Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-22

~ eu's mat ther course would have led 70 the
resgnalon OF the Executive, his vote and action
would have been precisely the same. Was it pos
hoio mat that House dare not take action An mat
.ers over which they had Legitimate right Of con-
rol, without hrSt consulting the Governor Of tho
St1'e, and aseeTaining his opinioni II such doe
Urine was correct, they should not talk any more
ABOUT Independence, for they would be but the
lures and tools OF the Executive. The Executive
nna Legs functions distinct and separate.
rhey had adopted a particular course Of action
rom which the Governor dissented, and had, in
consequence, resigned his office. The responsible
" oil that act rested with him, and not with that
Iou'e. tie would not. by his act or vote, ask the
governor TO take back what he had res igned.-
Even IL they had the power. hc shoull deem them
te veriest slaves IN the world do after his re-
s'gnauon. He did not regud this us grave sub
Jec1 nj all. Many Governors had resigned their
situations before without any very Ill effects resu
ing from such resign atoms. The question was, had
.ney the right TO express an opinionl That they
nad, he thought no man would doubt. Why
therefore, should the Governor fall into pet, and
throw up his commission, simply because they had
ventured to discharge their dutyl Their Governor
had resigned, and they had now no contro! over
MN. The matter ID passed beyond either him
or Them, 80 far as he was concerned. The Lieuten-
ent governor was now the proper person to dis
eharge the duties OF the Executiye-and that Off
Ger, he had no doubt, would discharge his duties
solution.
.sSfLApAt tuOusut lucy COulu huOpt inc
reso9uop, verify believing that the resignation oil
the Governor was full and perfect MIR Gilmer
was not their Governor now. Unlike his friend
from Spottsylvana, he did not regret the resolu-
ZION adopted by the House that morning although
ne certainly did not anticipate that IL would have
produced the result before them. They believed
that the action Of the Governor OF Virginia on the
subject OF the fugitive demanded by the Executive
OF New otk was calculated to have a most nju-
rous effect upon their inerests-was calculated 20
md II. al,.Il
States believe that Virginia was not firm in the
ground she had taken, when they found her, like
New ork, refusing to give up fugiiives from jus.
tiee, had passed their resolution, and with full
knowledge OF the consequences OF their act, he
should, II the question were again before them.
vote as he had done before, believing il to la OF
much greater importance that the State of Virsni,
should stand right upon this question, than thn,
har uiimer should be Governor oil Virginia. Up TO
ths point oil his refusal 10 deliver up the ugliy.
IRON justice, he had supported and admired the
course oil Governor Gilmer, and his course even
now, IN rendering his resignation, was one that
manifested great spirit whatever he might think of
the policy or necessity Of the course itselE-He
though' that as no had resigned he was ineligible
TO the office now-lf there were some imnoP,ant
Executive duty to perform at that moment, he dill
not oeueVe that Gov. liner could act; il here wa,
an oihcer TO commission could Gov. Gimer do il.
when ms resignation was before them He thought
that duty would devolye upon the Lieutenant Go
Nernori-if the resigna ion OF the Governor was
not perfect, what act could make IL sol Tbev
could not force man 10 be Governor against
ms will;-he thought they could not by the
Constitution, request hun to resume that office
which he had resigned, and II they could he for
one would not. Why should they ask him TO take
II back1-ihsy had thrown no imputation unon
MN; but on the contrary, they had expressed unl-
mted confidence in his zeal and fidelity TO the
rights oil his State. Why should the Legislature.
OF Virginia humiliate itsaf by asking a gentleman
10 De Cnlet MlgtStTate a the
Such course would, in his opinion, he unworthy
OF the Legislature. lie thought thew had fail now
err under the Constitution, to elect another Cover
nor: Inc Con t'tutlon provided that the Governor
shall mold his office during the term of three wears
TO commence on the first day OF January next sue
eeedlns his election, on such other day as NAV
from ttne TO time be prescribed by law and TINT n.
shal be ineligible 10 that office for three wear,
next alter his term Of service shall have expired-
1overnor u liner was elected for three wears. he
had served for one year-if they elected him og,;n
must be Tor three years. and in that case he would
nave served four years; whereas the Constitution
Iimits the term TO three years. He thought that
they had iul power TO go on and elect another Go.
vernon, Tor the Constitution said that the Term of
service should commence on "the first day OF Janu-
AIRY next succeeding his election, or on such dnvns
may from time TO time be prescribed by law IL
was competent for them at once to elect, and 10
NIX Tie day on which the term of service should
commence. All that the Legislature had 10 do wa,
to FIX the day. ~
Mr. CRUTcHFIELp reiterated the reasons which
ne had advanced when proposing his resolution, but
denied that he had ever advanced the opinion that
the House had not the power 10 pass the resolution
adopted that morning.
Mr. GooDE asy enforced the views advanced
by the gentleman from Louisa, and would move
that leave be given to bring IN Bill to fix the time
when the term of Office should commence, and thai
they should hH day 70. proceeding to the election
of Governor
Mr. CHAPMAH moved tho ,don,;o, ,c IL fill,
ing resolution:
Rescued, BY The General Assembly. That in ne.
eeptns the resignation of Governor Thomas w
Gilmer, they retain the fullest confidence in his
pitrotsm and devotion TO the best Interests of Vir.
slnili and while they deeply regret the difference
OF opinion which has arisen between them in rela-
ton TO the question which has caused his resiKna
ton, they foTbear express their high sense
OF the bod and fearless manner in which he has
maintained the rights OF the South in the contro-
yersy which unfortunately exists between this
Commonwealth and the State Of New York
At the suggestion Of Mr.. GooDE, Mr. CHAP
MAN Withdrew this resolution in order TO allow the
pressing business on hand to be got through with.
MIR. MAY concurred entirely IN the views taken
by the gentlemen from Louisa nd Mecklenburg.
and had prepared a resolution which he would now
submit
That leave be given to bring in a Bill TO fix the
Time when the term Of the Governor OF this State
shall communicable that the Committee have
w ~ uulluS AUt htsslon OF the House.
Messrs. May. Goode Holiday, Crutehh.ld.
Wo[!hingtor, Fulton, and Suother were appointed
the COMMITTEE
Mr. May after a short time presented bill fixing
the commencement ofthe term of service of the Gov
ernor Of Virginia from the LIST day Of Aprl.
The Bill was immediately taken through its differ
ent stages, passed, ard sent to the Senate-In
short time message received from that body
that il had passed there also
Mr. MAY thereupon offered a resolution that the
Legislature proceed on the 22d (Monday) TO the G.
lection ola governor.
Before the question en- the adoption OF the reso.
luton was taken, on motion, the House Adjourned.
Mr. CRUrcnTIELD having, however, first obtain
CD leave 10 withdraw the resolution offered by him.
EJ1 In our daily paper Of Thursday last, and
our country paper Of Friday last, it is reported that
bill authorizing the construction Of road through
the county Of Loudoun, was taken up on motion of
Mr.. Ramey, and indefinitely postponed on motion
OF Mr. Armstrong. This is incorrect. There was
no bill Of this title before the House.