Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-04-07
Tbe Constitutional gaaf,ia.
DEBATE ON THE STATE RESOLUTIONS.
IN THE SENATE OF VIRGINIA, Friday, March 8, 1896.
MR.. P.3GE,.S SPEECH

rose, and said:- ''-> ~ l.
mr. speaker: move the indefinite posponement of
tue Resolutions from the House Of Delegates declar
rug certain Acts OF the Congress of the United States
unconstitutional Entertaining the opinions do sir il
VIII be only under the pressure of imnerious necessity
,na' WIN enter upon their discussion Believing that
.e "n answer no good purpose and NAV give occasion
Tor ifvdious reflections, feel DISPOSED 10 relieve ho
yse' ana The Senate from the further cons liberation of
'he SUBJECT Ii is not my intention sir 60 enter into
argument upon the questions presented by
'uc resolutions. III they are Of the vast Importance
"'cn ulev are represented To be, whv have they not
oeen brought forward earlier period of the session.
why have we not heard the voice OF our constituents
ne silence of the people these subjects is conclusive
eVluence that they do consider them of vital mpor
ance Where sir, are the petitions and remons RANGES
ldehouncng the wrong, and demanding redress that
require US to call the General Government to aban
pleasure? 7
1T will be admitted, sir that we have been bore lonc
enough III is ime that we should return 10 homes.
Our iaics are nXiously awaiting return and our
demand IT. The Importance of our acts are
not, is well known propo ton TO the exppnscs in
CURED by the Commonwealth in consequence OF our PRO
uaced session. 1t is time TO attend our agricultural
pursuits and to the abours of the VARYING wear Under
"esc circumstances at the close of long and tedious
session, when our minds wcared out and our
strength exhausted by ncessaut attendance upon our
puoilc dntes we arc called upon adopt these resolu
t"hs uenouncIng various acts of the greatest imnor.
lance, when not the slightest dsapprobation is indica
! led by single rcmonstrance from the people. What
purpose sir is 10 be attained by the adoption of the
resolutions, and on whom they Intended TO opcrae,
IL no OBJECT Is to be effected il ain and ntpatory
10 pass them If any effect is produced, il must
DC el'her upon the Government Of the United States
" ,ie people OF Virginia VIII they produce any eff
icct uron the Executive of the Union: Is there any
reason TO hope that the President will aont our opn
ons nay sir, has he not always resisted those opinions
lie knows WELL sir that IRE deserve nothing at his hands
that every thing we could do, did to prevent his
elevation TO the Presidential chair Ii has not alcd
TO express to the world, hs sentiments on the sub
cts embraced by the resolutions, and he will ONLY see
or think he secs, in the course we are now nnrsupo
the illusions OF sp!en and disappointment al The
result of the Presidential election We shall tlen as
surediy tie deceived, II we expect by these resolutions
to producea change ofopnion in The Executive branch
-Of the Federal Government.
hat elect, sir will they have on Tie National Le
g'siaurc Our Senator'S indebted u.s. for the hon
ors-the high and distinguished honors we have con
'errcd on them they TO even their very cxis
teuce. DO not Randolph aud IaZewcii lno,, flo ,,r
vaiing sentiments OF the people whom they represen
! w as not Randolph recently that BODY TO tirt
SIDE ny side, with Tazewe in the same cause and nm
der the same banner? VIII Your resolutions excite
Tie erYour OF their zeal, add TO the powers of ei,
already ressess eloqucnce1
SIR, IT IS our business Ie9sIate on the sul,;oc.s
winch are now on our table and demand our attention.,
ana alter dlsposng OF them, is duty To 90 home
"i,at eject sir, viii they produce The popular
branch ct congress: If they have effect they will
De utterly useless; and If they produce effect that
effect, according to circuns ances i'll he either use
less or highly perncious. The Representative is bound
! TO obey tie will and speak the sentiments of his con
stUu rs. To them, and them alone he resnnnsi
bic for his public conduct If he and Ills coos,;t,ont
think with you on these subjects, they will of coursc
De uSe'eSs-'ne adoption OF resolutions will not alter
MS course II his constituents think differently and
ne IS induced by these resolutions TO protest arapsf
measures which they approve YOU succeed in
ing the great Representative principles one of the most
sacred and fundamental on which our Government is
! based.
What effect. then, sir are they to have. or will tI,or
have on our constituents? We, MIR. Speaker have
been sent here for ordinary Legslaton-y have been
sent mere TO receive the instructions of the people who
eject us, and TO execute their vill not TO encayour tn
impress our opinion them. They have as mrrl ei
sure to examine these subjects as we have and ,nv
are equally as capable. But if We by legislative acts
impose our sentiments them W inv err the orlor f
things: we substitute will for theirs: we instruct
them instead of being instructed by them
Mr. Speaker, matters of this hiah and po,ncptous
character, should be left entirely TO the people. n the
elective franchise they possess rcmedr;or all abuses
and corrective for all their grievances
Our country, Mr. Spealer, is rich, prosperous and
hous"S' ana our c'tIers, IN the enjoyment of civil
FenSous and political liberty, are satisfied and conten
TED and see none of the dangers which il is supposed
viii result from the measures now under orr tonsiera
uon If the resolutions be adopted. they can no, be
considered in any other light than an act of hostility
towards the General Government.
Even suppose. sir that opinions are different from,
nose who administer the Government oi The United
Staes-we ought 10 leave such things TO The people
80 long the elective principle remains ,,onro;rod ca
long VIII the Representatives of the people consult their
true interests II the President entcrtains opinions in
Imca TO the Rights of tic Satc@ Sill he can ad9r. no
measures without the assent Of both branches of the
National Legislature And when his term of service
expires, he again eligible and if he proves himself
an unailhul servant the people will give him M TO the
shades OF retirement The Executive of the United
States is under direct control: we can restrain we
can coerce, we can change IT, Every four Years The
President IS responsible TO and at the expiration OF
that period we can ehcrrctain, or dismiss BIN Where
then sir is The necessity Of travelling Of tie orjiDa
/ ~ course Of Legislation
The resolutions are npolitic, they arc useless Leave
tue subjects 10 Which they relate TO be settled by the ma
ton Weare told, Mr.. Speaker that this is Crisis Let
us take care sir that do not beray improper feelings
Let us take that do not depart from the ma i'm
we have hitherto pretended to rcvere--principes not
men, Let us take care, sir at our objections arc not
so much to The principles involved in he measure as to
J Inc men oy whom they at this time recommended
and PatroOIed Various circumstance combine TO in