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Congress of the United States, it would seem equally superfluous
to add any thing to the remonstrance itself, for the purpose of
vidicating the justices, the policy, and the necessity of the course
which the General Assembly has pursued, to vindicate the insulted
rights of their State and their constituents. Kentucky could not
make more evident, the wrongs she hasendured, and the claim
she has upon the Congress of the Union, for ample security against
future sufferings and degradation.
But it cannot be disguised, that great efforts have been made
and extensive means employed, by those who substantially main-
tain the supremacy of the Federal Judiciary, and whose interests
have been advanced by the decrees of the Court, to impress upon
the national government and our sister States, that the people of
Kentucky have and feel but an inconsiderable interest in the occu-
pant laws thus attempted to be repealed, and are ready to surrender
them, as unjust in principle, and repugnant to the compact with
our parent State ; that they are not opposed to the general princi-
ples attempted to be established by that tribunal, and entertain no
apprehensions from the application and extension of the de-
grading doctrines in that and other opinions asserted ; that they
are ready to yield whatever the Judges may demand ; that the
measures of the last session were but the effect of a temporary agi-
tation in the public mind, and a rebellious spirit in the General
Assembly, which had spent themselves in the effervescence of the
moment, and left the State in a disposition to abandon the ques-
tion, and quietly to submit to the unconstitutional mandates of
judicial authority. Hence, it is deemed not only politic, but ne-
cessary, for the present General Assembly emphatically to de-
clare, that on this subject they fully accord with the sentiments
expressed in the remonstrance of last session, and by the Gover-
nor in his enlightened communication at the commencement of
the present session, and that, in their opinion, the same sentiments
are entertained by the great body of the people of Kentucky.
They have always believed, and do now believe, that the occu-
pant laws attempted to be vacated by the Court, violated no prin-
ciple either of constitutional or moral law, and are entirely consis-
tent with the compact with the parent State, and were, at the
time of their enaction, imperiously required by the condition of
the country, and are still essential toits repose. They view the
decision of the Court as not only unconstitutional and erroneous,
but as asserting principles whcih are dangerous to the political lib-
erty of the State, and to the civil liberty of its citizens ; and taken in
connexion with the general tenor of the decisions of that tribunal on
constitutional law, and the spirit which has been displayed by their
adherents, as threatening an annihilation and consolidation of the
States. But the General Assembly and the people of Kentucky
view the reports sent abroad, of their readiness to asquiesce in