Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-27
No. S6.--VOLUME AXAYn.

IS now sorry Yes, Sir, suppose three fourths Of that
mouse should be gentlemen Of the views which the Sc
nator from b. and the Senator from Montgomery (Sr.
W B. Peson) then had the subject OF slavery; and
bill having passed the House Of Representatives, 10
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia or 10 APP
propriae money from the Treasury of the n;cd States
to send black slaves to Afrca, should be pending
the Senate Of the United States and It were known
here that vote needed 10 pass 1t; and there
should he President who would not veto any law
passed by the representatives Of the people, lie
sderng 10 savonr Of Monarchy, and therefore not
10 BE exercised.-Suppose It e. be known, that on
| JOINT ballot here, man, fully imhued with this pint
ian;iropy, and ready TO carry INTO effect this Nibcr
'"ree fanatlcism-a willing, not only 10 abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia but appro pirate
Ne revenue of the United States 10 send negroes to
Ar'ca, wonld, in all probability, be elected-and
resolution from the House of Delegates fixing
day for the election of a Seuaor-under the
atoyr crcunlsiances-wuud it not be the impera-
tive duty OF the ~ to refuse agree 10 20 into tie
orcioh> Shonid such state OF things hear
iro: any Of tie ~ who are so entrusted with III.
projection Of the slave holders, the doctrine, that
all hazards We must agree TO fix d:r. ard 20 into
The eection:-when h. doing they would cause
phanhroplst to be elected, who would vote away III"
rights OF Their constituents 10 Their slaves: No. SIR, no.
II they should do so they could safety
10 their districts. They would not, they could not
agree to go into such election. All Of them, not some,
but all, would be found mGntainrg what the Demo
cratic members maintain; that i, Tie clcciing Of
,. Senator IS ike other official duty, you would
hear them say must look around and about us and
see If we cannot secure the election OF to the
Senate oi the U. s, who will vote away that pecu
lar interest committed specially to our guardianship
Would il not be the declaration Of the gentleman from
Caroline The Democratic party 10 this House, as
nave sad, stand IN situation IN reference Ia u =
Bank similar IN principle 10 The supposed. And, SIR
the case have put IS not one OF mere romance. bc9
every one TO turn their recollection again 10 What took
place in this Assembly in io3l-2-;o what has taken
place in Great Britain, and IS taking place IN Congress
every ycar-to the Of the L. States above
given.-Sir in the time Of Rnanc and Randolph ten
years ago, who would have thought that man could be
elected 10 the Senate Of the United States who viii
vote for Bank And yet il has come upon ",
Then, Sir if the nineteen in the supposed, not
only would have the right but he bound to refuse 10 go
INTO an election, when, on junt vote, an Aboonlst
ou!d be elected II proves, beyond all answer, that ~
have the like right Of dong III the premises what
our best judgments d ctate we halicrc United
States Bank be contrary 10 the Constitution, and
that il will, in The end, greatly inusc the nation,
pccially the Southern States, II wholly destroy tie
liberty Of the people.
Mr.. Speaker, every constitutional obligation -
equally binding The obi CATION BIZ lie Constitution
to provide the Of carrying our State Govern
mcni, is as imperative as any other could be- But sup
pose large majority Of the House OF Delegates should
be inexperienced yoaag gentlemen, who had become 50
Interested for the welfare Of the whole human race,
jealous 10 set black slaves free at the costs OF the
ngs Of the poor white man, that they had come 10 tho
conclusion that the Worlds Convention in London did,
that the way TO set the free to render his Ia
Dor OF value to the white Is taxing cotton,
&c, Nc, that il would yield profit. Suppose,
say, these inexperienced young gentlemen, having
large majority i'll the House Of Delegates, and burning
VIZ! the most phanthropic feeling for tic gtncrGi wei
fare Of man. but specially Of the black man. should
ceve that the Tax BILL which is shortly 10 be sent hereto
help pay for attempts ut Internal Improvement afforded
fine opportunity, not only 10 raise the 100000 which
the Treasury stands i'll need Of bu, TO render the slaves
Of little, value by putting tax OF fifty dollars Oh
each, and thereby make il the interest Of his masertn
him free, or run away from him. Would the niEc
for it; And if the other House should insist
would the nineteen yield No, Sir, they would not
yeld-though il the last minute of tie session,
and By refusing The appropriation, or any other bill
should be lost and the wheels Of Government, stopped
Sir, is it not constitutional duty, high obligation
under OATH 10 pass an Appropriation bill, or bill to
raise tie necessary supplies Sir, trust never agan
to hear the doctrine maintained, that wc are, al all
hazards, let the consequences be what they might, II
elect n Senator or do any other legislative duty.
All the forms prescribed III the conducting Of pub.
lie business-all the Stages through wIc! Il - 10 pro
gross to final acton, or completion, are bat 50 many
safeguards against surprise and inud!cons acton-io
protect the weak from the strong the few from the
many. Yes Sir, they are ramparts, at which, those
who may think the public interest safety al stake
can make a stand; and which the experience of ages
has proved 10 be necessary. Why is it necessary that
both Houses of the General Assembly should concur
in fixing a day. but for this: Why have two Houses
bu, Tor tiis: How each House act Independently
Of the other, except by means Of majority OF lis
body, And why call upon member t. vote, ii that
vote IS not 10 he tree
Mr.. SMITH said in selecting agent 10 carry out
certain specified powers trusts, II necessary tat
they should elect who would truly represent The
people Of Virginia. and carry those great principles
or the safety OF which the present position faars
calculated 10 create considerable alarm lie denied tst
there any constitutional obligation 10 70 INTO this
election before the 4th OF March, during the
present session, although he should be prepared 10
into such election provided could elect who
would carry sound principles lie denied, that there
was any breach Of the Constitution, by not keeping the
Senate always full. The same principle applied 10 the
Senate the House Of Representatives, and the Con.
s;i,uon, with regard 70 both bodies declared Sec. =
That the House OF Representatives shall be composed OF
members chosen every second year by the people Of the
era! States. Sec. , That the Senate CT the nled
States shall be composed If two Senators from each
State, chosen o. the Legislature thereof for
Now, the not complying with the letter Of the law,
one case, could no more be violation of the Consti-
tuition than IN the other; II not imperative 10
have Senators for six years than Representatives, for
two; and yet al knew that although the term Of Office
of the Delegates expired the 9TH of March, yc;
that even in Virginia the elections did not take place
until the latter end Of April, and in many of the States
it was much later. Then again they had the example
of Delaware and other States, which had neglect
ton of the term Of service Of their Senators lie
tended that the time for the election Of Senators
matter which the trainers Of the Constitution felt might
be safely entrusted to legislative dscretion: and al
though authorities had been cited to show iha
their duty to have the Senate at all times full yet he
could we'll imagine that their allegiance 10 the rights Of
the States, might render it matter Of absolute neces
sty, refuse to go into snch election. lie would put
case Suppose that the Senate should believe that
consenting go into this election, they should send
Federal Senator 10 The Senate, and that his
would enable the Government to fix great moniet
upon the country-a monopoly, which they
considered to be an outrage upon The Constitution, and
calculated to destroy the very principles OF liberty
could any one believe that their duty TO their country
and Constitution would not demand that they should
fuse to 30 such election: They had been told that
they were faction; but he would contend that they,
who we're speaking the sentiments of the majority .:
the people Of Virginia, could justly be called
faction He reason for going into this election
on the 18Th. lie expected that election would take
place during the present session; but lie wished the
sea.s on the floor of the other House TO he full Gen.