e so l e l y on the forb e a ranc e of th e indivi d ua l
States
Th e spirit of this sing l e s entenc e i s not c a rrie d
throu gh th e W ho l e instrument The ninth reso l u
tion in d icate s a tendency to depend n ot on the wi ll
of any on e St a te in such an issu e as was th e n
b efore the country b ut u p on the determination of
the State s The p l ura l m ay or m a y n o t b e s i g n i fi
cant
Two o r three or a dozen o r a m aj o r ity of
the States wou l d not a l ter the case Any num b er
f e r e n t ial
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'
Zffl e ol s
f
(
l /ze R
l
e s o nti o ns
18I
.
l ess th a n the c onstitu tiona l two thirds a n d that
num b er acting in any othe r wise th a n under th e
p rescri b ed course of the C on stitution a n d b y a n y
other mean s than b y an amendment wou l d sti ll
l eave th e St a te action in the sam e catego r y But
th e eighth secti on i s a n app ea l for a rep ea l of th e
l aws c omp l aine d of W as thi s section an e x ercise
of se l f restraint e x p edient b ut not compu l sory o r
was it the m ean s the R eso l ution s meant to p rescri b e
as appropriate ? Th e two consider a tions of w h at
was regarde d as j u stifi ab l e an d what was regar d ed
as e x pe d ient wou l d naturall y b e b l ende d in such a
document and this renders any ab so l ute deci sion
on one or two p oints imp ossi b l e For e x a mp l e the
States d enied th e ap pea l to them an d the C ongre ss
the app ea l to it
Did th e state s man wh o drew thi s
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pap er a n d those who acted with him conside r that
thi s c l osed the matter and that the p rotest of the
ne x t ye a r was the on l y course t h ey cou l d then pursu e ?
Or di d t h ey h o l d t h at they cou l d h ave refu se d to
p ermit th e o b n o x iou s l aws to b e e x ecu te d in their
State s ? or have regarded th e act as a b reach of
their compact and reti r e d from th e feder a tion
an d on l y refr a ine d fr o m doing so out of a spirit of
for b earance a n d fo r th e s ak e of e x p ediency seeing
th e p o l itica l revo l ution drawing n ear
M r B rec k
i n r i dg e s sp eech doe s not i ll umin e th e su b j ect
great l y a l thou gh it mu st b e rem a rk ed that S tates
n ot a State sti l l stan d for th e acting power An
instructive b u t n ot a convincing o r deciding side
l ight is thrown up on the su bj ect b y a comparison
of t h e two d rau ghts The J efferson draught con
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I 82
T ko
Do ctr in e s
an
d
in its eight h reso l ve two c l a u ses which were
omitted b y M r Brec k inridg e b oth of which carried
ou t the S pirit of th e fi r st reso l ution a n d specifie d
t h e p ower as a right of the individua l S t a te in a w a y
quite withou t p a r a ll e l in the reso l ution s as adopted
The first o f th ese i s as fo ll ows
Th a t in cases of
an a b u se of th e de l egated p owe r s the m em b ers of
the gener a l government b eing chosen b y the p eop l e
a change b y th e p eop l e wou l d b e the c onstitutiona l
remedy b u t where p owers are assumed which have
n ot b een de l egated a n u l l i fic a t i o n of the act i s the
right remedy ; that every S tate h a s a natu r a l right
in case s n o t within the c omp act (t a s u s no n f ee de r i s ) to
nu ll ify of th eir own autho r ity a l l assumptions of
”
p o wer b y others within their l imits
An d the sec
“
ond i s thi s W i l l each t a k e m easu res o f its own for
p roviding th a t n eith er these a cts nor any others of
the genera l g o v e rnment not p l a in l y a n d intention
all y authoriz e d b y th e C onsti t ution shal l b e e x e r
”
c i s e d within thei r resp ective territories
I t i s imp ossi bl e t o escap e the c onc l u sion that the
J efferson drau ght cont a i n ing these st a tements in th e
eight h reso l ve in c onnection wit h the statements of
the first reso l ve l a ys down a doct r ine th a t needs
on l y to b e act e d on b y b o l d a n d unco m p romising
men to b e a ll th a t th e advoc a tes of n u l l i fic a t i o n in
S outh C a ro l ina h e l d th a t it wa s H a d the J effe r son
dr a u ght b een the one adopted in K entuc k y and
ha d there ari sen severe p r osecu tions under the S edi
tion l a w the r e is l itt l e re a son to dou b t th a t under
the temp er of the tim e the who l e p rogramme of the
opp onents o f th e national government might h a ve
t ai n e d
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77 %
84
Do ctr in e s
an
d
States rights found in any of th e accepte d formu l as
of 1 798 an d 1 799 Th e difference does no t c onsist in
th e u se of the word n u l l i fic a t i o n or th e su b stitution
for it of some equ i val ent term fo r th e c i r c u m l o c u
tion s do not a l ter the m e a nin g an d th e interpose
”
fo r arresting a n d other simi l ar terms emp l oyed b y
“
M r M a diso n have th e sam e force as the nu l l ify
of h i s coadj utors The difference if d ifference
there i s l ies in the difference in th e p arties acting in
t h e S ta te or the S ta t e s M r M adi son seem s to have
fair l y intended as h e c l a ime d in l ater l ife n o action
b y any num b er l ess than a maj ority of the States
T he a ction to o i s t h rou ghou t State action the
cau se in j eopardy State sovereignty This i s not
ab l e i n connection wit h th e fact that in qu oting t h e
“
”
reservation to the S t a te s or to th e p eop l e of the
un d e l eg a ted p owe r s n o quarre l l ies b etween the
nation a n d the p eop l e b u t on l y b etween the nation
an d the States The right of p etition th e right of
the b all ot b o x the right of revo l ution was conceded
b y a l l I t wa s not th e p eop l e who fe l t attac k ed it
N o effort was
wa s the citizens of th e S tates
therefore direct e d to decide wh a t unde l egate d
p owe r s were reserved to the p eop l e and what to the
State and thi s qu estion i s on l y once rem ote l y
touched on and th a t b y M r M a dison in a l etter
when he e x p r esse d a dou b t if the p eop l e of the
St a te in convention were n ot th e prop er p art y to
interp ose instea d of the l egis l a ture in other
words whether th e ordin a ry government a l machin
ery su fficient l y represented the p eop l e o r if it was
not n ecessary that th e p rotest shou l d proceed f r om
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t
of
R
e so
lu t io ns
I
.
85
t h e sam e so v ereign assem bl y which m a de the com
p a ct N one of the draughtsmen regarded the p e op l e
as capab l e of acting direct l y in the p r emises They
were to act as citiz ens of the St a tes and e x cep t b y
States n o action wa s p ossi bl e the citizen of K en
tuc k y h o l din g the sam e re l ation to the n a tion th a t
a Sp aniar d once he l d to the a ll iance of the H o l y
L eagu e
H ow ear l y the se views b egan to tak e on the l ater
form s a singl e e x amp l e wi ll su ffice to show Tuc k er
in h i s e dition of B l ac k stone s C omment a ries pu b
l i s h e d in 1 80 3 in commenting on the U nited S t a tes
government says
Th e Federal government
t h en appears to b e th e o rgan throu gh whic h the
unite d repu b l i c s communicate with foreign nations
and with eac h other Their s u b mi ssion to its oper a
tion i s v o l u n tary its counci l s i t s enga gements its
authority are theirs m odified an d united Its sov
e r e i g n t y is an emanation f r om theirs
not a fl ame
in w h ic h they h ave b een consumed ; not a vorte x
in which they h ave b een sw a ll owe d u p eac h i s sti l l
—
a p erfect State sti ll s overeign sti l l indep endent
an d sti l l cap ab l e shou l d th e occasion require to
resume the e x ercise of its functions in th e most u n
”
l imited e x tent
Thu s e a r l y was the imp l ie d doctrine v e ry dis
t i n c t l y dec l are d a n d from this t 1me fo r th a g r owth
of States rights princip l es c l u stered ab ou t the R eso
l utions of 1 798 They were n ot on l y the f o u n da
tion stone of the Democracy b ut j u st a s the p a rty
of n u l l i fic at i o n a n d secession wa s a direct outg r owth
V o l I A p p p 1 75
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T /ze
86
Do ctr in e s
an
d
of that p arty so were its doctrines deve l op e d out
of the p rincip l es of this fo r mu l a an d b ased up on it ;
b ut whether l ogicall y o r i ll ogica l l y deduce d t h ere
from i s a qu estion which has to r n the minds an d
hearts of men in vain in th e S ph ere of p ractic a l
p o l itics W hatever conc l u sion may b e arrive d at
u p on that p oint it i s an historica l f a ct b eyon d c on
t r o v e r s i o n that the N u l l i fie r s n ever d o u b ted nor
‘
h esit a ted to a fli r m that the K entuc k y R eso l utions
c ontaine d the germ of al l that they p rofe ssed
In t h e c ontroversie s t h at h ave grown ou t of t h e
d ifferenc e of opinion u p on thi s an d t h e k indre d
qu esti ons of interpretation t h e stu d ent mu st p ro
There are no cal m j udicia l
c e e d with caution
dec l aration s b u t every j u d gment i s m ore o r l ess
b iased b y party spirit It i s no p l ac e therefore for
d ogmatizing The on l y safe course i s p l ain l y to set
forth the c l aim s of a l l who sp e a k with evident c an
d or an d to endeavor to sift out of the great m ass
of p r o fit l e s s materia l s ome l itt l e that wi l l s erve to
instruct e ven if it fai l s to u l timate l y d etermine a ll
d ou b ts
M r M a d ison was the on l y one of the drau gh ts
men o f the R eso l utions wh o survive d l ong enou gh to
l eave hi s testimony up on th e qu estion of what was
the view actual l y intende d t o b e e x pre ssed H e
sp e ak s with conc l u siveness s o far as his own action
is concerned and a l thou gh his wor d s c a nnot carry
wit h t h em the s am e weigh t as r e gards hi s c o wor k
ers they mu st b e admitte d to p osses s great val u e in
determining what were their i d e a s M r Madison
too k an intense interest in th e n u l l i fic a t i o n contro
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I
T ne
88
Do ctr in e s
a nd
in a ll c a ses wi l l b e effectua l whi l e t h e resp onsi
b il i t y of the gen era l g o vernment to its constitu ents
continu es
remonstrance s and instructi o ns
re
currin g e l ections an d impeachments amendment
”
of C onstitution a s p rovided b y itse l f
Fin a ll y shou l d a l l the con stitutiona l remedies fai l
and the u surp ations of the genera l governm ent b e
com e so into l er abl e as ab so l ute l y to forb id a l onger
p assive o b edience an d n on resi st a nce a r e sort to
the o rigin a l rights of the p artie s b ecome s j u s t i fia
b l e and redres s m ay b e s ou ght b y sh ak ing off the
yo k e as of right might b e d on e b y p a rt of an indi
vidua l St a te in a l i k e c a s e o r even b y a sing l e
citizen c ou l d he effect it if dep rive d o f ri ghts ab
”
safety an d happiness
s o l u t e l y e ssentia l to hi s
This of course p uts the qu estion on th e very d iffer
ent ground of th e invio l abl e right of revo l ution
and i s b ased on consideration s totall y un l i k e t h e
foundations of the R eso l utions of 1 79 8 His e x act
p osition in regard to hi s own de l i verances i s c l ear l y
l ai d down in a l etter t o N P Trist of date F e b r u
“
ary 1 5 1 83 0
I t was certain l y no t t h e o b j ect of
the mem b er ( Mr M a d ison ) who p repared the docu
ments in qu estion t o assert n or d oe s th e f a i r i m
p ort o f them as h e b e l ieves a sse r t a right in the
p arties to th e C onstitution of the U nited S tate s
i ndi vi du a l ly to annu l within themse l ve s acts of the
Federa l government or to withdraw from the
”
U nion
A n d in a l etter to the same g e nt l e man of
date D ecem b er 1 83 1 he further says th a t the u t
“
do not m a intain th e right of
t e r a n c e s of V irginia
a sing l e St a te as a party to the C onstitution to ar
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R
Effe cts of t/ze
es o
lu t io ns
I
.
89
rest t h e e x ecution of a l aw of the U nited St a tes i t
seems to h a ve b een ove r l oo k ed that in e ve ry i n
st a nce i n those proceedings where the u l ti m a te r ight
of the Stat e s to interp o se i s a ll uded t o the p l u r a l
term S ta te s h a s b een u sed the te r m St a te as a sin
”
g l e p a r t b ein g inv a riabl y avoided
And in the
same l etter h e denies th a t the n u l l i fic a t i o n party
has any authority in the V i r ginia R eso l uti o ns fo r
their proceedings and e x press e s a que stion as to
the fairnes s of the attempt t o foist up on V irgi n ia
an intention which she and her p eop l e never enter
t ai n e d
These are on l y a f e w of the man y i n
stance s o f a s entim ent that M r Madison f r e qu ent l y
made pu bl ic H e op en l y a vowed th a t he wa s ho s
ti l e to the n u l l i fic at i o n doctrine and defended him
se l f h is own writings and his gre at l e a der from the
a ssertion s th a t they were the f a thers of th a t doc
trine
I t mu st a l ways b e remem b ered however that
M r M adison was stronger in hi s proc l ivities tow
ard s a firm nation a l union th a n a n y of tho se con
cerne d in th e dec l a r a tions of 1 798 H e h a d o rigi
n at e d the p l an of th e convention a t Ann a p o l is
w h ich l ed to the P hi l ade l phi a convention of 1 78 7
In th a t convention which d r e w the C onstitution h e
h a d b een a fr iend of a strong C onstitution he h a d
a l so aide d in th e e x p ositions of the Feder a l ist pre
serve d t h e p apers o f the gre a t convention fo r p os
t e r i t y u rgent l y advoc a ted adoption in V irginia a n d
on l y und e r M r J e ffe r son s l ead s l ow l y d r ifted from
h is m oorings an d b ecame a l eading R epu b l ican
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1
T h e it l ics
a
are
Mr
.
M d is on s
a
’
.
I
g
Doctr in e s
T /ce
o
I
a na
T h e sen se of national ity d eep ene d again as years
passed and m a de th e country reall y one an d h e
l ove d it wit h th e tende r l o v e of a father It mu st
a l so b e b orne in min d th a t M r M a di son h ad n ot
gon e to th e sam e l en gth in 1 798 as either M r J e ff e r
son o r M r B rec k inridge no r s o far in 1 80 0 as Mr
B rec k inridge in 1 799 N everthe l es s h e was in th e
very inmost c ounci l s of the p arty an d k new as few
men c ou l d k n ow j u st what were th e opinion s of
h i s c omrades
Hi s assertions th erefore de serve d
great weight an d receive d it The V irgini a an d
t h e K entu c k y l egi s l atu re s j oine d in denying the
d octrine of n u l l i fic at i o n an d in rep ro b atin g th e at
tempt o f th e S out h C aro l inians to fasten it upon th e
emission s of tho se b odie s in 1 798 an d 1 799
H enc e it wa s under th e l eadership of n o l ess a
p erson th a n M a dison that th e facti on of th e D emo
cr a ti c p a rty whic h denied th a t thei r gre a t corner
ston e c ontained the heresy impute d t o it entere d
t h e l ists an d with such avowal s from Mr Madison
as they received it cannot b e c l aime d t h at they
acted inc onsistent l y Th e su spicion i s easi l y su g
gested that i n t h e on e cas e th e V irgini a J e ff e r
s o n i a n s were actu ate d b y a p ersona l interest that
in th e oth er was wanting and that t h ey acte d
therefore in b oth case s a l i k e not out of p rincip l e
b ut from th e standpoint of se l fish advantage Thi s
may b e tru e an d ye t throw a fa l se l ight on thei r
action
P arti sanship when n ot the chi l d of
p rej u dice trace s its p edig r ee at n o far remove to
se l f interest It i s not at a ll uncommon in p ractica l
p o l itics to fin d men professing earnest devotion to
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Th e
1 92
Do ctr i n e s
’
a na
grievance N ot at all ab ashed b y t h e co ld recep
tion w h ich their views met with f r om those from
whom they e x p ected symp a thy they p ersiste d in
d irecting l oca l authorities to p revent the revenu e
o fficers from p erforming their duty and for a tim e
actu all y seemed on the p o int of nu ll ifying a l aw of
t h e general government a cours e whic h nothing
b ut the p ersonal ity of Andrew J a c k son prevented
their carrying out N or were th e l eaders of thi s
m ovement s l ow in putting them se l ves on wh a t they
b e l ieve d to b e a firm fou n dation P rompt l y an d
withou t h esit ancy they d ec l ared that they sto o d
up on the p rincip l es of 1 798 an d that the reso l u
tions of that year containe d amp l e warrant for their
con d uct That this wa s b y no mean s unfami l iar to
many D emocrats as a not imp o ssibl e stretch of the
d octrine app e a rs from the readiness with which it
was acqu iesce d in b y a l a r ge num b er outside of
S out h C aro l ina and the eagerness of others to dis
prove it b y arguments often p ainfu l l y su b t l e an d
b y their v ery refinement showing that it was n ot in
their view t o b e treated a s mere l y a qui x otic c l aim
T here was an d i s room fo r d ou b t whet h er a
comp l ete su b scription to a ll the dec l arations of t h e
R eso l ution s of 1 798 wou ld not in the l ast anal ysis
forc e many t o the p osition occupied b y the Nu l l i fi
ers in the tariff con fl ict if the mind confine d itse l f
so l e l y t o the theoretical stu dy of the instruments
themse l ve s An d it i s hard to see how the e l ement
of b a d faith can b e intro duced into their p osition
s o far as their interp retation of the d octrines of the
reso l utions i s con c erne d
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Efl e c ts
t ae
f
o
R
u tio ns
e s ol
I
.
93
P racticall y th e n u l l i fic a t i o n measu res co l l ap se d at
th e time b u t convinced against their wi l l the S outh
C aro l inian s ret a ined their theories an d c u l tivated
and dis seminated them A muc h more seriou s con
The
fl i c t was even then l ooming up in th e future
institution of s l avery soon gathered to itse l f a l l the
teac h ings of t h e Nu l l i fie r s u pon t h e tariff measures
an d the s l ow re v o l ving years c rystall iz e d the hal f
forme d an d partia ll y accepte d te a chings of 1 83 0
into a system The who l e S ou th e al o u s of its
”
“
p ecu l iar institution gra d ual l y b ecame more o r
l es s p ermeate d wit h the mo st e x treme construction
of t h e R eso l u tions of 98 and S outh C a ro l ina on c e
m ore too k the initiative in 1 86 1 In b oth in st a nce s
it was c l aimed t h at the teaching was p l ain up on the
comp l ete an d inal ienab l e s overeignty of the indi
vi d ua l State s up on the right of a sing l e S tate or of
any num b er more o r l ess th a n a maj ority i n di ff e r
ent l y to nu ll ify a l aw of the c entra l go v ernment
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and if up on su fficient p ressu re to secede I t m ay
soun d l i k e an e x treme statement b u t as a p art of
th e cree d in the se c a se s was that in c a se of i n fr a c
“
tions th e individua l State was to b e th e j u dge of
th e infra c tion as we ll as of the mode an d measure
”
of re d ress t h e final trut h is that the teachin g e x
ten d e d to d ec l aring t h at the individua l State was at
l i b erty w h eneve r an d u pon whatever p rete x t it saw
fit to p revent the e x ecution of nationa l l aws wit h in
its l imits o r to ta k e itse l f out of the p act
For a l l of thi s it i s c l aime d that the authority was
to b e foun d in the R eso l utions of 1 798 Nor can it
b e d enied that this c l aim was ma d e with a ll can
.
,
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I
Tue
94
Doctr in e s
’
a na
d o r an d wit h the h ighest c onfidence I t was in
the teet h of the as sertion of M a d ison and those wh o
shared his views b u t as it c l aime d t o stand l es s on
the o fficia l re l ati on of its interp reters than on th e
l ogic of the cas e it c l aim s a right t o b e con sidered
and it did not fai l in m a k in g itse l f he a rd and fe l t
Th e two b ranche s of th e D em oc r a ti c party were
e qu a l l y p ersi stent a n d sp l it more an d m ore wide l y
as the irrepressi b l e c on fl ic t drew ne a rer an d yet
more near Between th e two scho o l s there wa s a
gradation through a l most every p ossi bl e sh a de of
opinion T h e a rb itrament of the sword p erhap s
j u st l y regarde d as the cou rt of l a st resort in al l
qu estion s of p ractica l p o l itics h a s app arent l y d e
t e r m i n e d the e x tension of t h e more advance d
theory of States right But it wou l d b e a mista k e
t o thin k th a t those convinced against thei r wi l l are
not in a l arge degree of the sam e opinion sti l l on
t h e theoretica l p oint There i s no l ac k of supp ort at
t h e p resent tim e ren d ere d t o th e orthodo x y of b oth
interpretati ons of the R eso l ution s and the d ifference
i s n ot l i k e l y ever to b e practicall y reconci l e d
S o b rief a s k etc h as that attempte d in this chap
ter c a nnot fai l t o b e h op e l ess l y I nadequate to the
tas k it un d ertak es The tangl e d threads of the
su b j ect c a n on l y b e trace d b y minute an d detai l e d
stu d y of a comp l e x an d stormy p e r iod an d the
m ost p ainsta k ing investigato r often finds himse l f
at fau l t or is b affl e d b y th e fi erce party spirit
whic h h as thrown m any a difficu l ty in the way of a
fina l and triumphant so l ution o f a l l th e qu estions
th a t are invo l ve d N evert h e l e ss there are a few
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,
I ND E $
.
A d ms J oh n c on d u ct i n F e n c h c o mp l ic ti on s I I 3 h is
t ste f s h o w 6 9
A d ms J o h n Q u i n cy I 77
A d et P ie e A u g u ste F e n c h e n v o y 1 2
A l ie n d se d it i on l ws p o vis i on s o f 1 4 ; w o k i n g o f I 7 ;
J effe s on on 8 ecepti on i n K e n t u c k y 2 0 t q
l on e
ss i l e d i n V i gi n i R es ol u t i on s o f I 798 7 ; m d e p
8 no p o sec u t i on s un d e
in K en
l i t i l i ss u e i n 8
t u ck y I
t h ei effect i n K e n t u c k y d V i g i n i 1 0
A l ie n c l u se i n t h e Con stit u ti on b u se d i n t h e K e n t u c k y
R es o l u ti on s 06
Ame n d me n t t o Con stit u ti on p o p o se d b y J e ff e s on t o em b o d y
p i n cip l es o f es o l u ti on s o f I 798 I 3 1 t o ece iv e L ou isi
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d o pti on o f t h e Con stit u ti on 4 me ges i n t o R ep u b l i c n
ism
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B ec k i n i d ge A l e x n d e J o ffice i n t h e R ev ol u t i on 5 8 ;
mem b e c on stit u ti on l c on ve n t i on i n K e n t u c k y 5 9
B ec k i n i d ge J mes c onn ect i on wit h V i g i n i R es o l u ti on s
— 2
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B ec k i n i d ge J D 99 no te
B ec k i n i d ge J o h n l e d s K e n t u c k y o pp o siti on t o t h e l ie n
n cest y 4 9 b i t h 5 y ou t h
d se d iti on l ws 3 6 4 8
e l ecte d t o t h e Hou se o f D e l eg tes 5 3 c ll e d t o t h e
52
pp o i n te d tt o n ey f t h e d ist ict o f K e n t u c k y
b
54
em o ves t o K e n t u c k y 5 7
5 6 ; e l ecte d t o Con g ess 5 6
p esi d e n t o f t h e D em o c tic S o ciety o f L e x i n gt on 5 8 ;
eceives R ep u b l ic n v o te f U S Se n t o 5 8 s u ccess
6 0 ; Att o n ey G e n e l o f K e n t u c k y
t th e K e n tu c ky b
l eg l o pi ni on i n c on teste d gu b e n t o i l e l ecti on 6 2
6I
i n t h e l egi s l t u e 6 3 evises t h e c imi n l c o d e 6 3 p
p o ses t h e l ie n d se d iti on l ws 6 3 ; o ff e s K e n t u c k y
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R es o l u ti on s
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i n t h e sec on d c on stit u ti on l
c on ve n ti on o f K e n t u c k y 6 4 ; Spe k e o f t h e Hou se f
R ep ese n t tives 6 4 ; fl
es o l u ti on s o f 799 6 4 ;
e l ecte d t o t h e U n i te d St tes Se n te 6 4 6 8 l e d s t h e
d m i n ist ti on p ty i n t h e Se n te 6 5 p o sit i on t o t h e
nn e x t i on o f L ou isi n 6 6 p esse d f V i ce P esi d e n cy
cte 71 ; speech i n
6 8 ; Att o n ey G e n e l 70 ; hi s c h
d e b te on K e n t u c k y R es o l u ti on s i n t h e l egis l t u e 9 t
1 799
23
ttit
u
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e
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e
fects
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q
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h is ep u t t i on 34 ; h is c l i ms t o t h e c e d it o f
u t h o s h ip 3 5 t q ; l ette t o 1 7 ; p o siti on i n d i
83
t d b y R es o l u t i on s o f 1 798
ec k i n i d ge J o h n 73
ec k i n i d ge J o h n C b e ll 73
ec k i n i d ge J o sep h C b e ll 5 5 73 l ette t o J e ff e s on 1 3 6
ec k i n id ge Co l on e l R o b e t 5
ec k i n i d ge G e n e l R o b e t v o tes f t h e U n i te d St tes
Con stit u ti on i n t h e V i g i n i Con v e n ti on 3 2 5 5 7 ;
s k etc h o f 5 8
ec k i n i d ge R o b e t J e ffe s on 73
ec k i n i d ge W C P v ii 40
ec k i n i d ge W L 73
o w n J oh n 3 1 —3 3 6 1
o f 1 798,
63
75
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C b e ll f mi l y 54
C b e ll J o sep h l ette s t o 1 87
C b e ll M y H o p k i n s 5 4
C b e ll s D l e 5 7
C l d we ll R 75
C l h oun J oh n C 1 78
C te R o b e t 4 4
C l k Coun ty K e n t u c k y es o l u ti on s c on d em n i n g
se d it i on l ws 4 0 4 5
C l k G e n e l G e o ge R o ge s 3 5
C l y H e n y 1 78
Conn ectic u t d is pp o v es R es ol u ti on s o f 798 1 3
Con stit u t i on l c on st u cti on g o wt h o f 1 70
C o c k ett Co l J 3 4
C w i h i l d J c ob 6 9
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D n F n cis 3
D yt on G e n e l J on t h n on l y F e d e l ist w h o v o te d f
t e ty ce d i n g L ou isi n 72
D eb tes E ll i o t s e o i n te x t o f R es ol u ti on s o f 798 1 83
D el w e esp on se t o R es ol u ti on s o f 798 I
D em o c t o i gi n l pp l ic t i on
p ty n me 1 1
D em o c tic c l u b f D n v i ll e K y 3 5
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l ette t o C b e ll B ec k i n id ge 1 3 5 ; no c o py o f
K e n t u c k y R es o l u ti on s f oun d i n hi s p pe s 1 5 P esi
d e n t 1 6 8 ; see k s o pin i on t o c on st i t u ti on l i ty o f d
mitti n g L ou i si n 7 d v n ce d p o s i t i on i n h is d u gh t
i n I 7QS I 83 4 ; 1 5 5 5 6 6 5 7 1 7 3 I 7S
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R es o l u t i on s o f 798 1 3 e s on s f u s i n g ge n e l te ms
i n t h e es o l u t i on s 05 e n te s Hou se o f D e l eg tes 1 9 ;
d ws ep o t o f 1 800 2 8 ; mis l e d b y
N ic h o l s
l ette 1 4 ; Sec et y o f St te 1 6 8 ; l ette s t o 7 ;
72 1 77 fee l i g t o w d s
p o sit i on i n l tte ye s o f l ife
H tf o d c on ve n ti on 74 g u d e d e x p essi on s i 1 798
1 83 ; i n te p et ti on o f R es o l u ti on s o f 1 798 1 86 ; l ette s
d c o mme n ts on R es o l u ti on s
87
M in e 3 1
M s h ll Hu mp h ey 3 3 5 8 5 9 6 4 9 7 98
M s h ll J o h n 3 3 3 ( no te) 5 5 5 6 2 9
M s h ll Co l T h o m s 3 3
M y l n d cti on on R es o l u ti on s o f 798 1 5
M s on S T 1 8
M ss c h u setts esp on se t o R es o l u ti on s o f 1 798 1 1 2
M e ce J mes 3
M i ss i ssippi t d e 2 8 t q
M on o e J mes 1 2 5 5 1 04 I 3 0 1 6 9 I 77
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o f 1 798 86—88 9 1 —9 7
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N t u l i ti on t T h 1 4
N ew H mpshi e ep l y t o R es o l u ti on s o f 1 798 3
N ew J e sey ct i on t o R es o l u ti on s o f 798 4 1 1 5
N ew Y o k ct i on t o R es o l u ti on s o f 798 3
N i c h o l s E q l ette t h e c ll e d 3 6 no te 1 3 8
N ic h o l s f m i l y T h e 4 3 44 c l i ms o f t o K e n t u c k y R es o
l u t i on s ( ) t o G e o ge N ic h ol s 4 t
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N ic h o l s G e o ge 4 7 5 5 5 7 99 4 ; ct i vity i n o pp o si n g
l i e n d se di ti on cts 4 3 4 5 ; no t t h e m ove o f t h e
K e n t u c k y R es o l u ti on s 4 5 p mp h l ets 1 8 d e t h 1 9
c h cte 2 2
N ic h o l s J o h n 4 3 5 5 7 1 6 I 3 0 1 4 6
N ic h ol s N e l s on 4 3 1 44
N ic h o l s P N 4 3 3 1
N ic h o l s
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N ic h o l s W i l s on C 43 1 9 1 20 1 3 3 I 4 ; l e d e i n V i
g i n i d e b tes 798 03 4 6 ; p t i n m o v eme n t o f 1 798
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No t h C o l i n ttit u d e i n 798 1 4 p o p o se d fie l d f cti on
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w o d fi st u se d i n t h e J eff e s on d u gh t f
N l l i fi ti
d e v e l o pe d i n S ou t h C o l i n i n t h e t i ff
1 798
83
c on t o ve sy 78 f t h e e d on R es o l u t i on s o f 798 79
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l o gic l d eve l opme n t o f p i n c ip l es o f t h e J e ffe on
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P e nn sy l v n i ttit u d e i n 798 d 799 4 5
P ete P o c u pi n e 4 6
Ph i l o Agis 4 5
Pi n c k n ey C C
3
P o l itic l te n d e n c i es i n t h e U n i te d St tes —8
P o pe J o h n m oves me n d me n t t o K e n t u c k y R es o l u ti on s f
P est on J o hn 5
R n d o l ph E d m un d 3 6 4 4
R n d o l p h J oh n 7
R n d o l p h M i ss S h N ic h o l s c on t i b u t i on t o hi st o y f
R es o l u t i on s o f 798 4 no te 4 no te ; 4 5 no te ; 5
R ep o t o f 8 M di s on s 8
R ep u b l ic n p ty e l y u se o f te m 7 ; ou tg o wt h o f n ti
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ct ivi ty f o m 798 t o 8
9 ;
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t o w d s t h e H tf o d Con ve n t i on 76 ; no un i ty i n i
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te x t 75 d e b te on 87 ; me n d me n ts t o 96 ; v o te on
t u e te x t 99 no te c o mp e d w i t h V i g i n i R es o l u
96
ti on s 1 05 ; no t k no w n t o M di s on i n 1 798 05 d o c
t i n es 0 5 m d e R ep u b l ic n p l tf o m 08 ep l i es t o
1 1 1—
dv e se ecepti on b y o t h e St tes 5 fl t
5
i n Con g ess 5 u t h o sh ip o f 3 t q ; J e ffe s on
s u specte d o f c onn ect i on w i t h 3 3 ; J o h n B ec k i n i d ge s
e l ti on s t o 34 ; B ec k i n id ge s c l im t o u t h o s hi p
J o h n T y l o s st teme n ts c on ce n
fi st q u esti on e d
35
i n g 1 3 5 ; R i ch m on d E q i
st teme n t 3 5 ; C b e ll
B ec k i n i d ge s l ette t o J e ffe s on c on ce n i n g 3 6 ; J ef
ep l y 3 8 ; c o mp e d wit h t h e J e ff e s on
f
d u g h t 5 2 e l ti on s t o t h e l l i fi t i m o v eme n t
p o l itic l m n ifest o 6 6 d o ct i n es d e ffects
1 63
82
o f C h p V I I p i n cip l es teste d 7 ; t h e o y o f g ov e n
me n t 79 ; n l ysis o f 8 ; f oun d ti on o f D em o c tic
p ty I 85 c h cte i e d 95
R es o l u ti on s f 798 t h e V i gi n i o ffe e d b y J o h n T y l o
w n b y M d is on 1 3 1 3 3 ; d e b te
1 00 ; te x t o f 1 00 ; d
on 03 ; v o te on 1 04 ; me n d e d 4 ; c o mp e d wit h
K e n t u c k y R es o l u ti on s 1 05 ; e s on f u se o f ge n e l
te ms i n 1 05 ; d o ct i n e o f 06 ; esp on ses t o 1 —1 1 5
p ll e l b etwee n n d t h e u tte n ces o f H tf o d C
ti on 74
R es o l u ti on s f 1 799 th e K e n t u c k y s u ggeste d b y J e ff e s on
e j ecte d 1 2 2 e v ive d d c ie d ou t 1 3 ;
1 20 ; id e
p sse d 1 3 te x t 1 3 B ec k i n i d ge s l ette t o J ff
s on espect i n g 2 3 no te c on t i n s t h e w o d
l l ifi
ti on 1 2 6 s me te no
R es o l u t i on s o f 798 1 2 7
R es o l u t i on s c on d em n i n g t h e l i e n d se d iti on cts i n V i
gi n i 1 71 i n K e n t u c k y 3 9 4 5 4 6
R h o d e I s l n d es p on se t o R es o l u ti on s f 1 798 1 1 2
Sch ou l e H on J mes v ii
Se b sti n B e n j 3 1
Se d iti on t see A l ie n d se d iti on l ws
S h e l b y Go v e no I s c 3 6 no te ; 6 1
S l ve y c l u se i n Con stit u ti on c on ce n i n g 1 07 1 08
Sm i t h R o b e t 6 9
St te cti on l on e c on temp l te d i n R es o l u ti on s f 1 798 1 84
M d is on s v iews o f 1 84
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Co s id e s t h e c i c u mst n ces w hi c h l e d t o t h e est b l i s h me n t o f t h
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