Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-12
Twenty-sccond COngress.--Sess. =
IN SENATE.-V "wednesday, FED. q, 1888
SPEECH OF MIR. TYLER, OF VIRGINIA, ON
THE JUDICIARY BILL


Mr. Tyler, after few preliminary remarks, said, that
he should not perhaps then have addressed the Senate
pn' Tor the voice OF some who might conceive that the
proper course OF prudence for them pursue was 10 re-
main silent He knew the situation in which he was
placed here and elsewhere and he knew also that there
was formidable opposition arrayed against him He
knew that the slightest expression variant the feelings
Oh some which he uttered trippngly from the tongue
might subject him to anmadvcrsons which would posi-.
bly, prove fatal in the result Still he Invested himself OF
the feelings which such circumstances might be supposed
70 give rise he wished be understood distinctv that
ne had wen weighed the matter-that he threw aside ali
personal considerations and prepared every risk TO
defend the great principles which he had acted in the
whole course OF his political life Such conduct ON his part
might be deemed rash and precpitae, taking into view
the circumstances to which he had alluded; but be il so:
he had come into the Senate the advocate of those
principles which neither his judgment his heart could
permit him TO rcnqus, and when II should be decided bv
those who had sent him therei such should be the case
that he was no longer to he member Of that body he
should depart thence without feeling of regret but Tor
me Abandonment OF principles upon the preservation and
observance oil which depend the perpeaion OF the Con-
suiion and the safety, the liberty, and the happiness
Tie country II was indeed no time for the inugence OF
personal considerations when the baitlemens were rock.
ing above our heads-when the discorl was Within and
the storm without was raging in all its srle--at such
period he could not abstain from private thoughts-o the
lover oil his country tho dust If the melee ought be
the breath OF his nostrils.
Mr. Tyler commenced by saying, that he would, with
question before them. He must state as preliminary
that il was found by I'll the information which history al
orded that IN all ages OF the world aud in all nations
meath the sun, the face Of creation, there would I've
found TO exist two parties; tho one disposed TO advance
The power and authority OF tho government under which
II lived, orin other words TO extend its authority and the
other Jealous OF power and seulousy watching aud en-
deavorng guard against the slightest usurpa,ion of II
IL was truth verified by the experience Of all history
that even under the tyrannica and oppressive go
lvernnen there would be found those who vindi-
cate actions however arbitrary, base, progae they
might be-there were faterers OF desposm under what
ever form OF government that despotism might prevail
ana the doctrine that this monarch the vcegerent
The Almighty, and that TO touch hair of his was sacri.
lego against the Lords annointed was not confined TO
monarches alone. Mr.. Tyler observed that the party
which strives against those in possession of authority
must necessarily always be the weakest In fact fear
ul odds would always be against the former Some would
invariably be alured by the splendor the emoluments
aud The patronage OF office; others would bo indspoed
TO disturb the tranquil tenor Of their way and others
again. there would be small difficulty awakng them
10 true knowledge OF their duties and their own
rights. II was circumstance OF too frequent
renee that the task OF arousng the minds OF to the
performance OF their public obligations, was attended
win a Iatal delay-men might be shaken from their stu
por at an hour that is late and thus might awaken only
to hnd themselves in manaces and chains with despolisn
w"yiag rs iron scspte them in unresisted and
1t would be singular, indeed, Mr. Tyler went on to say
mat The power and the operation Of that political nlu
ence which has prevailed in all time aud in all nations
should not also have visited 1t extended through ali
regions, however enlightened their inhabitants might be-
IL was lelt, and extensively leltain our own coun-
Try, during mo war OF the revolution. Who there
that had not heard OF the distinction OF wing and
tory und OF the oppro5rium heaped, even till this
DAY, upon the latter rs traors-as enemies to- and
base bctrayers of, the liberties of their country? For
his own part, he (Mr T) had always thought tat the
obloquy cast upon them, generally was unjust He con
sldered hat on the whole, injustice had been to the
great boiy oil the tories OF that day. IL believed further
that IN many Instances they had been honest in their
Intentions ana as sincere in their opinions the wings
IL was due TO them in his Judgment TO say that they
had been greatly misguided in their course bv tie in
huence OF prc-cxising circumstances. They lost sight
oil the great truth that their allegiance due their
country here. Their eyes were fixed on the British
dadem aud their judgments blinded by the rays
which emanated from and sparkled around IT, They pr,
Of Rgit
had, In former wars been than put forth for the
protection OF the colonies in their infancy and during
their growth into stature and strength. And TO this con
sideralion might DO added The recollection that
with the soil OF that kingdom the bones of their ances-
tors were comminged. Neither, continued SIR. r., were
these The only considerations which might be supposed
have actuated many Of the tories in the part which they
TOOK during The struggle for our independence another
circumstance might have operated percePtbly or i'm
percepuDy ON their minds and il unnatural or TO
b; wondered at that should have operated with some
The British Government stood ont as the most free in
the world; and the tory Of the revolution his admiration
OF her greatness and her glory, had been apt TO forget
what he owed to the country Of his birth adoption In
the formation of the State Governments, also parties Y
sed and had their influence; and not only in this but the
same operation was observable in the revision Of the ar
cles OF the Old Confederation and in the debates in Con
venuoh on me adoption Of The Constitution They would
ind that on all these occasions there had been struggle
OF parties, collision he would say, Of opposing in
Huences. The last Of those Influences which rad the tcn
dency and the last of those parties which had the object
OF opposing the strides of power, lac happy to think
had prevailed. 80
r. l(i.tn
parties AZ the head Of the first Alexander Hamil-
tom at the head of the second party he was sorry 10 saw
virginia was to be found, together with others the larger
States The third party, which proved the predominant
one, consisted OF the middle sized and the smaller States
Mr. Iyer here Observed that he could not in connection
with s branch oil the subject proceed without pressing
his disagreement the doctrines advanced Yesterday nv
the Senator from Maine, (Nfr olmes) which, if carried
into effect would, by consolidating the Government in.
eyIaby lead TO the crushing Of smaller States.
But 10 revert to his argument How had The three par
Ties ol which he was speaking, been aTraycd
Alexander Hamilton at the head OF the FIRST which
was decidedly monarchical.
The larger States composed the second party which
was IN IdVOr OF national government
The small States, the secuted and despised weaker
States, were the advocates Of Federal Government
They the successful advocates of the adopion of our
present happy Constitution.
Here, however he wished il TO be Observed that in
speaking OF Mr. Hamilton the head of the nonarcbical
party, he did not wish to be understood as speaking in
spirit OF reprodch to the memory OF that great man, and
sill less OF undertaking his amazing powers Of nni
what was more, Tar worthy of cOmmendatiou his
purity OF intention. Alexander Hamilton said MIR yer,
ranked among the first Of the country. and the age
~ which lac ived and he would have been an ornament
and pride 10 any country aud any age. For vigor Of in
cc he bad no super0r Tor honesty Of purpose he had
no superior; and for the holiness of his determinations i'm
the pursuit OF what he conscicnously believed be no.
nordhe Objects he had superior. II was his (Mr
Hamilton - belief That The existing system Of Government
was too weak To support ITSELF and he therefore bent all
the powers OF his mind 10 give IL what he thought would
be an enduring strength, by the adoption Of nonarchca
principles.
But Mr. Tyler said, the Object Of Alexander fIamil-
ton could not be concealed, and il was defeated soon
as discovered lie had, then, alternative bat of quit
ting nc Convention, together vi u those Of his friend.