Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-14
ALEXANDRIA,:
FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. IA, 1884.
VOICE OF VIRGINIA.

VOICE OF VIRGINIA.
We mentioned, yesterday, that the Resolu-
tons on the Opposite question had been finally
passed by the Senate Of Virginia, and sent back
to the House Of Delegates with some amend
ments These amendments have all been con-
Cured in by the House, and the resolutions have
therefore PASSED. We are indebted to men,
Der of the Legislature for copy of the Amend
ments, and the final vote in the House on each
of the resolutions, which we subjoin:
Preamble, 1st line, strike out from the word
"Whereas" to the end Of the last resolution,
and insert in lieu thereof the following:
- " the General Assembly of Virginia
deem it Of the utmost importance that the pow
er to control the public revenue should be made
to abide, in practice, where it has been vested
by the constitution, in the immediate representa-
tves of the people, and of the states, in Congress
assembled; and all experience of the practical
operation Of governments has proved that az
bitrary assumptions of power by them, or any
officer of them, if silently acquiesced in, become
precedents for further and still greater acts Of
usurpation: therefore,
l. Resolved by the General Assembly, That
the recent act of the President Of the United
States exerting a control over the public depo-
sites, by causing them to be withheld and with
United States Bank, in which they had been or
dered to be placed by the act Of Congress char
tering the said bank, u.s. in the judgment of the
General Assembly, dangerous and alarming
assumption of power by that officer which can
not be too strongly condemned. Ayes 3d. noes
Al.
g. Resolred That, while the General Assem-
bly, will ever be ready to sustain the President
in the exercise of all such power as the consti
tuition has confded to him, they, nevertheless,
cannot but regard with apprehension and dis
trust, the disposition to extend his official au-
thority beyond its just and proper limits, which
he has so clearly manifested in his recent inter-
ference with the Treasury Department of the
Federal Government, in the exercise of a sound
discretion which Congress had confided to the
head of that department alone. Ayes SO; noes
35
g. Resolred, That our Senators in Congress
be instructed and our Representatives request
ed, to use their best eXertions to procure the
adoption, by Congress- Of proper measures for
restoring the public moneys to the Bank of the
United States, or at least, for causing them to
be deposited therein for the future, according to
the direction and stipulation of the act of Con-
gress chartering the said bank; if, at the time OF
their action on the subject, the said bank be, in
in their opinion, a safe depository of the public
treasure. Ayes 69; noes 60.
4. Resolved, That the General Assembly can
not recognize as constitutional the power which
has been claimed by Congress to establish
United States Bank, because, in the opinion of
the General Assembly, as they have heretofore
soemnly declared that power is not given to
Congress by the Constitution of the U. States.
Ayes 81; noes 81.
5. RESOLVED, That the General Assembly do
not intend by the declaration of their opinion
in regard to the unconstitutionality of the Bank
of the United States to qualify, or in any man.
ner to impair the force of their disapprobation
Of the Withholding and Withdrawing of the pub
lie depostes. Ayes Sc; noes 35.
6. Resolved, That the Governor of the Com
monwealth be requested to transmit copy OF
these resolutions to each of our Senators and
Representatives in the Congress Of the United
States"
These Resolutions probably very well express
the opinions of the State on the great questions
concerning which they were passed. 1t will be
seen that the Senators are instructed as to par
ticular point We are curious to know what
will be Mr.. Rives' course. At any rate, the voice
Of Virginia will command respect throughout
the Unon and we are glad that it has been ut