Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-09
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURES.
gI1D'17' -1.?--U., --l...., tan. IL.
.ru~xn --.rrION RESOLUTIONS
DEBATE-[CoSrlNurpl

WSs.se having resumed the consideration of IN.
report of the Committee upon Abolition aud the second
resolution of the majority with the substitute offered by
Mr. Watkins on yesterday, being under consideration
Mr. WATKINS said he merely rose for the purpose
OF ascertaning the attitude in which he stood He pre
ferred the resolutions of the minority nevertheless he
did not think them perfect and he had offered them ycs
rday under iul understanding that he should have the
right hereafter to amend hem retain them eli
ther in detachments or whole lie now TO ask
the qnestionwheher, if those resolutions were adopt.
cd, they could be afterwards amended
The SPEAKER said they could not
Mr.. WATKINS. Then 1 will take a course which
hope will give satisfaction every member of the House
III was his desire that the resolutions which they should
adopt should be such that all could agree TO them
And seemed 10 him in looking into the subject last
minaton OF the subject, had the House accetled TO
his motion on yesterday-that proposition might
ne presented to the House, which would prove sa.
usiactory to all. 1t needless for him TO urge
tne Proprlety OF presenting undivided front .
All who wish that our enemies should see that VIC
were IN earnest, will be sensible of the advantage we
shall derive from acting together To effect this object
ne moved mat the reports of the majority and minority
be committed TO select committee. He believed hn
tney could be harmonized and that satisfactory con.
clusion would be arrived at. -
MIR SrANAnD said that he should not make any obiec
hon TO this motlon IT he thought the gentleman object
could be attained by it. But how could they hone far
such result when the only objection to the resolution
now before the House had been put down bv vote Of
ioo TO ~! what object could there be for making this
motion, when such an overwhelming majority had de-
the only contested point the motion strike ont
the words or citizens thereof? IL was said that The
question before the House enanqed one but The
simple question would they strike out or adopt the
second resolution of the majority With the excenon
oil the point TO which lie had alluded no ob;ec,;o L
been made TO that resolution. And if the subject
referred to committee and brought back to the House
was not to be expected that they should come
to unanimy than they had done far as that only on,
lection concerned There was no necessity IN This
subject should be enanged at all The resolutions were
simple IN their forms, and by voting upon them sepa.
raeiy, the opinions of the House were ascerained [
each ana ALI and 1t was the only way in which the ep
mon OF Inc Rouse could be ascertained Supnose Won
take them in the mass if there is one in f1y to which
gentleman objects, he may feel bound to vote
against the whole, and how can he make known
by his vote, his for doing SO The nro
ceedings of the House will not shew his d;sonrrppra,
OF some and his appreciation of Others but will give
ne impression that he was opposed to the whole Ii
was impossible for him make his opinions known
put by taking them separately And he believed that
TINS would be the opinion of large majority of the
House He believed the superstition that thew could
come nearer 10 unanlmy than had already been done
wuid prove erroneous The vote, 10 which he had
anded, had shewn that very large majority were in
favor OF the part objected this resolution and that
vote had shewn to member the decided opposition of
the House TO his opinion that there no necessity for
calling the Northern States for measures 10 s,,ness
the Abolonists. MIR. s. called upon the House 10 oh
serve, that the question now before them was an tho
como resolution and that must be the question decided
whatever might be the mode proposed. And he wonld
ask whether It was to be understood by the public hat
IN regard TO the sentiments expressed in that
there was such division in the House that WINS me-
cessary 10 send it TO committee
Mr. WATKINS to state that the question WINS mo,
upon single resolution. lie had offered whole series
OF resolutions as substitute to that one and now NOV
ed to send the whole to the committee 10 receive The
best form which could be given TO them
Mr.. DANIEL agreed with the gentleman from Coach
land as TO the propety Of committing this whole sL
ject. The differences which had arisen nnon ,L;s ,o
ton In the House, evidence Mr. ID that tho snb
Ject ought TO be referred He Understood mai tLo
gentleman from Richmond saw no reason now lar send
ing this subject TO select committee because iher
no objeotion to the second resolution and lie thrsor
supposed that the gentleman would allow the necessv
OF reference when objections that resolution bonJ
arise Mr.. ~ wished 10 shew that there were in bis
mind two distinct objections which he could not xDan
read the following
Rcsolccd That each State had croinaIIv tho soe .na
exclusive right to interfere with control or lepisloe
upon the subject of domestic slavery within lis i1isdc
uonal limtsa right which far from being i1,poired
y recognised aud guaranteed by the Constitution Of
the United Statcsand that ali interference tbe,o;,h
by the General Government, the other Staes or Inc
czens oil other States Is invasive Of the rights Of the
States and violates the obligations Of the Constitution
do not know, said Mr.. D., that distinctly com
prehend what is understood by the last sentence Of This
Tesouonj but u do not mistake the rules of rhetoric
and grammar the words "czens thereof apply couaI
y TO the antecedens, Suites General Gorer1Dfaf
Now, said Mr. D.. although we oil admit tl,at heg a
citizens OF the United States we have authority Cor
speaking Of citizens Of the General Government bv
which It IS to be presumed, the people of the United
Mr. STAaARD said the gentleman had pointed ON,
difficulty which seemed to him not exist as The words
citizens thereof" referred solely 10 The Jasf o,
dent, estates" But if the gentleman critics., go
correct one, the error could easily be amended with.
out requiring The services Of a committee.
does not intend to argue that there citizens of the
General Government nm one of those who beIieve |
there are not But think il will be found upon exami
nation, that the language Of the resolution ia IFS present
form, IS liable to the Interpretation have mentioned
Mr. STAEAnp. will accept any amendment 10 the |
resolution which shall remove this difficulty.
Mr.. DANIEL find the gentleman admits thai fhere
deficiencies in this resolution and that tere f.
possibility that it may be- made mole perfect v amend
ment As the language STOOD it did nudoubfedly
permit the snpPosiiion, that the citizens alluded n, go
citizens Of the General Government and The State,
The Constitution Of the United States was adooied h
the States but according the Interpretation Which
might be given 10 this resolution tbe citizens thereof
were parties 10 the compact do not n0roe fiat suh
was the case, said Mr. -. admit that a citizen NAV
violate his constitutional obligations; but The manner ~
which this is done ~ citizen, aud the effects If he
violation, are entirely different from those which carae
erize violation the pant Of the States When oif;
zen Is guilty OF such crime be is anenabe to Inc l
bot the compact remains untouched rs perfect - bfe
But when State violates The Consultation fhs aho.
PARTIES 10 The compact have right 10 jnterocse ADJ n
hey see TT, TO place II the ground fbaf a co,,,.,
broken in obligation is broken in all Bot itis eel
that citizens parties 10 the cosr
md he would not press that point lie thought fbst H.
word citizens need not have been used al an m fbcs
re alluded to in their political capacity was onncc
ary, because that understood in the term Sfalce
is stated, IN Mr. Madisons celebrated report III
he word States means The whole citizens in &c. !
Ugh legislative capacity Therefore il seems MOI ~
ave been necessary 70 ande 70 the citizens separate
from the States MIR d. had on a former orcas;on :