Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-13

13s, Z Il inAa bilsnis, had allotted 10 n m n,
Inc middle district representing white
population Of is7,ise, a.
white population, 3so, a9s represented bv "a
Each delegate IN the middle district re-
presenting S,67e.
The Valley district, embracing a white
population Of i2i ,096, has a5
The Tide water or Eastern district eon-
tanning white population Of i6i .es7. Ina, ss
White population. ass, us, represented bv eI
Now take delegates from the Is, and YOU leav
os delegates, representing n white population
Add these TO the 81, aud you have &C delesal,
representing white population OF SOC. IFS.
n minority OF two Of the Legislature ren,es.n,
ing majority OF 9,973 Of the white population ,
Thus, then, he thought the argument, ,h,, m
present Legislature did not truly reflect Inc y m
me people, was at an end. They were elected Il,
me people IN the spring, and were alone anser hi
~ III inc eonsu,nencies by whom they were elected
presenting as he did strong whie Di,trie, whe,hs,
acknowledging hs he did the right of instructioo
s orodest sense, he could refuse to 90 no the .lec
noosand concluded by reminding the Senate am
,l"r,. eaner o. me opinions advanced by that gen
| seman on taking his seat again. That geo,l.m.,
mao used the following language at that time.
And while would not expect or ask or an,
gentleman to yield aught OF his principles or .x.,
lazy s.aehment yet II is due to the peace an,
tranquility OF the country az we'll n, IN ,h. .h ::
ties and courtesies Of private life ,ba, much 80.
much OF that party intolerance and Ia ttrrne.s -
feeling which distinguished in so emirent , dee,.s
our late contest, should now give place to kinde,
anu oeuet feelings. Let the patty who has beer
successful remember that the poliiical ascendency
which they now enjoy, cannot long be maintained
unless their course shall be characterised both NV
wisdom and moderation; and on the other hand 10,
wa. party, which IS now destined to become the OPP
os''on' pear IN mind that violent and ndiscrimi-
nate opposition can never be successful; and thar 10
render efectual II must be founded i'm Justice and
patriotism, and waged with lairness.p
Mr. PEfTON could not allow the question To mn -,
without saying afew words to the Senate. Thev
were all Vrginians, and he presumed thew all ri,
deep interest in what could affect the honor :, "a
glory OF Virginii and f he could hone TO she,v IN
the honor and glory OF Virginia was somewhat ;nyoI
we'd IN The course they might pursue he should expect
nal 'nat part oil the Senate TO which he opposed
would JON him and his friends and go into this cleo
ton. de begged OF them not TO proclaim 10 the
people oil Virginia. that the Senate when invited 10
discharge constitutional duty, determined indef
niieiy TO postpone IL, resolving to make no election
curing inc present session. They all knew that the
vacancy takes place on the 4th March-that the
new Administration comes into power on the 5,b-
that the Senate consisted of pat of the Executive
Council, and they all knew that the interest of VIZ,
gina demanded Representative in that Council.
anu yer tney were met with motion 10 indefinitely
Pos'pohe u. The Constitution required that thew
should proceed TO this election; they were bound by
an oath to maintain the Constitution and vet GEN
temen were prepared to postpone indefinitely the
performance OF this duty. IL had been ably shewn
10 mem, that their Government would EXPIRE Us il
were by natural death, If the majority of the
States should refuse TO elect their Senators. and
were they prepared TO lend their assistance to the
bringing about such state OF things as that1 The
present general assembly represented the in of the
people, and il was folly to conten nd otherwise he
n tha i'll
The issues before the people, in the two cases were
totally different, and the constituencies totally DIFF
ierent But gentlemen wanted to defer this election
until the people might have been afforded The on
portuni'y OF changing the polit'c,l compile xon Of
tue DINER. But gentlemen would recolect that the
rule would work both ways. II the course of nc
uon by the Senate was to be established as n prece-
ceoent, what would be the effect2 Surprising thew
waited until after the next Spring Elections, and
that at the next session, n majority of opposition
men look their seats In the House of Delegates.
whiie IN the Senate ma orty of the seats were
hiied by those friendly to the policy of General Har-
rison, what would gentlemen on the opposite side
$ ny 10 the majority of the Senate if they initiated
ne example now set, and refused TO discharge their
constitutional obligationsl He denounced the pre-
sent policy ofgenllemen the opposite side chat
the end JUSTIFIED the means" The end looked 10
by postponement was, that by the Spring Elections
there might be different political aspect given To
the House of Delegates and the means TO accom-.
Obligations, and OF the most sacred
oohgatlons OF an oath. He could never believe
That the hIgh-minded and honorable peonle of
virginia would support their Representatives in
sueh course as that. He begged gentlemen
not 10 look 10 the state OF parties or 10 the
state Of public sentiment, when they were called
upon TO discharge n constitutional duty. Virginia
had never before refused TO discharge her consttu
lional duty. She had been foremost in founding
anu supporting the present Government, and the
"A sail Of fh IT..... -
TO Virginia than any other State, for she would be
leit with her southern Institutions - the border
State. He begged of his friends on the opposite
side TO weigh this matter we'll, and to act as be-
came Virsinians in the matter.
Mr. BOULDlN replied to the arguments OF the
Senators from Caroline and Augusta. He contend
ed that according 10 the view taken Of the Consti-
tuition ey himself and the friends with whom he
acted, there was no imperative duty bindiAg upon
them TO go into the election. Reference had been
made TO the dangers OF Virginia, frontier State
with regard TO her institution of slavery in the event
OF the Union being dissolved. He trusted that such
an event would never hAppen-bul he could not
help remnTkng that the black cloud in the North
rested over gentlemen on the opposite side rather
than with those who hello the same political princi-
pies with him. Gentlemen had conjured them TO
give way for the sake Of peace and harmony, and
protested Tor them great kindness and good will
but they had moi forgotten to inform them that if
they refused 10 discharge this duty, the People
would silu'e them next spring with the inquiry
GLOW long do you mean to abuse our con6dence7n
The whole argument on the opposite side had been
to induce them to submit their judgments and their
construction of their duties the keeping and drec.
ton of their OPPONENTS but he, for ene int nded to
be judged by his own conscience alone. He said
the friends with whom he acted did not hold that the
end justified the means; but they merely claimed
the right Of judging for themselves whether mea
sures were right and just and proper He saw no
reason to go into this election during the present
session, and should vote for the motion indefinitely
to postpone.
On motion of Mr. TOD, the Senate adjourned.