Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-26
vxaaIaIA LEGTsLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEG.4TES.

fAOCoE% UT DL Oh les.
Continuation efdebdte on the motion to teke up
the Report IF the Committee on The Resoluti-
ans Of Georgia and South Caroline.
Mr. Rutherford was opposed to the notion
He said he was not in the House when the dis
cussIon commenced, and was therefore unable TO
notice the remarks ofthose who had preceded him.
tie was surprised at the renewal of the motion 10
take up the report, as the Chairman of the Com
rnit,ee who presented it, had declared a few DAYS
since, that he desired the vote which was then
recorded, should be regarded test, whether
the House would act upon the subject during the
present session. He thought the unequivocal de-
termination OF the House, as already expressed,
should be decisive. Mr.. II. said, he would not
enter into the merits OF Che report as it would be
out OF order to do SO at this time. But he would
briefly advert TO some of the subjects which must
necessarily occupy their attention if the report be
taken up, for the purpose OF showing that the al
most unlimited range ofdebate which would en-
sue, would be altogether neXpcdient, If the House
were really DESTROYS TO terminate the session as
they professed to be. The report of the Commit
tee, short as IS, recognizes and approves in few
sweeping clauses, every sentiment contained i'm
the reports resolutions of Georgia and South
Carolina. In addition 10 the fruitful themes of the
arm and Internal Improvement, upon which the
Legislature oil Virginia had recorded their scnti-
ments during the two preceding sessions, (and up
on which subjects, he concurred in the arguments
which had been so forcibly urged by Georgia and
South Carolina,) there were other topics enbrac-
ed in those reports, which would lead to much
debate. The report OF the committee requires US
TO approve OF the resolution of Georgia, which de-
clares that she I" win submit 10 no Othe,.p con-
struction OF the Federal Constitution, than what is
contained in her report. We ire called upon to
approve language, which, in terms too unequivo-
cal to be misunderstood, threatens "A dismember-
ment Of the Union We arc required to 'coacur
With South Carolina, that the American Coloni-
zatiOu Society is not object OF alati0naL inte-
TeSF'--a society, the only object of which, is the
removal OF the free people OF color OF The United
states. And strange to tell, we are called upon
TO say with Georgia, (what appears to be qui;e a
new discovery that the condition OF the slaves OF
the South is far preferable in point of case and
comfort, and nearly as Independent that of the
Tree white aboureTs OF the Northern and E,as-
tern States. These some of the sentiments
We are called upon to sanction:-and il is difficult
TO conjecture, when the discussion upon so many
subjects would terminate. II has already been
ntiinated that substitutes will be offered ii the re-
port be taken uP-and MIR. X. said, unwilling as lac
was at all times to obtrude himself upon the notice
of the House. he feared ne should be bound in JUS
tee TO himself to present substitute il for no o.
ther purpose, than to vIndicate his own opinions
and consistency. For, he could not concur in the
report of the Committee. But, what object he
asked, did gentlemen expect to accomplish by act
ing upon the report! We're not the sentiments of Va
upon the subjects OF fle Tariff and Internal I'm
pFoyement we'll known? Would not the reitera-
ton OF opinions, already so uneauiyocally and so
T
force OF our former remonstrances, aud to detract
from tho dignity of the State' Would il not be
better TO wait, and see what effect would be pro.
duced by our former resolutions upon these sub
ljects! If these questions were now presented TO
for the first ne il might be proper TO act upon
them, and TO assert our opinions. But, under eX-
i5ting circumstances, he thought wc should be si-
lent, until renewed iniractOns of the Constitution
required us again to demonstrate. We should a.
dept no further resolutions respecting the past en-
cFodchments Of the General Government, unless
We were disposed to follow them up with boiler
measures than mere paper dcnunciations. In ma
king this remark, Mr.. h. did not wish il 10 be un-
deFstoOd, that he was ready Tor resistance he
was not one OF the Hotspurs Of the day. lie
was not yet prepared 10 draw the sword Much
as he deprecated some OF the acts Of the govern
mcut, he would continue to submit, and even 10
endure more than We had already borne, rather
than participate Ia any measure which might tend
to ACKNOWLEDGMENT ol the L Sion--the most aw
lul of al caiainidCs that could possibly bcfaI our
country.
The only subject respecting which there could
be any don0t TO the propriety OF condlering,
was that in relation 10 the Colonization Society
did not conccdc 10 Congress any authority TO ia
terfere with the slave property Of the Southern
States, "a power which had never been clJimcd by
the General GOyernmcnD hc fully concurfcd with
the gentleman from Amherst, (Mr Thompson
that The Georgia Report had grossly nisrepresrnt-
cd the object Of Che Colonization Society. Ho was
member Of that Society It had never avowed
the intention, manifest any deposition TO in-
terierc with the delicate relations OF master aud
slave Nor was uiea any evidence % substanti-
ate sucha charge. Mr.. r. asked whether &c would
be proper after having airea refused 10 consider
the Report Of d Special Committee Of Ills House
IN relation 20 ihe Colonization Society, to take up
that subject in another form 90 tiiis Giae2 res-
pectabic portion Of the Constituents This House
had presented petitions upon thc subject which
had been referred 20 a Committee. who after much
consideration, presented Report upon which
the House bad refused 20 act, la consequence, (as
he bclieved3 OF the late period az ie sosG9n. at
which il had been called up and was that House
disposed 20 bestow upon tne documents which had
been communicated BY the Governor, degree oi
consideration which they bad positively refused 70
give % Gcrospoc9-i acma .a.sci lcr..aa Of :a.ir