Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-28

and vital Importance 10 this nall"l.
You'll rcul!ccl the tragic scene Ill Southampton IN
1871, and the panic and terror consequent li'eie'',' ma
nv a s,uu, heart cual!ed atihe thought OF such Ecrrib'r
WAS not one Of those who dreaded or feared
the recurrence OF u similar state oil 'n'hgS. me hrA'
General Assembly, however, LOOK up 'ie snDJec u ga
ve,y, and u s,s,rIl OF legislation was proposed; to when
Air' Itnane guye cauuIenance. DO not doubt but
lis motives were pure, and that he acted win IL
view 10 what he beloved 10 be The best interests OF The
coun,rv. But. being myself one 81 those who were
oornset to all LEGISLATION on the subje CT, cannot give
hin, NV SUPPORT for the office Of Chief niagIstratc-
Sir, may be permitted 10 bring to the nGticc OF 'htS
Il. use a gentleman Of high Misunderstanding one
e the highest office IN the Sldlc-ot sage experience
and splendid abililies-of ~in1rgIity, oil iirrnness ana
decision OF character; lie is 4 republican Of Tie
scloui Of l7:,5, and was i'll the General! Assembly
Of Virginia IN 50: and tpak m active ard distinguished
mart i'm the debate on MI. Madison ) celebrated report
upnn the Alien and Scditicn laws. lie isa man who
would carry into The chair Of State 4 weight OF charac,
Ter that would ccmmaud the respect OF oil. lie would
maintain the dignity Of Virginia and do honor to the n:
iice. AlIusirns have been made to local PreJudIces anu
opooranhicul divisions. But, Sir, care i:i where the
man comes trnr.-wiethcr from the West, the East, Tie
Nollh or the South, so Il possesses the equIsilriqGal'hGa
tins and the integrity Of purpose 10 protect alike ''f
different interests Vi the State. Such Is the individual
WHOM have in view. Is it not known 10 whom al
!uar: An not already anticipated IN lie Fcrsonwhom
shall name; | allude to Judge WIN. Daniel: and | pre-
sent him 10 this House on my own responsibility.
Nh. SrAsAKn said, he rose 10 address the House, ch!ri'
" nuuCtu I co 81 y y w Hia''y ~ 10y -,
Ginian spirit Of The remarks Of lie Ct nIicman who had
lust sat down. aud BY the appeal which had been made
To The Justice and honor Of the House, BY he gentleman
from Ming George. MIR. 5. said, he entertained no nope
that T.. spirit " Inch breathsd in the words Of those gen.
llciuen, would infrsc itself into the minority OF The
House, o. that It's effects would be felt IN The decision OF
this question. lie did not rise to speak alone TO ms DO:
DIV, hut 10 address himself TO those who should come al
Ter Ms. and who will Judge of our acts with impnrIlalIty.
Let me tell The gentleman from King George, (said MIR.
S. Tat the lime has gone past, whcn ms oP'
t.- a.. I,.,-, nal; l., &c -. tInn IN tIns InHV
could prevail over The dictates Of patty spirit
The tin" has gore past when the evil spirit could
b. qairIcd by The words of peace and moderation. Zine
Voice OF the cha vEer, charm he never so wisely, has
ceased to cx. ri lis influence over the more stern Ic-
solves of party domination. Let me tell that gcntlemun,
that the line is past when lie was considered u Republi.
can oracle, and when his remGnstrances, which placed
liii, in this House by the suiiruges of the dominant par.
~. couit prevail. Did the gentleman hope. that what
was considered Republican in that day when his rem"ii'
stances had cauri the waves Vt contenton, could no"
be considered as such: Mono. The deadcning iniln.
cnce Il caucus LIctatiun had laid lis icy hand OH ;be feel
irgs Of men; and lis inlerpnstlon was in vain. Do you
trcolh c., Mir : p,a.rr, (said MIR. Slanard.D that some
three years since. The gentleman from King George:
on an occasion: not like this-ior this is marked by
circumstances peculiarly It's wn-mO earnestly m
vOkrd lie House 10 cast aside party leelIngs-tsiat
hr conjurcd those then in power not 10 carry the
spirit ui party so far as 10 place q member Of the d0mi-
nant party in place over one OF the nnin"rl!E; HIS
speech was then published by subscription, hy ih"i very
party. who, enjoying the ascendancy, are now 81 inlolc-
iaut- circulated us The effuSion of all o!acIr, and those
who opposed it, denounced as the advuchtrs Of prcscrIp.
ton a"I patty p'rsecuiI"n.' But now: when there Is no
party cuntcst-wEcui there is nothing further "a ne gained
bv ll!o.c in power, except a continuation Of petty III.
ulnplrs, adding nothing 10 their acknowl' dgcd Strength
when there is M attempt OIL the part Of their opponents
to elect a candidate Of their uwn-thr intolerance "hlch
was then denounced, was exercised with unpata.i''rd
rignr. There has been Oh This occasion, Il meeting 81 The
party in p0wer-consistrg Of some ninety vi the mem.
bers OF The two Houses. in order tn Gasten on the Com
m0nwcallI, not TIE choice 81 Il majority ni tic ninety;
but The choice of 4 plurality of That runl!tr. That
meeting aimed at. and probably would effect, the disiran.
chiSemcnt Of the majority Of this House. Tie votes Of
more !hun three hfths Of this body are by their proceed
inIs entirely cancelled, and the election IS IN lacl mace
Gv thu other fragment.
Mr.. S. said he rose fIr the purpose Of adding his Gr.
nunciation to that ii others agains; this most Ubiquitous
sys:em-nut with a view 10 lis bearing on this election,
which he presumed was already drc!ded-hut al cue,
which, if carried out to lis full extent, would have the
!, effect to degrade this noble Government into one Of the
mnSt odious oIigarclies that ever Vexcd a drspot-riddcn
people. What was the elemental principle Of our Go.
vernmrnl in regard 10 questions like this: 1t was, that
The individual who possessed The greatest Share OF Ia"
favor and confidence Of The people Should be elected 10
Offices instituted fer The Pnhlic good, aad Intended to b.
flied by those who merlLcd. u 1ehtr that tfose who r ="
tessct- inc favor Of the majority Of The people would pre-.
lect their interests with greater carc-and That better
safeguards would thus lie provided against the conduct
If public officers than could be expected when Their
election was submitted 10 hasty or corrupt legislation.
What effect, said MIR. s., dues this sysle!n produce :
/, is 10 make the plurality OF The majority The diclalnrsinf
every pleasure which may come before The Legislature.
Such, unGuestinnably, would be The result Of the full
dcyr!upcncnl OF this system, and lis application 10 other
Glrstinns besides the choice Of candidates for Office. The
effect, then, Of t"&crating such a system must be by lie.
ctssily-not by acciGcni-but by necessity, 10 place the
practical rule Of the country i'll the hands Of a minority
OF the Legislature; and that the larger portion of the
representatives at the people, and through them. CT the
People themselves, are dislranciiscd Was This tic only
objection 10 tie caucus system n now practised by the
dominant patty CT the Genera! Assembly; No, Sir
there is 4 greater objection to it than even this. 1t
is, ;h%. it will stine the manly expression Of opinion
in our pubic cuuuciis-that it will break down the
spirit Of our ciiizpns-that it will take away the
lnsn!iness "fmind which ought 10 distinguish The repre-.
srGlaiires nf Il free p~enplc-thai it will take away the
temptation from thos" who are disposed To act. and
think, and speak with independence. aud 10 resist lie
tyranny TT Il master, whether individual OF collective,
whether 4 man or L party. And sir, when this spirit Of
manly imde ~pcndcnre shall have been suLducd, either in
an Individual CT 4 b~@ay-when we shall lave bccolHc
mrr" counters IN The hands Of these who play tic game
when, instead Of accountable individuals. with con
sciences 10 guide US, with Wills to enforce our conric-
!inng Of right, and nth duties 10 be uhryrd-wien We
shall Earc become he plant instruments Of the design.
my dcmag"gurs who enjoy u power acquired by cortup.
tion-"c can sink no lower IN The scale Of dcgradaiiun.
MIR. ;. said he was speaking Of this system, in regard
{" lis effects nn tile character Of the county. Ouce al.
low ii 4 .""rinnne"! toollhoId among us, and II will ohlit-
cra!c every 'hirg Of which we have been proud-every
thing by which VIC have been proudly DISTINGUISHED
from tie people Of "!Ecr countries. Those wlu acGui.
esccd III an'! aided in such i system, whether they were
unconscious of lis bal"ful tendency, rr we're the willing
t"ns OF a lyrannical powcr-wrre making themselves
instrumental! IN tr d"biscInrnt n. their country. They
were contributing 10 u dcspolisrn. which would tame
down he independent spiri, Of F~irginians, and make
them the voluntary instruments Of a tyranl.
care not (said hr s. in the Consideration Of This
%suLi'c!, what party p,edominatcs. 1 with to preserve
the ancient spirit Of the Commonwealth, that when
ugnin it shall br called into action its fires may be IN.
dimrncd, ard il may b" Guickrnrd into lis pristine ener-
rp prI:,t. .,,r.y 81 o., a.
bec"rl'mg the instruments Of tyranny. He said he was
not interested i'll either Of the candIda,cs-he meant as
10 persons. Bat he did feel d deep interest in this ques-
tinn, aad that interest prompted the responding feelings
aiUh which lac rose To address lac Huusp lie c.Ii 3,