Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-25

of the Constitution ofthe United States The same mo-
yves induce me to abstain from characterzng the act
am requested TO perform in soliciting honorable and high
minded unctionari's of Virginia do that which, il il
their duty to do, they will surely perform without any
oihcous request from me; and II contrary their
duty, none ought to desire ofthem perform it, espe
cioy one who cannot claim Authority Of uny kind to de-
termiinc such question for them.
The adoption of these resolutions must be considered
~ ALL as sufficient evidence that they who have sane.
toned them by their approving votes, think differently
IRON me IN these particulars. This, their opinioa has
now passed into an rreversble judgment Therefore,
would ill become tn address argument To the body
itself which has decided to slry that this il s.,.
iemn aud recoIdrd aud promulgated Judgment er.
roneous IL necessary for Justification to
stae the fact. that did not this Judgment but
10 do more than this would be improper as il would be
now useless: Hence restrained from p nting nv
own views o this subject tn the General Assembly for
the sincerity OF whose expressed opinions the
same respect that claim for my own
But, NJ II should please the General Assembly either
IN kindness To me- or in justice the people of Vrgi-
ma our common sovereign TO permit spread upon
Their journals document respectful to those whom
will lie addressed and dutfu that SOVEREIGN To- which
only allegiance is due. should be gatiHed by such
permission, and will gladly avail myself of it, to state
IN That way, the various considerations which have
duced me To dissent from the opinions OF the General AS
senbly, set forth in these resolutions ithout such
permission, however, not my yindcation can
tempt me To be gny Of what should consider indie
corous to any coordinate Department of the Govern
ient OF my country, by which Department address
ed in terms Of such courtesy has pleased the Gene
raj Assembly to employ in these resolutions towards me
(Signed,) LrFT'N W TAZEWELL.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Richmond, Feb. %
Mr. WATKINS s1id he had hoped that this excitable
SUBJECT would not have been thrown back upon the
House, and with sincere desire to prevent discussion
upon IT, hc would that Ii ON the
Governor be lad upon the table with design of
wards Offering preamble and resolution similar in their
object to that OF the motion formerly made 10y his friend
from Northampton The motion to lay ON the table was
then agreed to- and Mr. Watkins then submitted fol-
lowing preamble and resolution:
Hhereas, preamble and resolutions upon the subject
oil Expungng from the Journals OF the Senate of the
United Staes resolution OF that body and relative
The right OF instruction., passed by this General
Assembly, on the 2Qth day of the present month (Febru.
airy, loGD and by Of the said resolutions tile Co
vernon of this Commonwealth was requested to transmit
the same to each of the Senators from Virginia in the
Congress of the United States with request that they
lay the same before the Senate and whereas the Co
vesnor OF this Commonwealth has refused To transmit
the aforesaid preamble and resolutions in pursuance
e request aforesaid and contrary the usage of the
Executive oil this State. Therefore,
ReSotDed by the General .assemLlu of piroiu;a That
Tue Speakers of the Senate and House of Delegates be-
and they are hereby requested forthwith 10 transmit the
aforesaid preamble and resolutions to each of the Sena
tors from Virginia in the Congress of the United States
w'h request that they lay the before the Senate
of the United States.
Mr. PARKER said he had other objection to the
Peshloie anu resolution, than discrepancy which he
observed IN the former In regard the facts of the case
VAS incorrect To say, that the Governors refusal
10 transmit the resolutions of the House was deunr
turc from usage, for that a fair statenlen
as te violation of usage commenced tho part of the
Legislature itself 1t would be recollected that the clos
on
~ requested him to transmit the resolutions the Sena.
tors but TO add his request that the Legislature that
they should lay them before the Senate. Now this course
on he part oil The Legislature certainly not usual
IL dad been The custom Ia request the Governor to trans
nit, bnt not To ask him TO make request of I'm.
senators similar TO that made by the Legislators them.
selves lie wished the resolution amended i'm this re-
spect IN order that II mig conform 10 the facts
Nit GILMER said he recolIected that some few year.
ago nuch dscontent was felt at the conduct of Cover
o' fioyd, VINO IA transmitting certain uons this
House To members of Congress deemed it his dutv In
add bret commentary of his Ills was made
the subject of discussion and its npropftv WIS 40 ve
Had the present Governor fit accede to the re-
quest OF the Legislature in adding his request to theirs
iu ms communications TO the Senaiors he would also
have been exposed the same crnsures as Gov FInv
IN the case 10 which MIR. q had alluded
Mr. fARkER then moved Ia strike from the preamble.
te words and contrary To the usage of the Executive
OF this State Mr.. Z. considered This new case the
Legislature had never before asked the Governor To-
make request of The Senators in REGARD TO resolutions
transmitted to them by him.
mr.. SrANAKD said Tat he presumed no one woud
'hh proper tiat TINS preamble and resolution should
sae what was not substantially true He had supposed
uhu how that the terms OF this request the Governor
had been copied from former resolution of the lie.
sisaure but 1T now appeared, tt it not according
TO The usage OF the Legislature. Mr. $ here read ir,
the resolutions of 1884 in which the Governor yvns sim
ply requested 10 transmit them the Senators and Mem
oerS oil Congress with no additional request as to their
disposal MT . was moi inclined to interpose any OBJ.
stacle TO such mode OF transmission us under the cir
cumstances should be deemed exptdcnt; bu, he thought
e preamble ought To be amended III this particular az
IL certainly mad not been the usage Of the Executive To
accompany resolutions transmitted TO out Senator'S win
ary request whatsoever.
hr. WATKTNs said that in framing the resolution he
hau intended to copy the usual iorm and he certainly
had copied from series of resolutions which he had
seen. H. however, the resolution did not accord with
the usage OF the Legislature; lac was willing To acc,ut
the inouihcation, IN order TO get rid OF the subject
ME- MADIsoN asked the gentleman from Noribamn
TOM whether he Had said that If this objection in rcgard
TO the request was removed, the Governor would trans
init the resolutions
Aii. PARKER .gid that he did NOT nrssur,c q, ,.uo.
Tor the Governor; he therefore could not reply To The
gentleman interogatiOn but it was his opinion and
one winch he had formerly entertained that the Cover
rOr would not transmit these Resolutions under nuv cir.
cunisances.
Mr.. MADISON said he presumed shat If the reso
luoIs were amended in regard TO the ppguest il would
not change the Governors determination ms he bic,ed
TO sending them on the ground Of their uncUnstitntion
atty.
MIR. STASAED said, that the amendment now under
consideration did not apply the gentleman from Prince
Edward seemed to suppose, to the Expunpiug Kesolu-
tons, but to the preamble and csols on Offered ,y The
gentleman f.om GuOclIland.
Mr. >. presumed that tie latter gentleman has copied
The resolution requesting the Governor To transmit from
lhe resolutions on the sabect of abolition in which the,
executive was requested To- send them the Governors
m the hOldDg States, with the request thab
thcy would lay them brirc their respective Legislatures
Inc distinction betweca the transmission tp die Cover
iUfs OF othrr states and To Senators in Cupgrpgs
uust be- evIdent.-in the foropr cmse the persons To-
whOm lhey were sent, not tO.e who were TO act
upon them, but the me1e agents Though whom they
Were TO be presented 10 those legislative bodies In t
IalfT case, however, the Senators themselves were lie
indiWGGhs instructedby the resolutions sent to them ne
believed Vt WINS not tne usage such cases 10 ask the
Governor to request the Senators 10 act-lle houeJ
therefore. that the notiOn 10 strike out ,yould nrev, ~
la kts Inc i.t .,,.