Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-09
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF vIRGINH
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
WEDNESDAY,, March Sd, ls4i.
aEr n - or

Mr. COLEMAN, Of New Kent, said he hat
risen for the purpose Of presenting TO the House
the name OF Wm. s. Archer, Esqr, a gentleman
well qualified TO fill the Office Of u. S. Senator. La
discharging the daly, which had been most nneS
pectediy assigned him that morning by his potca
friends he could not refrain from eongratuiatins
himself and the country upon having Il m MS pow
or to present the consideration Of the house, th'
claims Of a gentleman, a Statesman, and scholar
who was, aud had ever been, Republican OF th'
old Virginia School of '9s and '99-an indvidua
who was a Republican in fact and IN deed, and no
by profession merely. Like you and myself, Mr.
Speaker, (s,id Mr.. C.) he has always belonged &c
that class of politicians denominated State kghti
Whiys-who believe the Federal Constitution to o'
a compact formed by the States for speeihe pur
poses, which arc therein enumeratered-who re
gard The Federal Government as the creature OF thu
States and as such, confined in It's operations with
in the limits specified in the federal Constitution
In presenting Mr.. Archer a candidate Tor the oil
fee of u. s. Senator, he would most respectful,
tender him TO the General Assembly, as the DIV
branch upon whom all true Republicans cou'
unite, and thereby effectuate triumph OF thos
great political principles whichthey believed 10 o
essentially necessary the perpetuity OF the Union
aye, to the very existence of human liberty seii;-
Like us, Sir, he is anti-Bank, anti, Protective
rlff anti Internal Improvement by the General 20
vernment, and anti Distribution of the proceeds
the Puolic Lands ut this time.
But whenever the federal Government snail nave
been freed from its present pecuniary emoarrass'
ments and the accruing revenue from imposis, &c
shall be sufficient meet all the necessary demands
upon the Treasury, he presumed but lew would oe
found the opponents of equitable distribution OF
the proceeds OF The public lands among the several
States.
Mr.. Archer was no novice in the science OF poll
teal ecoromy. tle had served many years as the
representative of his native district, IN the United
States Congress. His political career had been as
Brilliant as Il was credabe TO himself, and honour
able to the people whom he represented. For many
wears he presided as Chairman OF the COMMITTEE on
Foreign Relations, with marked and distinguished
ability. He invited the most rigid and searching
scrutiny on the part Of his political opponents, into
Mr. Archer's political career: They would Ind IN II
o most satisfactory guarantee oil every assertion
which he had made in his behalf. They would lind
him, during long ana eventtul pohucal hle, the
stern, unye ding, and incorporating opponent of
a Protective Tariff, in all its different phases and
forms: They would find him equally the foe Of In
ternal Improvements by the General Government,
as would be shown by his uniform and lnvarlable
opposition TO all the various schemes for that pur-
pose. During the late convulslve political struggle,
which eventuaied IN discriminating this country from
the iron despo ism Of vicious principles, he was
fourd battling in the front ranks of the opposition,
ready, willing aye determined, TO strike for liber
" and the Constitution. They would have in him,
q jealous ardent, enthusiastic and decided advocate
OF all the great measures OF Reform, which were
advocated by the friends Of Gen. Harrison. Mr.
A. was gentleman of high, chlvalrous, and hon
Durable bearing with mind richly stored with
varied political information, which qualified him, IN
IN eminent degree, TO represent the good old Com
monweaith Of Virginia in the Senate of the United
States: and whenever he should return to their
hands the political mantle which they have cast
upon him, he tpOuld undsrioriie that It would be
found without spot or a blemish.
MIR WILEY SAID that he was anxious to pro-
pound few questions TO the gentleman who had
nominated MIR Archer-for although he came from
the same county in which that gentleman resided,
and might be supposed 10 be familiar with his po-
lItica opinions, yet IN truth and in fact, such was
not the case. The gentleman from Charles City
had said that he was Anti Bank, Ant-Internal I'm
proVement, Anti Tariff, and Anli-Distrbuton, as
at present advised. There were great diversity
OF Anti-B Bank men, and II principally with the
view of asceraning 10 which class Of the Anti-Bank
pltty MIR A. belonged, that he had risen. Was he
Anu Bank on constitutional grounds, and would he
resolutely oppose the establishment of Bank on
such grounds2 They had description of persons
who held National Bank 10 be unconstitutional,
and yet they were prepared TO surrender their con-
sttutona opinions 10 necessity, or, IN other words
expetency. Gentlemen whose constitutional opin-
ions were of dis class, might step aside when the
day OF trial came and let others do the work. Now
he wanted 10 know from the gentleman who had
proposed Mr. Archer, whether he was opposed 10
National Bank on grounds both of constitutionaity
aud eNpediency. Was he Anti Bank because he
believed such an institution TO be dangerous 10 the
liberties and hostile the nest interests OF the peo-
plef Was he against II under all ana every circum-
stance wha lever-and would he be found at his post
vo:ing unhnchlngly at all timesl He was not par
tIal To those who prepared 10 yield their con-
sututonal objections the shrine OF expedieney.-
On the grounds that MIR A. was opposed at present
TO the distribution OF the proceeds OF the Public
Lands, they might all Judge what would be that
gentleman's future course on that subject. The
gentleman who had put him IN nomination, had, lac
thought, very clearly indicated that MIR Archer re-
served TO himself the right TO be governed by future
eXgency IN this particular. He had a very hish
respect for Mr. Archer, and he did not know what
course he might pursue Il these questions were an
severed 20 his satisfaction; at all events, he trusted
that the friends Of that gentleman would satisfy the
House upon those points.
Nj DABNEY would like TO know what were
Mr. Archer's opinions in relation TO the Sub-Trea-
sury, loud laughter and what would be the course
which he would pursue between the Sub Trea-
sufy and National Bank
Mr. COLEMAN would like 10 know before he
replied, whether, supposng he gave satisfactory an.
swers to the queries prOpOunded, the gentlemen
from Amelia and King William would vote for hm7
MIR WILEY did not know that he should.
Mr. DABNEY said that If his friend who nomi.
mated Mr. Archer, would say that Mr. Archer would
vote against the establishment Of a National Bank
under all circumstances, was IN favor Of the Sub
Treasury, suppOsIng that or a National Bank were
the alternative, he would vote for him.
Mr.. IRVING, o. Cnmbersnd sst L was very
over again, that was played with so little effect
some or weeks ago. Ga the occasion 70 which
he alluded, the Wing party presented 10 the Lee
gislatufe a gentleman whose opinions were well
know TO every member Of the House, and almost
10 every GIan Virginia, and yet they found gem
lemen rising N every pirt Of that Hall 70 make en-
4uries about principles, upon which they had them.
selves been commenting Tor length OF time. Now
again, when they presented 70 the notice Of the
House another individual, whose opinions were well
known TO every member acquainted with the poItt.
cal history OF his own country, the same farce was
acted over again. and they were called upon 10 give
hs principles. The opinions ol Mr. Archer s'noi
recorded upon all the great questions ogitatng the
public mind those opinions we're upon record-
his principles were proved by deeds no, Nv void,
and yet certain gentlemen were pretending perfect
ignoTance Of has opinions on every question. b.,
he should like 10 know whist gentlemen were m.
curing very lnqusltyely into the opinions Of tbsir
candidate, whether they had a candidate al oil 10
oheri u So why not present him. so that they might
have an opportunity Of putting sundry interesting
queries. In that case the game would be a ID tle
more far and equal between them Gentlsmsn on
the opposite sido had enquired the opinions Of Mr.
Archer 10 relation 10 the distribution poltcv and
appeared not 10 be satisfied with his opinions on
that SUBJECT There we're Two kinds Cdis,r,but,o,.
ists me one class was IN favor Of such system of
cistriDuuOn az would transfer the p,oc.,dy -, -,
proportions among a the States 40 III, :, 49, 80.
be according 10 the deed Of cession for IN. h.r.g
ofaL Another sei Of dislrbuiionis,s vere in f,yo,
Of distributing those lands in which ali al. 81.
Wefe interested, among The new States ,lo,, a.
Archer vas doubtless with the former risss "a
opposed % those Who were desrous Of buy;n, -
Pfesideniial woes ~ s1nandenng Amongst A ~
the patrImony Of al. II, however, sen,I.n,co -,
ths opposite side would present their ,ndid,', H.,
miEnt have 40 opportunity Of putting a Cev o,.s
tons % the trends Of such candidate surb a., ,o