Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-13


save appearances, forw Wings mean to make
a thorough examination into all the depart
ments of the General Government, and we
mean 10 reform the corruptions which we are
confident exist, and they had better make
virtue ofnecessity, and help us to do that which
they cannot prevent.
MIR RTTcHIE AND THE DEMOCRACY OF VIR-
GNIA.-Our readers will remember, that du-
ring the last session of Congress, the State of
Virginia had but one member in the Senate of
the United States. This was owing TO the
extreme an9iety of Mr.. Richie, and the De-
mocracy Of Virginia, to carry out the wishes of
the I" dear people, and thus preserve the
principles of Democracy untarnlshed. BY the
Constitution and laws of that State, the House
of Representatives is elected every year, and
the Senate once IN three years. 1t thus, not
unirequently happens, that the two Houses
have uiajoTities of different political parties.
When this is the case, it has always been held,
and we think properly, that the lower or Rep.
rescntative branch is the true exponent of the
political sentiments of the people being fresh
from them. At this time the Senate of Vir-
gina, which was elected some two or three
years since, has an equal number, sixteen of
each party, while the lover House, which was
elected last Spring, has. large majority Of
Wings. Such being the state of parties in
the Legislature, we should suppose that the
Democratic members of the Senate represen-
ting districts, which, are at this time Wing,
would feel il their duty to resign their seats or
tovote Tor Wing measures. The Senate Of
Virginia, however, appear TO be of different
mode of thinking. In the election of a Sena-
tor of the United States, they have entirely
lost sight of the representative principle, and
of the obedience due from legislator to his
constituents.
The election of Senator ofthe U. States,
is of course by joint ballot of both Houses, but
in its action upon the question, when the cleo
ton shall be had, the houses act separately,
the concurrence of each house in naming day
for the election is necessary, and, of course,
either house can, by refusing to appoint
time, prevent an election from being had.
Now we ask our Democratic friends of Mis-
sissppi, what they would think of the Senate
oftheir own State if, under similar circumstan-
ces, they were to refuse any action in the
premises, and thus, for the sake of party, refuse
to do what is manifestly the VIII of the people.
Would they call it Democracy? or would
they call it total disregard to the principles
Of ReputlicGnien Such, however, is the
part enacted by the Democratic Senate Of
Virginia during the last session of that body,
and which has been conformed to, thus far,
during IFS present session. Now, let it be re-
membered, that this is not the action of some
few refractory members, but of the entire Dem.
ocratic delegation. So far as we have been
able TO learn the facts OF the case, and we pre-.
sumo we have earned them correctly in the
ballot for naming time for the election,-the
vote has stood, sixteen w higs for, and sixteen
Democrats against it. Such is the course re-
sorted to by the party in the Senate to defeat
the aoi1 Of the people, such being their only al
Tentative, for if they once make an election. il
must result in favor of the Wings and the
people, they having. as we have before stated,
large majority on joint ballot. At this time
there is some faint hope that the old Domin-
ion viii once more be represented, for the
people are raising such an outcry at this fla
grant misconduct, that they have frightened
the Democracy into some degrse of respect
for them. This is the conducl of the Demo-
cratic leaders in Virginia and to bring il
home the more forcibly, to the Democrats Of
Mississippi, we viii contrast it with that oftbe
Wing leaders in somewhat similar case.
AT this time the lower House of the Leeis-
iature ofVirginia, has before It's contested elee-
tons from several counties. In some Of these
contests, where the seat is occupied bv
Democrat and claimed by Wing, the Wings
as body entertain no doubt, that the WHO
claimant is entitled to his seat by a small ma.
lority, but when they come to deciding The L..
gality of particular votes, difference Of op;p-
ION arises amohg themselves. Some of the
Wings believe one vote legal and another ;lIa-
gal while others of the Wings believe the
irss vote Illegal and the second legal When
1t comes to the final decision, whether voc
De legal or illegal. the Wings being unVviII;no
to relinquish their scfuples Of conscience aa5
the Democrats, IN every insteuce. yotiro -
sold body for the Democratic votes soa
gam ga,asu 1ne wing Ones constantly happens
.aa' wing votes are rejected by small maior;'
ues, ana TINS through the scrupuIous honesty
q wing members We glory IN such con-
us' as inns It IS but carrying ont Of the prip-
c'ples heretofore protested BY the wing p !.