Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-20
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
oLNA l T.,
Fridau. Februuru ID

| Friday, February II.
MIR. THOMPSON should not have addressed the Sc
nate had he been pontedy alluded to by gentle
men who had preceded him, who appeared &c be very
much alarmed lest he should msrepresent the ceilings
The wants, the wishes of his constituents this, upon
The present upon any other occasion, ne should be
very sorry to do but he could not that Tho vote oil
The people of his district the Presidential election
could be considered instructions 10 him in this particu
lar. tie admitted that there was a constitute lal obi
9aton imposed upon him Of the representatives
OF the people OF Virginia, to go into Senatorial cleo
on out there was constitutional obligation as to the
Time when such election should be made. he did not
see that there was any necessity elect Senator
congress would go into session simultaneously with
them II was well understood that no business ofimpor
ance was ever taken mp at the commencement of
sion, that they could very readily next session. elect
their Senator, and enable him 20 take his seat time tC
participate in the discussion and settlement Of any in
portant measure that might be brought before them
Circumstances, however, might arise, which wonld
render 1t, IN his opinion, necessary TO proceed to an
election at the present session. There strong
NOR that there to be called session Of Congress
at present, however, this conjecture but Gen
Harrison had now gone to Washington, and it would
doubtless, in few days, be ascertaned whether they
to have this called session not If such should
be found to be the case he for one would then support
motion for going into this election, believing that the
interests oftle people and the wishes Of his constituents
required that Virginia should be then fully represented
ority, voted for Gen Harrison, yet there were no firm
er Republicans Of the Jefersonian school in the State
and they would have voted for Gen Harrison,
had they not believed that lie would honestly sustain
the principles which had been dear to the people
of Virginia. lie therefore could not now consent
to go into election, when the result must be TO
send TO the Senate a hostile to the great prin-
cpes of the people Of Virginia but if gentlemen on
the opposite side would present to him who would
oppose the distribution Of the proceeds Of the public
lands, who would oppose increase of the Tariff, the
establishment of National Bank he should have his
vote and if Gen Harrison conducted his admns,ra-
ton upon these principles, it should receive his hearty
support Until, however he saw that there was some
necessity for ecctng Senator he should refuse to go
into the election.
Mr. CONRAD was afraid that he could not say any
thing that would have the effect Of changing the deter
mnation of the Senate-he indications too strong
to be mistaken, that the spell of the Magician still rest
ed upon the Senate Of Virginia, and that spell lie
well aware not to be broken by him. lie, how
ever, felt it to be his duty enter his protest against
the proposition before t!Iem-a proposition which
he could not regard in any other light than attack
upon the Constitution, and abandonment Of the
rights and interests of the people of Virginia. Mr.
g. then proceeded al great length to argue that there
clear constitutional obligation upon them TO pro-
coed TO this electon-an Obligation which in his opni-
on could not be dsrcgarded under any preencc what.
The argument of the Senator from Kanawha, that
there no necessity to elect Senator, his
vices could not be required until they should have time
next session elect one, fell 10 the ground at once
because the expiration of Mr. Roancs term Of service
the 18th Of March, and the Senate was already sum-
moned to meet the 9TH, for tic important purpose
of passing the appointments Of the President. Not
merely constitutional obligation, but every consdera
ton Of interest and Of public duty called upon them TO
fix upon day to go into this election. The present
unsettled condition of the finances the currency the
trade of the country, and the abroad rendered
almost certain that there would be called session
At that called session, 1T certain that measures Of
the greatest Importance would be brought forward and
yet the Senate of Virginia was prepared to leave their
State unrepresented but half represented in the Sc
nate oft the United States lie called upon gentlemen
the opposite side calmly TO review their position,
and 10 act became Vrgnians, anxious for the pros
perty and honor Of their good old Commonwealth.
Mr. ANDERSON defended himself from the charge
Of inconsistency, because in lc:'3 when acting
of the Administration party he had voted 10 postpone
an election Of Senator until the next session. At that
time the Administration party had considerable
ority in the Senate, but even then, he could state Of
his knowledge, that majority of The Senate could
not be brought TO support motion for postponement
until it distinctly understood that, if the House of
Delegates decided that election should take place.
that the Senate should at once consent to fix day
At that time, too, there probability of called
session. and scarcely possibility Of their Senator be-
ing called upon TO act officially until after the cont
mencement of the next session. but the Senate Of
the IT, 5. was already convened for the 9TH of March
there almost certainty Of a called session, and
the other House had sent them resolution asking
them TO fix day to 90 into the election of the Sena-
tor, and yet motion had been submitted 10 postpone,
indefinitely, the consideration of the subject.
Mr.. FAULKNER conended for the constitutional
obligation resting upon them 10 proceed the election
Of n Senator, arguing this point at length, and
then urged the necessity, matter Of policy and dn
ty, to have Virginia fully represented in the called scs
sion of Congress- should one take place;-he trusted
that they would not deprive themselves of their just
station and weight in the Federal Government. The
argument that the result of the Presidential election
was 10 be binding npon their State Legislature, was
an nsidious blow at State sovereignty the Con-
stuon Of their State pointed out TO whom they were
answerable for their conduct, and no representative
could disregard the wishes of his constituents, because
another constituency, in another matter, had decided
particular Way. The representation OF Virginia not
based upon the white population it did not recognise
the right Of the numerical majority TO rule 1T was
mixed and TO attempt to transfer the pow
err and influence from this mixed representation TO a re-
presentation Of mere numbers attack upon the
State Constitution. He begged Of the Senate to look al
the character and probable effects the which
they were setting in declaring that there cons
tuonal obligation upon them TO go into this election at
certain tme if not they might proceed TO elect their
Senator years before hand we'll years AFTER parties
changed daily, but precedents remained and he would
ask Of them to consider the probable effect of the one
practice proceeding to fill the vacancies in the Sc
nate the session preceding The expiration ofthe term of
service, and that usage ought not TO he lightly depart
ed from. He expressed his establishment that gentle
men who had declared their ds,rust of Mr.. Rives po
litical opinions, and who had carried on long and
deadly war upon him, should now be prepared TO rest
entirely upon him, TO place him in the expected called
session rs the sole representative Of the sovereignty
of Virginia. Much he expected from MIR. Rives
this was degree of confidence which he not dis
posed place in any He wished place by his
side worthy colleague, that if any of the odous
measures which gentlemen prophesed would flow
from the administration OF General Harrison, should
be brought forward that Virginia, at least, should be
found we'll prepared to defend the great principles
which her people held so dear. Here he gave de-
scripon Of such character came mp TO his idea of
what Virginia Senator ought to be. Could gentlemen
say that they believed if they went into election
that man would be elected who would trample upon
the will of the people, They could not so believe
He for one, would not vote for such man who was dis
posed TO be mere palace save-he would not vote for
friend TO system of fsrocous proscription-tor one
who was in favor of revivng the exploded system OF
I,nIsl1