Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-20
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, OF VIRGINIA
SENATE.
MospAr, Feb. Is, 1871

present.
Mr. LYONS, at great length, argued that this
was constitutional question, which could NOT De
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 overthrow OF that glorious fabric which
had been reared by the patriotism, the valour, and
the virtue, Of their ancestors The Senator from
Culpeper had treated the subject with contempt he
had taken il up a thing to be handled and play
cd with, and as unworthy the grave consde 'ation
Of the members of that body. That honorable and
distinguished gentleman might indeed find II diff
cult 10 bring down his lofty mind to the eonsidera-
ton Of such a subject-but that was not the case
with him; he believed it to be a solemn require
ment Of the Constitution, TO so into the election, and
rs patriot whatever might be the result 10 his par
ty, he should feel il TO be his duty to go into this
election. He asked, whether at this time, when a
new Administration was about 10 come into power T;
when the people OF Virginia, in common with the
people throus hout the Union, were anxious TO give
the administration a far trial,-a majority OF the
General Assembly Of Virginia, representing mi.
noriy Of the People, entitled TO vote under the
Constitution, should band themselves together 10
defeat the election Of Senator, because they could
not elect man who would 60 into the Senate pre-
determined To oppose the measures of the coming
administration They had been told by the Sena.
tor from Nottoway, that the motion indefinitely to
postpone, would not be supported by any one, I'M
less it by the Senator from Scott himself; that
gentlemen, on the opposite side, did not mean to
sympathzed with the Senator from Scott his
friends had allowed him to bring forward this mo-
ton, and TO bear the brunt Of the battle and now,
finding that the position taken was untenable, none
were SO poor as TO do him reverence. DE had said,
when the Senator from Scott had asked, and been
refused, leave indefinitely TO Withdraw his motion,
referring certain well-known story, that he had
raised the devil but could not lay him. The Sena-
tor from Ncttowav had said that he die not know
whether the Senator from Scott had raised the de-
vii, or not, but he had raised the Senator from
Richmond City, he certainly had raised the wind.
Now, whether the Senator from Scott has raised the
devil, whether he had raised the wind, he would
not now stop TO enquire but II was, at least,
tain that he had raised the Senator from Notioway;
and oil who knew the pungency OF that Senator's
wit the overpowering eloquence OF his retorts and
the keen and cutting nature OF his satire, must
nowledge that they would rather raise the devil than
the Senator from Nottoway. He desired now TO ex-
press the feeling felt by him, in common, he trust
ed, with every Wing in the Common cath, Of deep
Teprobation against this first organized assault upon
the Constitution ever made in Virginia, and as
Bault made for the avowed purpose of carrying out
the purposes Of party. The Senator from Cupe-
per, and his friends had assured them that the pre-
sent was a mere question of time, or Of eXpedien-
cy; but he begged to them, the Rubicon of the
Constitution being passed. that nothing but dam
ger was before them;-lf they could refuse TO obey
that provision Of constitution which required them
TO eject their Senators for six years. they might elect
them for four three or two, or not and they
had no right refuse TO 90 into the election of
n Senator tLnn they would have had 10 refuse 10 90
into the election of Judge OF the Court of Appeals
or of a Councillor of State. He contrasted the
course pursued by Sodth Carolina when she pro-
ceeded to her attack upon the Federal Government
with the course OF Modification, now attempted to
be practlsed by sixteen members Of the Senate re-
presenting minority of the people. The arsu-
ment that they did not represent the minority be-
cause a majority Of white men had been found at
the late Presidential Election supporting the policy
OF Mr.. Van buren,, was at war with the principles
oil the State constitution, and ought 10 be frowned
down by every State Rights man, and especially |
reprobated by the representatives Of eastern VIr
gina who were peculiarly interested in maintaining
their mixed representation oil persons and property.
The Senator from Culpeper had said that he would
consent TO go into the election Of Senator if they
would pledge themselves 10 give him an anti Bank
nntl- Tariff, anti-lnterna Improvement and anti
man, but he suspected that he had omit
ted the most potent of all the ants, that of anti
Harrison man; the Senator had been pleased 10 o.
peal TO them IN the most touching strains TO act to-
wards his political friends with liberaity;-he said
hat they, the Wings, had already one Senator and
he asked them to preserve peace and harmony, and
% show forth their magnanimIly and justice, by
giving them the other, and then they would go into
the election diTecily;-he regretted that the Sena-
Tor from Culpeper and those with whom he acted, !
required to be paid to receive the consideration be-
fore they would consent TO discharge their consutu
Iional obligations-The Wings could make no such |
here was no fsar of their ever electiog any man |
who would not support the principles dear to the |
people OF Virginia. He denied that the Senators |
we're the representatives OF the people in their ndi-
gIduai capacity; they represented the State in its
sovereign character, ard the Senate chamber was |
he great pillar on which State Rights rested; he |
therefore begged gentlemen who called themselves |
State Rights men, not TO destroy, 50 far rs they |
we're nDe, the great pillars which their rights
estej-And why should they thus nctl Mr.. V. Blu
he hon,
against linking themselves TO sink or swim with
political corpse least OF ali, should they drag down
With them those State Rights about which thew had |
ateiy heard 50 much-Thc Senator from Culpeper
vas alGa;d that Senator might be elected who was
Tot a strict State Rights man. Where would the Sc
lator from Culpeptr have them 10 look for State
Rights men7 Would he 90 TO Jackson who had
rampled upon them and upon the Constitution ell
rs country, or must they look up to him who had
declared II glory enough for him TO have served
Inder such chief and that he would tread in the
ootsteps Of his iustrious predecessor7--The Sena.
or from Culpeper bad tainted them with pursuing |
|o years ago, a similar course TO that winch he and
us trends were now pursuing;-that they then re
used 20 elect Senator, II they could not elect VIM
;. RIves; but that was not the case, for they had
ndeavoured, at that time to elect either johnson or
Allen, hut the administration party hads set their
mind upon John Y. Mason, and no other ma IN than
Iohn J. Mason wou'd they have, and therefore no
lection took place; although the time thew knew
mat John Y. Mason was in favor Of placing all the
corporations IN the State IN the power Of tho Exc
sutve;-but even II the observations of the Senator
rom CulpePer were, IN this particular, correct he
would contend that there was some difference he /
tween attempting 10 discharge their duty and labor. |
ng 10 elect Senator and refusing TO fix The day so
rs 70 enable them IN make the attempt lie impor- |
I'd the Senate not at this critical time 10 refuse TO do
.helr duty.
Mr. BOULDIN said the Senator from Richmond
City reminded him Of the deputy Sheriff who, being
a very stupid fellow, opened the Court with 40
yoz, yez, o yez, the Court is open, the Court is
open, the Court IS opcn,"-1 bye-stander said. /
there, you've done it," and Mr. Deputy bawied /
out, i've done IL, I've done IT, I've done iip The l
senator from Richmond City had done IT, but u hat
he had done, It would be very difficult to say: #
the Senator from Scott had raised the devil, he " AS
sure the Senator from Richmond city had got u /
wind enough 20 blow him away.
Mr. LYONS would not d 5pute the matter with /
lis friend, the deputy sheriff.
Mr. SMITH said, that Notwithstanding all the
cloquonce which had been poured forth, and The
dreadful images that had been coniured up-such
ns violation Of the Constitution disregard Of solemn
obligations, ruin 10 the State, and many other Of
Ike nature, tho only question before them was,
whether they ready 20 60 into the election Of
Senator on the 18th Of February; yes this was
The simple question, around which u their dreadful
images had Ueon called up. The Senate, by fefu-
sing 10 go into the election on the 18TH did not say
ihat lhey would not 60 into the election during the
present session. Tor be expected 10 20 into the cleo
Ton during the present session, and II gentlemen on
we othsr SIDE neglected or refused again 10 bring
uhs leot w 'hers was nothing TO prevent him or
some ono Of the party acting with him. from doin0
90. Bot, m the present condition Of the Ie,isl,
ture, they we're not prepared to 20 INTO me s'sr
tons one county was totally unrcprssened ard 49,