Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-27

dsapprove OF the principle, he could not IAN 20 admire
the open, manly, daring manner IN which they at
tackled the Constitution. There was something no.
BILE in i. but he prayed to be delivered from The
stranplng process now sought TO be adopted silently to
choke the Constitution The whole arguments OF the
Senator from Culpeper were based upon the assump
ton that because others did wrong, therefore they
might do so too that because the States did not COM
ply with The acquisitions of the Constitution III elect
inc members to the House of Representatives, that
therefore, they might neglect It's provisions IN another
particular, and refuse to elect Senator'S 10 THIS doc
trine he could not give his assent. Two wrongs never
made right. Thus was not as had been stated a
question respecting a day. If they would move TO
amend the resolution, and substitute any other day o
the 18TH that they might deem more convenient, ne
would be content. The question really At issue "as'
whether they would would not comply WIN .ne re-
cuis;tions Of the Constitution, and proceed to I'LL The
,c,ncy before the expiration Of the term Of service Of
WIN. Fl. Roane, Esq.
Mr.. ATKINSON said that the present question was
merely one of expcdency, and for his part he was not
prepared to 90 into this election at all at this session.
unless he could send q TO the Senate who would
carry out the principles which the majority of the peo
pie in Virginia had approved He was anxious that the
people at the spring elections should have an opporu
nifty Of passing upon ts matter feeling convinced that
they would unequivocally indicate their preference Tor
those principles which had ever been dear to Vrgnians
After many other pertinent remarks, the gentleman sat
down, by declaring his fixed purpose TO vote against
the adoption Of the resolution.
The question of "indefinite postponement, was then
nut and the only Senators voting IN favor OF that mo-
ton. were the Speaker (Ir Nash,) and Mr.. McMuen.
Mr. BAPTIST rose to do what he had hoped would
have been done by some other Senator-Takng the
Constitution as his only guide, he did believe,
lpiousy and conscientiously believe that there
constitutional obligation resting upon them to 90 into
the election of Senator, and, therefore, he moved to
strike out the 18Th Of February and insert, in lieu
thereof, the Sd Of March.
Mr. LYONS could have wished that the election
might have taken place sooner bet yet, from the Pc
cuar position of the worthy Senator, he felt bound TO
accede 10 his notion and returned him his heartfelt
thanks for his motion.
Mr. GOOD said it would be impossible for him to
be here On that day.
Several other members regretted that the day of cleo
ton had been fixed late PERIOD and asking Mr.
Baptist to change it, which he regretted that he could
not do lie stated that he had only consented to go
into the election at all, under deep sense Of constu-
tonal duty, and he had fixed the day thus ate IN or
der to meet the objections of the gentlemen of his own
party he trusted therefore, that the House would agree
his motion.
Mr. SMITH expressed his determination to vote for
the amendment of the Senator from Mecklenburg as
he had gone the last day before the expiration OF the
term of service of Mr.. Roane. The gentleman had re-
ceiyed the thanks of his political opponents, and yet
while the words of thanks warm on their lips,
they pressed them to fix earlier day. The Senator
from Meckenburg did not BY any means occupy an en-
vabe position.
MIR. BAPTIST assured the Senator from Cupeper,
that he should always consider himsefn an envabe
position when he found himself battling under the ban
ner of the Constitution.
Tie question was then taken the amendment,
which vas agreed to, ayes 10, noes 81
.7yes-Messrs. Campbell, Thornton, Cooke, Peyton,
Wiley, Baptist Bonduran Gusts, Smith, Piper, Pres
ton, Dyer, Lyons, Carter Faulkner, Bland Wood
house, Fontane, Anderson-l9
Yoss-Messrs Nash (Speaker,) Hunton, Carson,
Atkinson Conrad, Bouldn, Mofe,t, McMuen, Scott,
Todd, Mcllhaney, Good, Thompson-l3.
The Senate then adjourned