Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-05
THE LAST SL.lTIRE-and thr G0rtIN

THE LAST LEGiSL1TlKE-nndM e GorrNr
The OF !r Wings this winter has very ~"
sIlrprizcd us for lis folly, well It's rXItavaedrrr
Some one who has leisure oug IA, 10 write lie history
their proceedings. Their first attempt was L" hiu;
and nIni,utc their antagonists by snrrrS sArca>0> II
supcrcousnrss. Their next, 10 indemnity them "th'
Ab"litiOnSlS. and to palm themselves eli np'n III" pea
as the exclusive friends 81 Southern lights Failing
these obrcts they became outrageous a. T., r'".atr
dccency in the election o Senator, openly I'!rU.f :,
and dcnouncing the action Of the Legislature. lm e.
vernon rcfE*eSt execute resolution, one {" Ia" = rn''
resigns, but writes Letter 10 the Legislature utI" r.
fcIEire inacHdDcs1hr other sets lis authority al G,iiu
and openly ara gms the motives Of the n&"i!ly lid
tins is done by the party, possessing h!! ' ia.r' ahc
all the dcccmcy who maintain THAT the d!mn? u I"
vernnrnt is essential To the maintenance Of lis a"'."f
tY; who say EGsnHy. that whoever shall Suc'rt
BRINGING our Legislature into general contempt. ".
mu To pair It's authority than any sIng' Tra>Cc
Of this Government possibly can; and who further ~
that 'no man representing portion Of her Fc"rr, "
ginia s. ought 10 venture To set ms opinion u! the zen
mrnt OF the State. III opposition 1" the expression ct
her Leg<laiurc.' Now, "c DO confidently saw '!at
''the spirit Of our fathers yet burns in our b"emIs, st
will not bear the conduct OF the Wings and tho
! leaders, this session.
Last ofa the Governor, by way Of marking his c.r.
tempt for the Representatives of the People, was .nl,
To resign the very day gjir they adjourn that ti.
might not have the opportunity {" filling his place. Il:
puts 1t oil TILL the omnUuS first of Apf-and leaves '
Commonwealth without Governor selected rr a.:
purpose by the voice Of the Legislature, for nrnr mN,
oi hiost i:'p"rlant year IN our annals. few "'"'
however, upon the course r pursued in relation t',e
RcsplUtlUns of the General hsSrlbIy.-il,c mature
tendency OF that act have not been sufficiently rap,rt
II Is The opinion al some of ulISs and POLITICIANS,
that the House OF Drgacs ought 10 have tried The qm,
ton by i"praching hun. Tie Constitution bind. rn,n
take care, that Tic laws be- faithfully rx:cu,!. Ir:,
ii"n OF 10th li"nSes is 10 all !rnS amt ynrpo.,S H
because 1t Is 'iIc Aprrssion OF The will lie SGp'rr
power III the Stale, form frequently aG, pied
Many Of our old laws were mere orders ur r,>o.
lutIons Some Of cur recent uurs are drawn n
The same manner. Thus in IrG--3l the .JpG.'
by resolution, were assigned 10 hold certain si.>l"
Terms OF the Superior Courts Of Law. ard D.rn tu,
OF lhaHcery aud 10y the resolution (drnwn by vi
LeIGhD the order OF precedence and seniority aIoIgl"
Judges was rieSctihrd On many other OCCASIONS anI
indeed on most IihriS: where the Governor, ANY exc
cutve officer Of the government is required L. d. n, 49,
the duty IS cEJ"!Erd hy resolution. The din be-
tween resolution and an act Of the Assembly, cpr>ss
not IN their binding force, but in the D!n!s The, >uy'
lrctrd TO in passing through the two houses The IT,"
luton; being generally single propnson ca: under
stood, requires not the various readings &c which q"
required by tlc Jules Of The two houses. in plSsn. ana
law. But who will have the hurdihond lod,ny, ,.'t
resolution OF the Legislative branch Of the G"v'Iu,'h
Is as obligatory, AS fit had passed through al. tcrm
OF legislation, aud had the commencement. IL It '"@r'
fa, &c: The language Of this particular rs''Dt'D'
IL Is true, imports 'equfSt instead OF runmGMd Eu'
IN speaking TO the Executive, co.u!G.a,c hrauct oi
Government, H"""
request Is merely used from comfy. and brCau>' c.
Obedience Is never expected. When the G.vrtmo' -
Tf"cNrd TO present sword to officer, t. haze t
Old seals Of Courts brought in and d, sIlcd the A'
cu'' "iccs or to rrI; out the Arm"r TT I" raN'' '
tam arms 10 be distributed among t! militia, 90 Dh''"
certain GocuEcS and testimony relating 10 l"un"s'
linrs between Virginia and Maryland. G'cs any '''
dream that lie Will refuse u,y the l. gisiaI". "r''
he could screen himself from The Consequences 81 's'
be dlrnce. by IraCin that The Legislature had Mt arr
IIItf
nors Justification: Suppose ti:r Legislature >hoId n'"
oi lhcT Senators :" do unconstitutional! act l." "'r
authority 10 MIR. farewell to inlcrposc between them
lie was simply asked 10 transmit the rcsUut"ns u ~
had enclosed them under blank csyrr had nara!
said, 81 am requested by the Legislature transmit ~
you the enclosed resolutions, lie would lave su.c' MY
discharged his duty. No could L,rn MiE rrcDi
stliui!onal act: unless il lie shown that L'a'"
oil the Constitution Tor tn send 10 aiCn u"
or resolution that violates the Cons,,u,.,n ! lis VS.
ground too uncnabIe for Mr.. Tazrw,! hins!! 20 taA',
and there lore he was Compelled 10 10 til" P,"V'
quISb!e, that he not only to transmit the rcuO"''
but " to accompany thl,) communication wIth i!"i!
10 The Senators q" III 81 r0f: tat they Should IA! -
same before the Senate Of The L. Siatcs' 10 uGG '
appreciation TO the resolves q: the General Assembly
and unItc (hiy) Solicitations To tier Commands
There - scarcely child Of Ten age liz: Co.:'"i
wealth, who would not dcriLr sucl. sophism !! :
plain beyond c.vil, that it a request Tie pa:
OF the Legislature, and not on his part tina. vas "4rI
upon our Senators. and It is impossible HAT HtE
Sou'd nave i!HtahtH iuf moment, The one Ter ir '
frcceGcTs 81 '!c usage nskcd f III tie Il L''
Of Deirgairs: and even MIR. Brown Pet, r.brr1. 10
ouI! to have known better, is said 10 lave asked O t
gentleman from Orange, if he could point si.@''
case III winch the Legislature had requested tie ''
nor 10 make request Ut our Senators; anG !" "f
c'ntehced that such the ctrct III he p Lo'-
resolutions Seine lrccrG'nls: substantially !" i',I
have already been cited in this raI"r but We ~.
mere are others Coming Nearer 10 the !rtr ihS "'
18th Of February, cIG after passing certain i,S"'
on The SUBJECT OF amendments 10 the t"ns"'.'i"' "
United States, proposed by tic States OF o''i'eI.J
and massachusetts, the legislature adds h''"'"1
also: That the Governor be- and he is hereby. !rI' :
to transmit copies nf the aforesaid rr"!uti"ha 20
the Senators and Representative OF TINS ia" - ,J
grcss, and 10 the Executive Of each State Of '!' t,
States rUh rrTnrsi that the be lad "''"s' w.,
respective Leg !satures. Did the Senator'S % NE n,s
culve officers Of the several States, dr'a:i 'h"l ~,
the request Of the Governor Of Vrg mia and .'t :" iv
Legislature. that they were complying w''h' ""'"
submitted those resolutions: ,rorI
H., -