Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-10-24
USURY QUESTION:.

OBSERVATIONS Of GOV. ROBERTSON
On PqmphLei published By order Of Lle Senate emf
iisd Docu0'shiS reLu'{re 10 the USuy Bill
TO THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA
FsIio S-Citizcns f; Tho Senate Las tboupht proper
o ISSUE 4 pamphlet for yoG' 5eaekf, so novel in IL.
character, aud 81 Objectionable 10 lis maaner that I
ieEl myself cumpstled 10 n0ce IL. Silent under anon
ymous attacks ot Oswspaper soribbels [ cannot CON
sen, To uea wih similar Indifference tue ceusures of
that respectable body. Hurried on by their feelings .
1 avn Induced to think 10 their cooler moo,.n,s
some of ,hcl AZ least, Will acknowledge The Injustice
they have done me. BE- So or not, lea,lessIv an
peat 90 that tribunal, whose good opinion, having
hereto:ora enIoYed would williug, lose but in
whose award am all times prepared 60 acouiesce
lps charges rihde against me IN the re puri signed
by ILY committee aud adopted by the Senate are as
desfIinle of even plausible found itjnu ns- is ~
style in which they conveyed, ;mdefensbIe ,n,l
the report iIsej, slate paper, sing uar and nnpre
cedentsd, appreheDd the annals of our common
country furnish as au example such procedure .
yet, II IS cert.iu tba tue GnyerUors of iLe different
states, whom the power - vested have CreuuentIv
returned nth their objections, laws which they deem
ed uuco Institutional, injurious 10 the rights and in
leTesS Of the people. But this has ia an, Other
instance, given rise 70 angry nvecliye add inamnn-
tory add. eSses Otber senators, aware that the Chief
Executive Msgisrae is liable la impeachment be fore
i1em d; his JIJges have RETAINED fom pi enia are
denuweiaiiou. Tbis is lac course OF courts oil Justice
IL IS Ibe duty OF all tribunals TO avoid passion aud pre-
iu1lce, however obnoxious The ofIeuder the effect
of ssniGnce Of condemnation after inipcnchment in
the la gusse nilhe Federalisf, would be bat perpe
nal osiracsm l'S9a the esteem aud confidence of ms
~ senate no eff
feet, without the Formally of d trial
Wherefore is 1t that Tbe senate, fOrgenul OF their
own dignity rs we rs that al The state, have thought
fit TO dr-g ue at all before the public Why, above
all, jndUg9 10 personal remark, and ilibera ipua-
ton Not cOnisnt with the superiority which the
well kuoWu InleOls they have NJ comnand assures
lhem, moi satisfied with accusations against mr Of
having violated tia spirit OF The constitutions ueon-
sisisncy, of advocating dangerous Iheuiies-ihey
have xsseilad the motives Of my coudnct-clarged
With attachment for Usurers aud exioriiuners
and wiil actihg under The Ogucnce OF the rich As
10 vswers aud exioriioners, koow nothing of hem
hold communion With them | never leni or Dor
rOHed dollar on usury in my life, and, ii can help
IL, never viii Tor eStrdvagant or avari-
Cous the risk OF running myself IN eudeay-
ours 10 get money. But should 6nd myself uuex-
pecteJiy aud unfortunately under Tie necessity OF
ubiaiD,ng nau u>uriaUs interest, I would nay
agrc sobly my bond, not being enough Of casuisi
90 absoIye msseD from any promise which may de-
liberofely make As the rich hey are also class
10 which do not beioUg NY circumstances are Bar-
row, my time has not been deVOled pecunary pur-
suits Jni wiib reference 10 Others, their beng rich
their beIRg poor, IS OF no consequence 10 me |
give my respect anh iriendsip to lbe Intelligent, the
sis. uous, lie industrious Igd patriotic,
The cODsiiiutlon Of The state provides that " Every
20 bill which shall have passed hOih Houses, shall be
presented 10 The Governor. lf he approve, he shall
" s,.o IT, f no., he shall return his office lions
- 10 tbe House 10 yhic it shall have originated ~ o
sal enter ne objections al large upon their our
" VII aud proceed To reeOnsii1r a." lfbs had been
dou0 and nothing more IL my objections. after hay-
ing hseu spread mon thar i0utnalliad beeu suffered
Tiers e. remain II ~ tho discussion Of en-, certain
reuhets had in1uigPd themselves 10 pV3sioU dc la
uaiiOu, guo creu abuse, for aUy " speech or debate
% 10 tho ii9use They would not be questioned by
NE. Further, ii 10 The pamphlet which they have
thuUg1 pfOpes TO publish, they had confined theni-
selves ,he subject, however iGgrnjuUsly tLey might
have supported Tue bill or h,ye nset my objections I
certainly should not have deenJed Unnecessary have
attempted reply But 10 must strike every one, who
rtois 'bcr rcpnri, that 81 - H0t Orly niAde vehicle
of upgegerUVs tnsptnors ~gtns ore, bur Of 0njnsti-
hlhie attacks my cor-in'i6uai pu'heges, aud the
course blva tikau IN thg administration Of the de-
barfnent 20 which belong VIII iheae views, quo
i1ons ace made rom ny former .sagos 10 Tie l.,
gisiiura AID because have admitted is superiority
u tlt branch Ol gOycrnmrut over Tive Judiciary and
egccansc, 0pinion WHICH have aiwpy. he ID, aDJ
which 1 sul entertain, 70 is aueripied 10 be pf0ten
thlt lly rsiiss 10 sanction one ol hcir acis VJ0.
llupu ~ tatpfinciple How ccsssfuly Ihey have
estlbllshc.i tue proposition, len,e YOU, fellow r.i-
1cus, ~ decide. I 1dl cOueot myself win sayiog,
tiJs / should h least have been much pleased, Il
tfy hid gitcn cgdcnco 81 recollection Of SOME Of
tho mcaadfss recunlncp dcd 40 tbem, % which Yoif
were concerned, ~ 10 fading il;ai ihcy had faxed
tisu niuainry with such pnns merely ~ suited their
Owu purposes HID tbat been the ctse, perhaps
tliey ngbi hive ttJugbi tDrth WliiIC fr re0ipn-
sitate ob Congress ne injuries suffer ud'-
vdusl-, and stlIr ,tun a e'tuuioa 0' toe public
lauds--,uey night have amended our defective wii,
IN .ysem-rc.oiseI he debtor from iprt,sonaieui-
or, eas', have separated l"ni FROM vile cr0ln is
the 5uliectOf chs peHueuti4ty might baVc received
sour n1ure, The views Of p.eCed'Hg scn1fes ctuied
into eit~lf, ~ tho pi,a witch h1i been adopted,
sbaud8ncd aud fhs copmiiniiy saved size expense of
.Bfftost ~ - GOO doilai., borrowed ycu ag1,
and expended sile Tor the contemplated build