The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.

The following Resolution passed the house of Delegates on the 22 instant.

Whereas the General Assembly of this commonwealth at their session which commenced in December in the year 1798, passed sundry resolutions, in one of which they solemnly protest against the act of Congress, commonly called the sedition law, as a palpable and alarming infraction of the Constitution of the United States.

And whereas the General Assembly of this commonwealth, at their session, which commenced in December in the year 1799, repeated this solemn protestation against the said act of Congress, and moreover, directed the publication of the report of a select committee, containing a fair and candid representation of the reasons on which that measure was founded; a report of which the members composing this present General Assembly take pleasure in expressing their decided approbation, not only because of the perspicuity and irresistible force of the arguments which it contains, but because a disposition to promote "mutual respect confidence and affection among the members of the union," is uniformly preserved.

And whereas recent occurrences have taken place in several parts of the United States, and particularly in this commonwealth, which justify the apprehensions expressed by the said General Assemblies, and which prove that the said act is as oppressive and dangerous in practice, as it is erroneous in principle.

And whereas the said last mentioned General Assembly by their resolution passed on the 11th day of January last, instructed the Senators from this state in the Congress of the United States to oppose the passing of any law founded on or recognizing the doctrine lately advanced that the common law of England is in force under the government of the United States, a doctrine which they truly declared to be novel in its principles and tremendous in its consequences; and the members of the present General Assembly, after the most mature deliberation are of opinion that the said doctrine tends directly to the subversion of a fundamental article in the constitution, namely, that the general government possesses no powers but those which are expressly granted:—therefore,

Resolved, That the Senators from this state in the Congress of the State, be instructed, and that the representatives be requested, to avail themselves of every opportunity to obtain a repeal of the said act of Congress, and to oppose any law or resolution containing a recognition of the said doctrine.