Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-03-17

Frs~ 1e National Iate,s;gese-,. Mar,s y
In the House Of Rerrescntatnrs
Yesterday, the seat OF the Hon. rln.
mas NeatoD, of Virginia, was Vacated.
upon tie report OF the COMMITTEE on
Elections. by a majority OF Is yoies:A
small. majority indeed. Co Gust from +,
scat Member Who had occuri,d !,
BY successive elections. for nearly ,h,r
~ years.
IL is due 90 Mr.. Newton. whom ~.
are about 10 miss from his accustomed
place, TO say. that rnore fai,lCui
pure. and consistent politician, has ne.
yer filled seat in the Represen,at;,c
Hall. His firnness and patriotism,
during the late war, and its preccdin.
crisis. aud at all times, were uncxce,I,
ed, but always tempered with an a.
baniiy and mi!dncss. which greatly IL.
creased the lustre OF his pnhlic virtue.
lie has for several years past been the
Father of the House that is. IL, oI,,cst
Member. In his present retirement.
lie will have the consolation of carry
ing with him the personal respect and
regard OF nearly all ia. eminent living
statesmen Of our country.
The great debate in the Senate Il,
not yet ended, nor, as far as we see.
Is II likely soon To DC. A new tonic
was introduced into the debate, the @.
iher day, by Mr.. Grundy, in defcnrc
Of the renewals from Office under The
present administration. which is likcly
to prolong the discussion. This topic
has already produced some most aily
debate, and viii! mt. We apprehend, be
very soon exhausted.
Some Of our contemporaries. we oil
serve, regret this widely ,liscursi,e dc.
bate. and think the time misspent which
is employed ia IL. Not so We. We
do not see how the time of the Legs
ia'ors for the Nation, during q portion
OF each biennial long session Of Con
gress, can be more usefully employed.
than IN recurrence to first principle.
IN an examination Of questions Of NOR,
recent date; in free examination os
popular errors and prejuJices. and in
reciprocal explanations, by the mem
bers, oil their particular views Of ,,,inrs
Nor are the benefits OF these collis,ons
OF opinion, and consequent efiusious &C
light, confined 10 the walls Of the ca
Pitol. M; they penetrate the reno
test corners Of the Republic, and en
Tighten all its borders. The speeche,
delivered IN such debates are, in truth.
school-borks in the system Of naiionsl
education. They do not answer the
elementary purpose Of teaching tie
young idea how To shoot" but thee
serve to mature its after blossoms into
trnit. and give 10 the fruit its whole.
some havor aud medic aiiug influences
For all the purposes o! instruction in
the practical science Of government.
the perusal Of one good speech. in .ucn
debate. is worth whole years stu.
jy OF the ponderous tones Of the schc
lasiic exercises, with which tie heads
-! our oolleelans are generally filed, 10
the exclusion Of all proper instruction
in the theory or practice of their own
government.
This debate has, il is true, grown w
unexpectedly. upon a question not
psrtio ulariy inviting il. But. when
the heart Is iuli. the mouth will speak
and, under such circumstances, one oc.
easion serves as we'll Is another. In
the early history of this Government.
following the practice Of the British
Parliament, the debate in each House,
early IN each session of Congress. upon
the answer To the Prcsi,lent'. speecr,
furnished the opportunity for this gene
raj disbnrihenirS of mems ininds. On
the d'sconi!nnai.cc of that prac ticc. J
was natural that other occasions should
be seized for it. Such an occasion La,
been found At fhis session, in the -
nate, aud u has been duly impro,r,.
IN The House Of Representatives there
have been some Skir,nishes, bet tie
main engagement has yet TO take place.
aud may shortly be expected 10 cone
on. There is no such thing, merriam.
IN that body. "a clearly defined opbo
sltiOn or Administration party; but
there IS sufficient eontrarieiy Of opinion
to furnish materials for a debate on
matters and things in general, and "a
can hardly be otherwise than that Z
shall break out.- Nat. Int.
Tori and Moryiaad Line Rail. roaL
"A letter from gentleman of Hs:.
r'Sburg to his friend in this City. Undtr
date Of the 9TH inst. states that the Vot.
IN The House 81 Representatives, on
transcr'biDg this bill for third read
ing was 50 yeas-l7 nays. Twas 30
be called up on is 6oal passage ,Irough
that body on Monday and The wriicr
states there vas no doubt but IA would
pass. lie also gives il % his spinion
though with less eou6dsn,. ,t.t