Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-18
.NEosas5<sy E'vesssng. eEssss, AS.
THE GOVERNOR AND III. GOVERNOR

ADDRESS our views simultaneously to the public
we shall both rs most respectful 10 that public and
convenient from the pressure of Sine and circum
stance conne ourselves for thc most part to facts
nothing doubling the compe tency of the ruhl:c to
reason correctly from facts to the constitutions and
as little doubling what the result Of its iudgme Mt
will be.
l. What We think upon the grave afair Of the
Telegraph and Republican, is known and Cal
houn has in degree shaken our sentiments
What wcro tho factsl Tho Governor found the
Baltimore Republican subscribed for, by the Exc
eutivc. lie dismissed the Republican. and suhsti-
utcd the Telegraph. 1t is complained thot in do
ing this without the advice OF Council. lie invaded
the Constitution which requires the Governor be-.
fore he exercises any discretionary power" con.
ferred by Constitution law, TO advise with his
Council. 1t is contended On the othcr side, that
this power not conferred, either by Constitution
or law; that when the Editors bill for payment is
submitted then for the first time as money is 20 b.
paid out of the Treasary, tho discretionary oues
ton arises; and that if the Governor shall then
submit the question, he docs all which tho Const
tuition requires Of him--undoubtedlv under the
new Constitution the Governor may send for
500 newspapers in the name of the Executive.
when the time for payment comes he must submit
that question TO the councilf they arc unanimous
against 1t, no can still order payment This would
be no violation of the Constitutions 4 STATE con.
stituton cannot be violated Ike that of the Federal
Government, by doing things not forbidden in Il.
AL !ainSs may be done which ere not f1,b;dicn.
Such Is the difference between the State and Fedc
raj OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the compact Of several
decorative States, and that of single, sovereign
power. But were the Governor to stretch his DOW
er SO far, is there no redress? Certainly He can
De lmpcached and punished too--but not for an in
fraction of the Constitution. Some NAV irpe,cb
the Governors taste, in preerring to read the Telo
graph to the Rcpubiican-Van Buren, Republicans
certainly will-others may think, that he ought, as
matter OF FoitcneSs, first to have advised with
his council, upon the delicate and significant step
OF exchanging Van Buren, print for Calhoun
ms ViceExcellency is probably of this opipion
being great admirer Of that French yrtue-but
beyond question of TASTE or politcness it is i'm,
possible that the Governors conduct can be serious
ly questioned, except by Immature, iwill or mar
tizanship.
Such are the facts in relation to Gov. Floyd
what are they in relation Lit Gov. Daniel? He
on the instance of the Governors departure. made
an anonymous attack UPON him; 1--WE suppose he
Was Querst, as he has not denied IT'D charged him
Win 'iN'atlng the Constitution in the premises
eoihPlaiheo CT discourtesy shown to his council;
speaks Oh Inc affair with as much gravity and sovs
''y as the Tariff was the subject, and not ques
oon OF ono newspaper or another; and by wav of
proving beyond all d0ubt his sinccrity of belief in
the Constitution having been infringcd and his
eun deep-rooed love and reverence for that instr,
mont, he commits the very act of STOPPING one
paper, and ordering another aoithout ad,s,ng ,,;t6
his council, which he had just denounced, was at the
very moment, denouncng in Gov. FIoydm "Cal-
houn" calls this putting things precisely in the
same situation as previously existed But is
there any difference between the two acts IN truth
and In common sense? Did not the 1t Governor
know that the Governor had discontinued onc ~,
per and taken another7 Was he the competent nm
thority TO pronounce upon the validity of that net
and to annul it? Does not his act infer as nuch
power as Gov. Floyd's} Must not the Dovver ,o
undo be at least equal to the power that orders and
IA nuliying the act of his Superior iot6out the nd
rice az the council Will am pretend to COM
pare tho dcepotic nature of the act with that of
the Governor We say nothing OF the ii,rc he SC
!ectcd TO do this, the very day that the Governor
loft the city, or of the disregard of every thing like
ctbcIal courtesy. But can it lie otherwise viewed
than as most strange, most remarkable, that Of all
the men IN the commonwealth, Peter Daniel
shouId be the first TO charge Gov. FIayd With IN
constitutional conduct, and at the exact moment
OF time, when ne had achieved the very identical
ect winch hes pronounce unconstitutional in the
Governor. :! Surely the It. Governor had lust taken
sieSson on consistency, from his friend Mr. Ritchie
We know not where TO look for a parallel TO his
case, except il the history Of that renowned poI.
teal Harlequin.
:. Upon tie question Of Mr.. Gilmer's appoint
ment, az 1t is now openly asaaled, and is in fact
the secret cause Of all the heart burnings and Of
that vehement assault " hich has been made upon
the Governor We beg Leave, III a rririt Of common
justice, to make few observations.
3. "Calhouu" admits Mr. GiIncrs peculiar anal.
ihcstions, in point Of talent character and knowl.
edge Of tho subiect, to advocate tho claims Of
Virginia upon the Federal Government lie will
not deny, that in his opinion, the constitutional
question waved, Mr.. Gmcr had the hieAe,f clains
nPon the Office. We desire the reader 20 pgrk this
admission. The objections to Mr.. C;iluor are or g,
constitutional character.
4. He was a member Of the Legislature that
created the Office, and was therefore. iueIipr,1,
IT, Mr.. Gilmer's appointment is an office. I'll will
agree that lie was ineligible. But is il an oHirc7-
OF that point Gov Floyd, was the constitutional
the dernier judge. He thought If no office. md he
therefore appointed to it the individual for who's.
selection, large majority Of the Legislature wa.
known to be anxious, and who the very en.n,ios &c
the appointment, confessto be cuincrtIy o,olie,J
for it. What possible mofire could Gov. FIoyd
rave for violating the Constitution He La -. |