Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-22


ID forward under suspicious circumstances and that the
House should clearly its way IN the course " was
now asked to adopt. ,.,,,l
Mr. w had some enquiries to make, to which he asked
s,en,;n, Sir said mir w, if can shcw that nlaJo.
49,, f Ills crs- ,a vc assembled together, with closed
doors whether al the hour OF inonight OF Al any oel
49, and with ,hc Speaker in the chair, resolved upon
cernin legislative proceeding, ask, whether ain al
liberty to snalk IF those proceedings here Arc they OF
SO secret nature that they may not be debated or u
they of 50 r;bic nature give right to discuss
them ?-That such is the fact presume Wall not H ~
ned-that such meeting has been held anu no
that meeting decision was entered into by the 'he'.o
in the form of solemn pledge to give spsS; k,d
r subject which involves constitutions W. h. hid
if said MIR. W., there is no daferehcc 49,. rd ;f fhcy
ing force OF pied re anG that 81 an oalenu ."s!
are determined 10 90 farther and redeem tneii Pituss
even should they by doing so: voiate liee oa ~
the Constitution Of the Unl'ed ota'esa ~ va mS,b
do they stand in this body ASK SAID MT w wetheF
r,L :,..b nedrc recorded against theln Should they,
in the course OF The dcbate become NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
the Iiph of conviction suddenly ash upon tciF ninos
them tina. to give the vote which they had pledged
,hemseves to give weuld be unconsstutiona would no
thar Difficult, one? They must either
keen their promise to their party at the risk OF violating
,hcir oath TO maintain the Constitution OF the u states
or break their promise in order to keep their oath In
violate, Which in such would be obeyed. think
YOU the oath the pledge: These were times OF high
party excitement and it be sSd that the mutual
encouragement derived from union OF the members
Of party, and their firm cooperation together were ne
cessary, and to be expected under the ccunstancrs-
he admitted it. But was it necessary TO bind men to act
with party by promises and pledges: were thcy not
capable of manly and liberal cooperation, without
these secret pledGes And If they could not DC trusted
If they could be allowed to hear the arguments On
the question ISSUE wi.outa pledge betu:eiand wouid
they if by any chance they SHOULD become convinced
that they had pledged themselves TO vote against their
oat-would they be allowed to cast aside their PROMISE
aud follow the dictates of their reason? Mr.. w: wished
to know how far party discipline would 60 IN SUCH case
IF it is said that the pledge Of the individual was not n
tended to traEmel his conscience-that after harng g.
ven il he still left Tree to act according 10 tho CON
vicons of his reason-r w. wosld ask where was the
necessity Of giving iwhy draw the bonds OIL party SO
closely if they are to operate restraint:
Mr. w. wished the people TO know these t'lngs-and
he trusted they would understand them lie w'shcall
to be known that the majority of the House bound its
members by pledges given in secret to vote Tor those
measures which the party deemed essential Nhy, now
would this principle operate in other places MT
said Mr. W., not only Legislators we at times are
invested with the judicial character, uEd the RESPONSE
bilty Of our stations ought not to be tred Win oul
suppose the principle orSccret pledges touna It's way ~
other bodies. Suppose that majority "t 'he SoHlt "a
Apoeas IA supposltion for which beg TO aPoioSlse 10
that honorable hody) to assemble in secret council
with the President i'll the Chair and decide certain
case in particular pedglng themse!Vcsto give
such decision the bench, although argument was
vet to be heard when this premature resolution
tered into. Would not sach ar unheRrd-oi proceeding
be open to Impeachment; Are not bound as strongly
by our oahs as the Judges Of the Court of Appeals
and are moi liable TO he BIASED by party ask
again, if the majority Of jury sitting on some important
cavs should before the trial, meet together, and before
they had heard the evidence, the arguments OF counsel
or the opinion Of the Judge assemble aud decide upon
the spechc verdict which they would give, and bind
themselves to that determination b. pedye-l ask,
what would b. the public sentiment on such DARN.
disregard Of the soelnnlty of an oath: | say, SIT;
it is generally understood that the majority OF tils
House have given pledge TO Soie for this resolution
say further, that if the words Of sentleh.en are to be
depended upon these facts trueand further that
the House will give an impartial CoiIilittee, VIII
prove them to be true beyond the shadow OF doubt Or
if do not, will admit that have been grossly mpos
ed upon.
Why, thcn said Mr.. w, should this subject be refer
red Select Commtce-why go through that form TO
which there is to be no substance: Why not bring IN
the decision OF the majority already per-
haps that would be considered sufficient adoption OF the
resolution? Why inquire into the expedency ofhs mea.
sure when you have inquired already he had no oDjec-
ton to the reference, if gentlemen chose IT. although its
necessity not apparent They were at Liberty 10
carry their decree into effect in their way; but he
determined they should not carry him with 1t. When
it up hereafter will endeavor to shew that not
only the instructions contemplated, not consLutionai
but that this resolution displays the intention the part
of those by when it has been framed TO make certain
individuals the instruments Of their own degradation
For shall bring forward the Journal Of this House in
which it viii be found recorded that yor, Mr. Speaker,
and many other gentlemen active in urging these
instructions aided by their votes, to pass resolution
similar TO that which you seeking to expunge.
We shall shew that you then voted for resolution to in
sruct Senators TO the conduct OF the Pcs
dent and that you instruct them exert themselves
to remove the same In short, shall shew
that certain gentlemen here most jealous to un
do what they wogears ago aided to do-and the friends
of instructions will be welcome 10 the fnl! benefit OF
these facts
The question was then taken up Mr. Stanard:e
ton lay the table, and decided in the ncgatVe
before recorded.
ITO be continucd)
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