Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-15


tt.refore, BY waiting until the seats properly filed
in the other House. they could expression to the
Peoples will, it their duty TO do He did not
desire that Virginia should remain unrepresen,ed-he
thought that the General Assembly bound TO
make an election within reasonable time; but they
we're not bound to make election on the instant,
right wrong it their duty to proceed as sensible
ren, and they required to do 10 make cleo
on, with sound discretion and good judgment: and he
uuscd that every man would thus act.
MIR. ANDERSON asked the indulgence Of The Senate
for few moments, while he offered explanation OF
certain matters which related TO himself personally. Ii
would be we'll recoected by all the Senators who
cre last winter, that after the resolution came 10
nat body to fix day TO 60 into the election OF the
Senator of the United States, it taken up, and,
len the motion OF the member from Mecklenburg laid
Spon the table. He announced his intention to make
motion that it should be taken Up, for the purpose Of
giving the Senate opportunity of fixing upon
day upon which they might enter npon the discussion
aof the question: and he stated his Tor adopt
ing that course, that he compelled from circun-
stances of a private nature, to return home, and
should leave the Senate the next Gay,--that It was
quite nmaterial 10 hun what day the Senate should
Xix upon--all that he wanted was timely notice
to enable HIM 10 he IN his seat. lie therefore submitted
motion, and intended TO appeal 10 the Senate person
ally to Tx day, that he might know hen the cltc
ton to take place. lie did not intend to ask the
Senate to postpone the election day longer than
their wish all that he wanted was the opportunity Of
being in his place when the election came on. Ills
very worthy lrieHu, the menDtr from CuiDcper
and asked him TO withdraw his notion stating pub
cly that he did not wish day Ia be then ixed but
he pledged him his word that il should be fixed ut
such tune as would enable him to l.. in his seat aud
that If the Senate did not give him time hear Of the
question and TO be in his seat, the gentleman pledged
him his word that he would have it postponed
lie then told the gentleman, that he perfectly
satisfied that that was all he asked for and that he
did not wish the Senate 10 postpone the election ior
single day-hs only desire being 10 have timely notice.
A.. -. a. ...Ir
redeemed his pledge. Now, if there were any such
state OF things existing at the present timc-it there
were any member of that House unavoidaby absent,
either upon public private business-hc would not
go into the election until he had timely
lice of their intention to proceed. When last session
il was proposed by the House, the Goth January 10
proceed with the election the 23d, then it that
his friends urged that should be postponed To give
him time TO take his seat, which, of course, il would
have been impossible for him 10 have done, had The
election taken place the day fixed b. the other
House, he could not have received notice of the fact
and ridden one hundred and seventy miles IN ) DAYS.
lie had only now To make single remark.-lkc the
gentleman who had preceded him on thls subject Il
he thought that there was reasonable probability
that the elections yet To be decided in the oihc.
House would change the result BY changing the a.
latvc position Of parties in the General Assembly,
he would be the last man 10 propose the election Of
United States Senator--lf he satisfied that
by waiting the political power would turn over into
the hands of the Administration party, or even pro-
dncc tie he would have consented to the motion
Of gentlemen on the opposite side, and have gwen
them chance to elect Senator of their own par
cular party but he satisfied from all the ex-
animation which lie had been able TO give To the sub
ect as well by the admissions Of gentlemen them
selves that there probability whatever Of tier
etcctng such objects, he could not consent that N;r-
gina should continue only half represented in the &c
of The United States. lie considered tie adoption
of the motion before the House tanamount TO the
innnp If fpr lie
fer Vt they 10 wait until all the contested elections
were decided, they might watt he apprehended, until
the close of the session He had mad experience
in the other House, and he had never known, since hr
had had any knowledge Of that body, that than four
contested elections were disposed OF III any Sos
sion Of that body aud he remembered too, that some
years ago. OF four not disposed Of during
the IT. then, they now 10 wait the dcci-
sion of these gh contested elections what would be the
result;-fhat the would pass without cleo
ton being made At all; for If the parties conssng
these told that the election of United
States Senator awaited their decision, and the par
ty 10 which he should belnng--also depended upon
that ISSUE each party would naturally con'ejt every
inch Of ground, with the view of securing the success
Of his individual avorc, and thus 1t would be lmpossi-
bic that these contested elections could be disposed OF
before the close Of the session; then, again too, they
would be perpcxed with party strife, and the business
Of the State would be neglected until this vrxed ques
ton disposed of Until the election ola Senator was
decided, nothing would be done-that question settled
members would turn their attention TO the discharge
Of their public dutIes the business OF the State would
be disposed of, and they should be enabled to
their homes before the last day OF February;
Convinced, as he was, that the posiponement OF tins
question would keep them here for three or four weeks
longer than otherwise would be the case that they
should be in hot water during the whole session, and
consequently incapactatcd for the cool and steady ds.
charge of their public duties believing all these things,
he could not help voting against the proposition OF the
member from Nottoway.
a., Ia, NJ,
toway and Matthews that the resolution be laid upon
the able with the view Of having the contested cleo
tons in the other house settled The Senator from Bot
was last session called home private business, and
the Senate then sponed the consideration G. that
very question before them until his RETURN in or
der that every constituency might have opportunity
of expressing their opinions in the important nat
ter now before them. The Senate was then somewhat
slightly differently constituted than now, bn. il these
reasons influenced the Senate then, Why not now =
II it MUST rule at that time, whit had &C.
cured since 10 make it just one, But, said Tie Sc
nator from Albemarle, there was ths reason WHY the
proposition Of thu gentleman from Sottoway should
not be adopied-tc result Of those contested elections,
surprising that every one went against the Wings and
every one in favor of the Democrats, could not alter
the result of the election. He did wish from the bot
tom of his heart that such night be the Give him
the for which they were cnntendng and The four
seats claimed By the Wings, and he might safely ven
ture to affirm, that the gentleman whom lie wished to
scau 10 inc Sehiee vi .he oh'l'u oa''', "oaia ~
the gentleman chosen by the General Assembly. With
regard the right of instruction, gentlemen on the op
poste side took the ground that The recent Press
dental Election indicated equality Of changes be-
tween the Democratic and the other party; but IVES
such The case He had list Of The counties before him,
and he found that there five changes against the
Administration, and fifteen against the Wings 50 that Oh
this ground he had right 10 claim the vote Of that gen
ieman. Then, again, the Senator from Richmond
stated that understood from the best calculations
that the decision of those contested elections would
make no material difference between the two parties
fac They said that it was admitted BY The party with
whom he acted Now the Senator from Matthews e.
pressed merely his individual opinion; he did not IN
der,ake to speak for the Senate. Why were they TO
pursue different from that pursued last ses-
sion, and what had caused gentlemen TO arrive at the
spdden conclusion that it was matter Of vital import
ance that Virginia should he represented in the Senate
nc tie & ut ;f ,lcy 20 n.ocea IN lc eeat,nn