Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-03-03
From the Virginia Patriot

Democratic Legisiation.--Conchded.
During the reading Of this paper By Mr..
M'Csmpbell, the house became dissrderly
80 much 10 that the speaker twice called
to order, and Mr.. M'Campbetl once stop.
ped, paused until silence was restored, and
resumed the reading by repeating part Of
what he had read during the noise.
Having finished the reading, Mr.. NJ.
Campbell observed, I" that he agreed in
opinion with the member from Nelson
(Mr. Cabell that there was no necessity
to discuss this subject. and that he would
for the present content himself with offer.
ing the resolution to the house, with tie
single remark, that the argument they con.
tanned was founded upon facts which were
incontrovertibie, as they were furnished by
the documents published by order Of CON.
grrss.
The speaker was, slowly and apparently
in state ct enbarrassmsns, preparing, as
10 thu invariabl. practice, to read them
from the chair, when Mr.. Peter V. Daniel
rose and moved that they should not be %
read, but that they s&ouLd be Mrswn on tie
floor. A loud cry OF AGREED, AcRAED,
was heard from all quarters of the house.
The motion of Mr.. Daniel was formally
seconded by Mr.. Stevenson (of the city OF
Richnond) but neither of them made q
single observation or stated any reason
whatsoever in support Of the motion. 1t
was opposed BY Mr.. Walker (of Nleeklen
burg) who, much to his credit, made a
few remarks upon the indscorum Of the
motion, as did general Blackburn.
The speaker, in = feeble, hesitating
manner, remarked, thar" he thought it
his duty to state to the hous-, tina, 10 his
opinion the motion was out of order" He
then, without having read the resolutions
from the chair, or put the que stion whs.
Their the reading should be dispensed with,
and, in the belief of some gentlemen, with.
out having announced what question was
before the Eouse, suddenly rose and pu,
the question upon the substitute proposed
by Mr.. Campbell. It was rejected with
out division.
The resolution proposed by Mr.. NJ
Campbell having been thus disposed Of,
MIR. Daniel snquired Of the chair whe.
Their the journal was to he stained by them?
He was answered by the speaker that he
presumed this was of course, as the jour
nal was kept for the purpose Of recording
the proceedings of the house.
Mr.. M'Csmpbcil then rose and observ-
ed that he wac surprised At the course
which had been pursued. I, did not com.
port with the dignity Of legislative pro.
cesdings or the freedom of debate. Thi.
freedom was guaranteed by the constitution
and the evil woLd be much the same. whe-
Their the privilege were. taken away by an
express Ia" or destroyed by the intolerance
md prescription Of dominesring party .pi-
rit. He ssood there as representative Of
! portion OF the people. and in the dis
charge OF his dutrs, whilr he would sevsr
psxpessly insu ts.s heas srths feelings
Df any Of its me .noers, hr wou,d exercise
the privilege Of freely expressing hs OPT
MONS. The resolutions hsd beea submit
ted TO the house. II they contained any
thing inesrrsss ia poiassof fact or Of jus,
the gendstnen ought Il have