Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-07

appears, is qualified, aud takes his seat, we
have no right To his services, and 10 power
over his actions and heuce AN insult to min, is
not AN insult TO IT, My doctrine is taiS--as
soon Us menil'cr l. subject TO our rules he a.
entitled 10 OR protection, and every VIOLENCE
or ndisnity offered to him, as member, is a
contempt u the house. Cases OF doubtful cha.
racter might be stated ii a member Will.
absent cua iedre, ~sould be treated contenp-
tuously, can tho house send for and punish
the oilender5 Upon my hypothesis, perhaps
not, the member not being subject TO our
controul. suppose him absent rith14f leave
he, having violated our rules, mag have for
feitcd our protection. When these cases of
doubt shah happen, it will then be cur duty
10 decide them. Ii is Sufficient tor MS thar
the case under consideration is OF 4 b,75s of
fered TO an GcttRg member while the house
was sitting, and for the purpose OF iutiuenc
ing oar deliberations and perverins our ,ieci-
sionS.
Eut the honorable gentleman from Virrini;
aware Ot the consequences 10 which his doc
trines viii lead has endeavored To anSw rey.ry
Objection. lie admits that we have the excin.
vcrisht 10 this house and 10 prevent distur-
0ances ANA interruptions, wenIay exclude from
It's galleries those who are iide or unciyil THIS
Is all tie smswer which he gives us this is ,Ile
oniI cure Tor our inihiiiiy 10 punish cont empts
| W lille the honorable member from New York
| (Mr. Spencer WAS denying our powers to nm
| hiSh, case we'll nigh happened m the galleries
ShiSh would have put iils principles TO the
test. lHeIe Was Il niue uiSturUdffcf. and The
| gentleman was Oh the point OF CALM. tor that
| projection which lie was then attempting Ia
| prove tins house could not afford H. howe.
| ever, gave me Son.e consolation, that, instead
oi asking the people 10 be SO ohliglny as TO
| Suspend their conN ersatiOn until we shuuld
! have finished cur debate, the Speaker ven
| thred, very promptly, 10 order the noise to be
| suppressed. All The admission, houe,cr that
| NC eau eNtort nom tnS gentleman from NIr-
| s.iiid IL, that We have d power 10 turn our m,
4 4 VII Pm
| pose that person al the galleries should a.
| muse himself by throwing stones at the sneak
CT; before your sergcan, AT arms can uvertake
| INN lie is IN the street, out of YOUR power He
| Is remore,f, but the abuse OF the Sneaker ne.
inars, and the indiSuity 10 the House is una
| toheu. suppose whiic that, or some other .e,,-
| tieman, was debating, some bully should en-.
| ter and take him by the throat or nose aud he
tore the sergean, at arms could Interfere he
should be pitched headong Gown the stairs.
| ana the pcrpetratOr should be OF What IS the,
| remedy! why, forsooth, the person injured
might go TO magistrate, and make oath, aud
II he could tinI the offender, arrest and try
| nm Tor IN assault and battery, tiuc bIm in,
some twenty sdiilings and the next day he
would return 10 your galleries and laugh i'm
your lace. Ihis remedy, by renewal, Is all we
are auoweo. Inc aSsressor, from without
| might throw stones at, or beat drums under
| your windows lie m. ht stand AT vour door
| ana horsewhip member Us sUcn as he enter
| ed the street, tor his conduct on thus floor ::
| a
individual, and to be punished by the oriina
| ny process OF iaH! Sumo Cromwell, with few
| nSrmidons. might enter your halt, aud win
| their bayonets, drive the members out of the
windows, like Gock of sheep and the RENE.
| dy, is to re.euter, and cxpel Them, If YOU can
| But why cite cases that under cOasIdera
| ton is a case of singular atrocity. The char
| ntn' OF your committee OF claims is AN officer
ofthe FIRST responsibility. To him you have
| entrusted the keys OF your treasury. lie should
| set his face like u flint against the Ciamorous
| inrkers round your treasury. He is your guar
dian angel, with flaming sword turning q, ery
way, to defend this sanctuary OF the people
| lie u faithful, yIgilant and honorable He
| holds the purse strings of the nation, aud the
! man must have a good case, and good luck i'm
! The bargain, who shall induce him To untie
| them. Hut john Anderson wants money
4 he does not climb up some other way and en-
| deavor to enter the back door or The win
| dows-he advances boldly in front, seizvs lie
| keeper and attempts TO wrCSt from him the
| keys. You are advised of this atrOcity and
| Indignantly order the cnlprt to be broup lat
| before you. Butyou are sravely told that fiis
| Is an act, which YOU have no power TO punish
or prevent sympathy succeeds indignation
1 4 CITIZEN rs deprived ofhis liberty a storm
| gather OH your brow The lightning of iudrua.
ton flashes in the eye, and the thunder of elo-
! qhence bnrsts from the lips But when an
! honorable member of our house is lnsulted and
| abused, and ourselves scandalized by foul
| attempt 10 corrupt us, onr philosophy returns
4
mild ms May. day morn, =" soft as the gentle
zephyrs brealhY' calm and uurutiled as a sum
mer's sea when not breath of wind flies
over its surface" Why this extreme in
favor OF this man j trust it springs from
the most honorable feelings of the human
heart E; but fear that those feelings may per.
vert our Judgments.
| We are told that precedenfs arc dangerous
| and ought not to be trusted. Precedents, which
| have been taught TO believe were the buoys
| and beacons, to point out 10 the political ma
| riner the course he is to steer his ship to a.
| void the rocks, shoals and quicksands, which
| lay in his way are now converted into the So
| rem, which lures him to whirlpools and iuevl-
| table destruction. Well, Let them 90 Ii our
| own decisions smell too strong of party, cast
| the aside. Ii foreign rules have become too
nusty or savonr of royalty, reject them. If
state or provincial practices are too local, we
| will not trust them. Aud, as God Almighty
| has implanted in the heart of man the priuci.
| pie of self-dcfence and self protection, so let
This political body, representing eight millions
OF people, establish the precedent, that il has
the power to repei and punish aggression, and
announce 10 orr constituents aud the world,
that no one can, with impuuity, insult ny lUith
q bride.