Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-08-15


Ii Is, admit lshi, probable that you will not be re-
lie cted hut caunot aPprebend, from that event,
ii the disasters which mournlul muse has predict
ed. So long the Vice President contents himself
ith dschargiD the duties of his station the "freedom
of debae"is in 10 danger, the power of preserving
DER giving the officer invested with it, no control over
the "ecdon OF dehate," but being the contrary, one
its strongest shields. Unrepressed disorders do in
deed, cndauger the freedon of debate,n since their
tendency disgust the Senate that il NAV even
tuaiy seek remedy by clothing its President with
limited powers Even nations have preferred despotsm
to anarchy But II IS at once the necessity and the
tied purpose of your argument conound the repres
sion of disorder with control over the s'freedon of de
bate" And your last letter begins with triumphant
annuncation Of success III dsprovng 'thc idea of an
inherent right in the Vice President, independent
ot, and beyond the will of the Senate, to control lie
'3Feedom n debate" proposition which never
serted, and which has about much relation tic
question IN controversy colours have To sound. The
proposed rules which YOU have endeavoured TO stigma
tizc are, as to many thcin beneficial their tenden
Cy ana were introduced not 10y 'the party which sup
ports the present Chief Magstrate,n but by member
OF the opposition, whom YOU had permitted MIR. Ran
doIph to Ieve. Instead of being insisted on ''openy
10y the party" they were not, as remember. discussed
except hy Mr. Randolph himself; and the sixth in the
series, which you describe awful, is mere sug-
Gestlon, o inquire whether is proper that member
should charge any officer of the Government with an
Improbable offence"
The conpas, Mr.. Adams TO Nerois at least in.
gehlous; anu considering unconccalcd hostility TO
hun, not surprising But after all your proesatjous
Of reverence for the Senate how you TO propcsv
'hat IN addition to the humiliation OF last winter IL
would descend 10 singing, mean of legslatiun9
Let us now turn from the picture sketcied by your
Imagination, 10 one of which history is the painter
Should an naturalization soliciting the hg hest office
IN the gut OF The People, retreat from the vain enter.
PRISE, and seek the dignity: should he after OBJ
tanning the latter egotsticay tell the People that he
hai declined the pursuit oi the former through zeal FOR
'net interests should he consider the elevation lie has
gained only as Il ladder to further polical standing
aud adrancemeni;" should he IN promoting that adj
vancement, strive TO render odious an Administration,
OF which the popularity would destroy his hopes and be
Sedul0us IN conCating It's opponents; should he so
neglect the duties of his Office permit disorders
winch II bound hm 10 repress, because those disorders
though OF the grossest nature connected with vi.
ru'ent personalities against and the Secre-
tary of State and proceeded from orator of the op-
position whom he feared 10 Offend should lie misuse
Tie opPoI tuHrcs ct that Office by organizing ar
rangements IN the Senate TO annoy the Admins
Talon ia preparing ITS measures for legislative discus
SION; should he, after tie Senate shall have sat longer
than four months come out, under the mpusion Of pub
nc ccHsure with JcsuCal apology affecting the cou-
rage n innocence and the earnestncss of conviction.
Should such slate of things exist, IFS consequences
would be the triumph of anarchy over the most solemn
OF all dciIberatvc assemblies and the earada,ion of the
American character consequences attended bv soil
Iary consolation, ar-iu" ON the fate which his offences
would ensure 20 their author
You admit that many unpleasant circumstances arose
from the descrou Of constitutional and parame nal
duty, last winter, which YOU call your 'ndependence OF
the will of the ExecutiYc,n and say that ..most exaoqe
rated and false acCou2sr 'scvcry where pronaga-
TED, 10y hIrengs of power OF the slightest occurrence in
inc senate" doubtless some circumstances were ex-
HeSeratcd Tor lame apt IN exert her nheTcDtn pro-
perry III his respect. But do you nsinuae that some
vi e scenes most dsgraceful the Senate did not ex
Is substantially, they rvnre described in the no,,s
ners OF the day Another officer of the Senattp has
been more cautious; for, in anmadverfinr On the rn
mours OF Mr. Randoph's poatons his denial oes onv
10 NUMBER quantity and variety, and to the fact
that TINS Senator while speaking, used the Senate house
as tavern bar. ThousaIids of instances might vou
say "be cited" from the House Of REPRESENTATIVES The
ioase OF Commons, and suppose tfor the passage is
somewhat obscure) you from the House of Lords
also instances in which aYhiut has been said or utter
ell 6y Mr. RauoiPh is :Otin, but in which the Sneak
cr waited for the interference of some OF the member
IN order preserve order" Athoughy shrink habi:G-
ally from the 'o:is poband yet Ibis proposition being
Affirmative, Iu cannot refuse the challenge " kch
now make 20 you, OF finding the parliameniary HISTORY
either OF England or of the United States cases reseIn
bling Nh Randoph's irregularities during The last sps
son OF tie senate, III which the presiding officer did not
nterposc.
1On say that Won observe prai,c;" that YOU have
acted IN the spirit that ought TO actuac every viruous
pubic iunctIcnarr;" and that ''you viii receive the
thanks OF the country when the excitement of the dav
has passed away" All this very consoling But sir
yon have not reelected that the period of YOUR reward
VIII never arrive; for what you call tho excitement of
the day." is the Deliberate though indignant sentence
which public opinion has pronounced on an officer who
forgot his sense of duty and the character If his
try, in dream of hopeless ambition.
PATRICK HENRY.
The following is the stacrscnt referred 10 in tho ro
cedng column, by Patrick Henry and is repubshed
in compliance with his request.
From the Phcnx Gazette Of Aexanara. r. c. Anil o.
1876.
The NewYork Gazette OF Monday last saws tlat-..rbe
Telegraph of Washington. the authority of Mr. Dcker
son. oil the Senate, cortradcts the the Alex
andra Gazette that INC PFesde" of that body OR Cal
houn) had prevented him from speaking on question
before the Senate, and permitted Mr. Randolph to SPEAK
hcice." P''"
There are two essential errors in the paragraph
one OF vital Importance the public other, MAZE
rial only to ourselves
pare disclaimer VIII correct the last. We never said
'oat ME- Randolph was permitted spea hrice The sub
stance OF ouranguagc that N Dickrrson was fre
prevented lfnm speaking, Wie Mr.. Randolph was allowed
to occupy the floor for tIan half an hour ON fine
Identical proposition This stand We can prove
{" ny all the Senate aud by ali the Ecpor,r,s that were
present.
The error wnc VIC conceive 10 be Important the pub
lie, simply lhisIhe Gazette has uho,tra;,iy ncciedi-
4 III ei1f r,.r ~ .Te-fl r