Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-02-15

Mr.. STEVENS defended the consiitu.
lional right OF this house 10 express it's
opinion on any topic OF public interest.
So lar from interfering with the Executive
authority. he regarded such expressions
of opinion as facilitating the exercise of
that authority. tins being 4 government
OF opinion, and as II must be desirable TO
the Executive Ia know what public OPT
ni0nis, Sc. With regard 10 tins measure
being goad TO the Executive. Mr.. S.
suggested that there was no reason 10
Apr, i,end that the Executive OF this day
was 10 be alarmed or driven from his
course by any such measure. &c. Ha
Was III favor OF the resolve az al express
sion of the opinion Of this house, on
point OH which he had no hesitation i'm
expressin. his individual opinion.
Mr.. BROWN delivered his sentiments
IN favor OF the resolution, which he be.
lieyed TO be decidedly those oi The Peo.
pie OF henlu'ky. &c: He protested a.
gainsi the great sensibility as to what
might be the feelings OF the Executive
on the subject, and still more against
amy reference 10 what might be the views
1T foreign powers. He Was of opinion
that the policy of thus government had
been too cold towards The Southern pro-
vinces but he did not therefore wish 20
change the course OF the Executive, much
less TO dictate 10 il. He was wiling 10
say 10 the Executive thai The People oi
ihis country take deep interest in this
cause, and that this house snteriaiDs the
same feeling and was therefore d,ci
dedly IN iaver OF The r, solution.
MIR. SMITH. Of Md. stated several oh
Jections TO The resolution, among which
were The following: that il attribut< a TO
The President power Oi.aI of re- ogui.
tion) TOO important TO be exeicise,i by
any authority less than the three branch,
rs ct the government that il proposed
to make This house, imconpsiibly with
The constitution, the aGviser OF The P.esi
dent, thus taking from him a part al
least of his constitutional responsibility :;
that il would afford bad precedent.
which. la future times may be used.
through tile influence OF The President in
this house (; that il proposes than this
house should cOmpromlt lis successors
IN office, which 1t could mol do, aud
which II was therefore improper 10 AT
tempt, &c.
MIR. Cook opposed this resolution,
though lie had yesterday voted in favor
OF MIR. Gays proposition, because il pro-
posed an empty declaration, after reius-
ing an efficient act. SO far from bellcv.
ing that such a resolution as this would
aid The cause OF The South Ameri, all
patriots, he believed i,'wOuld inspire lien
with contempt for the course of this
house. Ii was saying. in connection, with
yesterdays vote, we wish sou well, very
well, but not as much as eighteen tbou-
sand dollars.
MIR. CLAY then delivered a speecI, of
half an hours length in support of his
motion. lie opposed 10 one another The
objections 10 the resolution, 10 sbew thai
they would not stand together, aud there.
fore deHed their claim TO respect taken
separately. lie quoted The precedent of
The resolution Of Congress TO support the
IRE sideni IN amy consequences which
might follow the dismission OF the BRITISH,
Minister. MIR. Jackson, some years ago,
and alluded to other pTeceden,s of ex-
pIessions OF opinion by This House. He
rIdicul'd and reasoned against the argu-
menf, That ilIis resolution would hurt The
feeiinss OF The Executive, or smcroach on
his authority. Ii was on the contrary.
lie commended, assuming only fair res :
possibility on the part of this House. and
adding strength to the Executive. lie
referred 10 the vote OF last session. and
the counter vote of yesterday, which APP
peared TO him imperiousIy 10 require The
passage OF this resolution. He protested
against The argument of the gentleman
from Georgia, drawn from the situation
OF Old Spain, as absolutely founded on
the idea That the colonies ought 10 repass
under the yoke Of SPAN. Tie argument
which denied The power of one Congress
t" bind lis successors would, ha con-
tended, equally apply 10 lie most i'm
per'ant acts OF legislation, such as de-
claratioDs OF war, &c. AS 10 the senti.
ments OF the people on this subject, MIR.
u SAID thai was matter OF fact which
each gentleman must determine for him
sell. and vote accordingly tor his own
part, he hal no doubt " hat were the sen
iimehts OF his constituents on this sub
Ject and repeating sentiment thrown
out by Mr.. Mercer, he said, II they did
moi entertain such sentiments, so help
blm God he would not represent Them
IL ihe matter OF TACT was certain. he
S0uid see no reason against ayOwlng il.
WIN respect to the mode OF recognition
OF foreign powers, MIR. Clay reviewed the
various opinions which had been express
{" at oiHarrnt lines, as well as 10 day,
on ibis subject. He concluded that
Doth Congress and The Executive had
Lils power, out that the most regular, or.
dinary, and usual course was by the
Executive; and II was, therefore, proper
, 10 assure him Of the support Of this
Honse, &c. There was peculiar pro.
prIeiy, MIR. c. commended, in this L,use
moving IN this business. being ibe imme-
diate representatives of The People, and
the cause OF South America being that of
ne People, as being the cause OF human
liberty, &c. MIR. Clay concluded by
saying, II This proposition did not satisfy
gentlemen, II was impossible for him t.
CONCEIVE III what shape proposition OH
ms subject could be placed, so as tba,
they could vote for il.
MT. SMITH Of Md. then rose, and
look wider view Of The question than he