Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-25

The Senate has had y long session But, from
hrst To last, day and night. II full of attraction,
interest, and excitement.
Mr.. PRrsroN IL was known wouId sneak ON MI,
CRirrENpnN's Bill for securing the freedom of T.
'ections The intelligence sufficient to ill the
gahefies 'ohg before the hour OF meeting The La.
dies gallery presented most brilliant display.
THIS large assemblagc were not dis ppoin,ed
Never have heard this splendid rhctorican on any
occasion when he exhibited his great natural ,,r,s
and the results of his finished education, with
greater credit To himself, more advantage to the
cause he supported. There were some passages OF
pre-ennen beauty and power to which were given all
the grace. harmony. and force which the most Gu Ia.
waited eloculioD can besow. No report will ever be
able to convey more than a faint ldea Of the mpfcs
sion produced by them.
Late in the evening there was a SCENE TN which
the Two Senators from Virginia were the actors.
MI kNEs bore himself most CALAMITY and nobly -
and by ms independent and patriotic remarks has
commended aud cndcared himself more tn the true
trends OF the constitution aud the country.
snbIoln sumo hurried notices Of the debate,
Al the outset, Mr. PREsroN recalled the atten-
ton OF the Senate from the multiplicity OF topics,
which had been brought into the discussion TO the
real question by very plain and just statement of
the case. Mr. CRIrrNprN. on his own rcspo nsibil-
ny, had introduced bill, which taking the usual
course, was referred to committee. TO under.
stand the issue between the ommittcc and those no
approve OF til. principles of the BILL is necessary
reported. The bill then. had for i,s objcc, TO pre-.
vent the interference OF certain Federal Ofliccrs in
Elections. It's purpose is shown n little more fully
in the preamabe which runs ihus," To the end
that the gient powers gwen to the officers of the
Federal Government, and other persons employ ed
in its service may not DO used Tor the influencing Of
elections which ought to be free and incorrupL"
1t is implied IN reference that the general super
VISION OF committee extends specially 10 two points,
the principle, and the details of the measure Its
entirely competent Tor committee 10 approve OF the
principle and reject the details or approving of tho
principle fashion the details to give II full and
complete effect and il is thei, boundcn duty il the
principle OF bill does meet their appreciation to
range the provisions in such manner AZ will rem
der 1t most satisfactory and advantageous.
In tins case the commttse have reported both a
gainst the principles and dctails--ihey have de-
nounced the whole policy of it and adyocat ed
principles and doctrines exactly opposite to which
II they would give practical effect they might bring in
bill TO enforce the interference of these Office ho
ders in elections
ms simple and correct statement of the case,
would IN ordinary times, have shocked the public
mnd-the Senate could not have given the slight
est cOnnlcnance to doctrines and maxiins SO extra
ordinary and so odious-the Senate would have
revoltcd from the course Of the committee. They
b Idly ayowed that these agents and officers OF Go
vefnmcnt must have right to interfere for the pur-
pose of directing, determining, and controlling pop
ular elections and that they ought To BIO encour-
aged, exhnrled stimulated TO this interference,
MI PREsToS dwell upon those extraordinary dec
larations with great force and earnesiness. What.
he asked. had brought the country 10 the condition
in which these appalling declarations could be made
To the Senate by regular committee Hitherto all
such principles and doctrines have been Indignant
ly denied and repudiated. But now utterly
shameless have parizans become, IN their passage
through successive stages of deterioration, that
what has been hitherto dscaimed rejected. repeled
with scofn and contempt, is now openly avowcd and
boosted OF. PRINCIPLES make practices but practices
as, frequently led 10 he adoption Of principles.
The latter is the case of" the party" in this in
stance. They have found these electioneer
ing practices by the officers, agents. and other de-
PENDANTS OF the Executive, useful and convenient
they have served the purposes OF those who wish 10
retain power, and the habual indulgence in them,
and The consciousness Of the party advantages they
have derived, have led to cheiishng doctrines sen
tments aud principles, such before, they would
have shrunk from with the greatest repugnauce.
Here Mr.. WALL, who had, with the miserable
affection Of his dlsdainng L. listen to Mr. PREsToN,
turned his char completely round to present To
the chair, the Senate, and the Speaker, what LORD
CAsTLEREAGH used to call ~ a back 'front.'" and
fixed his eyes on a newspaper. suddenly started up.
and demanded the proof Of these assertions.
Mr.. PRESTON. "Oh wait a wbile-I will show
the gentleman"
Mr.. WALL. +" The Senator assumes that which
is not true
Mr.. Passion. :" l will show the gentleman tina,
he denies What Is tue"
He then repeated that the report dad 20 against
the whole policy Of the b-did advocate the inter
terence of office holders in the elections as matter of
duty and right. and he would prove these statements
from the terms OF the report itself. And well may
the gentleman, Exclaimed he,) start adrighted by
the spectre which has been called up from this boil
ing and bubbliDg caudron lie will start up yet
more before have done.
MIR. PRESTON. entered the proofs. They
sisted of the words, ipsissima perbd. Mr. WALL 10
his Report first stated that The right Circumference in
elections is general right secured by the Coosii-
tuition to all the citizens Of the United Stales-and
he thence inferred constitutional guaranty. for the
interference of office holders (See page Q, of the
pamphlet copy OF the Report. Second paragraph.)
Mr.. WALL is not content with this general
ground
In the next para graph he proceeds 10 put The righ,
on special grounds. He maintains that the office
holders are particularly qualified by their kuowl
edge Of public measures and of" the qualic atoms
of candidates for public trust" He urges that they
have been selected By The people for their peculiar
intelligence perform official duties and trusts and
are, therefore, well fitted to take part in determn-
ing the results of popular elections He says the
office holders are connected with the people by the
strong and enduring gaments OF mnualiiy Of rIgh hts
and privileges. But in the very next sentence he
draws a line Of demarcaton between the Office hol-
ders and the people. He speaks Of The protection
oflhe tem as well as the many"
Mr.. PRESTON here exposed with mastery effect
the want OF consistency and clearness The PROPOSE
tons urged by Mr.. WALL, and OF dependency on or
connection with each other. lie illustrated this by
several examples and then declared that all the
menls were equally inconsequental and inconclusve
aud every assertion the Report coAned as the basis
Of an argument was untrue in point Of fact.
Whoever will take the pains 10 read this Report
had hat H. 4