Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-12
VIRGINIA AEGEsAAEEEsE.

VIRGINIA AEassSA1AA,EG sEo
IT,. Substance of The remarks ,uade bu j. W FLOOD, in
the Senate Of prgiaa, Feb 17M, 1896, on the E'P"ng-
ing Resolutions:
MI. FLOOD said-Mr. Speaker, 50 far from expecting
to engage in this debate he had determined 10 give
silent vote only believing he should beer discharge h!s
duty by closing subject already too cnnch discussed,
than by entering this wordy war, and thereby ProcraS
nate the decision ola subject OF vital importance bot
the arguments of gentlemen so extraordinarily their
assertions roundly made, the mpuatIons upon those
with whom he acted so entirely gratutous, and the
challenge by the Opposition often and so loudly re-
iterated to show upon what grounds we preoca:ea e
proprety Of support of the resolutions no" IN your
had that he had thought best to repy though before
he proceeded, he would enquire OF gentlemen VINO op
pose these resolutions why consume the time OF Tue
House? why delay the action OF the Senate at this perou
of the session, by forcing it unwecome debate
when even themselves acknowledge that no vote Is To
be changed by their eotso lie knew they had express
ed wish 10 elighcn The public mind, to make speeches
here expense of the people, for effect out OF doors
Sir he sad) there necessity tor THIS ihe people
of Virginia require discussion here to teach them
their ghts They know them well, sir, both in relation
TO what due them from this House and in other
spects: and gentlemen will find enough for their
taste that Eknowing, they dare maintain them. lie
had no notes.-the result of long and aborous preparation
but he had in this instance TO give merely the re-
sult of train Of reflections which had served to
vince his own mind Of the propriety OF his own
course, and he felt that the spur OF the occasion
which had forced him, in seif-detence, upon the
senting them in the most acceptable dress but if gen.
temen found his remarks little crude, they should re-
collect that they called for them at short noce-hat he
came 10 the CONFESSIONAL called for by themselves, with
out that pre- paraon which would enable him to compare
with those who had taken te and prepared to enycn
the public ,nind by the citation OF much authority, ana
such authority when properly construed "ouid oe
placed different side OF the account from That on
which they had placed it. Seven eight days ago,
these resolutions had been reported to this Rouse ne
was ready them TO give the same vote WHICH ne was
anxious now record in behalf OF the rights OF The peo
ple but ,nc necessary said gentlemen 10 prepare
10 discuss this subject The justice and courtesy Of The
Senate was appealed TO- to give members IN the OPposl
ton opportunity 10 prepare Tor discussion which
they deemed important 1t had been accorded to them
He had and trusted he never should violate lhat
character for courteous regard to the feelings and wishes
of members Of this body, for which the Senate OF VIZ
ginia was Justly celebrated But ii he felt the Impotence
which long proaced and unnecessary dlsctsSlon else
where in the Capitol we'll calculated TO produce II
would avail nothing since members here said they were
determined that the subject should be discussed; and
enquired, Wherefore this urgent and indecent haste
The time asked for was granted to them, he thought
unnecessarily Five days spent by them IN pcpa
ration and at the expiration OF that time, heard, for
the first time, motion made by member on Their side
Of the House commit the resolutions TO Select Com
mtee He understood The gentleman who made that
motion to be very unwilling 10 pass the resolutions IN
your hands; but he would put it to the Opposition,
whether this fair return for the courtesy which had
been extended TO them by the oylty of this House
means? He hoped not but when this motion, und pre-
yious circumstances rccoilected attention was
very naturally drawn TO that point The House gave IN
dications OF uawngness to commit the resolutions as
desired, and the motion Withdrawn. Since the
Withdrawal, the discussion has progressed-whoe days
have been tukcn up by gentlemen in the Opposition, who
wish to cnghten the public mind, with but one short in
terruplon and they are Still unprepared tor the vote,
although they tell is to be changed either
side Then why continue discussion? Was it delay or
was it an opportunity TO abuse the Administration and
Mr. Van Buren,, that sought iur: He was bound to
believe that both had their weight with sraenen who
courted debate, and their remarks and wishes would be
hastily taken notice Of in The sequel lie would now
briefly the arguments which induced him 10 believe
that the Legislature of Virginia should pass the resoiu
tom but would say, zen passan that he had discovered
By the course pursued by members that the ing vo-
cabuary indecent haste meant five weeks OF the Tune OF
the Virginia Legislature 10 give the Opposition members
an opportunity to cnligh,en The public mind.
There were two positions which he would take, either
Of which to his mind had weight enough to ensure the
passage of resolution but when united and thus united
they claimed the peculiar attention OF the Legislature
Their force 10 him Irresistible The conviction OF the
entire proprety of their passage perfect and he should
suppose, if the minds of gentlemen at liberty to
attend to The reasoning which had satisfied him. that
they loo might be convinced But is true that precon
ceved opinions and obligations do sometimes prevent
us from drawing correct conclusions, and IN tins case
the preconceived opinions of the constulionaty and
excellence OF the u S. Bank, and the peculiar obliga
tons which gentlemen were under 10 reverence SEN
dtS Vi SuNeo UT majority OF that SENATE
which SO Jealous in support Of that Bank might
prevent talented gentlemen we'll qualified "to ealigkiea
The public mind from arriving correct conclusions
in Eve weeks plain, commun-sense folks would do in
two days. You, Mr.. Speaker have often noticed the
effects of the influence Of preconceived opinions i,
amounts sometimes almost to inatuaon; early associa
tons in favor of United States Bank, for instance.
The positions to which he alluded WERE LIST, That the
resolution passed by the Senate of the United States
declarnu tina. the President in his effort 10 defend the
oeope and Government of the United States from The
seductive power and influence of an unconstitutional
bank, by removing the deposites, in derogaton OF
the Constitution and laws; WIS itself usurpalon of
authority and that the Constitution violated BY its
and recordation upon the journal of the Senate
and that il was incumbent upon the people OF Virginia
to restore the Constitution to its original power and pu-
rty By rebukng this usurpaon the part Of the Sc.
neie Of the United States which would he thought be
sufficiently we'll done by the order to expunge which
these resolutions gave. .s'
= 3D. The election of one or both our Senators made
uncer circumstances which rendered peculiarly pro-
er 20 re-assert land press at this e) the ancient doc
t,ies of Virginia which clained the obedience of the
repnesentatiye to the commands Of the constituent
power.
States expressly requires that the Executive Legisa
tive and judicial powers shall be separate and distinct
and vests the Executive in the President lit will also
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