Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-06
EDITORIAL coRREspoNDENcE

eee, vi was taken the House
yesterday. 1t Is resolution very important in its
character, very extensive in its views and likely to
produce long and animated discussion, consuming the
greater part OF the residue of the session. confined
IL must be to the morning hour, unless the debate
Shall be checked by any summary process. 1t con.
templates very considerable extension of the pen
sion policy, embracing not only every soldier who
oded IN the war of the revolution, including course
mitia and volunteers; but also all soldiers of the late
war who are unable to support themselves by manual
iaoor. The measure was recommended by General
jackson IN his message at the commencement of the
session, but the friends of the administration have
avoided committing their opinions on the subject by
Neting uniformly against taking up this resolution,
winch only goes to carry ont the Recommendation of
the President, until Mr, Bates obtained the ayes and
noes on the question: and thus rendered it impossible
tor any one to evade decided vote on the subject
ihen' the friends OF the President were compelled
support the motion to make it special ORDER and
the question must now be fully discussed und teni-
lively settled In opening the debate. Mr.. Bates ex-
hioited much feeling which did him honor, and OK
pressed hlnsewth great force of intellect and equal
vigor of manner He stated that there never was
race of men so triied with the revolutionary SOL
diers had been. In 1915 pension was eiyen to
! them. In 1890, as they had adjusted them
selves to their new condition ofcomfort, was taken
away by the same act, and the act of 1923, q por-
ton OF them readmted to the pension roll but
upon this condition. sworn confession of absolute
pauPerisnl, nay PROOF was required upon inspection
and valuation "You searched their tents said Mr..
Bates, "as if they had been felons not to ascertain
where they got their plumber, but what they had,
made each man account for the twin lambs he had
given his children for the rearing, and for the cradle
which his wife had given to her daughter upon her
marriage. You charged him with the money which
he had paid to his for the services lal pety had
rendered unless he could show an antecedent con-
tract, which not parent in one hundred would
have thought of preparing, nor any son, unless
bastard and an outcast, Of making. In 1328'29, no
sooner had a new rule been adopted more just more
liberal, and, IN every view, more comfortable the
act of 1918 than the old one was, and the hopes of
fhocn ,,,h,o Oh k,,
and their crutches put in motion, for they had no
time to 1ose sooner had they been set out upon
their pilgrimage to the court-bouses to get their pa
pers, than the rule reversed-the government
had changed its mind, and as you were,' was the
order from the War department" Mr.. Williams of
North Carolina had Just commenced some observa-
lions III favor ola restricted degree OF liberaty
when the expiration Of the hour arrested the dis
cussion.
The other business of yesterday was of minor i'm
portance. The Committee on the Judiciary made
report which acquits Judge Conkling of New York;
and two bills were reported from the Committee on
Commerce on the subject of the transportation of
merchandise from the Atlantic Ocean to the Northern
Lakes, giving facilities to it.
Another week must eapse before any relief will be
given to the suspense and anxiety felt on the subject
OF the editorial nominations. The Committees ofthe
Senate are examining facts which will have some
bearing some of them, and which investigation
may lead to disclosures the effect of which may be
fatal to one two. 1t is said that the enquiries
have extended to distance ofsome hundreds of miles
and are prosecuted with much vIgor and perseve-
rance.
Henrico Etection.-The election for State Senator
and Delegates, and the adoption rejection of the
new Constitution, came on yesterday The result at
the close of the polls was
| For Sepator-Harvie 3r1, Brown 81.
| Deisgmes-Williams 946. Mosby Gle, Mayo IG5,
Bolts SO.
For the Co isution a76--against IL.
Or 1t is too late to prosecute the controversy with
the author of the letter from Archville. The Peo-
pie have voted or will have voted before the argu-
ment could obtain general currency and we arc vc-
ry willing to submit the matter to their arbitrament.
1t will be observed that he still evades tie real point
still declines delivering his opinion as to the rela-
tive merits of the old or the constitution. In
gard to his closing sentence--to his half confessed
mputotion of interested motives to the Senior Edit
or in his support of the constitution--all we
have to say is, that if we have not proved our disn
terestedness, in combating for high western princl=
ples, when stood almost Alone and there was not
one in one hundred, to keep countenancc in the
part ofthe world where we reside-ifMis dill not
vindcate attachment to principles we cannot ex-
pect to vindicate it by professions und we scorn to
make the attempt. We resign ourselves to miscon-
struction with the Indifference with which we
counted the cost in the great contest for principle
and truth.
! ARcHvILLE, March 9th, 1880.
! Mr. Peasants Il address you in the singular, be-
cause, being the senior aud Editor, consider
you alone responsible for tho sentiments published
under editorial isanction) Having been absent in
Wood county at the tine your paper of the 9th,
tanning my letter, reached my residence, have not
had earlier opportunity of noticing your PREDATORY
observations. Perhaps I might have suffered orr
correspondence TO rest where it is, had you not so
much pressed upon decision of the comparative
merits of thene,O and the old Constitution
You say, "my refusing abide by this test, is the
most -faiterinG concession to the new Constitution.
, If pushed, am evidently prepared to confess in
terms, its superiority"
have sir, already mad all the Concessions to the
new Constitution which I think it deserves.
hnye. in my lnter conlassnd in Lnrtns that II CON