Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-29


lievr me, SIR, whatever power we may he dis
posed To attribute to water, as an elrm.p at ar
agent, il hut feebly represents the npetuosiiy
of human passions, much better assimated
la lightning steam.
Mr.. Speaker AN irreverenre, levi,y, or pro-
family aside, conlure this House, in the
name of the living God AS they love their
country, and regard the interests of morality,
peace, and good order in society, IL preserve
this law as they would the apple of their eye
guard il against the unhallow-d touch of van
Dial hands, taHght only To deface aud destroy
he monuments of genius and ant ; defend il
against all intrusion as securely as was the tree
"f life in the garden Of Eden, by flaming
sword, turning every way, Ia prevent The re-
turn "f the haplrss rxiles Wuich orer IL with
thu trrmulous anxiety Of the vestal virgins
over their holy lamps and eternal fires /; it will,
indeed. he "A light To your feet, aud lamp
To your path !" will guard you, your children,
aud posterity, from the dark mountains of
ermr over which So many great and politically
good men have stumbled and fallen, to rise
no more. twill be to you, and your posteri-
~, triple shield of defence, as efTrctual as
the blood of the passover, sprinkled upon the
lint-ls aud door posts of the houses, that when
the destroying angel al midnight passed over
the land of Egypt, and slew all the first born
Of the Egyptians, both of mao and beast
Israel. secure in al her borders. enjoyed the
most refreshing saunders, and not man was
lost -!
Mr.. TYLER replied at some length to Mr.
Blackburn, and the latter rejain.d.
Mr.. GORDON made few remarks in favor
of the passage of the bill He said h- had
known II. ID. since lie was g years of ag. :;
| and spoke in commentator at him. The cir
| cumstances of his case, which he briefly reca-
pitulated, entitled him Ia relief.
Mr.. PATrEsoN of ID. opposed the bill. lIe
| thought there were other cases as strong as
the present, and fthr law was relaxed in ia
vor of every strong case, there would in his
opiDi"n be but little of it remaining. He would
do equal justice t0 all. He would not dress
the wounds ofthe applicant with healing saiue,
and those of the absentees with sand paper.
| Mr. DRoMGooLE next addressed the House.
as follows:
had not intended 10 participate in the dis
| cussun of this question, but as the debate has
progressed, my anxious solicitude for the fate
Ofihr petitioner has increased. will not de
ny, that for him [ entertain feelings of the
warmest friendship; that this friendship has
been matured aud strengthened by an ac-
quaintance of several years: cannot conceal
the fact, sir, that his peculiar situation makes
an irresistible appeal To my sympathy. The
vote, however, which | shall cunsc-niuusiy
give upon this occasion, is not the dictate Of
my feelings only. Although ! ain not one of
those who think that we should sit here with
hearts as cold and nsenshr as marble that in
order 10 faithful discharge, of our pubic ,iu
ties, we should discard from our bosoms all
those good feelings OF benevoleucp and charity
which distinguish us from the brute creation :
although | am prepared Ia concede that ii hui
name disposition may be consulted here with
the same propriety as in The peaceful walks of
| vet IA.
lieve, that my peculiar friendships could Sc
duce me into an act Inconsistent with my
| counry's welfare | should indeed think
meanly of myself if feelings "f individual at
tachment could beiray me- lnto Il course, which
my sober Judgment would not approve Sir. |
am much attached to Robert Douthaf, bat |
love my country more and would willingly
sacrifice him and all in his situation. if the III
| trrest of the commonwealth demanded it,
But am persuaded that neither the peace,
| the safety, nor the prosperity of the country
will be in the least impaired by granting the
prayer of the petitioner believe, sir, and ii
is the result of the most serious reflection
which have been able To bestow upon this
Interesting subject, that neither justice, nor good
policy can require this ever during punish
ment this eternal dislranchisemrnt Sir, [
cannot perceive how a pardon Ia RI. Douthat
under all the circumstances of his case, can
defeat IN the smallest degree, the main object
of your law. cannot perceive how il is to
produce revolution in public sentiment how
IT Is To ansetile the acknowledged prevailing
hostility To this relic of bar5arous age, how
II is TO operate in the renewal ef those tragic
scenes, which often occurred and disgraced the
iand when duelllnS was the fashion of the day.
| Believe me, sir, the restoration of this humble
petitioner to his lOng-lOst civil privileges can
never, in the nature Of human affairs, produce
| such terrible consequences Ia society they ARE.
the gloomy Iorebndings OF an uncharitahle
| mind, mind ever apprehensive of unsubsian-
iial III, never hoping for good, and always con-
| templaing the human character in its most
uniarOrable aspect. IL L am correct 10 the
opIniuD, that the passage of this bill cannot
defeat the main great object of your anti-du-
cling law, which is the prevention of blood
shed, hope ] shall be allowed to submit some
of the reasons which prose Ia my mind that il
will be wise and polite | know that the cnuI
icsy Of the house will grant me this indul-
gence, notwithstanding much Impotence has
been manifested | must first advert To "A re-
mark which fell from Il gentleman in debate
on yesterday, and which has in substance been
reiterated to-day. If do not labor under ;,
mistake, that remark was the expression ofan
ardent desire, that This assembly should pro-
nouuce such decided disappruhalion of the
present measure, as would preclude all future
applications, as would exclude all expectation
of relief hereafter for the unfortunate sufferers
under this severe law. | would not, sir, for
my right hand, have uttered such - sentiment.
| would not possess a heart rs cold and I'm
feeling as that expression brspeaks, for all the
wealth OF the Indies. Can you imagine feI-
low being maintaining a respectable rank in
society, tortured with the most gXcruciatine