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Passed Feb'y 26
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Resolutions relative to the Ordinance of Nullification of
South Carolina, &c.
The joint committee to whom was referred the ordinance
and other documents, transmitted us by the governor of
South Carolina, and that part of our late governor's mes-
sage relating thereto, have given the subject that attention
which its serious import demands; and report the follow-
1st. Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
in expressing our opinion upon the ordinance of Nullifica-
tion, and the recent proceedings of South Carolina, it is
our duty to declare our opinions firmly on the principles
assailed, and to expostulate mildly and affectionately with
her.
2d. Resolved, That we hold these principles to be in-
controvertable: that the government of the United States,
was adopted by the people of the different states, and es-
tablished "in order to form a more perfect union, establish
justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the com-
mon defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves, and our posterity," that
it possesses all the powers necessary for the purposes for
which it was instituted, that it is irreconcilable with the ob -
jects and purposes for which the constitution was adopted,
to suppose that it contains in itself the principles of its
own destruction, or has failed to endue the government
created by it, with the essential power of self preservation.
That it is not in the power of any one state to annul an act
of the general government, as void or unconstitutional.
That the power of deciding controversies among the dif-
ferent states, or between the general government and a
state, is reposed in the federal judiciary, and that it is an
act of usurpation for any state'to arrogate to herself juris-
diction in such cases.
That the Supreme court is the only tribunal having con-
clusive jurisdiction in cases involving the constitutionality
of the acts of the General Government.
That whenever a state is aggrieved by the constitution-
al acts of the general government, the fifth article of the
constitution prescribes the remedy, declaring that "the con-
gress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it
necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution,
or on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the
several states, shall call a convention for proposing amend-
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