Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-17

time but you require part 10 be "expungcd 10 Ie co.
liberated If YOU eXpungc part OF tle J'"I'd', J
eXpunge tue whole II Pail - No' ~ =. N'FN' 49,
# Gentlemen are really serious in their wishes to eS-
ruY rs charity lcrns hunie they ought ~ begin 81
hnn:e. Turn to your journal: s'F' tHo s'' VI,
adoued by the Legislature of Virginia: nstIuctHg OUT
Sr,atns mon this very subject. Ha when IN great
dnrec rave impulse to lie adoption OF Tie resolution ny
the Senatc which you seek now 10 cNpunge Inc SUI
icct OF tho removal " the DC ppsI'es was eeo 10
Committee OF the House, who took the SANE uHder tne
considerations and rcpurcd series ti resolutions the HIST
of which he would read to the House; EcSorcd as Inc
sense of tins General Assembly, That The recent removal
of the pubic monies of the Cnitrd statcs from the
places where BY law they were depositrd upon the
responsibility and by order OF the PRESIDENT OF
the United States, as evidenced 10y document Feau
TO his cabinet on the 18th OF September, IoJ", Oy
his subsequent disniSslon OF the !&lc secretary OF
the Treasury for the assigned "F sad acl,
and the uppolntucnt Of his successor. was an exercise
OF bower over the Treasury OF tic United states,
not given to him by The Constitution ana laws anu dal'
grIDus the liberties OF the people - ms ST. was inc
sense in which tie committee viewed Tie acl OF Tie Fle
sident But when the subject came 10 be acted on IN
the House, motion made ny member 10 stfiHe oul
this resolution and insert another concluding WIN Tie
following emphatic language: Inc ACT OF removal IS
in the opinion OF this General Assembly, an unautho'
rizcd assumlOa and dangerous exercise OF Executive
power" This motion prcvaicd-Ayes 40, Noes %. In
this form the resolution adopted and sent to Inc st.
J.
ina form: Rcsoircd by the General Assembly, That
the recent act of the President of the United States cS-
crug control over the Public GeposItcs, by caus'
ing them 10 be withheld and withdrawn on his own
responsibility from The United otaleS BANK, IN "h'cn
thew had been ordered to be placed by the act Of
COMPRESS charlering the said Bank, Is, IN the Judg,
ln..nl Of the General Assembly, dangerous ana
alarming assumption Of power by that oihcer, which
cannot be too strongly condemned. The gentleman
from Goorhlaud was then member, and moved 10
amend the resolution thus adopted by the senate, D?
striking the word 'aSsumptt0~ and inserting 10 iieu
thereof the word aJuSe-whlch motion was rcJcctcd
Ayes 81, Noes 10. The question was then put upon uuo
iuulLe resolution as amended by the Senate ndcaTrcd
ayes 50 noes II. This brief history OF the aclon Of l'e
virginia Legislature upon the very subject OH winch the
Senate passed their resolution Of censure, serves to show
what srnsr entertained in Virginia OF the Presidents
measures on the subject Of The depvstcs The language
used by Virginia harSher and more cundcmnatory
than the language employed by the SENATE lhcy en-
poy ed the assumption by large majority III pre-
ference to the abuse; though upon principle con-
less can sec very little difference between the two
terms. 1t equally cOndcmnaory with any language
used by the Senate All the MEMBERS even the gentle
man from Goochland himself, seemed willing 10 employ
the RbHSc
Mr. WATKINS explained.
Mr. rRIcE said : Abuse was perhaps mlldcr term
than assumption aud the gentleman might have thought
that he would gain something by the adoption OF his
amendment though III principle and Tor the purposes tor
which he had referred to these proceedings, there was
really little or no difference. Lie could the gr
tlcla that he had not referred to those proceedings
prrssiy with view Of showing any inconsistency He
had not had time 10 examine them tor that PURPOSE but
he thought, peri APPS, fthe gentleman himself w"ud ex-
anime the fully he would find where III vote,
lie gave counicnancc to the ccrsurc which lie wish
Is cxpungcd. The gentleman shakes his head. One
great object in referring 10 those proceedings was To
show gentlemen the necessity OF beginning their ork
at home. But, sir this is not what is wanted. g fia-
man could enjoy no rest while hurdpca seen Sit
ting the Kings gate and som" gentlemen en-
joy no rest while Mcssrs Tyler and Leigh occupy
inr their in the Senate Thee have told us that
they came here right the ship OF State; IL ru, her in
The trim III which the last Legislature iumd her; and
then they have done Then, sir why do they avow
their purpose in their resolution, and boldly ask those
Senators resign? This course would br open and
Inamuannurs. If it be necessary for the preservation
OF any prnc pie dear to free government, or TO make
for any Gcmagoguc "ilicehuntcr 10 ret into Of
fec that those Senators should resign, why badly
say 50: Why call upon them by your rXpingIng rrs1.
luton 10 ublrratr the records OF the naluli yInatr
the Constitution Of the United States and their uais
taken to support il: You know that consistently with
their understanding Of the Constitution, they cannot in
oducc and vote for your resautlons to do IT, would be-
in them with their OF duty, cri::e OF deep moral
turpude-moIal perjury itself
How does The gentleman propose tn get round COZ.
s unnal dI!cu ty: He has given vel upon
novel subject" lie says, you may uL!i!cra:r for The
public gooI.-And how, sir, arc you TO ascertain what
will be Tor the public good: suppose y the popular
will ~ rTSlalng you are not to consult your Cpsttu
Ton, 20 learn l!c extent o. you! tonstluIi1ai powers 10
lrgi>!ae, but you are % consult popular will TO learn
what will he f." the pnJtic yoGd You nrgd not study
81" rr;"";I"- II yuur orSac Laws TO qualify yon 10 Ic-
gISltc bet you may 10 courts, race fields and muster
grounds consult popular viii and learn public good.
Sir said Ia, all experience has taught US that pto-
pie have been free without constitutional Govern
cnt defy you to show nc an instance in the history
of any government in the WORLD in which the people
were free and retained their freedom, without Consli
tuition; will 90 further: | will defy you TO produce
instance in any country, where The people either vio
lated or permitted their Constitution TO BIZ violated
with iniunitv whatever their form Of government.
may have been who preserved trir liberties long. The
cncroachmrnts Of power Insldous-lhcy are made
by degrees; unchecked CncrUaclncnl makes roam
iDr another. until the beauty and symmetry If your Com
sutIuu destroyed, and tic instrument Itself scat
tered 10 the four winds would rather that the public
good for time should not be consulted than that the
Constitution should be violated. That is the sheet
Choir at on. hoprstpcrae entertainments upon it, and
We suIl soon see Cesar Cromwell, Bon lpartc
rise up among u.s. usurplng power and Trading down
the Liberties OF The people.
Sir the design ui these resolutions is 10 induce cur
Senators to resign their seats. And let examine their
constitutional operation il that rr:icct-N hat sort Of Il
Government is ours; 1t is said to parakc Of the three
ancient original FORMS DrnOcratIca Arsucratcal, and
Munarv!Ica The members of the House of Repre-.
seniayrs being elected bcnniay constitute the Demo.
craCa Dtanch the Senators, being elected by States,
for six years constitute the Ars'ocvaca and the Pre-
sdrn being elected for four YEARS, constitutes the Mo-
narcIcal branch. Each IignallY designed TO have
check upon the other The Senate elected for long
six years: that they might, during that time.
be out Of the reach Of powcrtat they might be out OF
tie eacI and Influence Of popular connooa, unawrd by
power, and unmovrd by popular phrnsy. But, SIR 'rre
is ncw mode invented, By which the tenure Of the
Senatorial riicr is 10 he reduced To one year. You
the dominant party this ycaryou instruct your So
natos on! Of "icr; next year you are i'll the minority
and your Senators instructed out Ivy the majority
again you may have the asCcndancy. and you instruct
according 10 your wishes. But, sir how fur arc the Sc
majors bound 10 obey your instructions upon constu
ti"na questions, or resign hold, that the Senator is
alone To judge how lar lie obey his instructions
slstcny vita the Constitution. If he believes tina, lie
is instructed to viola The Constitution, lie will moi
obey, and know of constitutional obligation upon