Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-10

HtNeER TO THE V. PRESIDENT.

EtR AR TO THE v. PRESIDENT.
On the arrival of Mr. Calhoun at his residence
IL the District of Pendleton, the citizens OF the
village OF Pendletor, g socitous 20 evinc- .heir
g admiration of the integrity OF those principles
" which have 50 consistently characterized his
50 public conduct, invited him to public Dinner
and Ball. on the 9TH instant; which invitation he
accepted. The oh Toast in the following
words:
Tie TTcs President Of the United States
The 18th Congress witnessed his triumphant de-
fence of American Honor; the 10Th, his protec-
ton of Liberty's citadel, the Freedom of Debate
On this Toast being drank with applause, Mr..
Calhoun rose, and made the following remarks:
Gentlemen | rise to return you my most sim
cere thanks. There are no two events of my life
In winch take greater pride, than those TO which
you have so kindly alluded. My first public &C.
was TO contribute, the extent of my abilities, TO
the maintenance OF national rights again,t TO
reign asgre-sons and my last has been to preserve
in their integrity, as far it depended on me,
those principles of presiding in the Senate, which
are ess ntially connected with the most vital of
political rights, The freedom OF debate; and, trust
tha, Tie lo?s interval between these two important
periods Of my life, has nat been filed by discord-
ant materials.
Of the war of IS = shall abstain from making
any remarks. All are now united in the wisdom
of its policy and the happy results which have
followed. There time, however, in which
this uuion of opinion did not exist when the war
was pronounced TO be rash aud wicked, Just the
decision at the last session. On the question of
order is now reprobated in a certain quarter; but
look forn ard with confidence to the time, when,
like that Of the war, it will cease, and when the
decision will also, like the war, be followed by
unanimous arp.obation As, however, division
of sentiment still exists, trust ;nat may be in
Obliged in a few remarks explanatory of the princ
lis which governed me in making It.
You all know, that the contested point of order
in the Senate, which mas deeply agitaied the
country turns on the question OF the origin of the
pow erto preserve order in debate There are two
provisions Ia the Constitution which bear on this
01esii0n-ihe one which vests the Senate with the
rishi Of determining the rules OF It's proceedings
and he other, which appoints the Vice President
President of the Senate. On Just Interpretation
OF these two proysi' ms of the Constitution the de-
cision Of the question NUT depend. Now, gen
tle.aeo I cannot doubt, that, on light ex-
animation, you will agree with me, that there is no
rational ground OF doubt, to the meaning of
ether They communicate power wholly dis
similar, and that III terms 20 explicit, that it is
difficult 10 mi.conceive their meaning BY the
first the Senate is clearly vested with the compet
power of making its rules, and by il, ell that
l. competent TO be done, under the power of max
ing rules, 1t is competent to do; and this To the
entire exclusion Of the exercise Of the pOtDeT By
the u President, or any other authority Dhat-
eyer In the Senate, then, The rule making, or
Ie ,slatiye power Is plenary and exclusive; while
the Vice President, as President of the body, is
vested with power no less complete Of presiding
which, however, by no just Interpretation, can
mean more than the application ofthe rules ofthe Sc
nate 70 the proceedings of The body-a power in
its nature administrative, and psrakiDg in no de
gree Of the legislative character.
II these views be correct, and il would seem i'm
possible to contest hem, there will be difficulty
IN determining the relative pow er, and consequently
responsibility Of the Vice President and the Senate,
in relation questions of order II it be the duty
of the former 10 preserve order il is no less CERTAIN
that he can preserve order only through the rules
of me Senate, cypress or iHiptied-theV are TO
him The 0Hiy StGIddTd Of OJder: The rule mus
first erist, and his pOt0eT and responsibility are
~ the application only. To suppose, that he
can enforce order, without previous rule Of the
Senate, would be TO cloihs him with double pow .
er both legislative and administrative; Tor l- aust
first determine, by his own discretion, what the
rule OF order Is, and in doing, enact rule Of
proceedings for tic Senate, b violation Of the
plenary and exclusive power Of that body under
the Cons tuition determining the rules OF rs pro-
ceedIrgs. We are now prepared TO decide the
particular question IN controversy: What power
has the Vice President, under the actual rules Of
the Senate, over the freedom Of debate-or, what
Is the same thibg, in restricting Senator ~ Ut
tgriDg his sentiment ia any case? There is then
no Syeclfc rule which restricts, in the slightest
degree, the right Of speaking IN any case in Sc
major; and here are but two rules, the N and 9TH
which giants any general discretionary power TO
the Vice President on the subject ofordel. These
both indeed, confer important powers, but with
certain limitations, among others, that which res
ire's d; e1e'ciss o. The powe's thus granted. 10