Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-12
Virginia Legislature.
FEDERAL RELATJONS-lConsnno

(COntinued.)
SPEECH OF CHARLES COOKE, delivered in The Senate
n HFgintd, m Committee IF the HhOIe, on the state
Of The Relations bettreeH the Uaited States and South
Carolina, on Thursday, january 81, 1898.
Mn. CHAIRMAN Aiier the protr,cted and elaborate
discussion, which the subject now under consideration has
undergone here and elsewhere, | should feel that was
Imposing a most unnecessary, and therefore, most un,yar.
raniable tax on the exhausted patience of thc committee.
were |, at this late period, TO undertake a full and free
discussion OF the many abstract propositions that have, for
me last SIX weeks, engrossed the time and attention of the
General Assembly. Such an attempt on my pat, | am
sensible, would be as uninte, esing aud wearison,e as the
repetition OF a " thrice told tale"
| rise for no such purpose-and take pleasure in giv.
ing to the committee the comfortable assurance that ,hrv
may dismiss their fca's, if hey entertain them, Of anv such
useless and wanton innicion ~ my hands.
Sir, this question has been discussed until it has become
stale, Hat, and' utterly improbable" 1t has been
the topic OF debate in legislative hails-the unceasinp
theme OF conversation around every fire side, and at eve.
ry cross-road for nearly two months. The argument is
eXhaustcd-and he who can hope 10 ehci, a new idcs. or
present the subject in a point Of view i'm which il has no,
already been placed by others, must have a far higher es.
innate OF his ingenuity and powers OF reasoning and of if.
lnsIrahon, than | feel warranted in placing on mine. |
would almost as soon set about the discovery of the quad.
from the rainbow.
Equally hopeless, sir, would be any attempt to persuade
or cORcthce nose, whose opinions, | doubt not, have long
since Oeen dehnitively made up on this much vexed aues-
have thrown myself on the indulgence of the commit.
tee, solely 10y NS41p%ne tatr nbPlhiniPg thPo rB24sI saf.,I
state the reasons tor which | think it should be adonteL IN
preference to the paper sent Us from the other House.
before entering upon this subject, permit me 10 a a
word az to the course which a sense OF the responsihiii,,,
under winch we are acting, and a proper regard TO the do.
nifty of the body TO which We belong, reqnire us 10 NM
sue in the present momentous crisis. T
am aware, sir, Of the feyerish Impotence evorv ,,bor,
'eI, 10 see the issue oil our labors in relation 10 this rrca,
III important question: know too that the fatal 6r-t If
feoruaIy, a day perhaps iraught with The dcsinies of This
once peaceful and happy people, is rapidly appro,chinr.
and ii any effort of mine, any sacrifice short n 80
DER oil principles | hold sacred, could ward off the evil.
mat ! much fear that day may bring forth, most gladly
most joytully would make them. 7"'''
Ruf sir .lafnynr 81 ..t 49,.
action OF this General Assembly on tie present aIarn,ino
state oil our public affairs, has already been effected bv ,Lee
almost unanimous adoption by the other house of the prc.
a'hoie ana resolutions on your table. Coming from the
popular branch Of the Legislature, they will he t,ken ~
the true exponent Of the wishes and feelings of Inc neorIo
OF the State. The whole moral influence ,bcroc,nrr ',P",,
may PC expected TO result from our interpo,inon is aIreoIv
produced-aAd may it go forth with healing ON its vi,r.y,
may UIat providence which has so signally watched over
me 1eslhles OF our beloved country, make it e0ectu,lV IN
shield us from the calanitics which / aw(ullv fear aro iu'
pending over us. "0'"-
There is, therefore, Mr. Chairman. no nccos.i,, f.. Ill.,
Senate acting with preoipitancy and thouo ltiees' b,s,o ~
disposing OF this question-of foregoing the cxercisno If ,ha,
Ight OF independent action pertaining TO them as a co.or.
dinate branch OF the Legisldture-and o( s,nc,;o,;,~
me plea OF want OF time, and the supposed ceytainfy tha,
nothing essentially differing from the paper con, un F ,"s
tHe o'her house can be got through that bohy1 a course
OF procedure which am confident can not have the n
probation Of a majority OF The Senate. "P
We should examine this subject for ourseives .
reSPo"sloie 'ge"'s, indicate 20 these who sent us here. the
course whlch we think the cXigencies a The iirnes ro
quire us to pursue. Not SIR, hat Womb sdviss 49,
waste OF the small remnant Of time left us for tho corsiJs
ration OF this important subject; a time aIuost To- .ha., :,
we had nothing else 10 do but "fo re- risf.r the doo,"o.,, ~
tho other branch OF the Legislature, hut tba. for 20
WI not consent to screen myseltbehind The action Of the
UV.' mousse ana return 10 my constituents with the excuse
mat ! dd not approve OF the measures adop,ed. but ,ha,
voted Tor Ihem because ! kle,C the House Of DeIeos,s.
"ohli consent to 70 important modification of thenI
I nave hea,c, WIN deep mOriicaiion, This e,son ~
signed 0ut NJ this chamber, for our adop,ino A. on.o ~,
even without an effort 10 change II en-, the resoIu,ioDs W.
#ohr table. Mr. Chairman, should such consider.nonsa.
iNeee ever come fD govern Iha "a. r -
II VIII nave fallen from is high estate; il will b,vc.omSi
10 ne a cO-equal branch Of the Legislature and nil -
longer perform the impoi tan. func ions for which 1, -
created Sir, LET us atleasi, before dstermining mon an
uhconui Iohai surrender e our opinions, make the exnsri.
inent 10 ascertain how Gr tho House nj DoLor.,asP. ,I,
pfrtinaciousIy adhere 10 the course ttev L,yo rocor
mehned' before we take it for granted lhey will Weld
nouing to the view and wishes of this boiv. anil bv ~
inR, attempt to shit from our ogn sh,uIIers ~ ~ so"V'
NY we owe 10 those no sent MS here WIZ"
Sir' I am sure tcannot he necessary for me 70 ,rscIai,,
gt.I,n.o o"aru''he coordinate branch Of tie 10
g,iauTe' IN me remarks ! have lust subin;ue1 H.,
"hile entertain The most unqualified respec, tr a., ="
uoy, l must be permitted 70 enter my protest go.i"st I GU
v,onptI. VI ,no'yes Ut NE action Of This, which I believe
"o''n conprcmt lis dignity and independence.
hir' Chairman, HE committee ha5 hal befors 4, ,,o.
w. w. W. r,'yoss' "nlc'. together, present The subiecti in ali
III spec yel agreeing in nothing cxccpt in ion.
uc',"S ,he meul''oh ol the Legislature bet,yeen rr liza
coniending parties. The substitute roror,cJ ~, ~ ' ~.
committee Of The Senate, lave down 4 d,crina ' AZ sv'eJ'
llcation, thdt / confess nv i'm ,iilif- I. ~ ~ :"
'"cth mem; and u asserts the right of s.ccsta, H.. ~
nFoadest and most unqualified terms. On us oLa,, +" ~
'e resolutions from the House Of Dclco,,es 4. "',I''
I''nn'' " we err, bHt break % 10 The Understandings Gs
'"'o 'hey PfVf'S ~ rc-1-1eFi The d]1cfiuee Of w" H.
l' idc' assert H0HUR. ~ H0fhs fhcy affirm 49, -
."'e ny "I,'f 'Nrh n t0ttt00, aa 10 make them eo,.,U,
80 'P''o'e 20 Ie'eraIri and TO tc|puhlcsm In a new sen.ss
~ ,o ,g,Ws' we may n'f 'fuly cay " wc are all reppbr.
cane, al ledcraits,' lDr the docii,es yyLt,a L . P'On'
sl'n'su ibe great landmarks between rma zoo ,aaut.'t
At P'tsehted 10 u7, by die inrtnious Je,icc iaI
'''n vague and indefinite ieima, s v.e,iy 70 ,5e -"