Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-06

"mark with dots or punctures" The word re.
send, signifies "to cut off - philoogist nor do
pretend to know any thing about etymology. 4 am a
pam, common sense man, and use the two words in
ter common sense accepation, without attempting to
draw hair breadth distinctions are resored 10 by
friends OF expungng, and which shows the weakness Of
er cause When The resolutions first introduced
what was the course ofhe friends oftems One gentle
man OF high standing declared that he would not only
sNpunge, out that lac would burn the jonrnalanotLcr
mat he would cut out the leaf on which the resolution OF
eehsurc was writtcn-and by others, out of doors,
nave heard similar declarations. Gentlemen who
would then 20 for cxpunging, have given ground
ihey have resorted 10 the miserable subrrfunc Of
urawing black lines around the resolutions and writ
,hg across the face OF IL aud by doing, contend
u''y nave surrendered the question. Whence comes
inns new definition? Does Expunge mean this Does
NOT the resolution carry, its face, suspicion that
u wrong! IL is contendcd that the mode adopted will
not Expungc. What then, will il dc? lf is not intend.
ca 10 cxpunge, why the term. II il ia TO
u" one thing, why do another: Is il intended to
punge and not to cxpungeo destroy and not destroy
TO k ana not kill-or what is intended To be done
put, 10 make the most of the subject is it not at
least, an exercise of doubtful power Shall we not
hen, as honest men, in such case stand by the Consti
uton-or shall we swallow our scruples and sacrifice
our at the shrine of party9 Mr. Benton him
SELF who first introduced the expungns question in the
senate OF the United States abandoned it in its unquai
hea sense motion made to amend the resolution
oeioe mat body by striking out expunge and inserting
repeal rescind and TO make null and void II
RED 10y vote OF thirty nine to sevenMr Benton vot
ing, as understand, for the amendment II after
wards LAID on the table by vote of twenty To-
twenty and has laid there since But says Civs
the word rescind means TO cut off,, and asked if
VIII cut out answer, will not and that rescind
means such thing Does cut Off mean 10 cut out9 This
Is emPhatcally the doctrine Of the expungers-not mine
rescnd amounts TO The same expunge, strong
er term, why not adoptiH use the term rescnd i'm liz
common sense application. In that sense which
county court would give to it, in resembling order
winch mad been previously and improperly illegally
made-in that sense, which every plain common Sc nse
farmer would give 10 it, and ia that sense which would
given to by nne-tenths of the people, relieved from
The mystfying influence of etymology or philology |
would IT in the in which il is proposed 10 re-
scind the journal of the General Assembly of Virginia
Tor their ccnsure the President in 1884 The ex.
pungers now that they would eace or obterae
the Journal; still they use the 10 do so. But
enough of this1he object of this movement is or il
ought TO be- TO put upon this of the Senate the seal
OF public condemnation, by expression public SEN
tment, and this am willing to do. "Civis" quotes
precedents from English history. BY the theory of the
British government, the King do no wrong; the Par
lament is omnipotent with underlined and unlimited
powers and the constitution ID one of precedens-and
shall we take examples from such to iust
y act which would lay low the constitution OF this
country and the Liberties Of the people? Cvis would
induce the public TO believe, that acting contrary
TO the will of my constituents; that majority of them
differ with me the expungng question believe
most sincerely, from the information have, that ma
Joty oil them are opposed to it. If knew believed
that they were in favor of expungng wou Id imme
" resign my seatto know their will would be sufficient
Tor met would be mandate which would command my
obedience, whether by direct instruction. asceraned
many other mode But "Cvis know re about Bruins
WICK than do Let me tell him that he altogether mis-
taken The expunging question has been discussed
there-i was not mentioned in the last Spring
and defy any say the contrary will 90 further
and challenge contradiction of what say On The fourth
Monday IN August last, election held in Bruins
wick, tor Senator TO supply the vacancy occasoned by
the resignation of General Dromgoolc That was a
warm canvass on other subjects, but word was
said about expunging either by the candidates or the
people. Who will be hardy enough to dispute this
Where, then, the evidence that the people of Bruins
Wick are in favor of expunging? exists only in tho
heated brains OF Infatuated partzans who detcrmn
cd to 60 with party, right wrong 90 for what
think IS right, and against what believe TO be wrong
am here To do the substantial business of the Common
wealth; and God grant that the people could SEQ and
know who are the working men, and who are not-who
they are that waste the time and money of the people in
idle debate and Improbable legislation
l am warned by Civis," that the Whigs are my
pufers-my defenders-my friends. If they are do
not know IT. L hope, however, | shall always be the
friend OF the good man. under all circumstances and
without distinction of party; and shall happy at all
times, and on all OCCASIONS enjoy the good opinion of
such one ! am always open to conviction, and love
good counsel from the virluous and the wise | gene
rally form my own opinions, and accordingly be-
leve this is one OF the errors of my that | am
too apt 10 be tenacious of my notions hn0s with
out paying that Difference which is due Ia the opinions
OF others, more enlightened. But "Civis" need give
himself no uneasiness about me. My account is with
my constituents; and am willing be tried by them
acknowledge no other authority Let me tell him that
am not 10 be alarmed by the denuncalions of inter
opers-that force is not the way manage e-that he
could effect much more by the st small voice OF rea-
son and argument than by holding up before ME the
Imaginary insulted Sovereignty of the people"
fe0T"ary D, 1886 J. b. MALLORY.