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

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ed forward under suspicious that the
House should clearly see It's way in the course it
asked TO adopt,
Mr. w had some enquiries To make 10 which he asked
attention Sir, said MIR w, ii can slew that
ry OF this House have assembled together with closed
doors, whether at the hour of midnight any other
certain legislative proceeding, ask, whether am at
liberty to speak Of those proceedings here Are they Of
SO secret nature that they may be debated
they Of so public as give right to discuss
them sThat such is the fact presume will not be de-
niea--,at such meeting has been held, and that at
mat meeting decision entered into by the members
In The form of solemn pledge give specific vote on
SUBJECT which involves constitutional qucstion-And
H. SAID Mt W. there is difference between the bind
ing force of pledge and that of oath-and il they
are determined to go farther and redeem their pledges
even should they by doing violate their TO support
the Constitution Of the United Staes-n what pos!t,ons
do they stand in this body ask said Mr. w whether
WIN such pledge recorded against them, sh uld they
Ia the course OF the debate become enlghtened-shoud
the light OF conviction suddenly fash upon their minds
that give the vote which they had pledged
themselves TO givc would be unconstitutional would net
Their predicamentbe difficult one They IN either
Keep their promise to their party the risk OF violating
their oath TO maintain the Constitution of the States
or break their promise in order keep their oath in
violate. Which in such would be ODE we'd think
you 'ne oan or The pledge These times of high
encouragement derived from an union of the members
OF party aud their firm cooperation together were ne
ressary ana 10 be expected under the
he admitted It, But necessary 10 bind men 10 net
with party by promises and pledges Were they not
capable OF a manly and liberal cooperaton witbout
these secret pedges' And if they could not be trusted
Iii they could not be allowed hear the ON
the question in ISSUE without pledge beforehand would
they, II by any chance they should become convinced
That they had pledged themselves to vote against their
oah1would they be allowed aside their promise
ana follow the dictates of their reasons? Mr. w wished
TO know how far party discipline would go in such
II Is said that the pledge of the individual in
Tended to trainme his consciencethat after hav wing III
ven 1t he still left free act according TO the con
vicuons OF his REASONABLE w. would ask where was the
necessity OF giving why draw the bonds of party so
cioseiy II they are TO operate as restraint:
hir w: wished the people TO know these things-and
ne trusted they would understand them lie wished it
10 DC KNOWN that the majority of the House bound
members by pledges given in secret to vote for those
measures which the party deemed essential Why how
would this principle operate in places? MIR Speaker
said Mr. vs. only legislators we at time, are
invested with the judicial character and the response
by of stations ought not TO be triaed with Rr,
suppose the principle of secret pledges found its way into
other bodies Suppose that majority of the Court of
Appeals "a superstition, for which beg apologize to
with the President in the Char, and decide certain
case In particular manner pledgng themselves give
such decision on the bench, although argument was
yet TO be heard when this premature resolution
Tered into. Would not such unheard-of proceeding
be open to impeachment Are not bound strongly
ny our oaths as the Judges OF the Court of Appeals
and are we not as liable TO be BIASED by party ask
again. the majority of jury, sitting important
cause, should before the trial together and before
they had heard the evidence the arguments of counsel
or the opinion OF the Judge assemble and decide
the specific verdict which they would rive and hind
themselves To that determination by a pedge-I ask
what would be the public sentiment such daring
disregard OF the solemnity of an oath say, SIR,
House have given pledge for this resolutions
say further, that if the words of gentlemen are TO b
depended upon these facts further that if
the House will give impartial Committee [ will
prove them to be true beyond the shadow of doubt Or
II do not will admit that have been grossly impos
ed upon. - p
why, then, said Mr. W., should this subject be refer
red To Select Committeewhy go through that form To
winch there is to be substance Why not bring in
the decision of the majority already per-
maps that would be considered sufficient adoption of the
resolution Why inquire into the expedency this mea
sure when you have inquired already He had no obec
uon TO the reference, gentlemen chose it, although its
necessity was not apparent They were at liberty TO
carry their decree into effect in their own way; but he
was determined they should carry him with it. When
IL comes up hereafter, will endeavor to shew that not
only the instructions contemplated constitutional;
D1 That tins resolution displays the intention the part
oil those by whom IT has been framed make certain
individuals the instruments of their degradaon-
For we shall bring forward the Journal this House i'm
whch II will be found recorded that YOU Mr. Speaker
ond many other gentlemen active in these
instructions aided by their votes, pass resolution
similar To that which you seeking expunge-
we shall shew that you then voted for resolution TO
ruct our Senators to the conduct of the Pres
DENT and that you instruct them themselves
10 rem2ve the same censure. In short, shall shew
that certain gentlemen here jealous to un-
DO what they two years ago aided the friends
OF instructions will be welcome to the full benefit of
these facts.
The question then taken up on MIR Stanard's mo-
ton to lay the table, and decided in the negative
before recorded
ITO be continued