Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-25
VIRGINIA IEGIsLATURE.
DEFERRED DEBATE.-[CoNrNnrnl

fh.,
ton to strike out the I'd Resolution and insert the ,hs,
TUT ouered by Mr. Watkins pending =
Mr.. DANIEL said: was rejoiced few days ago when
heard my worthy friend from Henry say that he hougbt
ne now saw land. 1 was in hopes that we should iS
short time be brought to shore, permitted for Lo
At eas! 70 rest secure from the storms and empesls of
that wide ocean of debate which we have been tossed
tor the last eight ten days But sir in this il seems
we were mistaken Contrary winds have arisen and we
have been again started far sea- without rudd or
compass la other words when day before Yesterday
the parliamentary questions that had perpexed the Honse
or the two days previous were finally adjusted the sub
sutuls perfected, and the annunciaton made that we
might now vote undersandngly on the questions bef,re
us was IN hopes we would have been permitted to pro-
ceed to the vote without further debate But il seems
tnat the iateS rather friends the WLip
oil this House, have ordered differently For notwith
standing the great length of time that had elapsed since
tins agitating question had been introduced into The
mousse ana The very full discussion had undergone in
all It's various aspects and bearings b
OF te ADMINISTRATION party had declined fur
er discussion, still the debate was protracted bv ,br
OF the most distiug members of the Vb;,y n.r
These gentlemen, able aud experienced as they are went
niy INTO the question, aud made of all their SIX in and
ingenuity to influence the House adopt the resolutions
OF the committee. STILL sir the friends of the subsii
tue were wiling that the question might be taken with
gu. any reply on our Part-sinply protesting that we did
not, by our silence, TO sanction the msnternre,
tons that had been placed by these gentlemen upp
views and opinions. Accordingly, the gentleman from
Mecklenhurg announced 10 the House that thouoh he
and both had intended present few remarks IN re-
ply, we waived the privilege, for the purpose of Getting
the question But that seems, would not do! The oen
mod
waiver on our part 10 consciousness of weakness
oc rather our inability to answer the
at hld Just been offered He seemed to think that we
necued urer dIscusson because feared TO meet the
overwhelming arguments OF his friend from the Civ of
nlchmond AS THIS was not the motive actuating nv
conduct as did not feel conscious of sucb inabii,
thought IL my duty to say have only TO regret bnt
did say so IN terms from which might be inferred n,
meant to oppose myselfas equal adversary in debate
to the genleman from the City of Richmond | trua,
the remark VIII be properly understood as proceeding
from fran conviction Of the strength of INV cause and
not from any vain desire of being considered n match
Tor the very distinguished gentleman Just mentoned-
and that no effort OF preparation will be expected from
me And II, SIR Toll entirely TO answer the Arguments
OF the gentleman opposing me; if present but very
feeble defence of the OF those Supporting the snb
stltue, the House will do Inc the Justice To recollec,
that this discussion is not OF choosing that have
oeen forced to assume the position occupy an
swer To me launis OF the gentleman from Abenarle
that about to retire from the lists worn down and
!aded with the conflict, and that have resumed the
lance, only To ialsty the charge of craven
To answer the gentleman rom the city of Ricbmond
an ten minutes as sad could, is an imIpossbilty IL
would take almost as many hours to follow him in detail
through the many byepats he travelled before he reach
ed The goal Tor which he started but believe il will
cake me but very few minutes develope The rcasons
whch huve occurred TO my mInd as presenting saslac-
tory answers to his arguments.
ana IN tile iirst place permit say that whilst the
discussion which has taken place much to have been
deprecated yet that patriotism may still extract from !,
much wherewtl To console itse--hat those " no hive
for the last twelve eighteen months been obtino The
battles OF the people against power and irresponsiby
ated To give them cheering confidence in the Justice
OF the cause in which they have been engaged and TO
add zest 10 the victory which has crowned their strug
gles Yes, SIR, sentiments have been advanced ON tls
floor by distinguished members of certain noflv aud
with an earhesIness Of manner that disarms the mos,
suspicious OF doubt to their sincerity which aueur
the dawB1og of brighter day for the democracy of The
Old Dominion aude 10 lie very great aspect which
these gentlemen have manifested the very oeat weht
ana influence they have attached the Indications of
popular sentiment concerning the ouestiouq nov beCr
you N0''
The popular voice finds the most willing reel.
penis, the ATTEST and warnesL advocates in those who
some Twelve months suspected of CLOSING their
ears TO it and Of being its bitteres foes Bo Twelve
months ago the solemn instructions Of the people signed
by large portion Of the qualified voters in many OF he
counties OF the Stateand tie people themselves said
an many cases. clear and ascertuned minority of the
whole OF the qualified yoerswere thrown under your
table, and we're stgmaiZed and Lranded as bush insrnc
tons, orders which an rs,re
sentative was not bound To obey but ought in every re-
spect TO disregard No, sir, respect we were told
was que TO The mandates Of men who had been cornered
and iuddied, and made 10 subscribe 10 sentiments which
thcir sober Judgments would repudiae and reject We
were at The same time further told that il was wrong
hgby ndecorous, 10 interfere between gentlemen and
their constituents
But now il seems, the spirit oftie dream is CHANGED
Vow resolutions passed by the people in their primary
assemol'es-tly how many is not known whether oua
ned voters OF not does not appear-are printed y tbe
order Of this House held up to the world ne nnerr1in
dicaiions OF the peoples will as instructions frn 6icb
TO depart IS denounced az faithess DISREGARD of the
wishes Of our constituents Yes SIR the resol,t;ons
passed by The people this subject at neetngs MANY
OF which were suddenly called, and some OF which
koow' personally, did not contain the 1OOi part of the
PoPuiaon, voters and ALL printed are read pub
hcy IN debaie' and relied upon irr0nO0be evidences
OF the popular sentiment The names Of the COMMITTEES
IN which they were held cited and the rrpresenta
tves called upon TO adopt and express the sentiments
they utter, t. submit 10 The Recommendation ~ bav;
iathessy dsrogsrded the wishes their constituents
II gentlemen do teay feel The respect bev bave nro
iessed Tor these meetings Of e people, land we have no
Hght from lhelr manner IT, suppose Otberwse3 may we
not hope, that they will hetenlter be- found the re8dcs
and warmest supporters Of the Right Of instruction
That the last Spring Elections have had the most salo
tary influence on tie minds Of gentlemen; and tbat an
era about 10 commence, in which this much abgsed
ign' is TO exert its just and proper inanonce5 That
~ the expressed wishes Of twenty or thirty Of tler
constituents are 10 govern The course Of fhe renesonfa
uYes-hefeaiet. when instructions are sent Stoned H.
Tour or i've hundred voters they will meet M least ,oR
something like respect &c liis b. 40 this debate oil
have shown us, lint of every evil some GOOD ,a
DC extracted; uiat no storm however violent
over u.s. without leaving 10 is train something beneficial
90 mankind. oi''
Permit me now 70 urge upon the fo.se tl,s reaeo,o
which have induced me to believe that u would te bee,
iof us 10 ADOPT the substitute ia preference e reaon
uons reported by the Committee. prefer the snbst
tu'e, or some OF the very that gentlemen have
assigned Tor rejecting IT. and Of them u.s. that il docs
not 60 quite as FAR as the resolutions reported bv fbo
comm'itee believer goes however as far ae the peo
PIE desire we should go-and that IL goes az far nav
muchiariher than the resolutions which have been adot