Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-25
VIRGINIA F4E<sgsESTGlsE.
DEFERRED DEB.7TE.-[CoSrrSuEI

tom to strike ont the I'd Resolution and insert the Subst
tute offered by Mr.. Watkins, pending:-
Mr. DASIEL said: WAS rcloIccd few days ago, when
head my worthy friend from Henry say that he thought
he now saw land was in hopes that we should, IN L
short time he broug to Shore and permitted Tor while
at least to rest from the storms and epes,s OF
that wide ocean ofd.kale which we have been tossed
for the last eight days. But sir, in this 1t seems
we were mistaken. Contrary winds have arisen, and ave
have been again started far out tn sea, without rudder or
compass In other words, when on day before Yesterday
the parliamentary questions that had pcrpeXcd the House
for the two DAYS finally ad Sed. the sub
s.i,utc perfected and the annuncation made, that We
uoht now vote Understandings on the questions before
us was in hopes VIC would have been permitted to pro-
coed to the vote without further debate But It seems
that the ates or rather friends, the Wing members
of this House, have ordered differently. For, notw
standing the great eagth OF lime that had elapsed since
this agllatinG question had been introduced into the
House and She very full discussion il had undergone in
all It's various aspects and bearings notwithstanding the
members OF the Administration party had declined fur
Their discussion still the debate prVlraclrd by three
of the most distinguished members OF the Wing party
These gentlemen able ana experienced they are, went
fully into The question: and made us" Of all their skill and
ingenuity to influence the House adopt the resolutions
of the Committee. Still, sir, the lrcds Of the subs
.ute we're willing tina, the question might be taken, with
out any reply paytsirpy protesting that did
not, by silence 10 sanction the mIslntcpreta
tons that had been placed by these gentlemen upon
views and opinions Accordingly, the gentleman from
and both had Intrudrd present few remarks IN
ply, waived the privilege, for the purpose o. getting!
the question. But that, it seems, would do The gen.
.leman from Alhemarle Immediately attributed this
waiver part To CONSCIOUSNESS of weakness
or rather inability 10 meet and answer the arguments
that had Just been oer". lie seemed TO think that
declined further discussion because feared meet the
overwhe lining arguments OF his friend from the City
Richmond. AS this not tie motive actuatng my
conduct, did not feel conscious Of such inability,
thought it my duty to have only regret that
did say terms from which II mg be Inferred that
meant oppose myscfas equal adversary in debate
to the gcntleman from the City of Richmond. trust
the remark will be property understand proceeding
from tirH conviction OF the strength Of my CAUSE aud
not from any vain desire o! being considered stch
for the very distinguished gentleman just mentoned-
and that effort Of preparation will be expected from
me- And it, cir, fail entirely to answer the arguments
of the gentleman opposing me; II present but very
feeble acttnce Of the views OF those supporting the sub
stitute, the House will do the justice to rrcocc
that this discussion is not Of my chooslng that have
been forced to assume the position now occupy, in an
swer to the tauntS Of the gentleman from AlbcHarle;
that about to retire from the lists down and
faded with the conflict aid that | have resumed the
lance, only to ialS;!p the charge of craven.
TO answer the gentleman from the city Of Richmond
in ten minutes as said could, is an mpossibty. 1t
would take almost many hours u follow him III detail
through the many byc-l> he travelled before he reach
ed the goal for which he started but believe it will
take hut very few minutes, to deveoe the reasons
which haze occurcd,e my mind as presenting sasac
tory answers to his arguments.
And in the FIRST place permit ne to say that whilst the
discussion which has taken place much TO have been
deprecated. yet that patriotism may still extract from It
much whrrewith TO console nse-that those who have
for the last Twelve eigcen months been fighting the
battles of the people against power aud responsibility,
may gather from il signs, some lndlcattous cacu
lated TO give them cheering confidence in the justice
OF the cause in which they have been engaged and TO
add yes, the victory which has crowned lhc strsg-
giles. Yes, sir, sentiments have been advanced on this
floor by distinguished members OF certain party, and
with an earneslncss of manner, that disars the most
SUSPICIOUS of doubt to their sincerity, which augur
the dawnins OF brig liter day or the democracy Of the
Old Dominion aude 10 the very great respect which
these gentlemen have manifested the very great weigh.
and Influence they have attached to the indications of
popular SENTIMENT concernag the questions now before
you.
. The popular voice now finds the most willing reel.
pents, the ubes and warmest advocates in those who
twelve months ago. were suspected of closing their
ears to it and of being its bttcrest foes But twelve
months ago the solemn instructions of the people signed
By large portion Of the qualified in many Of tie
counties of the Stateah the people themselves said
in many cases, clear and asccrained majority of the
whole of the qualified voterswere thrown under your
table, and stgma,izcd and branded as bush rstruc
lions, road orders, which independent repre-
sentative not bound to obey, but ought in every
spect to disregard No, sir, respect, told,
due to the mandates of men who had been cnrnercd
and udded, and made to subscribe sentiments which
ther.sober judgments would repudiale and reject We
we're at the time further told, that it was wrong,
highly indecorous, to interfere between gentlemen and
their constituents
But now it seems, the spirit orthc dream is changed
Now resolutions passed by the people in their primary
assemblies-hy how many is not KNOWN whether quail
fed voters not does not appearare printed by the
order OF this House, held up TO the world uuerring in
dicationS OF the peoples will instructions from which
10 dcpst is denounced aitliess disregard of the
wishes OF our constituents Yes sir the resolutions
passed by the people this subject at meetings. many
Of which were suddenly calico, and some of which |
know, personally ad not contan the lnOk part of the
population, voters and ALL now printed are read pub
cly in debate, and relied upon evidence;
Of the popular sentiment. The names of the, counties
in which they were held cited, and the rcnrcsrn,,
tves called upon to adopt and express the sentiment.
they UTTER to submit to the pronunciation nl haynu
aithlessly discgarded the wishes of their constituents
If gentlemen do really feel the respect they have pr.
essed for these meetings of the people, (and have no
right from their manner to suppose o:herwisc) may we
not hope that they will hereafter be found the readcst
and warnest supporters Of the Right of Instruction.
that the last Spring Elections have had the most sau
tary influence the minds of genemrn; and that an
is about commence, in which this much.abuscd
right is to exert its just and proper influence? That
the expressed wishes of some twenty thirty Of their
constituents govern the of the representa-
tves-hereafter when instructions sent, signed BY
four or five hundred voters they will meet ut least with
something like respect If this be so, this debate will
have shown U.s. that ont Of every evil good NAV
be extraced that storm, however violent ever passes
over US, without leaving in its train something beneficial
to mankind
Permit ME now to urge upon the House the reasons
which have induced believe, that it would be better
for us to adopt the substitute in preference to the resou.
,ions repeatedly the Committee. prefer the subs-
tute for of the very that gentlemen have
assigned for rejecting it, and one OF them is that does
not 20 quite as far the resolutions reported by the
committee helere goes, however, far as the PEG.
pie desire should go-and that it goes far, nay,