Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-21


more fully Defined and tina, every should know his
opinions, especially the time Of his election. lmght
that be Administration man, and in that
event he (hlr H. would sustain him He did not, how.
ever think this state Of things probable His belief was,
that Mr. Rlves preferred the election Of Mr. Clay 10 Mr.
Van Buren, MIR K, in this situation Of doubt, buttons
up his double and says, 81 will answer no questions,
&c.
Mr. SMITH of K added 10 his remarks on Yesterday,
in relation the consutionaity Of the resolution he
said 10 The Senator from Isle Of Wight, that
he mslook the Constitution in surprising the Senator
elected after the expiration OF The Of the former in
cunbent took Office for six years from the date Of the
election To show this he read the second part OF the
third section Of the Constitution OF the U. States He
urged at some length, that was The constitutional duy
Of the Legislature to elect aud so 10 execute the duty
as TO give term of six years TO the Senator elected.
In answer TO gentlemen who insisted that The
election should be referred 10 the People, he insist
ed that, however, desirable it might be 10 refer CUES
tons TO the People, in this instance, they were not The
constitutional electors They (the People) had deegat.
ed that power 10 their representatives. and, until that
Constitution was abrogaed, they had no power TO act
for themselves in person He insisted that refusal, on
the part Of the representatives. to act was an acknow-
edgment OF incapacity-a qualification oil themselves
He insisted the principle would refer to The cleo
ton of Judge, Governor, any other Slate officer 10
be elected by the representatives Of the people The
electors to cleo, President, with the propriey
might decline 10 perform their duty, and refer II to
the People. Where no election was made by elec-
tors and the question referred 10 Congress, Congress
also urged that the Senate being urhest removed from
the People, there proprey in permitting this pro.
position from the other branch of the Legsla-
lure, more especially as the Democratic and dominant
branch had been Justly reflected upon by censurable
boast of their organ that they would "checkmale the
more immediate representatives. of the People. This
would give verify the assertion. He further dePre-
Gated the resolution, upon the ground that it would
strengthen dangerous p.ecedents elsewhere established
and lead to dissolution of State and Federal Govern
mens Asa question of expediency, he was unwilling
TO throw before the People exciting QUESTIONABLE
for all unhappy consequences resulting from il, would
be justly answerable.
(Mr. ANDERsos's remarks bereat,er)
MIR SMiTu OF Kama Ina followed by Mr.. Saith
of Culpeper who with ingenuity defended the PROPOSE.
ton for posponemenl which he placed upon the grounds
of defence indicated by MIR HoLLEAAs-He enlarged for
beyond our limits, and with pausiblily.
Mr. McMrlLEs enforced similar views.
Mr. FoHrAYE addressed the Senate, in earnest vindi.
cation of the course Of Mr. Rives and his Conservative
friends, and in reputation Of the proposition for post
ponemen, and The arguments used by lis friends.
MIR. BpvLps zcaousIy defended the proposition for