Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-19

ltency sake. TO ergrshii on every li,is turnpike bill
YOU may pass, uani The sopg. so repeatedly sung, will
IA l ungrscicn-ly on the ears Of even IN. pipers them.
se.vea-.As to the Petersburg Rail-RoaJ. there il. Mr..
, eaker. scine hing "so'emnly farcicsl' in se very
idea oil applying this amendment 10 H.. So far asr
5 pee 8 its praet cal operation, the bill nil hit as well
have int rcsed an %in,ertic,, prohibiting The King OF
) sm OF p, gu. the Supe ,in,cndent OF tie S,ndwieb l..
iants. or Go a.esni,tli higher in tn scale of regal
,nt,or ty) The Emperor at al the Rns.ia, himself.
froiD assist.rg the town CT Pe;ei sturs in CO s;.rc ing
y kaf.Rosd. ST.. in ,he frs, piac', re /. no .,oek
IN u al Company for the Utited Sta rs o TAX. The
OIL on is face show, that hire, -hi;hs have b .en .uS-
scriaed by Individuals, END contsin al an re.r,a;iSn,
which we have accepted a. an equivalep, for III. 70.
ihailing Two hi,h-. In The next place, IL thsre w.s
any stock, 10 disposi ion exists aaicns those no de-
sirs this Improvement, TO lcok 10 that quarter for
sdI1Atd in tie l>s' place, hut, list . apprehension
need tie ert2rta ned, uat the Uuittd S.. tes' Gov.
eminent would display much ami ~ to .orce isvor-
on a people now out Ct fvor looked on "a heretirs
t. the current political dJcirin-s OF latest fashion n,
wa hing'on, aud regarded, no doubt, rs a. a still
ns'ked and ieae lious generation" consid-
GRAFTON, MIR. Speaker, wouli indu CO me to resis, the
ann Sa,'on OF this amendment, to eitha II the bills
winch have brought II back from Tho Sera,e. The
Valley Road Bill. now on your table, stood Fl st in
order, and first received ,hi. a i1iion. That II ga.
atterw re aife TO the Petersburg R.iI- Road Bill.
mer' iy pro- ormd, mus be .ofici-o,iy o. viou.-So
mat this novel experiment was FIST directed 10 N
Improvement. th oush a region OF our Stl'e, IN whie.
, wa..S' adhesion to our State Right priueipl- >, is
sui posed to exit. And, Sir, This. 1 confess. 10 ,ks to
me too much lkean arbit airy otta u, of an infected dis
I itt My own pc i,ical opiu o 8, as | have si eady lot,
mated, are the revere Of those. Tha, il /, an hon.
est difference OF opinion among u., no ore can doubt;
aud this mode OF driving hem by proscript on into
NJ true fold, Is one which l canroi counien nee
But, MIR. Speaker, L entertain another objection 10
the propo'ed plan of engrafting this State right princi-
pie on a local bill, OF yet more decisive character with
me. The very mode in which the question occurs is
calculated TO weaken our cause, and impair our strength.
Will not the merits of the particular bill to which Il is
appended, mingle in the consideration of the question,
and affect its decis:on' Does any gentleman here ina
Gin la n fhnra n - ., Ill: 4,
In favor OF such an amendment as this-to any bill for
local Improvement, as we have reason to believe, would
rally around the digniiied and proper assertion of the
general principles! L assure you, sir, s. | speak advised.
ly,-the result will shew whether correctly or not. that
there are many-very many, of the frmest, and most
decided friends, OF what we call here, Familiarity State
Rights principles, who will not support this amendment.
they think with me, that II is uncalled for-nugatory-
and stands In an unnatural association. And can any
vote then, coming up in this way, OH such an amend
ment as that now uRder consideration, be considered n
test OF the opinion Of Virginia, on the great and vexed
question:, as to the power Of the general government. TO
make appropriations for works OF internal improvement!
ne know that 1t cannot be a fair test;but Others Else here
VIII Affect so TO consider il; and Virginia will be made
TO exhibit a lean majority, if any, in support of a prin-
cipie, which she has consistently maintained since 'gs,
aud in favor OF which, have no doubt, a greater ma.
lority now actually exists, than on any former occasion.
Tier principles were growing and strengthening
iear' SIR TINS proceeding will give TO them a retrogade
acuon, which VIII place them as far back as they were
hiteen years ago. AS an expression of Virginia senti
ments, this proceeding may do us injury-it cannot do
us good Mr. Speaker, an expression of my opinion
on ms controvertedq question, has of necessity been ex-
pressed, to obviate am apparent inference, from the
course which L have felt il my duty to pursue: hui 1
nave carefully aostained from any argument whatever
on that question:. IL Is known, sir, that there does ex-
LIST an honest difference OF opinion on this subiect-a
diherence, which no argument could remove-while
the very attempt might engender unpleasant feelings
ana involve a costly consumption Of time, which is now
becoming OF increased value. If a discussion Of this
genera question, is entered on at all, who can tell
when it is TO terminate, or what are to be its effec ts?-
NT, DeTndDS Il All f0O XOunT - m rio In -
iucai affairs, TO pretend TO offer you my humble adj
vice; but valueless as it may be, 1 cannot refrain from
imploring this House, not 10 undertake any discussion
oil inns delicate and exciting question. 1t involves no
disrespect TO the members of this Assembly to saw,
mat there does not, In America perhaps, exist the in
divldnai, who can offer any new views, or reflect any
additional light, on this controverted question. IL has
been debated and discussed, in the legislative halls-in
tue canvass-in the review-in the ne wspapers--in tho
social circle, by the abIest men in our country, wear
alter year, until argument is exhausted. There is not a
green-horn in politics, who has not formed some opi-
nion on the subject, which he verify believes to be the
correct one, and which Is inaccessible 10 the force of
argument. Is there a man on this floor, whose opinion
could be changed by all the discussion which a fort
nights debate could elicit? Not one. WHY then should
we attempt liz III any thing is called for at our hands.
II Is an expression Of our opinions-not the arguments
ON which we rely, TO sustain those opinions. Let us
then express them at once in harmony and good feel
ing-and immediately proceed, with the other impor-
tant business, which the interest of our constituents
has conhded TO our care, and requires us to complete.
MIR. Eppes should vote against the mo ion of the gen.
N0N Isl g lUIE
which made this proposition e~xpedieu, under the cir.
cum stances in which Virginia stood. And he { ought
tits a happy opportunity fer enforcing he principle
OF state rights. He did not knew a dissenting voice TO
the p inciples in the part OF the country thraprh
which this improvement was 10 be made. The State
was this year branching out in Interna! improvements,
and IL was necessary to guard against tho invasion Of
It's principle. Virginia had hitherto bean exempe ed
from thu practices OF the General Government, bu; thr
power had been exercised in other s,aies; and 1t wa.
Masking its approaches here. There was a bill en- II G
table, TO incorporate a Company, TO whic', the United
States bad already subscrib d. He should take ey. nv
give his vote against the exercise OF II il rover by the
G ;nersl Government, and he thought tits a fair occa.
sion for doing ho,h.
Mr.. Campbell OF B-ockc, moved to arr end the anne nd
ment OF the S-fate, by striking cut the words " Gov.
erom ent OF The United Slater" He though, the pre-
vision introduces by the S-ra,e we.se shan useless
a scheme designed M rely for ef-ct; and he was or.
posed TO anyihing, which, where opinions conGicled,
would put down In expression Of those Of he minor
iy- He b lisved that The opinions Of a majority {.
the House were opposed TO the exercise Of power ty
the UDi'rd States alluded TO in the am endnelt Of ~
Senate. But he, { r one, dill no, agree With the opin.
ions generally entPrisined; although be did not wish
to resIict the expires ion of those opinions. II the
@ neral CIV. rnment should persist 10 it, former prac-
tse Of subscribing 10 the stock OF private companies,
Virginia, it seemed, was 10 be exempted f, m sharing
ia the benefits reaped bytoiher states. The people Of
the West were PLACID la a peculiar situation. When
they asked for assi-fance, they wero TO be tell that
ibey should not receive ~, unless they would swallow
this additional dose-m aking the opinions Of tho ma.
jon iy operate on the rights OF the minority as well IL
relation TO actions as opinions. If the prece!ent were
oncs established, this proviso against the General Co