Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-05
VIRGINIA. LEGHsEATUIsE.
DEFERRED DEB3TE.-TCoErIsUrDJ
HOUSE, OF DELECiATES.-.Mon IAN %

MUSE OF lam
80 EXPUNGING RESOLUTIONS.
MIR GILMER having concluded, Mr.. CRAIG rose and
desire, Mr. Speaker to expresses INV sen,;r,.,,. :,
RELATION TO the resolution under discussion briefly
pu. freely. no feeling of disapprobaon be more
strong, none of aversion deep than that entertain
towards IT, regard it in its tendency as barleng The
dignity OF the State for the triumph Of party VIOLATING
the nation. "
10 show that these its tendencies maintain that
tue resolution of the Senate sought be expunped
posses Just SENTIMENT and properly adopted To
prove ths do not intend to go tedious arrumen,
would not almost suffice to the fact that Jack
son rouse OF Representatives dared not the ques
uon presented in the Senate resolution but blinked il
ana that Jackson Legislature of Virginia decided il nv
large majority in form strongly condemnaory Of
inc Executive, as that which the Senate resolution
sumes: Not member of either House of Compress or of
the Legislature of Va, oentred at the time entrev ~
justify the proceedings of the Executive y;U NO, III
up me history OF the past infinitely vie the facts 10
winch The Senate resolution audes and the reasonin
whch was employed TO sustain itfacts which have ne
yer been denied Powerful reasoning of the most
minds OF the age which has been met y one
or even plausible argument. Reasoning which sundered
me strongest party ties of thousands from one ren M
the Union TO the other; which pasied for a time The
strength and influence of the strongest adm ,;
sno' ever welded the government Of free country
Snn' "hdusVer Is profound In the knowledge of CON
suuhonal law; whatever is enlarged in the
sion OF Statesnen whatever is ardent pure and xnon
sive IN parioiIsm; whatever is eloquent and demonsra
tive In argument Whatever is firm and noble in man %
nliicd and adorned the Senate who adopted the reso
now sought TO be marked with infamy ON their ;o,i
"a" De the resolution ofthat Senate is so odons
30 papable and dangerous assumption of mower NO;
warranted by the Constitution, as TO demand this de-
grazing rebuke! For, degrading il must be to them
who receive, or to those who give To which of bese
Sir we should pause TO determine What is the reso.
luton OF The Senate? legislative expression
OF opinion that the Executive in his proceedings in
ration 10 the public revenue, transcribed his conatn
uonai powers Mr. Speakerl do not intend to 90 into
inc argument on the point, whether the resolution L.
true or not But just tell me, YOU sir who as disc;
pie OF the Virginia Democratic School, are opposed 10
the exercise OF all constructive powers as uncons,;,
oil a rim doHI
the exclusive exercise of powers expressv gron,od
ana those absolutely necessary carry them into eff
ieet as the OILY constitutional powers.tell me cir i;
what clause OF the Constitution-in what sec,;on IS
The law did the Executive find an express Gran, ~
tne authority he exercised in relation to the public
!eeVehuef "bat power expressly granted TO him was
mat authority absolutely necessary 10 carry int ;o
~ mas oeen democratic in Virginia to deny that the
legislative branch of the General Government 60,
constitutionally charter n Bank as a fiscal 49,,
because the power Is not given terms nor iaasDsnso
0y necessary to the exercise Of any given powcr ot
is now Democratic TO that the Execni;ve m,
shtutlonaly discard that fiscal agent without s Iaa,
Petenson OF an express grant OF power that effect
DISCARD IT. too; IN the face of express law of
establishing it, and scores OF fiscal oqen,s 81
similar character, in its stead The Executive tben ~
Ieia'ion 10 the public revenue, may break down tbot
which the Peoples Representative have es,abishad 81
establish that in IFS stead, which exceeds ali that r.
can rlghuuly do Thus, sir, it IS Democratic 10
give 70 one tnan, In relation to the public revenue
power denied to the whole body of the Peoples Rse
senauVes-nay, more than this power to nullifv tbei
solemn acts. III the highest branch of tlose Ray
tatiVes clothed with the sovereignty of lie S,o J
To express an opinion that the Executive has ranscod
60 MS powers; II IS now Democratic 10 rebuke them in
the most odous and degrading form; 10 denv Them ih
right to utter their free thoughts and bring then, Jo
10 humble, tame and silent submission TO The Erec",
will Sir that the free aud lofty spirit of indeneoden
Representatives OF sovereign States should thus be fl
tered aad chained down in subservence TO Execuiiy,
power, " the name Of that people of Virginia whom
an part represent, solemny deny
Mr. Speaker, Il object further 20 the resout;o, c a.
Committee that ube Senate cannot constiintion,ile -
the act which it requires 10 be done Ir 20 liz, ~
a lv r.. 1.
lion Mark the clause Of the Constitution sir ne ~ The
journal Each House shall keep journal OF ia mo-
ecedags, ana from June 10 lime publish llle same" The
Constitution then requires that the Senate shall lem
Journal Of their proceedings Now sir ,vletbcr q .,
eHPnnge, as appied TO record is cancel to eface
20 vOhefae 70 erase 70 destroy whether according
to the tearned pathological deductions of the Cons
II 10 10 draw black nes around the record and wrile
'exPungcd over a., (ony that the latter Il snnre,on
ly rdiculous) it virtually the same thing r. H.
eNpnnRo' has any meaning, any efficient ooefofion
any virtual effect as applied 10 record it must he b.
cause that which exists record as such no onger
10 exist As 20 the mode by which ths h ~ r.
done, whether IN ridiculous way or another "a
70 ne mere mechanical manual detail Of operation
20 effect the object IT is surely the trining ones
ton that was ever gTovely proposed 10 a dStBers
tive assembly. That this view is correct az :;
gpewn BY the course OF the Committee themselyas
They propose 10 have record expnnged Do tbo
that after Mat Is done, that record sbaI et;lI I
full force and virtus as such-that it shall sll s, 80
record ~ they DO ueD they propose 10 do a tbjng
which when done is 10 have no eiiecta thing po,Csr,s
idle and vain, The Committee, presume viii not CO.
t'Nt tieJ haF' plDpvato blls Wle ana tiiiuO
Then, sr, ~ proposing r. instruct our Senator Toe
punge the record Of The Sonaies resolution tbev ,nn,
neho at ey Snail cause That record such no longer
70 exst-that as record, they shall cause no Ionoc n
stand, bot be destroyed This sir the Senate haye ~
ght 70 90 It's against the spirit and express letter If
the Constitution, which requires tle Senate 10 L,,
cord Of their proceedings The Constitution r,oois
that journal record Of ait the Senotes procecdin
shall be Kept shall be gyessed The resolution Of 1e
Committee proposes that mt Of tle sonsies ~ W
eeedings shall be expunged, shall be- made no lod,o.
70 exist as rccord-sIoii, rs SUCH be desro5a,5 |