Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-30

views he entertained on this important subject so 4
TO make them more worthy the acceptance Of IN
House. But the impotence gentlemen manifesto
TO press the House to test-vote-and the annur
citation just made by the gentleman from Accomac
(Mr Bayly) that n large majority was prepared Z
support the bill, left him no option. III reasons q
dissuade the House from such course were to b
offered at all, II was obvious, under such crcum
stances, they must be presented at once. He mus
express his concern, as well as surprizc at havn.
announced that large majority was in favor q
the Bill. He presumed the fact was not stated n
random. II ascertaned to be true, he must repea
the expression OF his profound regret For himself
precuded by engrossing engagements, more imme
dIately demanding his attention, from devotng IN,
time that was necessary TO possess himself fully o
this subject, he had been seeking anxously all IN,
light he could Obtain upon it-had bestowed upon
the most anxious rchection-had listened
10 the'whole debate, and only now when il was abon
TO close had arrived ut pretty decided conclusions al
10 the course duty and prudence alike dictate,
should be pursued. Unprepared as he was to pre-
sent his views satisfactorily, he yet felt mpeed b,
an irresistible sense of duty TO offer them crude a.
they were, TO the consideration of the House. BE.
fore doing so, he must be permitted TO express hi,
astonshment at the evident desire of some gentle
men TO press forward to decision. The gentleman
IRON Monroe (Mr Chapman) could not restrain
the impatence he felt TO record his for this bill
II was urged upon it this were some light or
frivolous question, not worthy OF much consideration
He thought gentlemen might have occasion 10 rue
their haste. The people, whose most momentous
interests were involved, would view il differently
and would hold every man on that floor accountable
To- the manner IN which they disposed Of this great
subject.
The gentleman from Fauquier (Nlr Scott) had pre-
scented with great force the leading objections 10 the
measure before the House. He (Mr r. would not
cover the ground that gentleman had so fully occu-
pied, but would conine himself TO few topcs
against preeiptate action, which had not been
brought prominently forward, but which pressed
strongly on his own mind. Was it not desirable
we should exhibit on this question united counsel.3
And was not apparent that the projected measure
could not unite us IN its support Did not this re.
commend delay, and an enoeavor TO modify the
bill as that we might all sustain III Il was objected
10 as being retallatory, and hence calculated 10
widen rather than heal the breach we all professed
desire should be amcably settled. The patron OF
the bill, though he declared that its being retalaory
would constitute no objection with him, yet main.
famed that The measure was purely protective. If
he (Mr RI could be satisfied il was So or if il
should be made so, he would cordially support IT,
as he doubted not would every member OF that bod
But those who, as lie did, believed the matter still
entirely within the reach Of amicable and honora BILE
adjustment, could not he expected concur OF this
time in any measure of hostile character. Let the
feature of the hill which placed the citizens OF New
York on peculiar footing in their intercourse with
this State, be modified 10 embrace the citizens
of all the States under similar circumstances con-
forming TO the analogy OF our quarantine laws, and
lei the bill he freed from so much of II as might
trench on the power 10 regulate commerce granted
10 the Federal Government-ina word let il be SIM
pity protective measure, and it would, doubtless.
obtain the undivided support of the House. He
(Mr RI would not now give his support 10 any
measure of an aggressive character, or that would
operate inluriously against the citizens Of New
York. lie could not feel justified to his con
science or his Judgment TO do so, unless salisfs ed
that they sanctioned the wrong done TO us. He
had no reason 10 believe this, did he believe
on the contrary, he sincerely believed that the
People OF that State, OF any other State of the
Union, were disposed TO maintain the Union
and carry out fairly the provisions of the Constitu-
ton. He distinguished between the People and the
authorities of New York. He would not hold tbe
former responsible for the of the latter t con-
WINGED they were approved by them and of this
there was, IN his opinion, no evidence whatever-
Even as 10 the public authorities Of that State there
was too much reason TO believe their course on this
subject had been influenced more by regard to mere
party considerations than any other. ID sreputa.
BILE and deplorabie the existence of such a fact
would be- yet some of the proceedings there seemed
TO warrant the belief that even this question had
been drawn into the vortex of party and the course
Of the Governor and those who supported him In
New York seemed tn be taken in order to propit-
ate the favor Of the Fanatics. But, if II were So il
went TO show that the merits of the course pursued
by them so far as II involved rights had scarce
iy been fairly considered, and to authorize the hope
that when reviewed under more suspicious circum-
Stances even the politicians themselves would aban-
don so untenable ard dangerous a ground.
He could not forbear too, TO urge against the
adoption OF the present measure that IL was uim.
more directly at that interest in New York which
is in closest alliance with us both in interest and
feeling The SneTcanule classes there, as general
proposition, were our best friends Surely II wa
most impotc to burden them with restrictions nnc
drive from those whose sympathlss were with
us and TO whose &C i've and friendly co.operatior
we must mainly look 10 bring about the abandon
ment Of grounds which il was so Necessary TO our
rights and interests, well as to the peace of the
Union, should be abandoned.
He would urge on the House, at this time but one
other consideration against hasty action. The sub-
Iect involved the most momentous consequences -
Our highest interests, our dearest rights the har-
InOny Of the States, the existence, il might be- OF
the Union itself, oil involved in the issue OF
this controversy. Was Il not reasonable that the
people-our constltuents-whoSe interests and fec
ings were so deeply Implicated, should be consult
edl We were not elected ia reference TO this 1ues
ton. Ought we TO commit, under such circum-
stances, those representa- TO any particular mode
OF redress without knowing their wshesl They
had not declared their wishes-indeed they had
formed no opinion. Not one man in ten, he believ.
ed he might say not one in twenty, tn oug bout the
State, was sufficiently informed on the subject 10
have an opinion. lie believed that to be the case
even with regard 20 his constituents (he CHI.
zens OF Richmond,) who, from interest as well as
position, were not likely 10 be less informed on the
subject than other por,Iong of the Commonw ca In
He deprecated, under such circumstances, the pre
action she should pursue.
One word as 70 a remark that fell from the nor
teman from Accomac. lie asked hovy much lon,,s
would gentlemen have us wau7 So Ionu as ~,
were suffering no actual loss He Mr. X ygou,
wait much longer before Commencing war even =
commercial Teguauons-iOr this must spesdilv ,uI
toto ono Of more serious character. lie did not bs
state TO say, II we were now TO commence bostil
operations II would be an instance Of speedy reso
10 hOstites such AZ, iOr the same degree Of provo
cation, the history Of civilized nations for tie la
100 years could not parallel. lie would point ge,
uemen, who seemed TO think we had already Ia
borne sufficiently, " one or two instances Of una,
Iusted controversies. How long had our dispu
with Great Britain, respecting the North Easte
Boundary, been pendngl Was there a sing
individual IN the Union acquainted with that que
lion who had scinta Of doubt Of the Justice
our claml And yet, through long course Of yea
tract Of land as clearly belonging 10 US as any 20
Of our territory, has been shut out from the occup
ton OF our citizens, rather than plunge the "
countries into war which longer iofbeafance mig
avert And where was the man who did not of
prove.the Wisdom and moderation that sought
accomplish the desired result rather by negotiate,
than waH And 10 take o stronger case more nal
gOus 10 the present, and seeming 10 demand mo
instant rodress-he alluded To the case of tho st,v
belonging 10 American citizens and wrecked IN ii
Bormudas, seized and set nj liberty bv the Rr,ti
authorities. How many years had this been , an
isct Of negoiiiton-and did not every man Of or
dence and reflection agree that il was the dutv
the Government 10 exhaust negotiation before tl,r
ing Of a resort 20 hosulItiesi And yet We. att,
.aaHa 1900 !. T..