Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-01
vIaGxNIA 1BaIsLArURz.
HOUSE OF DELEG ATES.
Mr.. GILES Oh the Contention Bill.

ri-s to address YOU under circumstances Q
peculiar Encouragement. Vixen l look bacs
upon the msjouies which have heretofore APP
peared upon all questions involving the principle.
OF ms biil-wben look 10 the passionate ex-
elements "hich seem to me to have driven HI,
bill, ~hh unusual speed, TO its consuIninauon =
when refec' upon the substitutes which have
been offered by several genteR.en, and particularly
upon the diseoTdant, militant materials, promis
ed us yesterday, by the gentleman from Wythe,
IN lieu OF our present benignsnt constitution
ieel my voice almost fautering, when attempt TO
raise II, 10 sly to Jol, sir, that hope this bill
VIII not pass. Yes, cir, hope, sincerely hope,
That his bill vii not pass Bnf it l. hope NOT
founded IN exi ef1atioD; and, tnereioTe he case
may he SAID 10 be hopeless. In this slate oil peru-
liar encouragement, and in my ex reuieiy eufes
o!ed personal condition.. nsh,suhect my self
The linpuiaton OF presumption, Tor attempting to
present my views, at sll, TO this honorable House,
upon this great and solemn question. PERHAPS
his iU2u'aion NIGH justly be deserved, II were
acting exclusively under the impulses OF my own
mind; although even then, an excise might pos
siby be found in the magnitude # the question
and In the awful consequences which, / fear. will
result iom the passage OF this bill But l feel
my@elf bound % say you. Nj. Speaker hat |
am not acting exclusively under my own irnpulses.
portion OF my constituents, believing. in the
present cTis- OF public affairs, and particularly
III relation 10 the present question, that could
render some service 10 them, and TO our common
country, made call upon me 10 render that ser
vice Alter some delay, and with full know
| ledge oil my personal infirmi,ies, reluctant,
yielded my consen, to the call. Having doe 70,
gave them solemn pledge, hat, If II became
necessary, the last park of vital energy possess
ed, should be expended in the public service
Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, The feeble, hum5lc ef r,
am no" about TO make, may prove to be he
last expiring. glimIBerng flame of the lamp O!
iiie BE II 80, sir. In that case, can only lay,
1t shall be expended freely in the redemption OF
the pledge made 10 my constituents But, Fir.
| differ with my constituents in this belief. nave
not the vanity 10 believe tina, any thing could
say, could iend to the pr sress Of this bill
nor In any degree 10 stay the strong OF IN
novaion, which is TOO conspicuously displayed in
the progress OF the whole OF political affairs
No. sir, indulge such vanilies. fear, Mi.
| Speaker, we have fallen on evil days. Wnhn the
last ten years, evil malignant star, appears 10
have been reigning in The political hemis phe,e OIL
these United States; and its destructive influence
seems already 10 have swept away every thing
That Is old, stable, valuable and veneer BILE
! All the bulwarks and ramparts which have here
toiore been mos, wisely erected by our fathers
Tor The protection Of our rights and liberties a
gainst the encIoScinents of the General Govern,
J ment, have been already torn down and given to
"
verument, have been dlsresardsd-- dlsspated, ant
even derided, and taat government seems now e
be ADMINISTERED one. consolidated In ts form,
! and unlimited in its will. Al least, there is DC
| power which the administrators of th-t Govern
ment viii admit 10 be beyond their juri-dIction
The President OF the United States asserts, anc
sets up claims 10 powers, beyond The viii Of III,
| people, as expressed IN oar fundamental laws. lie
asserts, that moral. political, aud intellectual du
agEFar
Author OF our existence. He attempts 10 derive
powers from other ,ouTces, equally indefnabl,
and unlimited. Indeed, his claims 10 unlimited
! power DO no, fail shcrl OF those of The avoweu
legitimate soyeEegns IN Europe no, rot even O!
the most absolute aulocrat In the world In fact
I according tO~iny understanding OF them, theY ar,
without limits, IS they are without definition /
the government; be administered, as il mus
be presumed TO be, upon these nndefined claims I,
power; il must then be evident, that all the res
irains, intended to De imposed upoa ina; Govern
nsni, are Of an end; and that the only security tc
the nghs and iberies of the people, depends upor
The Unlimited will OF that government. had In.
i dnleed hope, MIR. Speaker, that amidst these gen
raj sacrifices Of the great first principles deyeopeS
4 by our fathers; the old, The wise, the venefabI,
and the venerste5 Constitution of Virginia nigh
have Teen spared from The destructive scene o
these profane immoarious. end, sir that tb
4
our own beloved Constitution thrown a. a new ob
laiion, upon the unhalowe ed altar of these profan
sacrifices. No, sir, there is a spirit Of innoyatoi
gone forth, that sets every thing, however sacred
at defiance. There is a love OF novelty of change
OF splendor, and of glitter, that looks down wit
contempt, upon every thing that is solid, valuabl
and useful. Sir, the nnas nation seems 80 hay
dethroned the judgment, and to have usurpsd III
judgment seat Nothing but brilliant, fantas,i
al rla D..
imagination, seem TO suit he taste OF the time.
Even truth seems 10 have changed her dwelling, he
hsbitudc. and her character. Instead OF The e,ave
sedaie, and instructive matrou, she is now repre
sen,ed to US ia Ire brilliant habitude and cbaYarts
OF young and spor,ive dsmsel- and instead q
searching for her, as formerly, in a well, She ca
no where be found, think, bot upon ID
surface. Some. indeed, seem to iblnk she b.
turned ZErOnaui, and can n w only be found in IN
regions Of The cir. And our most enle,lisbed
snblimated, and fashionable orators, will not con
descend to search for her any where bui in IN
cloud; and, even there, disdain to make he
addresses 10 her, grave, sedste and insirucfiy
marion; and WOO her Only as flirting danciu
dsmse, frolickiug amongst The celestisls But. NJ,
Speaker, bllst amidst all these discourssemenls
uusi again -ay 10 yor, that, in addressing h
honorable body, never felt, upon any occasion
more uncbeefing prospects, and desponding antici
paiions; yet ~i not disguise from you, sir tbs
! a'n impelird TO proceed in the discussion by on
Other cogeBt and almost irresistible inducemeni
Il Is The ardent desire feel, IN the esert OF III
passage OF ibis bill, Of having my name separate
from the Transaction Yes, sir, y neither appesrir
before you and this respectful auditory in person
a. now do; or whether my name sbIl end j,
way TO the people Of Virginia. and to the world;
whether q shall DC my fortune, good OF bal, Tor
10 fad is way 10 posteuty; srdenuy desire
oltf Ia III IL. -. a.