Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-31
W.nSlsp.Y. Ian. I0.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 10.
Mr.. Randolph replied to Mr.. Pinkney
in "a speech of some length, and much IN
genuity. He had listened to the debate.
he said, with great pleasure, and he parti-
cularly complimented the speech of Mr..
p. as specimen of the powers of the hu
man mind, which he had not for long
time been accustomed to enjoy, even in
the house where he stood. Delighted,
however, az he was with the eloauence of
the honorable gentleman, he should still
return to the opinion which he had recent
" delivered when this measure was before
thehousc in another stage of its Journey !;
namely, that the bill now under consider.
alton was by the disproportionate Discus
sion bestowed upon it, raised to degree
of importance to. which it intrinsically pos
sessed no claim. Thou there was some
tts;sizs ihst fsll f'-oln the ourahie gentle
men with which he was really to go along
Wilh him to the full extent, aud though ne
was, as he conceived every man of taste
must be, gFatiiied with such display of
talents, there was one respect in which he
confessed, he had been completely disap-
able gentleman had not at all met the qucs-
ton for he conceived tliat question, not
IN reality tobe, whether the President,
with the consent OF the Senate, had RIGHT
to make treaties Of peace, commerce., alii-
ance, OF subsidy, with any foreign powers,
which he unquestiOnabIy had--but whe-
ther, as was contended by the import of
the honorable genIeman's speech, and by
other gentlemen who had spoken in the
course of the debate, it Eli within the
competency ofthe President, with Che con-
gent of the Senate as aforesaid, to repeal
existing laws, and to do, by treaty. that
which could only be done by legislative
enactnieDtS. The honorable gentleman
had said that the bill now under discussion
contained no new provisions, entered into
no details, and did no more but recite and
confirm those of the trcoty, and was. in
short, emily an echo Of that instrument f; or,
to adopt the gentleman's own illustrative
expression---its tDin brother.
Here MIR. Randolph observed, that If
this analogy of" twin brothers'' were bur-
sued little further, it would be found.
that the House of Representatives was an
other twin brother, which, according to the
old laws Of primogeniture, coming last,
come with diminished rights, or, as the
common saying is, came second best into
the world, and was now to be put out. in
order that ifselder, the great presidential
heir should inherit the whole estate. In
other words, the gehtleman's doctrine
was, that the President and Senate, with
no other difficulty or effort than that Of
making treaty with any foreign power,
no matter whom, how great, or how liftle.
might repeal and abrogate the pre-existinn
laws of Congress--ard that, il this were
not true then the President and Senate, or.
as tits called, the treaty making power
wers, in forming the present treaty or any
other treaty they had made, guilty of an
act al usurpatiCn. How this would bear
on tbt votes Of this House he could rot
pretend to say--but if the decision Of to.
day should turn out the same ~ that of YES
terday, and this doctrine re speclinc usur-
patton shOuldbe found correct. that deci-
sion would bear rather hard upon tic Pre-.
sideht ASH Senate. The worst Of il was
too, that, unfortunately, the Senate and
themselves just pleaded guilty to this
charge Of usdrpatioD, by the bill it had
sent to the Representatives for their con
earTehee. n bill, the amount OF which, be
hlg to carry the treaty into effect by legis-
y tive enactn eHt, wGad, if that doctrine
were true, brand both the President, them.
Sc Ives, and the Senate, by the bigh autiio.
rliy Of the honorable gentleman, with rank