Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-15
VIRGINIA EHldsaSLATURE.
DEFERRED DEBaTE-[C
HOUSE OF DELEGATES-Fri day, jan %.


DEFERRED DEBATE-[CoxrlsuEpl
HOUSE OF DELEGATE Friday, Jan. %
. EXpuNGING RESOLUTIONS
Mr. POWELL said: Mr.. Speaker, am indeed reluctant
TO minge in the interesting discussion opened be-
fore you; but the question called decide is
of SO much Importance in ITSELF and involves in its
able TO restrain the utterance my deep conviction as TO
the abiding injuries that must flow from it, Whether we
view IT. sir party measure, matter of State
pediency proposition in which Federal relations
are alone concerned, 1T still presents to my mind the
sane Objectionable aspect and can go farther and
declare, that each additional momests reflection that
have been able to bestow upon it, has only so in
creased these objections that they rise before
me like cloud in the armament, casting its gloomy
shadow the last hopes of Constitutional Go.
vcrnment amongst That the leading object of
these resolutions is adroitly TO seize upon a popu-
lar preponderanee but lately called into being, aud
would fam hope, shortly to be ordered thence for
the purpose OF carrying party into effect,
Is tact that can neither be overlooked dcned that
by its operation Senators i'm Congress are be i'm
molaed upon the unhallowed altar of party feeling is
proposition equally selfevident. Could l. however be-
eve sur tnat ITS operation would be confined TO the
mere question of who is who is be Senator
IN Congress, might then myself with silent
Voe In the negative, and say TO that minded people
who have clothed me with the authority of reprcsen
tative here, that felt incum bent duty on me mere
tyro in politics. this arena of discussion But
SIR appeal to the candid intelligence of every gentle
man upon this floor TO me-can il stop here? Is
proposition calculated to confne itself ndiv-
dual members of the United States Senate? Or is IL not
proposition calculated 10 strike the very foundation
of that noble structure itself? Is it not, sir, of part
ed that the Federal Executive himself has
put into action, for the pulling down of that body
and laying 1T low in the DUST at the foot-soo of that
branch OF the Government which he presdes? Sir
1T sounds to much TO me like the opening OF u
trained pack to the Tally Hof shou, OF this chief hun
er-down of the best institutions of the country Did
did not, Mr. Speaker, understand the gentleman from
Goochiand and the gentleman from Isle Of Wight in the
debate of the other day on the election of public prin
ter, to declare their determination right the wrongs
and avenge the injuries that had been offered their party
in similar election at the last session OF this Legisa-
AID
this time to avenge upon the Senate of the United States
the imaginary injury offered their party in the election
and reelection OF Mr. Leigh to the high Office he
hills, over their twice beaten banting: Do they
TO carry into all the deliberations oil this body that
spirit of revenge with which they commenced them ?
DO they mcan sir, in this action, svenge upon that
Senate, the injury offered the SPoS candidate for the
Presidency by that bodys rejection of his nomination
as our Minister the Court OF ST James Are an The
walls of their mighty wrath, filed they imagine them
TO be, by these reiterated INJURIES poured forth
the devoted heads of the people Of Virginia? Has
come to this, sir that this Hall hereafter be arena
for the tournaments of political knights Grant and
that every pulled up broken down politician is to
have champion here for the avengng oil his wrongs?
had thought me- Mr. Speaker, that il designed ra
theT for mutual consultation and deberation on tie best
interests of our Commonwealth. and slaughter
house for the institutions Of the Federal Government
In this, too, sir nothing but answer 10 the
Summons Of their mighty chief reminds too forcby
derc Dhu, when that Highland chieftan
And no was answered fom tho hill,
lurking
a subteuaaoan host had given"
Sir, Mr.. Leigh must be forced to rive way before The
patriotic efforts of this great Democratic Republican
Party Of Virginia How, sir, and for what; by an in
struction their part for Mr.. Leigh do that which
they know he cannot consistently do, to submit to an
alternative that they have right TO present to
him: They require at his hands, either directly or by
implication, u expunge, TO oblerae, 10 smear with
the miserable filth of party politics. that journal Of
the Senate which the Constitution of tie United
States has declared shall be kept as a record of
their proceedings TO follow the example of his diplo-
matte predecessor, and throw himself back nsultngiy
upon the people. But, sir, curious to know whence
this right OF interference with old journal of tie uni
ted States Senate has been derived and if established
at ALL what mces and bounds TO be given to il! 1
wish TO know, sir whether this right is confined any
particular resolution upon that record whether il
tends to every scrawl Of pen that is found there If
this principle is received in part, be taken in
in gross; and IL thus received its inevitable effect a 10
deny to the Senate the constitutional right of keeping
its own journal, but gives succeeding Senate the
right Of declaring what the journal of preceding scs
if the Democratic Republicanism of tie present day
finds this right in their strict construction of our
federa CONSTITUTION or whehSr they demand it
Of their reseroed rightsP fear me, however MIR
Speaker tina. his Democracy is not dispoSed r.
seek for the authorities which they act anono
the established principles OF government but that
they prefer rather the sanction Of the "powers that ne
and / would here implore gentlemen on this floor be
fore giving blind adherence 60 this nensure for The o.
glory Of a momenlary triumph 10 deliberate deeoIg mo-
its ultimate tendency N is, sir but the part Of 6aot
ism 70 do sots, sir bot the dictates Of party 10 omit t
Let gentlemen 10 IT, them lest in thus attempting 10
crush man, they infct wound upon their senate
that will be felt through all time. Acting upon t,oi5
plan, they may 60 on and acquire, for the time being
still greater powers but the change that has eys
ted them, may again operate to bring them within the
reach Of those over whom they triumph Thea
sir resolutions may be adopted and that which
is to be expunged, may again resume its place: when
the journal Of the United States Senate which mus
form part Of the history Of our government oilf
the lamentabe record Of Inconsistencies and Our
weakness twill tell sir, TO future times the story oc
people Distracted oy Poriy strife each struggling for
and garnerinQ the storm.
Mr. Speaker wish in this discussion 10 look 10 the