Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-19


! what | am saving. My purpose IS to have my
self rightcd-not 10 inmIdate another know the
gentleman well to believe that he could be induced
under d threat menace, 10 repair an INJURY, WHICH,
on reflection he might be convinced he has done me-
i know him Too we'll believe that do not address
him, then, with this view. The gentleman from ida
ryand has undertaken TO say that certain members OF
this committee had been assai.ed by certain other mem
beers of the committee when they would not assa GER
| tain other members What is the inference? That
the gentleman from New York Mr. Fillmore] and the
| gentleman from Connecticut Mr. SMITH were bcev-
/ cd 10 be men who would not resent an injury done
them That was the Inference 10 which the gentle
man came, because he says the gentleman from Yr-
qinia [Mr Bntsl and the gentleman from Alabama,
mir Crubbl who would probably defend themselves,
had not been assailed-and that those who assaied
the gentleman from New York and Connecticut, were
afraid 10 assa the gentlemen from Virginia and Alaba
ma That was the inference. Now, so far as regards
myself | have not assaulted any one. Hence it was
that the gentleman from Maryland throws himself in,
not volunteer IN the matter a. ne says but so II
t. he comes out in defence of the gentleman from New
York and the gentleman from Connecticut Now,
sir in defending these gentlemen he has said many
things upon this subject that are entirely untounded
| in truth use this word, not IN an offensive sense,
bocause have not asserted it IN that sense but because
the gentleman has stated many things that not
tanned by the record He, however, has not done this
Intentionally hope and believe but because he en-
gagged in the consideration OF subject with which he
e not acquainted He, under ancied necessity to
pro1ect men who cannot protect themselves has voun
teered to engage the consideration OF subject when
he knows nothing of it. Now, Mr. Speaker, will state
to the gentleman from Maryland, one thing said by him
that was offensive to me- and wish him to determine
whether am mistaken in what he did say not. In
speakinr about my course in relation 10 the Governor
OF New Jersey, and what said OF him. all OF which
said could prove at proper time, the gentleman from
MARYLAND said Suppose The Governor ol the Old Com,
monweath Of Virginia were to return TO this House
one person as elected and another person, meaning
myself were to here under the return OF The She
riff, would the gentleman from Virginia take his seat
under that return? The gentleman asked would come
here upon the returns OF the sheriff. whose duty II rs,
under the laws of my State, t. conduct the elections
when another person here with the returns OF the
Governor, whose duty it is TO make the returns
Mr. JENIFER said few words in reply, IN too low
, tone to be heard by the Reporter.
: Mr. RIVES. Then, sir, | am mistaken entirely
understood the gentleman to ask me II would come
here upon the return of the sheriff, when the cover
nor whose duty it to make the returns, gave ms
. certificate to another person | then gave hod OF
assent upon which it stated TO me that the gen
: tleman then said that he believed the gentleman from
n VIRGINIA would do any thing Now, whether he did say
this or not cannot undertake TO say, and 1t IS there
fore that wish him TO explain what he did say did
say that if the sheriff of the district in which live,
whose duty is bv law to conduct the elections, and
TO give his certificate the person who receives ma
orty of the votes furnished with the evidence that
was elected that should conc on and take my seat
Il upon that evidence.
what the Governor of New Jersey has done suppose
he had returned mycompetitor instead OF me; having
r the majority of and the return of the sheriff. would
have come here and claimed my seat But see what
this Governor of Virginia has done Although the law
of the Commonwealth requires him to return all those
who shall be elected Representatives for the State he
has not returned but of the delegation from that
; State IT, then, had waited for this broad sea-tl's
commission of the Governor Of Virginia. would have
come here without any title to my seat at all brought
idancc m
- temen whose rights TO seats have been advocating
also brought evidence of their ght to occupy theIn-
Mr. Speaker, il has been SAID that we made report IN
&C favor of those Individuals without having read he cv
: dencc on which it was founded. The gentleman from
: New York (Nlr Fmorc) supposed case as true, and
asked the House what it would think of report OF
committee if it should be adopted when the members
of the committee had not read the evidence IN relation
:, 10 the matter An attempt is made 10 impress the
public mind with the belief that the evidence had not
" been read The journal, which is here, proves neon
stestably the fasehood of that charge The journal
here and before take nv seat, shall insist on It's be
f ing read The House will that 1t was not only read
:. once but twice and that it argued by the parties
= interested Not only once, but twice has been read
though it has been recently asserted that had not
t. read at all.
Mr. Speaker feel very unwilling after the House
has been so kind me- to undertake apccch at length
At This particular time would prefer speaking here
=, after | would like how many OF tue gentlemen
abandon 1t before The SUBJECT closes.
However anxious am to discuss it now, must de
IN ter my remarks for another time, though unwil
in ling keep the people of Virginia in the dark, by
suppression Of the facts, has been asserted by thu
nc gentleman from Maryland, (Mr. Jenfer) am anx
ous for the discussion to go en- in order that the PEG
"a pie of Virginia, and the whole people of the L. 5.
m may know the true merits of the question. ! wan
re call prominently the attention of the people
this iact-that when the Committee of Elections dc
h. tcrmincd that the consideration of the New Jersey
question should be postponed until the I'd Monday
Ar I tfnpy Mat be oh,
should ask leave of the House to have all the papers
Il connected with the New Jersey printed. The
&c gentlemen of the Opposition voted against il, and
~ failed then gave notice that, nasmuch as we could
not get that motion made BY the chairman of the com
g Intee would, next morning, if could get the floor
h. for the instructions of the House to this effect
n | only did this, but told the committee that
ia would make the same motion from day to day until /
l. succeeded then made the proposition here, not &c
print certain papers, but the papers ! made that
s. proposition not only in the committee, but in the
House.
% Here Mr. GENTRY of Tennessee, and Mr.. SMITH
10 of Connecticut, called Mr.. R. TO order
" Mr. R. said the House had given him permission tc
d go on, and he hoped he might do without Interrupt
70 ton.
r. MIR. GENTRY said the House had given the gentle
+ man permission TO make explanation personal tt
is himself and he was now entering into the merits OF
n. the question.
If Mr.. r. resumed That is the very point an com
o. ing at now. | am charged with suppressng informa
r. on and being guilty of afraid to avow; and
g want to show that all such charges are unfounded
n Mr.. GENTRY said the House gave the gentleman
A. permission to defend himself of honor; but ne
of defending himself politician and public
% man.
Mr. RlVES. have stated that made two propo-
sons TO print only certain papers, but The ehote OF
al them. And, Friday last, made the proposition
print certain papers, but all the papers connect
|. ed with the New Jersey moved the postpone
Fl of the consideration of the report of the majority
of the committee until the following Tuesday; then
e making it the special order of the day until the subject
r finally disposed of, and, in the mean time, have
all the evidence printed. Sir the chairman Of the com.
" mittee (Nr CampbeD has, On two OCCASIONS moved
&c to have all the papers printed; and the gentlemen in
Opposition, more inclined to suppress the facts than
: am voted against suspension Of the rules for that
;: purpose Yes, Sir, six occasions moved 10 print
those papers, and yet am charged by the gentleman
f from MARYLAND, (NIr Jener) with disposition to sup
press tie facts until the elections in Yirgina over: