Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-15
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE.
TUESDAY,, Dec. g., 1910.

the Senate to adopt the resolution proposed by the
member from Nottoway 1t had been properly remark
ed in the course of discussion on TINS resoluto IN ano
ther branch of the Legislature, that it not to be
expected that the General Assembly ever would be
full, either on this or on any other question:
There now full attendance OF the members, and
although it was true, that there were several contest
ed elections to be settled vet the relative positions OF
parties would be very little changed, if any, BY the
result of those contests Such appeared to be the ge
neral impression both here and elsewhere. In THIS
state of things, what were they 10 do' II the deter
mnaton was, that they were not to go INTO the eiec
ton OF Senator until the whole of these contested
seats were decided, another session would eaPse and
Virginia would remain but half represented IN the Sc
nate of the u S. They knew, by past experience, what
chance there for these eight contests being all ae
cded before the close of the session. on the most mode
rate calculation each case would occupy a week, SO
that weeks must elapse before they could proceed in
this n,c,iar that this calculation they were
called upon To keep Virginia unrePTeSen'eu, OF oh'y
half represented, for than eight weeks TO come
The Senate desired to take as they had been
accustomed to do and the time fast approaching,
but were they prepared to take their recess, Win the
important resolution in question before Them were
they epared absent themselves from their duties Tor
several weeks and to leave this matter nndisposeu OIL:
Was there any good reason why they should NOT 90
into the election the time proposed by the other House
Did they recoect that Virginia had long BEEN Tor the
first time in the history Of the Common wealth, with
her due share Of representation IN the Senate ana
so uurepresented too during OF the most arduans,
and with but exception, the longest session lha'
Congress had ever held: He trusted that gentlemen
would reflect and that Virginia would be restored again
TO the exercise Of her due rights lie trusted that gen
tlemen who professed to feel deeply upon the qnes
ton of State Rghs-tha question dear To the heart
of Virsinia-he trusted that those gentlemen would re-
member that Virginia had been left defnceess in that
branch of the Government, the especial guardians OF
the rights of the Staes for while the lower house rep
resented the Democracy, the Senate represented inc
unity, the power and the rights oil the states. ne
trusted that would be the pleasure OF The mousse not 70
vote 10 strike out the words Monday next The low
house had selected that day-the popular branch Of
the Legislature had canvassed and discussed the question
length and he prepared to go into the cons'dera-
ton of the question the day selected by them, al
though for his own part he would have preferred that
an earlier day had been fixed. lie trusted that the
Senate would refuse to strike out the words in question
and that Virginia would be she ever ought 10
have been, fully represented in the great council OF
the naiion.
Mr. Top hoped that it would be the pleasure of the
Senate TO strike out the words " Monday next lie
must express his surprise at the remark which had TALL
en- from his friend for the City of Richmond At the
last session the friends of the Administration took an
early move in reference TO the election of u nited
States Senator, and the second third day OF the
session. resolution offered to go into the election
at an early day-That resolution opposed by the
party hostile TO that with which he acted, the ground
that the House was not full and that the views Of N
at that time several Seats the right TO which con-
tested lie had taken the pains to examine the jour
nails Of the House Of Delegates, and he found that
whenever this question was moved and passed by the
Administration party, II was resisted BY the gentlemen
opposed them the grounds stated.-lle himself
submitted motion upon this sub Jet, and was then APP
peaed to- and successfully appealed 10, By his friend
from the City Of Richmond; and late the month
of January, he induced by the arguments and per-
suasons Of tina. friend. 10 vote against his own
party, and to postpone this election still furhcr-and
by that means, and with the assistance of two or three
other gentlemen of the Administration party, the men,
Der from the City Of Richmond carried h's point
The ground taken by that gentleman for snch post
ponement, was the absence of member of his own
party At that time lie anxious that the true voice
of the People of Virginia should be HEARD and beng
sorcbly struck with the proprety OF the course ad-
vocated by the gentlemen the opposite side, he
voted against his own party and in favor Of the motion
of that gentleman. He was therefore, perfectly as
tonshed at the pursued by his very liberal trend
from the city of Richmond, in refusing 10 strike out the
date, with n view TO extension Of which, when the
arguments precisely the these urged so
eloquently and with much effect By his friend, to
accomplish precisely the same object last winter
There was, however, this difference in the two cases,
that the arguments urged last winter would apply
with tenfold force There not merely =
contested seats but there were actually two vacant
seats-the therefore much stronger now than
in January last He was as anxious as any gentleman
could be that this election should take place. and that
il should take place during the present session lie
believed that the election when it might, would
prevent the triumph Of the opposite partv-he be-
eved himself destined TO be whipped, TO be beaten !;
but STILL representative of the people, he felt it to
be his duty to insist that Virginia should be fully if not
fairly represented when this grave question TO be
decided. He would insist that every county in the
State shonld have vote in the question, which could
not be the they went into the election at the time
proposed. 1t was known that there unusual,
unprecedented number Of contested elections, and
bod F.a1t hat haro oht
CATION to go into the election now-By postponing the
election, it would allow many 10 vote who would other
wise be prevented from exercising that right He
trusted that it would be the pleasure of the Senate to
strike ont The words proposed.
Mr. Lross rose to put the member who had just
sat down, right to certain facts, which he had, he
sure, unntontionally miss.atcd: II he would
cast back his recollection TO the last session, lie would
convince him that his argument against going into the
election Of United States Senator did rest, l
supposed, upon the desire of filling vacances-that
question disposed of in the House of Delegates
the party with whom he acted in that House, had
nothing 10 do with the resolution. They found that
resolution in the House, and majority decided that
they would keep it on the table during their good plea
sure. When proposition was made to take it up, the
Senator from Botetourt was absent. That gentleman,
called home By certain domestic circumstances, had
distinct pledge prior to leaving the House, from the
Senator from Culpeper, that the resolution should
he taken up or acted upon without having given him
sufhcient notice u enable nm IN be IN ms seat. ].
upon that OCCASION and under those circumstances
that he appealed TO the Senator from Culpeper-io his
hberality, to his of right and Justice, and
urged upon him to vndicate that of right and
justice, by voting with him 10 let the resolution lie
the table until the absent Senator had returned
tn his duties, had sufficient notice given him of
the intention Of the House 10 proceed in the matter
Wonld not the Senator under like circumstances, do
the like ngan' Was he not right then in urging upon
the House The which the gentleman himse then
took? And if so, where was the inconsistency in the
course which he then took and the which he now
pursued' There could be none for there paral
lei between the two cases. Was any Senator in that
House now IN the same position which the gentleman
from Botetout then was he would be the last nay, he
would not say that he would be the last for most gen.
tlemen would probably be eager as himself, but he
would he of the last to pursue any other course
than that which he took then. He could not I'M
derstand, how The course which he took then could
make his present conduct inconsistent There was now