Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-11
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
WAsnINGToN, APRIr, 7. lS26.


~ scene of much interest has been exhibited in
the Hal oil Representatives these last tyo days You
know iha, the resolution introduced by Mr.. Me-
Duilie Tor an amendment of the Constitution, have
been under discussion for these man Y weeks past
The House has been good deal weary of his dis
cussion o, late: the speeches were very long, some
oil them very abstract and metaphysical, and all
that emily them the occasonal illusions to
the late Presidential election and the state of party
politics. Yesterday Nc. Nc Duffie made his gene
raj reply: much expectation exci.ed, and eve
~ body hooked 10 this speech as his great effort
He was himself much excited, and vehement as his
manner always is, and 1t is so to fault on this
occasion II was more than usual. Little argument
at least little new ground was advanced; but the
language was imprisoned, the illusions personal,
and toward the close, an assault was made on the
administration OF the most violent kind. a sun
posed picture was presented, in which the charac-
tiers OF the President and his Secretary of State wer
drawn in manner that could not lie mistaken
and their coalition painted in the blacklist colors
Bat lie did net stop here. After finishing these
pictures, he said he was poor painter, and lest The
iISures he had drawn might be mistaken, he w ould
put the names under them.--H He then began di-
rect personal attack on both, especially on Mr.
C!ay-whose conduct, lie said, was prompted bv
g ambition, corruptng ambition lie spoke of
his influence over his irerds and said in terms,
that he had 90 made the President This was fol-
low by an avowed intention never TO cease if it
were I'LL DEATH his efforts 10 take The Presidential
cleo ion from the House of Representatives, for
which purpose, ii his motion in The House should
fail, he would 90 10 the body of The people and
call a convention.
When he closed, Mr. Everiit, on whose consis
tency no had made attack, which he supported
by quotations from the NorIh American Review.
madea few observations explanatory of his mea-
ming i'll the article alluded 10; ard then Mr.. Trim
bic OF Kentucky, ntreated that the debate sbouId
not be closed till he had opportunity TO reply-
he pleaded his seven years service and his forbaar
ance as 10 speech making tile appeal was success
full; and though desire was felt TO close
the debate, and many gentlemen had entered the
house with stern determination to set il out Till
midnight, or morning, they yielded, and the com
miitee rose No very high expectations we're en-
tertained about Tie speech: but he disappointed eve
ry body, and came out with by far the best speech
| ever heard him deliver. 1t was not a laboured
answer TO every part Of Mr.. M'Duifie's; bts was
directed mainly to the defence OF MIR. CLAY and bis
friends. After Parrying The charge of political cor
ru ton, he turned the tables and attacked NI'Duf
Ge as calumnator who had advanced tie blacl
est charges on mere suspicion. He said there were
different kinds of perjury. 4 man who swore 10
what lie knew was false, was guilty of il in ono
form; but man who swore that a certain matter
wss tue, without knowing whether it was true or
false, was no less " perjured felon' than the n
Their. Adverting 10 the appeals which had been
made the other side 10 a future world and co,n
ing judgment, he joined in that appeal, and in the
of his remarks, said hat the calu,nnistor he
had described would be &" delivered over 10 Lea
ye;'s hangman, to scourge the rascal naked round
the horizon Of heavens circumlerence:''-
some other expressions equally exiiayagant and.
eScepiionabe. Mr.. Trmble was follow ed by Mr.
Vance Of Ohio This gentleman is ono of the IN
stances on which love TO think) ofthc state of
society and of feeling in this free republican couu-
try; where no previous rank isiequise to advance
men, but where native talent, If allied TO virtue
alone, has =" connections" =" family interest 3,
o entitieit to look up to pubic honor.
AIlu6ing in this speech TO the present Constitution
he said he had reason If any man could have. 10
prize the existing institutions Of The country, for they
had enabled him TO rs to his present situation.
from what, as to poverty, might be dnnominatcdih the
very lowest grade Of society. IIc then adverted
with MUCH feeling and the tears flowed over his
checks, to- bis only patrimony at twenty two
years, widowed mother and six orphan children
He considered himself attacked by Mr. M'Dufie
and dragged into debate 10 wipe oil the caIumpy
rom the name Of his children. lie then went into
a recSimina'ion ofthe charge ofinconsistency, DO
litcal bargaining, SC. He had begun under great
excitement, and in too high pitch Of voice. and
81 oke with so much vehemence as to break him
self down in about 20 minutes.
Air MDgliis, during the delivery OF thsse /