Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-07-17
1858 1929.
eS5S 1929,
rTote c0ntinuea.)
GONG r T. S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FEzDA1, February 10, 1902.
nEBATE

DEBATE
On the bill receiUed from the Scnafc, entitled
III -4cs 20 ,-efeal certain acts resteefing
The organization e tie cosuts Of TIE Unis
rcd S.atcs."
(lHr. Bayara IN contnuotio1,.)
stated the gentIeman's words as took
them down. 1t is immaterial whether the
mistake was in the gentleman's expressi-
on, or In my understanding. He has a
right to explain, and l viii take his positi-
on as he now states 1t. l deny, sir, that
mandatory process has issued. Such pro-
cess would be imperative, and suppose a
jurisdietionto exist the proceeding, which
has taken place, is no more than notice of
the application. for justice made TO the
| court, and allows the party to shew, either
that no wrong has been committed, or that
the court has no jurisdiction over the sub
ject. Even, sir, II the rule were made alb
solute, and the mandanus issued, it would
not be definitiye, but il would be- compe-
tent for the secretary IN return to the
writ, to Justify the aG which has been done,
or to shew that it is not subject of Judi
ciai cognizance.
X is not'till after an insufficient return
that a peremptory mandamus issues. In
this transaction, so far from seeing any
thing culpable in The conduct OF your iudg-
es, think, sin, that they have given a
strong proof of the value OF that constitu-
| tIonal provision which makes them indie
pendent. They are not terrified by the
frowns OF executive power, and dare to
Judge between the rights of citizen and
the pretensions of a President.
believe, Mr.. Chairman, I have gone
through most Of the preliminary remarks
winch the honorable gentleman thought
proper to make before he proceeded to the
consideration ofthose points which proper
ly belong to tie sI0ject before the com
nittee. / have noi-supposed The topics |
have been discussing, had any connection
with the bill on your table; but felt it as
! duty not to leave unanswered charges a.
gainst the former administrations and our
Judges, of the most insidious tendency ;
which know 10 be unfounded, and which
were calculated and designed to influence
the decision OF the measure now proposed.
Why, Mr.. Chairman, has the present sub
ject been combined with the army, the ma
Wy, the internal taxes, and the sedition law ?
Was il to involve them in one common
odIum, and TO conSign them to a common
tate Do see in the preliminary re-
marks of the honorable member the title
page Of the volume of measures which are
to be pursued Are gentlemen sensible
OF the extent to which il is designed to lead
them! They are now called on to re-
duce the army, TO diminish the navy, to a.
bolish the mint, to destroy the indcpen-
dence Of the judiciary, and viii they be a.
bic to stop when they are next required to
blot out the public debt, that hateful source
of monied interest and Of aristocratic in
fluencea BE asurcd, sir, we see but a
small part Of the system which has been
formed. Gentlemen know the advantage
of progressive proceedings, and my life for
it, they can carry the people with them,
their career will not be arrested while a
trace remains of what was done by the for
mer administrations.
There was another remark of the homo
rabls member which must be allowed 10
notice. The pulpit, SIR, has not escaped
inve6tive. The ministers of the gospel
have been. repre- seAted, like the Judges,
forgetting the, duties of their calling and
employed in disseminating the heresies Of
federalism. Am / then, sir, 10 understand
that religion is also denounced, and that
your churches are to be shurup2 Are we
to be deprived, sir, both of law and gospel ;.
Where do the principles Of the gentle
man end ? When the system Of reform
is completed what viii remain 7 pray
Cod that this fourishing country which,
under his providence, has attained such n
height ofpfosBerity, may yet escape the
desolatiOf sSbered BY another nation, by
the praeiice Of similar doctrines.
Ibcg pardon of the committee FOR hav-
ing consumed so much time upon points
little connected with the subject Of the de-
bate. Till heard the honorable member
from Virginia yesterday, was prepared
only to discuss the merits Of the bill up
on which you are called to vote. His pre-
Iiminary remarks were designed to have
an effect which deem it material to en-
deavouf to coupteract, and I therefore
yielded to the necessity of pursuing the
course he had taken, though was consci-
ous Of dePorting very far from the subject