Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-25
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY, OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE
Monday, FEB. 10, 1871
The debate upon the motion indefinitely to postpone,
was after few unimporant matters disposed OF,
resumed The Senate Chamber was crowded with vi
sitors, and grea, many ladies' were present.
Mr. LYONS, at great length, argued that this was
constitutional question: which could not be evaded
under any pretence and that any attempt 10 break in
upon the Constitution in this particular, would be but
the precursor of evils which might end in the over
throw of that glorious fabric which had been reared by
the patriotism, the vaor and the virtuc OF their an.
cestors. The Senator from Cupeper had treated the
subject with contempt; he had taken it up thing to
be handled and played WITH and unworthy the grave
consideration of the members OF that body. That no.
norable and distinguished gentleman might indeed
find it difficult bring down his lofty mind TO the
sderaton Of such subjectbnt that was not the case
with him; he believed it to be solemn requirement OF
the Constitution TO 60 into the election and as patri-
OF whatever might be the result to his party ne should
feel it to be his duty 60 into this election lie asked
whether at this time, when new Administration was
about 10 come into power; when the people OF Vrgi-
MIA, common with the people throughout the Union,
were anxious to give the Administration fair trial, ia
majority of the General Assembly of Virginia, repre-
sen,ng minority of the People, entitled to vote under
the Constitution, should band themselves together to
defeat the election of Senator, because they could
not elect who would 60 into the Senate predeter-
mined oppose the measures of the coming Admins
traton They had been told by the Senator from
Not,oway that the motion indefinitely TO postpone,
would not be supported by any one, unless It was by
the Senator from Scott HIMSELF that gentlemen on the
opposite side did not mean say that they would not
90 into an election He sympa,hzed with the Senator
from Scott. His friends had allowed him TO bring for
ward this motion, and to bear the brunt of the battle,
and now finding that the position taken was untenabe,
poor as to do him reverence. lie had
said when the Senator from Scott had asked and been
refused, leave indefinitely TO withdraw his motion,
referring TO u certain wel-known story, that he had
raised the devil, but could not lay him. The Sena-
tor from Nottoway had said that he did not know
whether the Senator from Scott had raised the de-
vii or not, but lie had raised the Senator from
Richmond City, he certainly had raised the wind
Now, whether the Senator from Scott has raised the
devil or whether he had raised the wind, he would
not now stop to enquire; but il was, at least GER
tain, that he had raised the Senator from Notoway
and all who knew the pungency Of that Senator wit,
the orerpowering eloqnPnce oil his retors, and the
keen and cutting nature ot his satire, must acknow-
ledge that they would rather raise the devil than the
Senator from Notoway. He desired now to express the
feeling felt by him. common, he trusted, with every
Wing in the CommonN ealth, of deep reprobation
against this first organized assault upon the Constitution
ever made in Virginia, and assault made for the
avowed purpose Of carrying out the purposes of party
The Senator from Cupeper and his friends, had assured
them that the present was mere question OF time, or
of xpedency but he begged to them the Rubicon
of the Constitution being passed. that nothing but
danger before them if they could refuse to- obey
10 elect their Senators for six years, they might elect
them for four three or two, not at a-and they
had right refuse 10 go into the election of
Senator than they would have had to refuse to go into
the election of Judge of the Court of Appeals or OF
Councillor of State tie contrasted the course pur-
sued by South Carolina when she proceeded to her at
tack upon the Federal Government with the Of
Notification, attempted to be practsed by 10 men,
bers Of the Senate representing minority OF the people
The argument that they did not represent the minority
haron mn 0fy had bpp
the late Presidential Election supporting the policy
of MIR. Van Buren,, was at war with the principles
of the State Constitution, and ought to he frowned
down by every State Rights and especially repro
bated by the Representatives of Eastern Virginia, who
were peculiarly interested in maintaining their mixed
representation OF persons and property. The Senator
from Culpeper had said, that he would consentte &c
into the election of Senator if they would pledge
themselves to give him anti Bank, anti Tariff, anti
Internal Improvement and anti-Distrbuiion man, but
he suspected that he had omitted the most potent OF al
the ants, that of anti Harrison man; the Senator had
been pleased to appeal to them in the most touching
strain5 act towards hs political friends with libera
ty;-hc said that they the Wings, had already Sc
nator and he asked them to preserve peace and harmo
nv and to show forth their magnanimty and JUSTICE by
giving them the other and then they would 60 into the
election drectly;-he regretted that the Senator from
Culpeper and those with whom he acted required 10
be paid TO receive the consideration before they would
consent to discharge their constitutional obligations
The Wings could make no such corrupt and uncon
stuonal bargain this; bG, there was no fear oil
their ever electng any who would not support the
principles dear TO the people o Virginia. lie denied
that the Senators were the representatives OF the PEG
pie in their individual capacity, they represented the
State in its sovereign character and the Senate cham
her the great pillar on which State Rights rest
ed he therefore begged gentlemen who called them
selves State Rights men, not 10 destroy, SO Tar as
they were able the great pillars which their rights
rxsed--And why should they thus act' Mr.. Van Blu
zen was politically dead, and he warned them against
linking themselves TO sink swim with political
corpsr-least of ALL should they drag down with them
chose State Rights about which they had lately heard
go much 1.-The Senator from Culpeper afraid that
Senator might be elected who was not strict State
Rights man. Where would the Senator from Cu pepper
have them TO look for State Rights menu Would he
20 to Jackson who had trampled upon them and upon
the Constitution of his country must they look up
TO him who had declared it was glory enough for hun
To have served under such Chief and that he would
tread the footsteps Of his illustrous predecessor
The Senator from Culpeper had tainted them with Pur
suing two years ago, similar course to that which he
and his friends pursulng-that they then re-
fused to elect Senator, they could not elect William
c. Rves but that not the case for they had endea-
youred at that time, to elect either Johnson Allen;
hut the Administration party had set their mind upon
John Y Mason, and no other than John Y. Mason
would they have, and therefore election took place.
although at the time they knew that John Y. Mason
in favor of placing all the corporations in the State
in the power of the Executive;-but if the obser
vatons Of the Senator from Cupeper were in this par
tcular correct he would contend that there was some
difference between attempting to discharge their duty
and aborng eecta Senator and refusing to fix the
day so to enable them 10 make the atemPt-fie I'M
pored the Senate not at this critical time 10 refuse to
do their duty.
Mr.. BOULDIN said the Senator from Richmond
city reminded him of the Deputy Sheriff who, being
very stupid fellow, opened the Court with 10 yez, 0
yez, yez, the Court open, the Court open, the
Court is open"-A bye stander said, 'there, you We
done it," and Mr.. Deputy hawled out, "l'ye done il,
I've done it, I've done it." The Senator from Rich.
mond city had done it, but what he had done, it would