Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-08
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH Z, 1881.


=== MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1881.
a. On Saturday, the Debate in the House of Dele
gates on the Petersburg al way consumed nearly
the whole day. Mr. Mcfarland, the representative
of Petersburg sustained the bill with much ability
and was vigorously supported by Messrs. Venable
Watkins, Morris, Preston and Brouax |, was on.
posed by Messrs. Williams of Harrison and Maxwell
with the sarcasm AMI humour, which so much charac-
terize their style of Debate-and finally passed bv 4
majority of II.
We rejoice at the result on two accounts: First,
Us guaranteeing the success of enterprise to be
attended with direct and important benefits we hope
and believe, to town which deserves more than any
other spot IN Virginia, the atectonate consideration
OF the Public, to large dependent section of the
commonwealth, and consequentaliy, TO the State at
large And secondly, we cannot but indu!re the ex
pectaton, that the libsraity displayed towards this
application, will disarm the southern region of Vir
gina, OF the hostility with which it has invariably
met every proposition for the Improvement of the
Country. with the exception of Mr. Mcfarland,
tue representation of the country the south side
James River, from the Campbell, Bedford and Be-
tetourt lines to the Atlantic, in solid column
against the Loan bill, and with few exceptions. j.,
ever found arrayed against every effort to promote
Internal Improvement. After this manifestation of
hostility towards, indifference for the wants and
interests Of Others the liberaty Tor if you please,
3aSt'reJ exhibited by many whose claims as copent
and as just as those of the Petersburg rail way had
just been repulsed-this returning good for evil
ought we think, somewhat to soften the hearts, and
expand the patriotism, of strait laced brethren of
the "South Side Such We trust, will be the effect
principle OF magnanimty, if nothing else, always
recognized by Southrons must liberaze the state of
pubic opinion in Southern Virginia.
~ No time was ever prolific in fragrant politi-
cal imposture and regeneration as this. Wherever
the eye is turned, it rests the revolving spectacle
OF politicians who trade in principles who accomplish
political ends by professions of attachment to prnc-
pie, which when those ends are accomplished, they
abandon on the spot which when by the turning of
the wheel, it becomes their turn to have applied to
Themselves, they elude, or altogether deny. Thus
Benton and Rowan, new converts to State RIGHTS
vote against Internal improvements except when
Kentucky and Missouri are interested Meass
1t becomes constitutional. Thus in 1G28, Mr.. Peter
V. Daniel, thought rotation in eiicc had tendency:
to purify, and by consequence, preserve Republican
lnsttutions''-the said Peter, at that identical mo-
ent, having been il political Office, seventeen
years and some months, and having since completed
his fifth of century, computed as the period Of
generation among men, Perhaps we ought not to
insist much upon the application Of his fayorile
rotation to his Vice ExcelIency, as the public now
understand him to mean by that term the enchanee
Of Office for another) Thus too Mr.. Richie in
1924 while he in minority, viewed the election
of the Hero curse, and thus in $751; he deems
it wise and safe, to elect him second time to the
Presidency, although in 1895, he and the Central
Committee considered it highly dangerous, TO elect
the same twice to that Office Are we not then
justified i'll saying, that there never was a time in
this country, fruitful in political profigacy' Al
which, traffic in principle and the making it subser-
Went to personal interests was frequent, audacous
and unblushinr?
The instances we have cited Of the prostitution of
the most sacred principles to personal interest,
striking indeed but numerically, drop in the bucket
compared to that mass of cases exempliicd in the
history of the few last years Among these, not the
least fragrant, is that of The Hero the second Je1cr-
son, himself We call the readers attention to the
following quotations from his first and last Message
to Congress, and then ask him to contrast the son-
mont of the quotation, with the Presidents deter
mnatiOn to stand second time for the Presidency
as he pretcujs, c&tortcd from him by the violent
solicitation of public opinion!
President Jackson, IN his message to congress, il
1929, says
There are, perhaps. few men who can, for any srca,
length Of time, enjoy Office and PoVcf without being
less uufof The influence Of feelings unidvoablo to tine faithful
discharge ofthsir public duties"
If nc really believe that the doctrine here advanced
be such The good ofthe country requires docs his
acceptance ola denomination argue for his pntyo-
Hs,u2"
In the same message, he sayS--
II cannot believe by the long confirm.
Of Office, than generally be gained By their
experience submit therefore, your consideration, whc-
efficiency Of the government youd be promoted
Official industry and integrity better secured 10y general
of the law which limits appointments four years
If this principle be correct, how does his present
course tally with the claims made for his ''dsiuter.
estcdncss7"
The same message further says
he proposed limitation would destroy the idea Of proper
generally connected with official station, and al
though individual distress may be times Produced
would by promoting TINT rotation, wtics constitutes Id.
ing prlncP in the republican crc9 give hcaIhul action 10
the sysem.'
Does not this I-~~ttaSo az ,..l iz letcs-