Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-02


taken uP. A peculiar excitement existed in the
state, as well as that House at that moment. in
consequence OF some of the of the Legislature,
anu SUCH was not propitious period for delibera-
ten. he apprehended the resolutions were intend-
ed to bind Virginia IN opposition to the admin
istration OF the General Government.
Mr.. Oromgoote remarked, that sufficient time
had elapsed for the formation of opinions on the
subject he would not censure the members Of the
house so much as to suppose that notwithstanding
II had occupied so much of the public attention.:
bad been 80 long and so ably discussed in every
iorm ana IN every place. and had in the commence
ment OF the session been solemnly recommended to
the consideration of the House by the Governor,
yet they were not prepared to act upon it. This
would imply an nsttention and remissness of duty,
OF which he would not suppose them guilty. But
would It be said, could il be said that the represent
tatives OF the people of Virginia were unprepared
20 act! Had not our representatives in Congress
been constantly resisting the encroachments of the
Federal Government? He thought il impossible that
any man could not have had time to make up an
opinion. Where then, the force of the argu-
ment, that the subject was suddenly pressed the
consideration of the House? The only question
was, was the subject Of sufficient importance to
require being acted upon? The acts of the govern
ment complained of were not the acts of yesterday.
Ihey had been borne with for several years, and
ne did not believe that the people or their repre-
sentatives would longer remain ina,entiye to their
rights
Mr.. Ship opposed the motion. He said the se.-
sion had been already long enough proii acted and
there was enough to do without discussing abstract
constitutional questions. If the resolutions were
adopted must be on the faith reposed in the Com
miitee. The preamble said the House bad care
FULLY reviewed the doctrines of Msdison's Report
tiow many members he asked had had time to read
that reportS
mr.. Daris, of Hanover. also opposed the mo-
ton. All the subjects Of tho Governors comuu-
nieaoon bad been referred TO Committees bu, this.
wn'ch mao oeen permitted to sleep until recently.
IL had been intended from the FIRST TO act on the
SUBJECT would it not have been fair to have referred
" al an earlier day, 80 that the report might have
remained some weeks on the table? For his part
he could not take the declarations of the Committee
ON trust. He had taken an oath to support the
Constitution Of the u. 8. and ON question Of go
hueh Importance to himself, he could not take the
opn,4n Oh any gentleman. Before he could form
an opinion, he must call for the repor, of '99, SO
ceieotaed In his land and ask time TO read IT,
Mr. Ch'isf'an OF e. C. replied to the remarks
Oh Mr.. Moore, from whose notes and remarks b..
concluded he had paid some attention to the sub
Ject he wished the gentleman, when he referred
70 'ne report OF 99, had told the House whether or
not ne was IN favor of the principles contained in
IT. 1t ne was, he could not be unprepared 10 vote
on the present resolutions. What, he asked. would
be the impression if the House refused ~ take
them up' Would L not be that the Hous. eva.
opposed to the principles of them; that Virginia
haa changed her principles had shifted her politi
car ground I: ExPediency and policy required that
my shouid De taken up and acted upon. He
wouiu mo. nave moved the subject, but since it
was agitated, he would vote on principle.
Mr.. Moore, remarked that the merits of the reso-
iuuons were not before the House, and il would
nave been out OF order TO have discussed The meri,e
OF tne report OF '9S, as connected with the merits
OF the resolutions But he would take that occa-
sion 10 say ne concurred with the principles of
"a. ne .epol' OF ". How he intended to vote on
the present resolutions would be SEEN If thew were
taken up and acted on. Some members who vol
co io9 the resolutions of '99 would vote with him
on the motion then under consideration
Mr. .udrshGH remarked, that he was fully pre-
pared TO act on tho subject; and had no doubt bns
nat every man In that House and out of it was pre-
pared to express an opinion. But the ouestion
was, would the resolutions do the State Of yra;n;a
any good! The people knew or cared verv I;i,le
ABOUT the matter He had heard nothing said about
II In his county. The people wanted intarnar
improvement If Virginia would NOT male ,her,
tney would say, let the United States do il.
ne qua not come there to discuss constitutional
ques'ons' Out TO iesislate for the good of the peo
PIE. But would the resolutions have anv efTac, -,
Congress? Would they not show, if adop,ed' ,ha.
the Members OF the legislature had assumed f,c-
tious appearance
Mr. Briggs thought that the people Of yrpo;,
look a deep Interest in the subject In proof of
ths' ne referred to the election Of Mr. TazewelI ,
the senate oil the U. States, which turned nm hi.
opposition to the assumption of power by the fe-
oerai government. He was selected az a f;t ron
Iesehtative OF The sentiments and ooinjons of The
s,a'e' GUN more recently Mr.. Randolph had been
eiec.eu on the same avowed ground What ,vouId
DE housht' II alter these unequivocal expressions
~ oP"'on' the resolutions were to be permitted to
sieep on the table! The subject had been aoi,a,ed
and consistency required that it should be ACID ~
on.
MI Jackson said be was admonisbed hr IT,
very principles OF thereport of '99 (which he had
oeeh taught 10 revere) that these resolutions ought
not 10 De taken up. He read extracts from Mr.
MauiSons reports to show, that il was not nroner
ior the state to interfere with the operations of the
general government, except in cases of plai, AMI
Patpaofe violations ofthe principles of the con-
st,tutton. Ii taken up, the resolutions must b.
acted on pro or con. Could he believe the pripci
pies Oh 20 were involved in them, he would not
oppose me motion. Take up the resolutions and
&c. upon them, and the would 20 abroad that
'neihia was not united; that there was large
minority against the resolutions. Ir was now un-
.'t" abroad that we were United, and that he
'hooeht was enough. No recent violations of the
constitution were comp lained of. and 40 go. -,
waited so long the subject might be postponed sno-
.her year. when the wishes Of the people would he
known on the subject. He wished to be rovernes
ny 'heir VIII. For the present the House had 9th.
e. business 10 DO, to which it had better turn tia
attention. lie had consulted with one of the cen
iemeh VINO voted Tor the resolutions in go and he
dio not think the occasions, similar
'n' 'hdson, Of SOUTHAMPTON. summarized the
mouon' He would not admit that the snb;ec, b.d