Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-11

Pa''o Tue SeniiethahS argument he puts on the
ground of authority, and not reason; he would
venture TO hint that he, Mr.. Il. had some seri-
Gus misgiyings that people would not look to
those times as furnishing the instructive exam
pies oil public freedom; for, he believed, it would
DC susceptible Of proof BY refer ring to the Jour-
mails, that most of those who voted then for the
| proposed exclusion from the galleries, were
those who had most strenuOusly supported the
Ahen and Sedition Law. He did not make this
aiiusIon for the purpose of throwing 6re-brand
INTO the House, but he appealed to it as an his
torical fact.
In conclusion, Mr. III. said t he really
hoped that no gropndlcss Apr, ie,. ~.>is would
induce the House to retain rule, which, by the
my stery which would be incident TO its enforce
rnent, would beget thousand times more ex-
citement than If our galleries were thrown open
TO the whole world
Nr. MciIANE again rose, not Tor the purpose
OF entering at large into the debate, but merely
to correct some msapprehcnsions which appear
ed to exist, in relation 10 the remarks which he
had first submitted. 1t was certainly far from
his intention either TO stir up old embers or to
brighten any existing fame. Far less was it his
intention to advocate any rule which had for its
object the concealment of his own course of
conduct, in regard to the election of President
He neither had or could have any concealnent
all circumstances had been openly known, and
he meant that they always should be. If he even
desired concealment, he could not effect it-he
stood here with no colleagues. The vote he was
about to give must be publicly known and
whenever If was given, IT should be given with
single eye to the interests of our common
country. Could there, indeed, be any conceal
ment in the NATTER Did not every member of
this House know how his own colleagues intend
ed to vote? And would he not disclose that
knowledgef But TO whom? To the persons i'm
the gallery Could they discover, while the act
of balloting was going forward, for when those
ballots were given? Certainly not. He should
not, for his part, denounce the arrangement made
by the constitution on this subject. Eiva poce
might be very good mode Of voting for Presi-
dent, but, whether good or bad was not now
| the question. 1t was not the mode which the
constitution had prescribed. He again repeat.
ed, that hrs object was not to effect any conceal
ment, for hinselfor for others. The course which
each member would pursue, would be well
known to this House, and it would be known to
the country in time 10 correct it, if erroneous.
But his OBJECT, Mr.. M'Lane said. was to pre-
vent the exertion of an influence which, at some
period hereafter, might operate TO warp and
swerYe members from the conscientious dis
charge of their duty. 1t was wholly on the
ground of precedent that Mr. NJ L ne was &c.
sirous to record his vote in favor OF this rule
Surely, no gentleman who knew any thing o.
history, could need any arguments to convince
| him, how tremendous such influence as that
winch he deprecated, might easily become
Nor was it hard to say how it might be got up.
"A country meeting is held: votes are passed, APP
| proving or disappearing the anticipated conduct
ola Representative in this House, and directing
him what course 10 pursue. And if the affair
| Sin fftera ka
1t might go further constituents NAV be brought
tothe scene ofac;ion, with The intent ofintimida
ting and overawing the members of this House
he time might come when this would happen
though 1t may not now; and, If the gentleman
from South Carolina shall then live, and cas-: his
eyes on such scene, Mr.. M'Lane was persuad-
ed that he would do Justice to himself and to his
| motives on this occasion. That gentleman saws
that The people have right 10 know what is done
IN this House. Sir, said Mr.. MLane, agree
with him that they have He says further, that
he cannot go with me in the doctrine that our
constituents have no right to coniroul us in the
vote we are about TO give for President. But,
for myself | am free to say, that, however res
pect the opinions of my constituents in all cases
OF ordinary legislation, in this case do not know
them; | act Judge and an umpire. know
perfectly that great respect is due to public opn-
| ION, when fairly expressed. But even public
| opinion, II, IN my conscientious belief, it has
run wild gone astray, shall not govern me.
I The Constitution has imposed it onus a az duty,
TO choose President, when the election by the
people fails. Now, if my constituents have a
right to instruct in this respect, the consiiiu-
ens of the gentleman from South Carolina hay G
an equal right to instruct MINI and so have the
/ constituents of each member of this House.
And, if gentlemen are bounds to obey, and the
country remains divided, the result will be, that
| this House cannot choose President, any more
than the people can. The last remedy provided
by the constitution fails, and all those evils rush
upon the country at once which are the obvious
result of such failure. 1t is expressly to guard
against this, that the Constitution provides, in
the resort to this House. tribunal which shall
be perfectly Independent, and above popular
| controul.
When up before, MIR. M'Lane said, he had re-
ferred to the prcceder Of COL, as bearing upon
| the present case. In answer to the argument
drawn from it, the gentleman from South Caro-.
lima had denied any weight TO the precedent, be-
cause it was derived from the administration oil
the government by the federal party. MIR. NIL.
expressed his regret that any thing should have
fallen from the gentleman winch might have
tendency to revive animosities which, for the
happiness of the country, ought never to be dis
turbed. But, he said, il this subject was to be
introduced, he was willing to meet the gentle.
man from South Carana. The precedent he
! had referred to, precedent set in party
times, and of the federal party. But, said Mr.
! M'Lane, it does not, because it is precedent Of
the federal party, come to me with less title tc
respect is this the only precedent of that par
ty' 1t is the precedent of a party, says the gen.
| tlernaD, capable of enactiDg the alien and sedi-