Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-27
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY. Feb. Ia, ISL

the attention OF Senators short time, and as u Is
known that am always brief, expect and crave that
attention. shall no, make this an occasion for euo.
gics on Mr.. Van Buren,, or of structures on General
HARRISON and his Cabinet nor shall follow the Sena-
Tor from montgomery in his dissertation on Govern.
neht, and nqurng the history olseveral articles OF
the Constitution Of the United States, they progress
"a ~ ihe Convention, which formed that INSTRUMENT
but Ssh 10 express my dissent from doctrines, winch
have been advanced in the course of this dscu
and the reasons for such dssent-Sr, it has been as
ser'ed over nnd over again, that at all events, at all
hazards, let the consequences he what they might ts
Assembly vas bound To elect another Senator and we
have heca repeatedly told, that should agree
10 the solution as IL came from the other House. OF
10 modification Of II, other would be sent 10
Us; and If there should he, gentlemen would vote
against il. This is indeed curious. II is duty re.
quired under oath, and vet IT Senators cannot have u
arranged to their liking, they will not, they say perform
Il all. Can constitutional duty which is 10 be per-
formed under oath, at all events be disposed Of that
way But il said, il the election should be delayed
until towards the end OF the session. when many
beers will have gone home, that will be full excuse and
sufficient for Their failing to perform tins consti
lutional duty This constitutional duty under oath IS
very cnrousy flexible Ming.-Sir, ls the personal
convenience Of MEMBERS Of ofeeh0idrrs 10 be prefer
red 10 using such will accomplish great
tional object The Democratic members wish 10 keep
themselves in such situation, will best aid them to
the elecun Of who can be relied on, who
rocrat We think that if we, a: this .ine, agree 10 Tx
day, ii viii, great degree, lessen our chances
Of success III eisctIng an anti Baah BMg.-SIr, the
Wing claimant from Louisa may be put INTO Office III
five minutes, and the Democratic member from MOTTO
way ousted in five minutes more
Sir YOU and l. aud all If US know there will be in
the Senate Of the United States, after the 4th March,
twenty-six members in favor Of United States Bank
and that, unless il sends another Bank Senator,
there Will be majority Of one in It's favor. under
stand from authority, OH which rely, that tho Vice
President elect is opposed to }ank.-S SINCE have
been in possession of this information, ! have come
to the conclusion that ought 10 secure the cleo
Lion Of antiBnnk man, however thorough gong
Wing lie might otherwise be. Not n0'c TO Xix on
4 day, we think OF the best means OF accom-
pllshnr 80 desirable an end.--Sir, we TO sur
render an important and lawful means OF accom-
pllsing 50 desirable end FIR the personal conve
nience Ct members -ofcc-holdrrs-men elected to
come here and do this very duty. Sir, one Consti!u-
tona duty and obligation is entirely equal TO any
other Have not these members taken an oath 10 sup
port part Of the Constitution, as well as another
Are they not bound 10 stay here ana do IT. Must some
80 members yield up very material means of ctfecng
great national blessing TO the personal convenience OF
twenty, IT, indeed there should be SO many:
These SO believe Bank to be unconstitutional Are
their consciences not be thought of And yet this is
asked by gentlemen who urge on US nor to Tx on
day, Imperative and then declare unless we yield TO
after 10 90 into the election. Sir when vote against
that resolution which you hold in your hand, vote
against fixing the Sth the day for the election
vote against that paper-nothing moro. In fixing on
day, in refusing TO fix day. in refusing to
agree to any election during this session, conceive
that have the right 10 exercise my Judgment in
applying proper to accomplish proper ends, as
in any other part Of my official duty otherwise, you
make men mere machines, and they would often
comply with the letter, while the spirit and substance
would be violated. / am in favor Of 50 arranging the
powers Of Government not 10 trust men with more
power than is absolutely necessary. But, when you
have asceraned their powers, and assigned them Their
duty they must exercise their powers and perform Their
duty, according their best judgment; and this IS
reason why very important To know the charac-
tiers OF men, and be clearly informed Of their OPT.
Mons every material subject on which they may be
called on to act before you put them in Office.
How and by what considerations should the Assem-
bly, be influenced or controlled, not only in voting for,
but in taking the necessary steps for the election OF
great political agent Senator III the Congress OF
the u. s., is under consideration. IL is admitted by
ALL by both sides Of the House. that Senator in the
Congress Of the I. S. represents The sovereignty OF
Virginia. But gentlemen have argued as u the sove.
rerny of The State the General Assembly, when
enleavoring 10 avoid the conclusion pressed upon
them by the fact, that the State voted against them
at the Presidential election Sir, utterly deny that
the sovereignty Of the State is in the General Assem-
BLY, but affirm that il is in and with the people, who IN
habit the State aggregate body and nation. If
this is not So what viii you do with the express de-
caration in the Bill of Rights, that all power IS vest
ed in and consequently derived from the People; that
Magistrates are their trustees and servants
The relation which the General Assembly bears To
the State may be apty compared to that which the Pre-
sidenl and Directors Of incorporated company bears
Ia that companyto the stockholders SIR, the General
Assembly, in electng n Senator OF the U. States,
in many respects, is but College of Electors
,l,a flprs
tory could not be found. But in performing this duty
they must 90 through lis ncpent steps, controlled by
forms and considerations which the organization OF
the Assembly renders necessary Where special and deli
cate interests have been committed TO any part or
branch of the Assembly where these interests have
becn Guarded by peculiar forms, care must be taken
That in the practical performance of one duty, another
duty or interest is violated injured by the time
and manner Of performing TO the letter the first duty
that the peculiar guardians Of great and delicate in
.ercst do not lose sight of their special charge Is It
not known principle in all action that an exact and
literal performance is often outrageous violation OF
,Le shirt and substantial object in view; If man
were bound in a writing 10 deliver named slave
day specified and he should deliver the dead body OF
that slave, would it be compliance:
Mr. Speaker The people, the soverei gn power Of the
State has been pleased in the organization of our State
Government, in arranging the working machinery OF
that government, 10 set bounds to itself, 10 esta
Dlish such checks and balances, by means, among
others, oil TIE Tallo VI - 's'e
- will protect the few against the many-thc weak
from the s,rong-the STAKEHOLDER from the power
of numbers Yes SIR, 10 the cool circumspcctlon OF
his House, is the Shareholder committed for protection
There are nineteen Senators from this side the Blue
Ridre and thirteen beyond t-Why this; for the pro-
lection of the stakeholder And yet, members of this
House, some of the nineteen, maintain doctrine
which would destroy this security. Let us inquire
now this doctrine of the absolute duty at all events
IT all hazards to elect Senator of the United States,
when vacancy is about to take place, will operate
will suppose case, which the current of events gives
cause 10 fear, may happen in few years more BY
the last census, the whole population Of the U 3 IS
H. 900, SAB There twelve States, the people of
which are Shareholders with aggregate population
black and white, of 6,767 ,2Ol There are fourteen
States which are not slave holders, and they have
majority of four in the Senate of the u s. The States
he citizens of which do not slaves, have popuia
lion of 0,l33.642, against this pol OF whom
,50, 900, or Whereabouts slyehoders In xns Tue
ratio of representation in Congress we m Inc aGnsn are
entitled 10 count only threehths OF those slaves
Now, Sir, suppose the pestence of ph'lanhroPy-lmh
disease of the Wilberorce fanaiac'sm' winch hnay
made The British Parliament tax their people ~ millions
If ropnds sterling neny 800 0O0000 TO pay the West