Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-12-12
TtrgtMta HenieIature.

OtrAtMta ZeDfalaturR.
HOUSE OFIDELEG4IES-SAruRnAr, Disc
A comnupicatioD from the Senate stated that the
had agreed to the resolutions tor elccting a Goyerno
on that day, aud asBt,gaaier General in the place .
Gen. Cargiil dec. on Friday next.
Mr. Nash moved that ,he1house proceed 10 the cleo
ton of Governor.
Nj Paitesonssaid be happened to be out wheu III,
resolution 10 go into the election was offered; but SUP,
e estioDs IN favor of postponcmeut were as allow abl,
now rs G,en. lie frankly admitted he felt difficulties
on his a,ind in regard 10 the reelection of the present
Incumbent, which i, would give him great pleasure
10 have removed. File desired time Tor inquiry and
Information, The constitution had devo!ved the du,,
OF clectfiis this officer upon the Assembly,; and if il
rs exercised carly in the SESSION, before there can be
a sufficient interchange Of opinion betweeu the mem
ocrs, Tue consequence will mos, generally be, that lac
VIII be elected and he only who suits the rulers here.
Tie had seen too much OF this, and would no longer
consent 10 Il. he would no, consent to discharge a
duty soIcmniy Imposed on him By tins constitution in
haste and without reflection and enquiry, when tbere
rs no necessity for IL. There are great differences of
opinion whether We have the legal right 10 do it. Hy
postponipg, We shall ourselves luse no legal right, and
we may avoid error. Mr. p. said he entertained some
dnuht whether we have the right: this doubt seems to
be lightly treated; but he wished TO postpone that we
might reflect upon IL. By posiponi inent The public
cannot suffer. u The office of Governor becomes
vacant, the Lieut.. Governor may act. The constitu
ton seemed to him 20 mean liIai the Legislature should
elect a Governor annually: mi bienniaii,; and they
had elected Il Governor once this year. But tue cues
4 Won u u tnetr CONSTITUTIONAL power, as he readily ad,
United, is stripped Of all practical danger, provided
we reflect the present incumbcn;: aud the question
as to our constitutional power TO day to put another
man IN that Office, can only he determined nv frs,
determining when the period expires for which tn.
present incumbent was elected. Some say 1t expires
when Gov. Ty!er's year would have expired-he hay
ing been elected TO supply that vacancy. The cou.t,-
tuition knows no such limitation To ais Period. Mir.
L. commended that a man when made governor is the
governor as long as the constitution will allow, which
is one year, unless he dies, resigns. or is impeached
and Constitutionally driven from office. MIR Giles hay
ing been clectedGoverno from The 4,, OF March last
the constitution knows no limit TO his authority as such
until the 4Nh of March next. He would nut il 10 The
legal aculnen OF those against him 10 sa v, If we elect a
successor TO him to-day. is not Gov. Giles bound a, n
good citizen 10 hold tho Office even by force until the
Iti Of March next. lie commands the military, and
may iigh;!rity call on them 10 sustain him in hrs office
unthiiat day. 10 avoid the Commissions attendant on
tins perilous alternative. he hoped the House wuul,I
pustppne the election. IL the governor is this day
installed in Office by the FERNS of The constitutions, he
would not in his opinion be the choice of the state. III
the election IS postr -iad. hr Giles as he and many
others thought could not DO elected at all. II is BY
no mean. certain That he caa be elected to-day: but he
wished for postponetnent, that the assembly might come
To an understanding as 10 the period of commencement
Of his successor, If II he according 10 the wisdom anil
Judgment Of this assembly TO supercedc hi,n--and if
ttieie is no solid objection to hun he has nothing TO
Iose BY postoonement.
MIR Nash said he had no wish to precipitate any
member into the election; and it time was required 10
Shibtft thko viz SDbtuC W tE % il tie cCHtf
undertake 10 say that it would meet with his hearty
Appreciation. From his knowledge Of the governor he
believed lac desired the strictest scrutiny into his acts.
MIR Nash therefore concurrcd in the motion TO post
pona.
MIR Epps opposed the melton. lie could soc no oh
lection 20 going into the election al This tune, and no
force IN the reasons urged IN SUI port OF the mutton
He said lac believed il was the first time the House
had ever beGn called on to postpone the execution OF
an order for the election ue Governor; and as no good
reason had been advanced, and no charges preferred
against the conduct Of Mr. Giles, he thought il proper
10 go into the election at this time. The good of the
country required il. as no progress could be made in
legislation till the elections were disposed of; and he
thought besides as The resolution was a joint one, il
was a respect due 10 the Senate that tho election should
be proceeded with at once.
The motion TO postpone TO she eth Jan. was also OPP
posed BY Messrs. Mayo, Hubbard. Carson aud Ghulsun,
and advocated BY hlessrs Ship and iIarvic, in which the
ccnstitutI"Dalty Of going into the election was briefly
discussed: MIR. Giles having been elected for the mex
pirpd year ofGoy. Tyler, which would end on The Itl
Of Dec.
NJ Rives of Campbell said he was INV illing TO be
hurried IN this election. lie had no hesitation in sa T.
ing that if influenced BY consideration growing out o
General Government matters, he should support the
election OF MIR Gi'es--bn, ifthe election were to result
from the internal and domestic policy of Virg;aia. there
were many citizens of the comInonw ea!lh whom he
wonld refer TO MIR Giles-and in the election of State
officer be would rather be governed in his vote by Sinte
policy. IL was hrs impression that the people OF Vir.
} ginia were on the eve of as great a Change as ha,
$500 cN>' '''to '' " w
zed community. The change was likely TO be emin
emily beneficial, and would not be promoted by ti,e
reelection OF Gov. Giles. MIR Rives said he was moi
prepared TO name any Que for the Office of. Governor,
and hence was IN favor OF the motion TO postpone.
Mr. Patteson again addressed the House in favor o
the motion TO postpone to the 9TH of Ian when the
question was taken and lost by a large majority:
R1r Pattoson then moved to postpone until This day
week, which, was also lost.
The House then proceeded to tho election. .Mr
Nash nominated Gov. Giles, and was supported b,
.Hr Irvine, in which they atyeried 10 tho able and at
tentive manner in which he bad discharged the dutie
Of his office. Mr.. TTnsi. called for the ayowaI of au,
objections that might be entertained 10 .Wr Giles.
hIr. Patteson said, The House could not fail 10 re-
collect that neither himself nor those on his side, OF
the motion to postpone the election, had made an,
charge against the Governor. Difficulties existed aut
time was desired for explanation and reflection; bu
no charges made against him. He did not admit tn
right TO demand charges, or that every man who doe
not vote for Mr. Giles is bound TO make a Charge a.
gainst him. lie was sorry to see charges so bold
demanded, so soon after refusing TO give time for re
| ocfin rnnn .cosi,,. rI.,t, l,noL