Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-20
Virginia Legislature.

Virginia Legislature.
Speech Of Mr.. BR0WN, Of PetcrsLurg upon the Eleetio,
Of a Senator an Congress- deticered in ne House Of
Delegates Of Pirginia, on Tie 29A Of January, 1886.
[CoScLUDED
The application of this system to the General Co
vernment, would vest all power in national party, of
which the President would be the chief II would he
in practice, complete consolidation of the powers of
the States if the Constitution were amended and
their boundary lines oberaed The immense resources
OF any party, welding the patronage of General Co
vernment could scarcely fail to its dominion but
party upheld by the additional power ofthe great State
of New York, must constitute perpetual dynasty
Let the rens of power be delivered over that State
be managed according TO her well known system and her
great electoral strength already equal votes
and rapidly increasing, would enable her. forever to re-
tain the Presidency, and through the President who
would be but her representative, give law to the
Union. What, then, it would be asked, was New York
to be disiranchised, and never allowed to furnish
President? Not so-he would respond With rcasona-
BILE assurances that New York President would ad.
minister the Government in the spirit of the Constlu-
ton according to the true theory of ederayc svs-
tem he should no object to him than to one that
came from Delaware. But whilst there was canso 10 no
eve what could scarcely be doubted that her President
would be the President of party, and the nation
she could not but expect opposition. Virginia had fur
nlshed many Presidents, but did they not by the ANAL
gamaton of parties become the Presidents of the naton
Had they any party but their country Did they seek
the aggrandizemen of any State, bat the Union? When
New York President promised much, he would
cheerfuly accept him.
He said there was but little consolation in the fact that
the national party which Mr.. Van Buren, was expected
to wicd, claimed democratic party IL was
than setof for that merit that it was also to be
consolidated party. The Virginia portion of il could ex
effective influence over it, or offer any check for
the protection of sectional interests He hoped the pn-
cples OF democracy might maintain their ascend
ancy-but he wished to a confederated democratic
party, not consolidated national He wished to see
democratic parties in every State, revolving each around
ITS own orbit cooperating upon general principles and
held together by the ties with which States were
contederated-but he wished not see them amalga-
mated with none but a common centre of attraction
the Presidency or the u States; for in addition
beress other evils IT would put hazard the local and
peculiar interests of the States.
What there, he asked, for the belief that
MIR. Van Buren's administration would even be n domo-
cratic 1t of little consequence, what opinions
he had expressed HIMSELF for his administration would
for easily conceived take its complexion from
the powerful State which he relied for support Of
the democracy of n. York, he wholly ignorant
he had never been able to comprehend the principles in
volved in their combinations But in national elections
when the Republican party in danger, they had sell
dom come TO the There but three
OF any magnitude, prior to the close of Mr. Monroes
administration In that of 1897 N York voted for Adams
and Pnckney, in opposition to MIR. Jefferson In 1900
with her citizen Burr the ticket she voted for IT, he
supposed fer the purpose in good faith though contra
ry design entertained by Others of making Mr. JEFF
ferson President In 1912, she brought forward and
supported DE Witt Clinton, against the Republican can
didate, James Madison. Those references he said ,
might not prove her inimical to Repubcanis- they
left her but little TO boast Of what she had done
for the
Mr.. b. said the circumstance that ~ York was pow
erful State, by means amounted to assurance as
he had heard suggested that she would therefore be
terested if the administration placed in her hands
In guarding the rights of the States She might be pleas
ed at governing herself but she would be still moro
pleased at governing the rest of the States through the
medium of the Presidency. Having the engine in her
own hands, the more power she could mpar to it, the
more eecualy could she subject the rights and interests
ofthe States to her own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT He feared i'm
deed she would make that engine the wheel of Ixon 10 The
Southern States Her position in the Union would
her interest to extend her connexions in different d.
rection. She opening her communications with the
"iar west and would shor establish the relations
with that extensive and fertile region TO which she Rad
through Enrlaud ba
brought under her influence through tie medium of her
commerce., which had already made Boston tributary to
her Here them he said the ssatofher future en-
pre- stretching from the to thedsant lakes and
combining strength enough TO her forever t,
power of the central government Would she not in
the prosecution of her interests make that power press
with colossal weight upon the Southern States rob
bling them of the fruits Of their industry aud drying
up the sources OF their prosperity All comr1ecia re-
guations would be made TO confirm her i'm the excn.
sige possession Of the import trade and virtually to
close the ports Of the South against ali intercourse
cept with herself Monopozing the whole CONNER
cal profit, and benefited by the revenue collected
in her port, she would readily impose high Tariff as
she did III 1873, and conciate the favor OF her Western
allies by expending heproceods in roads and canals ITO
multiply he channels of communication betrecn them
The currency oftle country would be brought under
her control and whether with or without Bank of tie
" States, having the whole Union indebted to her and
bills or notes payable at her city, bearing premium
every where The circulating medium with all s adj.
vantages, would centre in her Banks The plantation
States, whose true policy Was-a free andfnrestrcted
trade sacrificed to the interests Of the North and West
left in the enjoyment Of the poor pripicge of selling
their produce and buying their goods as New York on
condition Of paying for it premium sufficient to enrich
their oppressors aud beegar themselves.
such was The stale Of things with which lac believed
The country was threatened and the prosraton Of Mr.
Leigh and every other dstng uishcd Yrgman who took
similar stand against 1t, Of the means by which
The way TO BE smoothcd for it's introduction OIucns
Of change IN established usaees indicating the 40
proach Ct era in politics were already visible and
in nothing more palpaby than in the mode Of nanaang
elections Hitherto candidates had been hrOugbt ont bv
the force Of public opinion alone When vacancy was
70 be filled, ncighbourconsult with neighbour and tic
matter was discussed by the Gre-sido and the court
yard, without form concert until nj length the IN,
theung sentiment assumed pcrceptbc shape and drew
forth some srong-mnded farmer, some modest youth of
merit and PROMISE if The occasion reQnircd H. some
retired veteran copsenDg for season 10 buckle on hs
rusty armour The unworthy might sometimes thrust
themselves Forward, but quiet neglect and SIGNAL fail
ure convinced them that they bad mistaken f6cir sos
ton m the community. Opinion was divided Of ooi,ree
and contests were Wern, but they turned upon i reenec
tive merits and principles Of the canddafes pri0at rbs
racer and personal worth had their Just weight and gJo
ever was successful might be Tie wise ST. but was s
70 DC the individual man whom al things considered ma
Jor preferred stherrepresenativc But now The sspeot
Of things was changing, AID no election from, the Pre-
seent down 70 le lowest officer could be nccopplisb
ca without the agency Of convention. Was 5nom |
Der OF Congress to be chosen, there must be district