Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-02-08
2sscsa aasemU gga HtM
TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. g. 1891.

~ Yesterday the House of Delegates was p,nci
pa!ly occupied in Committee OF tho Whole on TIC
Duelng Bill ono of tho nusances sbated by the call
of Convention, bat which an organized majority IN
the Horfc of Delegates, determined to re. en-
act with more than Its ancient severity.
None knew better than We The unsopIisticatrd be-
ncvolence and PhilunhroPhy which have actuatcd
and nov ac'urt" the Legislature Of Virginia IN this
matter; yet none on the other hand, better know.
how unjust IL that law, inCcmpatbln it is with n
much higher law-Public opinion--lnd with how
much more than the severity measured To elons,
they dealt By, WHO fall under its denunciaons. We
Snowr Is hopeless to oppose its passngc-we even
belIc"c tha: the very public opinion omnipotcnt 10
brand with cowardice, HIM who obcys its bchests, is
yet inconsistent enough, to demand its passagc-but
we earnestly intrea. its patrons to from it
that feature Of pcrpctuity which now makes it look
more like the work Of fanatics and bigots. than an
enlightened Legislature in Republican land, and
liberal age. We Threat Mcssrs. BroInax Barbour
and Maxwell, lis peculiar champions, in ,he name of
the great and liberal age in which we lIvc in the
name Of Jefferson, lafayette and Liberty in the
name of the youths who may offend against this lazy
before they OF age to appreciate the consc-
quenccs-not ~ make the punishment not only self
inflicted, hut incxoroble, and perpetual There is
limitation to the punishment Of all Penitcntary of
lcnccs-murdcr, rape and nrson--let there be some
limitation To The punishment inflicted by this statute
--makc !: tcn twenty, thirty years # it must be so
but let there he some end to the punishment
When q school boy violates this law, pcrhaps I'M
conscious of It's existence, and orfrItj tho liberty
which his fathers conquered for him by their blood.
let there be day when the forfeiture shall cease
and he shall breathe and feel a free man.
Tho day Will como We verify believe, when poster
i'y viii view t'r's stature pretty much as this nre
views the statute Of James /. for the punishment, Of
mlsconccption of natural
truth and The ends Of Legislation, and equally lead
ing to cruelty ard oppression Yet VIC know public
opinion requires It's passage; but wo deny, utterly,
that public opinion requires the offence To be visited
with n punishment ingcuously severe, mnutsbe ord
Porpotual-f,r experience has proved that relief from
the Legislature under any circumstances is hopeless
and uniuunded
CONGR ESS. The acton Of Congress on Thurs
day and Fnday, chiefly confined to the appropri-
alton bill to that for the benefit Of Mr. Monroe, and
n bill to increase Tho duty salt. We shall present
details tomorrow; at present we can merely alludc
TO the several subjects
On Thursday tn, consideration of tho appropiia-
ton bill resumed mi with it, the motion to
strike out the appropriation 10 tho Russian Minister.
Ga hrs question, a reply was cxpcc cd from Mr..
Burgess, TO ths scurrIiou5 attack made upon him by
Mr.. CambrclGng-an expectation on fipoc, not only
IN Washington, but throughout tho country--not
only in Coffee md Reading Rooms, but Congress