Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-02

governed gentleman were. applause in the Gal
ieries) Mr. Newton asked for what object W,
iao been called together here, like school boy.
ny 'ho school master? (Mr. Richie looked seriou.
ceremony enac,.d7
hr. OPie intcrruped--he was generally true to
MS PurPose-he insisted upon his mot ion 70. tho
previous question. "a lough.)
nir' NeUton' withdrew his appeal TO tho cour-
tGsy ot the gentleman, and made it TO that of the
Mr. Roane felt hurt and excited by the remarks
OF inc gentleman from Westmoreland.
MT. OPie again interrupted and insisted upon the
PREVIOUS qucstion-(violcnt scnsation)-
PRESTON, NeUton, and Witcher rose at the same
'o,hent' but MIR. ROane retained the floor. He
Understood r tho remarks of tho gentleman from,
"estnoreland. TO be virtually, an appeal from,
INC decSion of the Chair, that the rules
| OF the House of Delegates were in force here.
lie hoped the House would sustain the Chair.
Inc CHAR said the main question was if the eau.
Gus would now adjourn indefinitely?
W.T.. Merton proceeded to rdcule in severe
eIms' the farce ofassembling and adourning.
"r oPte again, however, insisted upon the pre-
vious question
Tins was at length put and rejected.
mr. Ne"ton expressed the hope that were
not enrolled like troops, to be assembled and dis
missed at the will of the officer Wha. was tho
OBJECT OF our assembling here? To nominate n
III sdent and Vice President of the United States
IL was time to perform this duty. The session
was drawing to u close. Should we meanly and
we abandon trust, and shrink from the
responsibility of nominating a President and Vice
PRESIDENT? Should we postpone this question, be.
cause we feared the responsibility of declaring n
preference for Vice President? We could not
escape or evadc it. 1t must be met, and this full
representation OF the People declared that this
was the time for meeting it. What had the APP
portionmcnt Bill to do with this question? He
trusted no man would shrink. He was ready to
meet the crisis
MT. Woods motion TO adjourn to Monday
week, was then negatived.
Mr.. Miller of Powhatan, said that the
caucus had various duties to perform, which
might occupy it several evenings. Many of these
duties might be well done before the apportion-
Inent Bill passed, after-to wit: a nomination
OF President and Vice President, u Central and
county Committees For these, a full meeting
was highly impertant; important discussions would
take place, whenever these duties to be done.
wherefore not begin now, when the meeting is so
full? Wherefore not go on to do all that san be
DONE before tho upportionmcnt bill passes7 He
moved in consideration of these views, to amend
the motion to adjourn indefinitely, by resolving
mat when the Caucus aojourns tonight it adjourn
TO meet tomorrow night.
Mr.. Witcher addressed the Caucus in an ar
gument to prove, that there was nothing in the
Constitution of the United States which required
that each District should have Eiector resident
in it, and consequently, that knowing Inc number
OF Electors to which the State would be entitled,
we might appoint them without waiting for
Congress, or rcmodelling the Districts In any
event. there was no reason why should not now
nominate President, Vice President and Com
mtces.
MIR. Brodnar contcnded that the gentleman was
in error, as statute of Virginia expressly required
one Elector to BIO resident in each District
Mr.. Witcher said he had spoken Of the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and not the law of
Virginia He supposed the Legislature were COM
petent to repeal that law.
MIR. BroDn addressed the House in favor of in
definite ad journment at some length.
r in lutr tn tod tt,,tl 10
had made the motion to time "a laugh) and
'ooGng Ho deprecated discussion, "a laughl and
hoped the known sentiments of the eopIe could be
expressed without il.
Mr.. GhotsOn said it had been ascrbcd TO him by
Mcssrs. Brown and Roanc. that Inc had expressed
desire Tor discussion. 1t not SO. But dis
cnssion would arise-not that it was expected that
opinion here would be affected by it, but gentle
men would speak to the country. Like the gentle
man from Hanover, he was anxious to speak the
sentiments of the country, and not that tho wishes
OF a small party should be imposed the voice of
Virginia. If the nomination of President and
Vice President not first made, tho antici.
pated excitement would pcrvade all our proceed
ings-a struggle would cnsuc in appointing the
Committees aud Electors lfa President & Vice
President were first designated and the principle
settled the details would be adjust ed without DIFF
fcrlty. Why should we now adjourn? When
again assembled under the power proposed 10 be
gwen the Chairman and Secretary. might it no.
be to play another farce? Cloud calls for ques-
ton
Messrs BRoDnAx and WIrcuER renewed
their controversy respecting the constitution
ard law ofthe case.
Mr.. NEWTON rose to offer his plan to get out
OF our diff ultics, under the invitation of Mr.
Roane. 1t to nominate A. jackson a.
President and Philip p. Barbour as Vice Pres-
dent. He invited gentlemen to meet that ques-
ton. When disposed of, details might be east
Iy egulatcd.
The question was then loudly demanded.
Mr.. RoANE repeated that to time "a
Iaugb) he had moved to adjourn. He proceeded
with extreme vehemcncc, to dcprecate the nom
ination of Mr. Barbour, whom he wished pla-
ced in he Supreme Court, to vindicate the Con-
stiiution, there Slapped and undermined. He
did not wish Virginia to be contestins for Vice
Presidents, but Presidents.
The calls for the question now became lr-
eSistible, and Mr. MIXERS motion was mega
lived, 80 to l6
Dir. RoANE's motion 10 adjourn indefinitely
was then carried, 10 to 81, and the Caucus ad-
journcd.