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

L Wll66eI Troon
| since Is In b.: power at any moment 10 s.,,Is.
them TO that which he whholds from ths n., s"'Ne
virginia Ia al the relations ofiife, the d.msne "
~ S,e,sa only in the intercourse
| agetessons OF one State on the rights of .n,hh c
are not 10 sfeet the claims Of the offending s,s,.
ps'eemey similar eases, when they preferred in
inc forum oil the State which has been Injured '
qulescenee on our part will only encourase ~, ~,
peIauon ct wrong and oppression on the p.,s 81
Others. the instance Of fragrant disregard Of cor
sututlonal obligations which has occurred On ~
part oil New York, does not affect her demand. ~.
virginia, 1t may be enqured how often tho ofT,nsa
no DC repeated before we can be permitted to hes
tate IN our submssion7
| IL Is not the fault OF Virginia that our r.l.,;.
with New York have been subjected to these ,n,'
oarrassments. Every expedent has been r,,or,,
10 IN VAN by different departments OF our Cover.
meni to avert this state OF things The State of NJ.
ORR has placed herself Beyond the pale of m.
| constitution n, and II Is competent for her Executive
| 70 restore the relations which once existed and
whiSn we desire to exist again, ut its pleasure A.
the Chief Magistrate Of Virginia, | have NOT b..n
willing TO acknowledge any superiority in the d..
hsnd, OF New York over those Of this State; and
"hiIe Eold THIS station, no demand OF the c.
vernon of New York will be respected rp,; :. =;
conceded that Virginia is entitled TO at Iea,, .n
! equal measure Of justice and respect with Ne,v
York. IL would have been to me a source of ;nss
press6e satisfaction, il, in this view of INV o5c,i
duty, had been sustained by the Leeisl,tn,.
am very sensible OF the i'll consequences resnI,;
from dissensons in the councils Of State on snce
aaN.
rests are involved in this controversy which are NJ
yer IN danger while Virginans are united in ,bs;r
uelence, which, on the other hand are oxpo..d 80
extreme peril by our divisions. / NAV have fo,nsI
an erroneous estimate OF those interests or en,.s
.uheu mistaken views as TO the high respons;b;;
TIES OF my station. On questions Of such n,onn.n,
1'h not willing to obstruct the action Of the Gene
RAJ Assembly by my individual Judgment, n, :;
no" apparent that whatever of 70 ce the nos;,;o 50
this department may have possessed. has been I'M
pareo, not destroyed. The General Assemble
uone me no more than justice in believing that
"y course mas been prompted by proper motives
snal rejoice II the course which you have indicated
III, "ua'h the ends which we mutually desire. and
wh'e my own conscientious convictions of dutv N
state VIII not allow conform the action oe
this Department To the views YOU have eYnre.ssJ
neg 'eave to resign to the General Assembly n,
now 90 most respectfully, the Office of Goyernor or
H"'e. N,as!a.e OF virginia, in order TO afford YOU
an opportunity oil selecting an individual ,xLa
viii concur IN the measure whieh Won b,x. Nv
commended. In thus dssolving the official RE.
"hlch nave connected us, cannot for bear 10 nxs
press To the General Assembly, and tbronoh IT,.
to the people of Virginia. the profound s"sn s
gratitude which shall always cherish in r..~ VI
braneo OF the unmerited distinction which their con
hdence bestowed on me.
am your fellow citizen,
THOMAS w. GILMER.
This communication was laid upon the ,nbI.
Mr.. BArLr offered resolution that the resisn.
ton oil Ciov. Gilmer be not received. Al b;s -;
stance, however, II was laid on the table a. -,
ted that he was Certain that the Iesisl,,nss 10,
the power TO refuse to receive the resignation Of
governor. II he should, upon reflection, conclude
'hat the power did not exist, he should chance M,
reiol uiion into request to the Governor 10 Win
draw his resignation. w. "'"
Inc SPEAKER hereupon vacated the Chair untI
four o'el, ok, for the purpose OF signing enrolled
bills. e ''"'"eu
THE GOVERNORS RESIGNATION, sc.
when the House met again, MIR CRUrcuFtpIn
the Chair He said he had never risen
on any iormer occasion. with feelings Of greaterrm
oArrassuen, with deeper sense OF the obliyations
and duty resting upon him, than upon the nr,son,
occasion: he OF course alluded 10 the commnni
eahon that morning received from the Executive of
lhis Commonwealth; and he would venture TO sov
mat an earthquake, or thunder-clap could moi
nave been more unexpected, or created ere,tar NJ.
constituent, than the expression, on tho NM, oc
their Governor, OF his determination to resign IT
gentlemen would pause and ref ct, and see how
snort ana sudden had been the whole action upon
the case which had led TO the resign Ition he thouoht
they would be disposed TO give time for A r,.cons;
derailon oil the matter. IL was unnecessary to saw
that they were all liable TO hasty action Individual
ly, rs we'll as when they came TO act as the ,,uor
dams OF others. Their action upon the resolution
introduced by an individual member, on his own
responsibility, had been hasty. He had begged
them TO allow little more time for dcliberaIion.
and had that been granted, in all pfobab ilitv re-.
cent events would not have occurred. They had
now received communication from their Cover
nor with the tender of the resignation of the Office
Of Chief Magistrate. lie need not call attention 10
The resolution which had led TO this unfortunat.
result sprung into existence in that House but yes
Ierday morning: II was taken up during the day
when they had had time to re- fleet unon 4, H.,
morning II had ogain come up, and was pssSsJ in :.
thin house, almost without discussion; IL wa, then
sent TO the Senate, unanimously adopted and forth
with communicated to the Executive. The result
was before them. However we'll gentleman n,igbt
be satisfied with the course which they had pursu,d
he felt convinced that there was not one in m,
House who would not rather have had more time
Tor reflection. lie had himself voted that morn.
ing with the overwhelming majority that had
passed the resolution, and he entertained tho
same opinion now upon the subject in question.
which he did then; but he believed that mo.t
would concur with him IN opinion, that it would
have been much better for the Legislature IN
have taken no steps ia the matter than for
their action IN have led TO the present position
OF oflTs. IL was not important that thew
should have taken action at all; there was nothin,
that lmperatively required them to do so-the mora
particularly as Their course might be construed in.
- an improper interference with a co-ordnate
branch of the Government. He could not express
himself as he would wish; but would submit a re- e.
solution which he trusted would meet with the
cheerful and prompt ncquieseencc Of that House:
RssoiUsd, That the message OF the Goyernor Of
this Commonwealth OF this day, be responsibilities
icrred to that officer, and that he is hereby inform.
ed OF the wishes OF the present General Assembly,
that he would withdraw somuch thereof as embra,
ces the resignation Of his said Office.
MIR RATcLIFFE, after euosising the private cha
racter and official conduct Of the G6yernor felt
bound to oppose the resolution which had been iust
offered. lie eonIonded, that under the Constitu.
ton, they had no power To act in tho way indcit.
ed in that resolution. MIR Gilmer had ceased 10 be
then Governor, aud thcre was no power Guthoriz-
ing hem 10 elect Governor by resolution With
respect TO tho office of Chief Magistrate the Com
stitutiOn provides, that "the Chief Exec tive now
or of this Commonwealth shall be vested In n Go.
vornor, To be elected By the Joint vote OF the two
Houses OF the General Assembly. He shall hold
his Office during the t. rm Of three YEAR, to COM
monoo on the first day of January next succeeding
his election, or on such other day may from time
10 time be prescribed by law and no shall be ine-
glble to that office for years next after his term
of service shall have expired" lie contended that
Gov Gilmor was not at this moment the Goyernoy
Of Virginia. Under the constitution ttev mad
tho power to prescribe "irom time to time. The
day when the three years term OF service sbouId
commence, and u was pc fectly Competent for them
TO pass an &C. fixing u term Of s,rtice from Ne,
Apri next, or IRON any o.her day, and then II thew
thought proper, proceed to elect Governor.
Mr. FgLTos regretted the present position ofor-
fairs as much as any man ia the House. The Go.
vernon had, to the best Of his ability defended The
rights n tie Stale, and he and eYcCy other VirSi-
MIN would stand by him 10 the last in res,tin1 ss
erosion and encroaohmont from any and svoSv
quarter. lie had voted for the resolution which bad
led 10 this unfortunate result berause he Lot...I