Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-03-07

cheney To .he will of a majority tha, does
not approximate the doclriae of the p,.
l'sh veto. There can be no reason for
This distinction. And so far from th.r.
being danger ofthis power being abused.
The experience OF all governments holds
me out IN saying that there is greater
danger that he power will not b.. eyer.
cised than that II will be abused. For
this plain reason. 1t would require some
overt acl of notorious misconduct, or an
equally notorious imbeciiity of mind or
body TO justify any man in giving such a
vote. IL is point of extreme delicacy
u give 1t and though some men might,
trust majority of both branches never
would give such vote for light and friv-
olous reasons. But il may be thought
that, as IN all free governments there are
parties, triumphant party would turn
out The Judges 10 get into their places.
his would be most humiliatlng effect.
Bat on what IS the probability of such an
effect founded How are the turner's ont
TO be turned in ! Have hey the power
to appoint themselves to Office No. And
from our experience heretofore, no such
Inference can be drawn. There il no
probability of one triumphant raet on put.
ting down another To get their Offices
because ,riumphant faction could nos
rise 10 power bul al the VIII Of majority.
and although they might take Offices a.
way from others, they could not bestow
them on themselves. But suppose thew
did. l: W ould be for the first and The last
tune 1t would be a struggle between Of
tee hunters and the people and | be.
lieVe all The experience VIC have hereto.
tore had shews, that this description Of
meo are 100 prone to union for the pub.
TIC to sustain either prof, or loss from
their divisions. But if in this opinion
am IN error. would recur back to INV
hfst principle To support me. IS the
power to remove judge more impor-
tant than the power of declaring war, Of
laying taxes, and Of eifecling various O.
Their national Objects? This is a doctrine
to me totally uninelligbls.
Mr.. SGILiE observed tina: heSTerret.
tea that the motion for all indie finite post.
ponemens had been made, as it was e.
quivaieai to rejection Of the resolution.
.he question was then taken by Yeas
and Nays, on an indefinite postponement,
ana passed in the negative-Ysas a.
Nays 81.
Mr. CLARKE than varied his motion,
so as TO postpone the resolution to tho
second Monday in March.
Mr.. j. CLAY said he wished the gen.
teman would withdraw this motion, and
move pos,ponement ill next Monday.
RE was very sensible of the importance
OF the subject, and was only sorry that
there Was not a prosreef of s,,,a,n,as n
constitutional msjority in favor of the re-
solution. Mr. L. said they had been-told
by his colleague (Mr. Conrad) that he
was ready 10 vest the president with a
discretionary power TO remove Judge OH
the address OF the two Houses. Bu if
his colleague had attended 10 the politics
oil his o~n :Ia.e, he would have seen The
impropriety OF such au' hority, the con-
sequence II which was that iudge,vhose
r.inoval had been requested by The two
branches cf The legislature, actually held
his place at The discretion OF The govern
or. The other alternative his colleague
had IuggsSed, was worse than The pre-.
sent provision, as at present majority
OF one branch and two thirds of he other
were sulficIsn, 20 remove a Judge. Mrs
concluded by expressing hope that
the gentleman f,om Vuginis would agree
tn posponement till next Monday.
Mr. CLARKE said he had no objection.
The questions vs. hen put, and the
posipoprme II to Monday next carried.
M. j. RANDOLPH. ! deg leave 10 sab.
NIT a motion to The House a very i'm
pornnr motion; which at present only
mean To lay on the table. The constitu-
ton OF 'he 'niied Slafes had provided
ihat 70 person holding an Office under the
government ofthe United States shall be
capable at holding seat in either House
OF Congress. But as the beat things are
liable TO corruption, Nud as we are told
the corruption of the bss; things is al.
ways the worst, so the constitution Of the
United States has received in practice q
construction which in my judgment, the
text never did. and does not now warrant;
but which warranted by the text, is to-
tally repugDant to the spirit of that in.
sirument, which, composed OF the Earring
in;ei esIs of the different states, and sci.
tied on the basis OF compromise, gave
birth TO government Of responsibility,
without influence, without patronage with
DOT abuse, ~ithoutprIyileges attached to a.
ny individual class or order ofmen Itcould
not have been the oblect Of such an in
strument that while a man, hoidino an