Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-15

sufficient grounds on this question to 20 upon indie
pendenty OF it. Popular grounds have been taken in
support of this right and powerful constitutional argu-
ments may be adduced in opposition TO it but, MIR.
Speaker, have examined little the mighty lever with
which this political Archmedesi is TO creation; and
powerful that engine may be, IT yet gives foohold
to the great experiments, by which TO make our Re-
preventative syst m al kick the beam" The resou-
tons of the Virgua legislature of iSI2-l3 prepared
by the intended victim of this measure, be-
fore me, and by an impartial examination OF the prin
cples there lad down, IT IS clearly discerned that this
poison carries with it It's an;idote The first o
.he three resolutiors then adopted by the Virginia
Legislature only dsapprovcs of Mr. Giles,
aud MIR. Brent, then Senators in relation the Bank OF
the United States, and the instructions given them upon
that subject The I'd Resolution embraces The whole
Virginia Doctrine of Senatorial Instructions, in these
words: Resosed That it is the indubitablc right OF the
State Legislature to instruct their Senators all points,
either Constitutional or polite, whenever the magnitude
OF the occasion shall require such nterierence and that
by consequence IL the boundcn duty OF Senators 10
obey such nstrucuons-provided the instructions 10 be
gwen ana oOcycd not the Senator 10 commit
rofaon 81 TIC Consolation act of moral turpitudc
Here then, Mr. Speaker is the whole Virginia doc
trinc OF Senatorial Instructions Let proceed now,
IN ITS application TO the subject before and first let
remark SIR that this doctrine presents the Senator two
alternatives; of obedience TO- or dsrcgard of the in
sructions given that il they be such instructions
come within the purview of the resolution Just read,
they require not his obedience and deserve hands
nothing but disregard This resolution presents these
alternatives to the Senator the rejection of the
one, the constitutional of his Office lie ds its
| ditional obligation in demanding nj his hands, the
adoption oil the other lis there, MIR. Speaker, any
duty of Sesin~tiOn found implied therein: Surely
not SIR, and IL wisely ordered that there should
be- The dangerous tendency OF such doctrine was
doubtless ioeseen, and the slightest examination of il
proves that it only be the of rendering The
Senate oil the United States, vaccilang and degrad-
cd dependent and sycophantic body its btterest
enemies could wish. Its conservative character is de.
stroyed; its stability and consistency crushed its
usefulness gone. Nor sir, is this a-the moment you
thus allow, directly indirectly, the State Legislature
The power OF dragging from his seat Senator OF the u
States, II drags down with that Senator the Constu
ton itself MIR. Speaker, there is clause the Con-
sttuton of the United States quoted by the gentleman
trn,,f l,,I,
Congress shall keep journal of its proceedings and
from time TO time publish the same. Docs it give
SIR or did ever contemplate giving TO either House
| the right OF dispensing with, changing, in any
manner celebrating It's whole journal or any part of
~ Does 1t give TO the Senate, when a portion of
| its journal has been published promuged 10 the
people OF the United States and 10 the world, pub
lisicd officially, known 10 every the iona tde
journal of that body does grant TO that body the now
er of declaring that TO be the journal of certain SEES
sion which every knows not the Journal of that
session Have they the power of adding aught a
journal OF preceding session, of taking aught from
1t! Docs the Constitution give any such power? Docs
IL authorize them TO keep partial, mutated record of
what they dor Or does it not imperatvely require at
their hands to keep full journal of their whole pro-
ceedngs? lis this record kept of the property of
The Senate or is 1t not, one OF the State papers of
The country Can any one doubt that the Constitu-
ton designed this journal, as n history of the pro.
ceedings OF Congress, TO be Kept; be kept entire
Tor the Information of future generations2 Can anv
one maintain, that such journal was designed to
record the ups and doiDRS of conflicting parties in this
country and that what il declares as the resolves Of
session. another session shall declare not to have been
It's resolves Has not this House. sir the same right at
IT'S next session to expunge the expunging of
TINS session. Has IT not the right go back 40
years, you please, ana expunge every resolution
your record Are not the very resolutions of 1879,
liable to the same expunging process?-and can il be
Imagined for moment that the Constitution ever con-
tempated any such absurdity Is this | would hone
Mr. Speaker, that no gentleman this floor, in the SIN
cerlty oil his heart, would acknowledge it, Sir, these
terrogaoTcs are proponnded and challenge
them certain it is that the gentleman from has
failed touch them Ifthe Constitution declares that
Congress n ito
ngs is IT not plain palpabe and dangerous violation
OF That Constitution in any manner to interfere with
thatJourna ALL then, sir, that ask of gentlemen
carry out the avowed doctrine of their on the
right OF instruction. am willing to admit their right
to instruct, if they insist upon it, but are they willing
TO lend themselves to inlraction of the
OF their county to oppease the wounded dignity of any
man?
Mr. Speaker there is another branch of This proyiso
that i may not be amiss TO aude to--lhat is, that
portion OF 1T which points out the of Sena-
tors on questions involving acts of moral tufpuds
and would ask gentlemen, if they To deny
to their Senators the right of Judging for themselves
on questions of this churacteT-or whit System of
ethics they viii propose TO them for their guidance p
IL might, sir, be congenal feelings of some zen
tlemen this thing in the hands of the President
of the United States, that high fuuctonary has al
ready, in famous semroicial document, usurped TO
himself the protectorate of this people only throw
out this suggestion for the consideration of the Demo
cratic Republican party of the day. and beg them act
upon ia accordance with their confidence in this dis
tinguished philosopher II may be, sir that Mr. Van
Buren, the great political Aaeizel of their party might
invent ethical code suited the OCCASION; and he
falling they might then call their hero the
Thames ard their Democrat of the Great Crossings TO
suggest To them system IF morals suited to the govern
ance Of this refractory Senate
Mr. Speaker, if the Virginia Resolutions of 1912 be
the established doctrine of this State on the right OF in
sructionifthey be rule Of conduct prescribed for US
II maintain that under that rule, il is impossible to nc
complish the object Of the before YOU Those
resolutions contemplated the possibility of a State Iaas
iature giving improper instructions their Senators
and have wisely guarded them against their pernicious
effects They have laid it down, plainly that she
who rams may read, that f State Legislature, either
under the influence of party passion for the gratica
unsatesmaulike impulse, should far forget sefas To
instruct its Senators TO commit violation of the Cons
tuition or an act moral tupude that such instructions
shall have practical influence binding force But
sir, is not designed by this action present To your Sc
majors third alternative that of designations to which
have already alluded. You issue your mandate of perurv
toyouT Senator, and hespurnst lie shcws you The Con
sttuiion of the u. 81 which be is support and
refuses to violate it, lie points you TO the established
doctrines of your State tie right of Instruction
and refuses TO transcend them You reply that the
stuency OF Virginia must be represented nd that Won
expect him TO give way for that purpose he tells Won
IN answer, thnt 'qpi taca pr aiium, Jac per Send
H yield my post TO another, TO do that which my con
science will not allow 10 do do not come within line
scope Of the second branch of the provso and find NV
self involved in act of moral turpiudes
/ Sir, presume not TO dictate such men as BENJAMIN
/ Watkins Leigh and John Tyler. either their moral
or their Official obligations. have hiph a reEpcct for
their talents and integrity; too much confidence i'm fier
patriotism, not TO know that they will in this emergency
pursue the safest tic wiscst tie pures course of con-
duct. Would to Cod Mr. Speaker, that could bsve
the confidence in all the public men of orr dav
that could the Of patriotism oncc ,o;p a, H.