Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-28

compelling him to reside in Richmond was virtu-
any rcpeaied-hc had sent letter 10 the Legisla-
lure expressing this as his opinion, and proposing
reference OF the Interpretation of the law to
inc General Court. or any other Competent tri-
ounal. That House had ACTUALLY passed law
% authorize his residence at Neeihain; but,
rom some cause or other, it failed in the Sen
ate. The Chancelior's Interpretation OF the law on
TINS subject agreed with that of OF the ablest
lawyers IN the country. Aud If he had only err
ed IN opinion, and was sincere in that opinions Mr.
Z. trusted in Cod that lie would not be inlpcached
oil that account. Impeachment, he said. sho.ild
never be thought of until there was some eorrup-
iien of intention.
Mr.. Craig repeated the argument against going
on with the investigation, growing out of the want
oi umc; and concluded by saying, he was not pre-
pared TO answer TO his constituents for the DELAY
and the very heavy expenditure that would result
from proceeding; and especially as nc was salts
fled it would all end in smoke.
Mr.. Crump of Cumberland, again addressed the
House Ii the discharge of the Committee wers
10 DC accompanied by resolution that there was
nothing ia the conduct of the Chancellor 10 i'm
peach he should not object. Nor would he if the
members generally entertained the opinions ex-
pressed by Mr.. Craig. But he unprecedented that
some gentlemen took different view o! the sub
Ject Whilst the matter was confined TO vague ru-
mour; TO underlined and proniscuous complaints,
he DID not view it, and he presumed the Chancel-
ior did not, worthy of serious consideration But
SPECIFIC allegations had been made on that floor and
~ Somiiil'ee, ana lI was proper on the part oil
chancellor Taylor to meet, and, on the part of the
House, TO investigate them. But we are to be
deferred from entering upon this subject from the
want OF time, and the great length to which the
investigation would be spun out! These fears
Mr. L. insisted were unsubstantiai. The charre
Tor issuing the acdrrGat was the only one that
could create delay. 1t was true that two witness
SEES had to be sent for some 80 or 90 miles, and if
messenger had been sent off in the last stage, he
would probably have arrived at their houses bv
1,fh
probability, be here on Wednesday. As 10 the o.
ther charges, no witnesses were necessary-th.
matter was OF record.
when the bill for branching out the Court 10
Lynchourg was before the Legislature the Chan
cellor was consulted by several prominent and in
huentlai members of the Legislature, and he con-
sented to hold the additional Court al Lynchburq
on condition that he might be permitted TO reside
at Needham. But the law did not pass with this
PERMISSION expressed in il. IL was however NIT
out OF his power, by the act of the grantor, to
comply with the conditions which existed at the
time he received his appointment. The next ses-
SION the Chancellor submitted the question to the
Legislature, and asked for the designation of COM
Peteht tribunal Tor It's decision. In 1919, the ses-
sion OF the revSion the revised bill OH this subject
was not read in the House until put upon its pas
sage, when a gentleman from Henrico, and one
from Bath, made severe animadversions on the
chancellor, and intimaed disposition even to 90
iurther. Mr.. Crump said he recollected then in
Producing bill to legaze the residence of the
Chancellor at Needham. Ii passed that House
went 10 the Senate, and no objection, he thinks
was made to 1t on principle Other provisions
were attached 10 it in favor of other Chancel-
lors, and it, consequently, became obnoxious.
and was hnally lost. Mr.. Crump asked if in
all This, there was any thing Ike contumacy? For
MS own part, he did not consider that either branch
OF the Legislature had decided that the Chancel-
iorS Interpretation of the law was erroneous or
that it was not so. The bill passed on the question
OF erpcd'ency alone. 1t was thought matter 6f
justice to the two districts, that the Chancellor
should be SO located i'll vacation as to be equally
accessible 10 both On this point of mutual justice
and convenience, he had advocated the law These
statements Mr.. {. said he made from his own
knowledge lie moreover knew that able LAWYERS
concurred, at the tiine in the views taken by the
Chancellor.
Mr.. g. contended, that as Chancellor Tav,or
had been assailed by direct ana specific CHARGES il
was not less due TO him than to the communitv
that they should be prosecuted to some sort of
termination. Ii the House thought as Mr. Crair
did, he would be glad if they would say it had ter
minated IN $ smoke" and that they had seen no.
thing to censure. The most blame and eensure
were found in the mouths OF those who knew but
very little OF the facts. Mr. Crump ac!tnowledp-
Ell That there was something in the pomp and in
fation oil the Chancellor's manners that made him
enemies almost wherever he went But cyerv
thing like charge against him rested upon mere
rHmlotT There was an inherent vice in our Chan
Gerry Court System, entailing upon suitors DELAYS
ana expenses, amounting, almost, 10 denial of
justice Ii was but easy transition TO direct the
Glamour against the Judge, rather than the system
Itself, which IT was his duty to administer Mr.
trump said he was not the personal friend of Chan
celior Taylor. He stood there only as hi; repre
sentative-the representative of the people, ana
the advocate OF the great principles of Justice He
advocated nothing but what the Chancellor had
right TO demand at his hands, lie was eauallv
tue advocate OF the obscurest man among hi; con-
sttuents. lie was equally SO, of Wheeler: and
nc insisted mat his complaints OF oppression should
De enqulred into, and that justice should be done
70 MIN as well as TO the ermined Judge. At the
time OF the occurrence in relation to Wheeler.
such was the excitement and sensibility on the oc
easlon, that the Grand Jury, instituted particular
investigation into the facts. Chancellor Taylor's
warrant and the idea of his Expressing an obscure
individual, shocked the moral sense of the conmu-
nifty But the Grand Jury, after an inquiry, re-
turnedinto court without presentment
III the House were to decide one day that the in
vestigation should go on, and on the next employ
their Time IN discussing whether they should stop
shor' or proceed they might spin out the time
which gentlemen feared would be occupied. The
only way, he thought was, TO go to work, in good
faith and, 1t necessary, re organise the Commit
tee. The business might soon he despatched.
Mr.. CrunP again alluded to tho relative situa-
ton in which he stood towards Chancellor Tavlnr
lie said he should not have opened his mouth on
this occasion, but for the absence of his colleague
which left him the only immediate representstiye
the Chancellor had on the floor. Not that he
would not be as prompt 10 do justice to him as TO
any other citizcn-but tina. particular circumstan-
ceS, u his colleague were in his seat, would have
been his excuse for being silent. He repeated /,
that lao was by means the enemy of the Chan
ceilor; nor was he personal friend.
MT Gordon was unwilling that any thing he
had said should be misunderstood. II rumor was
70 pc regarded, and Investigations were to be in
stituted upon its strength in regard to similar acts
OF the part Of other Judges where tcould srcb in