South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-03-12
Virginia Legislature.
"EXPUNGING.o

Speech of Mr.. GlLMER of Albemarle, on
the "Expunging" Resolutions in the
House of Delegates.
After long pause, Mr.. Gilmer rose
and said; He had rot apprehended that
this question would have been pressed
so soon. When ! heard from the gem
tleman from Goochland that he only led
the van, with the light infantry, and we
were told that the artillery would follow;
when heard him call upon his stout
Captains to come on, had supposed that
by this time some ofthem would have
responded to the call and we should have
been III the midst ola close engagement!
listened with some anxiety, if not dis
may, for the discharge otthe great guns !!
thrust, Sir, that gentleman here do not
mean to play with this subject as with
trhe, and if, as the gentleman from
Goochland told US, he has troops in re-
serve, will be glad to yield the floor ii
any advocate of thesc resolutions will
occupy it. | pause to know if any OF
the Captains are forth coming. Here
Mr.. G. paused for some time and no one
evincing wish to speak, he contlnued)
1t seems then. Sir. that these men in
buckram Of the gentleman from Gooch-
land, do not come at his bidding-they
are like the ''spirits in the vastly deep
lie calls--b but they will not come when
he does call. did not expect that they
would come at my bidding, but when it.
was SO confidently, might notsay POM
pously announced, that they were COM
ing, had anticipated something more
than the loose firing which we have
heard. 1t may be after all that we are
TO be disappulnted-it may be that the
bio guns have been let off, and that the
giants of whom we are warned by the
gentleman from Goochland, were only
the visions of q dream''--if so | will go
forth with my sling and my stone in my
light sklrmshing way, to reconnoltre the
outposls and do battle for my country
and its laws. cav you look at your
watch, MIR. Speaker be not impatient,
pray you, for shall not at this hour
trespass long on your patience--and
trust shall not be tedious, as intend
only to read chapter of history, in
which you Sir and |, the gentleman from
Goochland and others, play conspicn-
Gus part. As these things are past they
may be referred to, hope, without do
ing violence to the feelings of any 9ise
are here or elsewhere--wnat is past is
gone 1t may be expunged, it is true,
but while gentlemen are bringing their
system of black lines into fashion, l wish
| to shew them that their work of destruc-
| ton. like charity, must begin at home.
! You and |, Sir, remember we'll what was
done here two years ago. We know that
the proceedings here then are the sour
| ces from which this resolution of the Sc
| nate had its origin /; and If the gentle
man from Goochland is really ANXIOUS as
he affects to be. to do justice to the feel
lngs OF that "perseculed patriot" An
drew Jackson--why, lot Inc nsk him
! does lie not begin his work of explatlor
where the injury commenced--here, Sir
on our own journal. 1t may be, thai
since that period, the gentleman and o.
theirs have seen some new lights, ant
that they are now only to make peact
4 Offering at the shrine of power, and t.
recant their former heresles. 1t may bt
that many who once stood upon thi
floor, the Champions of poor old Virginia
are now ready to strike Virginia's flag
to falsliy Vrginias record. and to pa,
homage and tealty at the tootstool 0
Executive infalhDility. To borrow ,
phrase, Mr.. Speaker, used on this foo
some time since by member in my eye
presume | cannot better occupy tn,
shank ofthe evening than by making ,
detailed references to some OF those MS
torIcal events to which 1 have alluded
1t is not necessary for me to refer to b,
circumstances preceding and connecting
Themselves with the removal of the de-
posites, which were placed by the act o
1876, IN the vaults OF the United State.
Bank, and taken thence by the order ant
ON the responsibility of the President
| Nor is il necessary to refer the votes Ii
the House of Representatives at the SEES
sion previous to his act OF the President
or OF his man fancy, by which the Re.
representatives. OF The people decided thai
the public revenue was safe where the,
had pIacedit. 1 do not remember the
vote on that occasion, but think thai
no more than forty were found whC
doubted the safety OF the public money
while there were more than an hundred
who entertained no doubt or apprehen-
sion. Let it be remembered that thi:
was done before the interference of the
4 President, by the immediate Represen.
tatiyes of the People-by those who, ac.
cordlng to principle OF the Anglo SAX
on liberty, acknowledged since Magma
Charla, alone may be safely trusted with
the care or control of nations purse
Immediately after the adjournment o.
Congress, 1t seems the removal oil the
pubic money was decided on by the Elk
ecutive, and train of events originated
aud prosecuted to the final consuniatlon.
II IS needless To 60 into dstails--tne pub
!, lie money was finally removed on the
President rAapOnsihillfv Ahnut fyvr