Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-23

L II,
upon at any time. The propriety OF taking il UP
'hen, ana under the circumstances of the case he
was willing To submit 10 the decision of the House
FORMS own part, he should vote for doing so. No
man was more attached 10 the Union than he was;
he would defend il with his life; al the same time
ne would defend the great rights of the States with
! all ms power, and by every legitimate means
And II It should be his happy lot to warn single
man oil the approach of encroachment upon his
rights, he should feel that bis services had been re-
warded. But, whatever course trnight please the
House TO adopt, he would be contented. and should
go nome under the conviction that they had done
what they thought was right. He could not how
ever but regret that he differed on this occa ,ion
| long acted.
Mr- Irvine said, that since the latitude of the
debate had been somewhat enlarged, he would
express the ideas he intended TO utter when he
sooA ms seat before. He objected TO the report
rom georgia, because il asserted that no other but
their Interpretation was correct and that they
Woaiu not submit 10 any other. He thought the
| language OF the Governors Message tended TO re-
vot and contended that protests and resolutions
ought never to he adopted but in re stance of bigh
handed anu arbitrary measures They were not
caliec Tor at present The majority in Congress in
iavor oil the obnoxious doctrines was very SMALL il
was daily diminishing, and there was every reason
20 nope that, under another administration, tn
majority would be on the other side. H. in this
expectation, we disappointed. it would be
une enough then to adopt resolutions
W.T.. Newton said, that having had the honor oil
DeihS member OF the committee that prepared
inc report, and it being his fortune 10 differ with
ms worthy colleague on the preliminary question.
ne hoped 10 be allowed to assign the reasons which
mao, on former OCCASION induced him TO vote
against taking up the report, and which would
uuce MN at this time TO pursue the same course
ne considered that one of two courses should have
been taken by the Communicable should either
nave prepared elaborate rcport setting firth
d' large the opinions Of Virginia on the subjects
referred, and tile reasons on which they are found
eu' OF we should have assigned in clear and def
mite language, the reasons which at this time rem
Ger II unnecessary and inexpddient to enter into
ms investigation. The report of the committee
taxes neither of these views, and did not meet his
dpPFooauon. The opinions Of Virginia are suii-
ciehtly we'll known, and cannot at this day be
caiied IN question He Thought it therefore I'M
necessary and unwise TO renew the expression of
ihese opinions, which would involve this House in
a discussion OF unlimited duration If the
report be now taken up, he should deem it his du-
y 10 oifer substitute himself, or TO vote for
substitute to be offered by some other gentleman
IN accordance with his views
lie wished II to be distinctly understood that
ehe vote which he should give upon this occasion,
was no abandonment Of the PRINCIPLES which he
mad heretofore avowed But he was not to be
urlFen into measures. He was not TO be friwhten-
edirom the course which his judgment approved
as prudent and discreet, by the cry of test ques
uoi: lie was not to be inundated by the denun-
~'o't''iS vi CeTtdin gentlemen, who thought pro-
per 70 POINT at others as :" going ouer to the enc
my. tic should vote independently as his iudg-
inenl dicthted; and he was well assured that his
motives, when he returned to his constituents
would receive the proper consideration Gentle
men, whose principles were suspected might in
sisf upon declaring them; he felt that his own
were above suspicion, and he was not to be Undue
Gu by any considerations, TO follow the wrec.less
course which some gentlemen seemed willing to
pursue.
The merits of the report are not now A subject O
consideration. But if the crisis has come when the
only alternatives are submission or resistance
what IS fhls paper TO effect! Is il calculated to
arrest the usurpationS OF the General Government
ii we are threatened with the dangers apprehend-
ed by gentlemen, ought not our efforts to be com
ihensurate with the crisis Ought we TO adopt
such report as this /: AS well might we ATTEMPT
10 arrest the whirlwnd with straw, or the noun
tam torrent with pebble. In his opinion this cri-
SIS mad not yet arrived. He was not vet prepared
ior resistance. When this crisis did come he
should be ready TO meetit. Until that period he
'hought II unnecessary 10 act. We have no new ar
currents to urge, and it is unwise to reitcrate opin-
ions, which have been repeatedly declared and
cannot now be misunderstood He hoped. there
lore, that the report would not be taken up and
me time OF the House uselessly consumed in its
discussion.
MIR. Gaines took that occas ion u express his
entire appreciation of the report; and his convic-
tons that the assumptions of power complained
OF were unconstitutional; but he contended that il
would be Inpolitic to take up the subject at this
rate period OF the session. Ii would take week
10 dispose oiit. 1t true that still more enor-
nous tariff was held up over our heads and 10
resist 1t by resolutions, would, perhaps be as
Tuiuess as to dart straws against the wind. There
was no change IN the principles Of the people of
Virginia; and they had rather that we should go
nome, than stay here TO adopt unavaiEng resolu-
ions. ii there be any necessity to warn them Of
approaching danger, it ought TO be done at home
ny direct appeals TO them in person. What benefit
had resulted from what had been done before? As 20
'he tariff, the best way TO resist it was by re-
retrenchment, and living within ourselves To 10
nome anu recommend this course to the peoDle
would 90 more good than TO sit here and issue
inahiiestoes II any thing could show the impolicy
oil entering into discussion of the colonization
question, IT was the results produced in St. Domin-
go by similar discussions in the French Conven-
ton, and in the British West India Islands by the
discussions in the English Parliament. Sir. this is
question that should not be discussed. Let US be
sun, ana when II IS proper to act, shall not be
hlndmost IN doing my part.
Mr.. Thompson, of Amherst said that since that
was the day of confessions, he too, would give in
his confession of faith Last year he took no mart
on this subject; he was then in minority of 10
ne was proud OF that vote notwithstanding attempts
mad been made 70 prescribe him He So that he
had never known the time since 1899, \. zen any
report or resolutions ought to have been adopted:
ana 1t was said that such was the opinion of Mr.
Madison. The inutiity of resolutions was mani
tested; we had resolved and re-resolved: but had
we ARRESTED the course of usuTpation complained
OF In the Federal Government! No that govern
ment pursued the even tenor ofits way, regardless
Oh all you had sud. Virginia had In fact become
a byword in other states. Mr.. T. said. he did not
bsheve that Congress had power to make roads and
canals as system; yet he was not prepared to
brand the able and distinguished men who advo-
Gated this po'yersas usurpers. As to the tariff the