Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-12
SUBSTANCE OF
MR.. ROBERTsON's REMARKS

the third the p.rsisting in the injustice done to
Wight by the election Of Watson; the fourth, the
repetition Of that injustice; and we come now TO the
fifth, in which he hoped this long-continuing wrong
would be redressed, and that the House would re-
turn thuse principles of right and justice which,
recognized IN the outset, had ever since been IA
GRAVITY violated and trodden down. Some had spo-
ken OF this as triviol question. he did not 80
consider IL. Questions were important or other
wise, not according to the amount OF money, but
according to the importance of the principles in
volved IN them. Gentlemen who measured the I'M
portance OF question only by dollars and cents,
rtso6ted to very fallaeious criterion. IL was not
that which was appealed 10 by the glorious band
who threw themselves into rebellion rather than
submit to a trfng but tyrannical tax on tea; and
he feared that they who used Il viewed with but
little patience that noble resistance 10 pay some pet
~ amount Of ship money ut the peril OF lie, which
has given immortality TO the name oil Hampden.-
He should not unduly magnify the importance OF the
present question: when he said that the principle Il
involved one oil the most prominent among those
which led TO the overthrow of the present Federal
Administration. The question was as to the Prln-
ciple proper TO be acted in removals from office.
He believed no one ground taken against the men
soon to be expelled from power, contributed
more TO bring about that result than the imputed
abuse by them OF the power OF removal from office
removal Of good officers for holding opinions differ
from those Of the Government, and retention OF
the unworthy and unfaithiul, provided they were
active supporters of the Administration. He believ-
ed one ground OF objection TO them was more uni
versally believed 10 be true, and no practice more
generally condemned by the great body OF those
who had passed sentence on our present rulers,
than that of prescribing for opinions sake; and he
(Mr X. stood there TO MAINTAIN and carry out those
principles of the revolution Just decreed by the Peo-
ple-lo restore u man unjusiy struck down 10y the
abuse of the power of removable rebuke the spirit
of proscrpton-Io prescribe the prosecutors; and lie
could not think that some gentlemen on the floor
presenting constituencies that decreed this reform.
carrying out the wishes of their constituents IN
giving their sanction TO the injustice he had pointed
out, and joining the offending party-thus shielding
them from merited reproof, and casting on their own
political friends censure which they did not deserve.
He knew some in order to make capital out OF IT,
would seek TO pervert and misrepresent the course
he taking-would raise the cry of prescription,
and endeayor TO make the Impression that they who
cried aloud against the present Administration on
that ground, were themselves practising what they
condemned. One cannot hope TO escape mIsrepre
senIaton, but shall he therefore, fail 10 do his dutyl
Il avoid the charge OF prescription, shall we pro-
claim TO the world that incompetency, mis-
conduct, unworthiness the part of those differ
lng from us in political opinion, shall occasion their
removal frem otfcel Shall their differing from us
an poucs lie as panoply TO protect them against
merited dIsmissa2 Ii must be borne in mind that
remov,l is not synonymous with prescription. Ii is
true, that for party purposes they are too often con-
founded. There have been cases of removal Of po-
litIcal opponents by MIR Van Buren,, held up pub
hc reproOatlon by the public prints, which he (Mr
r. was satisfied were required bv due regard TO
the pub &c interests-nor had he ever, in such
case, permitted himself to join in denouncing him.
be might be exposing himself TO similar assaults
but he did not regard them. He appealed TO his
whole course TO repel them. Through his public
life, now not short one, he had never been con-
seious OF seeking TO tispace any deserving ministe
rial officer whatever political grounds The par
ty he acted with might point proudly with him 10
The proof afforded during the present session, by
the election OF that most excellent officer who
sa, before him, the Clerk Of the House) of the Re
gisteT OF the Land Office and Others, Of the lust
forbeatance shown by them in proper for the
exercise Of II. But where incompetency exists, or
nnworthiness-or where, though one be 10 h honest
and capable, yet has actively contributed to dis
place, on mere party grounds, a worthy officer
land in that only case where the incumbent is DO h
honest and capabIe,) let not the public interests
suffer- or justice be defeated by a misplaced and
mistaken msgnahinity towards political adyer
sary.
Connected with this q estion from the beginning
he would briefly review it. IL was whole, only to
be rightly judged by being considered, and he
should exhibit the picture al full length, On the
demise OF MIR. Moncure, the duty OF appointing a
store keeper devolved on the Executive. That body
then consisted of Gov. Tazewell, Mr.. Macfarland,
and himself Mr. RI Time was afforded for ap-
pcatons. The prominent candidates were Wight
and Watson Both were sustained by the strongest
testimonials Of capacity and integrity. On the re-
commentators produced IN behalf OF Watson, but
especially on that OF the Board of Visitors of the
PeniIentiary, who ought TO have best known, con-
nected with the fact that he had been MoncuTe's
Clerk, he (Mr. r. advised the appointment OF
Watson. He did not then, as he had never done 10
respect TO such Offices regard their differences in DO
htics. But let HIM also declare, as he did, empha
ticaly, that ne did believe that political console
Tations governed his colleagues in preerring Wight
His (Mr. R's) personal well official relations
with those gentlemen, were those OF the most unre-
served intercourse and the ireest possible inter-
change Of views. He did not believe that the poll.
tics Of the candidates were even alluded TO. What
che grounds were on which they gave the appoint
meat 10 Wight, would be seen from the Tecommen-
diions Of Wight, which he would request the Clerk
20 read The cerk having read them Mr. r. con-
tinuedl On these grounds, his colleagues believed
chat the public interests would be best promoted by
the appointment Of Wight; and he (Mr. RI was
free To admit that results had shown that they were
right, and he was wrong. Wight had proven HIM
self, during the short lime he had remained IN office
emnenty qualified, and successful beyond any
other Store keeper the State ever had; while Wal
sons incompetency had since that time, been fully
demonstrated. Many who had recommended him
IncautiOusy, were understood TO have Withdrawn
their recommendation; and it well known that
he pretermltted by the Legislature that turned
out Wight, expressly Tor want OF sufficient quaih
cation; and examinations ordered by the House, es-
pecaiiy the report just made, placed the fact be.
yond question. But, though that should he con-
elusive with the House, he did not rest bis own
course on that ground However competent he
might be--howeyeI successful or bonest--if Wight
had been equally so, when removed he mir. RI !
new demanded bat the wrong should be Tedtessed. /
For himself, that was the issue he was resolved 20
make Up, and desired 70 he decided lie would not
say, that in every Of wrongful removal the in.
strumeot by which IL Effected should bimse { be
removed: But he would say, that this should be I
done in every case where he who sVppanted emo. .
ther, party grounds, was a willing and active
agent 10 efectlng the removal; and I've would shew
IN the sequel, that that was the case here.
Wighrs, then, was original appointment TO
supply vacancy, made by the proper constitu.
tSnal tribunal, not as he fully believed, on polIti.
cat grounds, and had proven eminently judicious
and beneficial W the Commonwealth a man Of
business, IN active and successful Agent, poor and
with growing family, hs had, without fault inn.
puted 10 him. by party vote, on political grounds
been made the victim Of prescriptions "a proscrin'
tion I've (Mr. r. Did not hesitate to denounce here
aud hold up before the country, as the mos cruel
and Wanton-the most causeless, remorseless and
shamein, that had ever occurred in Virginia. Ue
challenged denial-he invited contradiction. many
were present Who participated IN IT, lie psrtlcu.
iarY called the attention, 70 Whsi he said. of the
gentleman from Monroe, INT ChapmanJ lie
would not complain, Il he were inLerrupted -
No one denied tho one could. The rep,ik Of a
then leading friend of the Administration on The
floor Of the House was velLknown, that "t Wa
enough Tor him that Wight had been appointed bv |
Lueton Waller Tezewe.L" II was in that spirH /
the act he referred 10 perpetrated. Bot the |
gentleman from New Kent (Mr Coleman bsd a.,
gued that Layne was then elected and not Watson !
and thercfofe, Watson should not he no,s rcr,ysd