Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-12
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

VIRGINIA LEeNkSELfAGOEs E'
DEFERKED DEBaTE-[CvSr,suED.]
TThe following remarks Of Mr. Sanard at the close OF
the Saturdays debate inadvertently omitted In It's
proper place.
Mr. SrAxARp said that he had Intended 10 offer some
remarks 10 the House this subject, IN The humoic
hope that they might not be unaTailing 10 pthg u's
body to dispassionate OF the now
before it, He had several times endeavoTed, without
effect to obtain hearng-and the day had low too lar
waned for him to hope to obtain the attenon OF the
House He would not therefore lrespass upon them Mt
this time With the hope 10 obtain calr and II pos
sible dspassionatc hearing he should usorc Laa the
subject be deferred until Monday.
Mr. s. said i. was proper at this stage of the proceed
ngs that he should give 1.-THE House to understand the
character Of what he intended TO say to then II was
his design to present this subject in fair and candid
manner-and to avoid the rabid violence the cankerrd
prejudcc-the appeals to party purposes tor swaying
the decisions of nebers-a OF which had been SO re-
Gently displayed in this House. They would understand
that such were his purposes in advance In the discus
sion of this subject all party influences should be laid
aside But if he could SO bow his spirit at the shrine OF
party to pursue the path in which others had led the
way, he should look with EMULATION upon the course
which the members of the rcgning party had taken in
relation the resolution under conslderation-and
he would not to goad then 10 taun he to drive
them to perseverance in making TINS party ques
tion-aud to hold forth to the country the sacrifice
that party was willing to make of the dearest in
teres,s of the people, for its own advancement But
as higher and holier considerations swayed him, he
should pursue different course He should endca-
YOUR TO recall the House TO what had been proposed
to contrast what proposed with what was obi eccd
to ito exhibit the spectacle ofarguments radically OPP
posed in principle to each other but all tending to- and
terminating in the conclusion Of opposition to this
mild and orbearing neasure-and 10 ask those who op-
pose it, whether the Crcean draug mt Of party which has
been administered to them has far perverted their
Judgment az to pref vent them from forming disposition
ale decision upon this plain and unambguous PROPOSE
ton With this statement of the scope and temper of
the observations which he should address 10 The House
this subject-he would conclude by moving the ad
tournament Of the House. taking the vote the motion
to adjourn indication of the disposition of the
House to have this subject further debated.
.Monday, December 81, 1885,
The House resumed the consideration of Mr.. Gil
MER'S resolution.
few remarks which he offered 10 the House on Sa-
turday indicate very distinctly The course which he
intended to pursue in the observations which he was
now about to address to them He DESTROYS, II he
could far override the predomnance Of party feelings
if he could wrest this subject from the guidance of
extrancous influences, to present in its true andeg-
mate bearings and consequences upon the interests OF
this State and the country. He should look with delight
and qualification upon the spectacle which this body
would present. its members animated BY spirit of
unanm!ty, in their deliberations upon subject of such
vital Importance to the Commonwealth subject, into
the consideration of which, party divisions should not
be allowed to enter. 1t with uneigned regret that
he had witnessed the first efforts Of the predominant
party here bring this foreign and pernclous influence
10 bear the question before the House-and with
still greater regret, that he heard the distinct aVowai
from them, that these fit considerations which
it should be decided He had hoped, that the just
and patriotic spirit evinccd by the gentleman from Hen
~ would have swayed the opinions of the House, and
that he although he at first allowed himself to be led
away by groundcss fear Of the consequences of this
proposition would, when his jud gmcnt had dictated
more calm and deliberate COURSE be considered by those
with whom he generally acts, fitting exemPar. But
these considerations have been SET aside the party sum-
ice min in ODF be-
lied to a determined opposition Of the question now be-
fore the House. In the of this discussion many
subjects have been introduced which have no legitimate
connexon with that under consideration. The dlsunlon
Of the States has been particularly dwell upon, and the
lively Imagination Of one gentleman has hurried him
along to that period when civil convulsion is to take
place as the direct result Of the agitation Of this subject,
take the liberty said MIR S., to say, that so far the
interests of this State involved in the perpetuty Of
the Union, there is member Of this House there IS
10 citizen of this State, Of the United Suites, who
cordng his opportunities, has given more proofs Of
conviction of the unboundcd benefits which flow from
this confederacy Of the countless which must
result from its dssoution than the individual WHO now
addresses you: And it is proper when this question Of
its duration brought before the House, in connexnn
with the proposition which you, Mr. Speaker, hold in
your hand that nothing in the past conduct Of those
who support this resolution, should give the slightest
ground for suspicion that indifference TO the great ques
ton Of the permanency OF the Union is allowed to sway
the counsels which they offer. Let me also refer
another argument 1t has been said that this rcsou
ton is conceived in spirit of hostility alienation
from Eastern brethren; and that the consequence of
Its adoption would be- to foster feeling of dslrus and
enmity, which might ultimately be so much Augmented
that the Union would be no longer desirable-On this
subject let me offer few remarks, to which beg the
attention Of the House. entirely in the opn-
that from the sentiments Of the people of the North
and East so tar as the opinions Of enlightened and
scneed men among them can he considered the expo
nents of public feeling we have just for appc-
henson-nor do DOUBT but shall have the co.opera.
ton of that class Of those communities in sitting those
perncious associations and which they only can effect
by the impulse communicated 10 then by the frmucss
and determination Of the South.
1t has been my lot said Mr.. S. 10 make frequent vi.
sits, and form many acquaintance at the North; and
truly say, that never found one intelligent man in
that section Of the country who did not fully concur
with in opinion that the Northern and the Eastern
Suites had nothing to do with the subject of slavery in
the South and that they ought 10 have nothing 10 do
with it-who did agree that this question entire
ly domesc-that it was entirely municipal, and ought
TO be left the discretion and control of the States in
which it existed. Such was the state of opinion said
Mr. s., among those with whom | communicated,
visit to the North two yearsago And perfectly rcco
lecta conversation upon this subject, which had with
distinguished and venerable gentleman Of of the
Eastern States He fully concurcd with the sentiments
TO which have just alluded. He regarded the subject
in my opinion, with the eye Of Statesman and the feel
ings of Patriot But think it proper, while bear les.
timony to this general sentiment and TO the liberay of
that individuals views, that should give this House
to understand the course Of reflections which, in formno
nnticipations of possible chat time might deye
LOPEZ that gentleman brought 10 my attention. shall
not attempt TO repeat his words but do not misrepre
sent them when that their purport this effect
In consequence of remark which made, that his
opinions seemed to concur with those of all with whom
had spoken upen the subject he said that those opinions
were fair exponent Of the general sentiments of the
well informed the temperate and tho patriotic But