Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-16

oouy - control the course of legisation yet he
could not feel surprised that the people OF Richmond
sbond have felt interest in this matter lie couo not
condemn any effort their part to protect one OF lne
IL, nd most respectable citizens, from what they
doubtless considered, species of persecution mat
f as natural and could not be the subject OF repro
bt;on The gentleman from Tyler had been pleased to
refer somewhat at length to the course OF the Rich
mond Wing. When he heard Inc attack, ne was at d
80 - conjecture what the gentleman would be at-At
s, il occurred to him, that, as the gentleman was to
he candidate for Congress in the Spring, and, know
;ng tho praise Of the Wing TO be like the shirt OF Nes-
sns consuming whom it covered and its censures re-
senblinp in this respect alone the dews OF Heaven
that they fell alike on the just and the nn)as.'
and. like them, noursh all upon whom they TALL, ne
desired, by offending the Wing, TO protect himself from
the BLIGHT of the one and to himself the bene.
Ats Of the other But he was tod that the wing mao
admonshed the gentleman, that he mish at'ack as
mncb as he pleased and that it would wreak ITS ire
upon the unoffsndng Democrats Mhat, .neaeioae,
AT first seemed stroke of policy for the gentle man
own benefit, might have been only cunning device 10
nrovoke hapeIlaton for his opponents. (Mr. Bayly
here made slight pause.) had been suggested to
him. that the Wing had, that morning. deprecated any
defence from him. He defend The wing In the
Courts, he had defended The Proy .s ns sa
incendiary, the highway robber-he nad defended The
cold booded murderer the fatrc'dc but he had never
vet SINK SO low as to defend the professional assas-
sin of characer-Assassin did he say; NO, the would
be assassin-he who had the malice without the Prov
ess nc the assassin-hc who still continued, with a
ereeverance which nothing but the deepest magnity
could sustain to aim his poisoned arrows at his intend
cd victim notwithstanding they had fallen SO long
harmless at his feet that they did not disturb him, and
the beholders ridculed the impoent and frantic at
tempts. He begged pardon OF the House Tor TINS d.
erosion.
But the gentleman from Tyler had said, that the grey
hairs of Dr. B. had been appealed to- and he had then
asked whether they should be any protection to HIM
who belonged to party which had never spared grey
hars;-whether they should be any protection to HIM
who had prescribed without mercy. He regretted to
hear these remarks of the gentleman from Tyler. II
seemed 10 him nightly like an attempt 10 sound the bu
gle for party rally this OCCASION Yes, 1t seemed
as if the gentleman who looked upon such proceeding
in others with much horror, would not OBJECT 10 io
low similar course. He had looked on these proceed
ings with much pleasure; and happy would be, such
a prospec; was of frequent occurrence. fic had
see the course of the gentleman from the city OF Rich
mond pre- eminent in the ranks TO which he did not he
onr and on the other hand he behed the course OF his
good friend from the Isle Of Wight, who, under that
strict sense of duty which did not belong to this world
but which his own purity of character made IN HIM
proper leading those with whom he did not usually act
When he found these gentlemen and other prominent
party leaders changing sides on this investigation, he
did view the subject as one of the redeemng things oil
the times he looked upon il as the one green spot IN
the wide waste of party desolaton, to which memory
would long revert with pleasure; he surprised that
this prospect cheering to the heart ofevery man but
the blind partzan not looked upon with more COM
placency by the amiuble gentleman from Iyler-ie re-
gretted his remarks, and felt how improper they
He was glad to believe, although he had sounded the
buge note of party, that he would not find followers o
his clan TO gather under his banner. He was glad to
believe that his forces had dsbanded for once and re
moving from their eyes the film of party prejudice, hac
resolved to decide this question upon It's merits, and it,
merits alone.
The gentleman had urged further as he thought very
illogcay that DIR. Brockenbrough high standing ane
high character should be protection to him. lie hac
told them, that in Republican land, all were equa
and ought TO be considered, and had expressed sym
pahy for the poor but appeared to feel sympathy fo
Z man in pr. BrockcDbroughs condition. He knew
the poor of this country well any il, though
fortunately, unfortunately, the case might be- ms
lot in life not cast with them lie knew them a:
we'll as any in the country; he had slept in the
humble huts when they scarcely kept out the tempes
which howled without; he had broken bread at the
humble and frGdl boards, with much satisfaction a.
ever he had dined with the wealthy and the great
Though homey fare they dned holden and
they were not less priced by him on that account
Amongst the poor he numbered friends whom he va
ued as much of whose friendship he proud, anc
upon whose friendship he could rely, aye, aud woulc
much sooner rely, than upon the tenants OF costly
castles. He knew them well, and sympathi2ed witt
them in all their trials they had been his friends anc
he their friend.
But he would tell the gentleman from Tyler, that the
warmest sympathy with them, not inconsistent
with the wish protect the character Of the highest
and wealthiest, and most nuentia when that charac
ter was worthy Of protection Had il come to this
that mans unblemished character, through life o
lhreescore and ten years. was TO afford him no proec
tion-that notwithstanding he had led life Of mos
unimpeachcd and unmpeachable character for nearly
30 yearsyet that all this IN his old age was to aitort
him protection
oStrauge doctrine this, which without scruple tears
The laurel which the lightning spares
Brings down the warriors trophies 10 the dust
And eats into his bloody sword like rnst.''
He regretted these remarks Of the gentleman. Doc
tor Brockenbrough, was not his intimate acquaInt
ance-but he would not argue himself unknown
by acknowledging that he had not heard of his excel
lent character, his purity, his worth lie would Eel
the gentleman that these considerations ought 10 weigh
they would weigh and in the name of justice he de
handed that they should weg with that House, in de
termining upon the unceremonious dismissal OF TIN
aged public servant from office. He had already ex
tended his remarks 10 length hich he had not desir
ed and therefore would not enlarge upon the questlo
OF the proposed action being infringement upon ES
ecutive authority. He thought this quite clear, tina
the House were not well able to make the appoint
ment Of Directors the Executive. The charter toe
most expressly stated the appointment of these Diree
tors to be with the ESccutive;-thc stockholders ha
accepted that charter without any belief or knowledg
that they would improperly attempt TO Interfere; an
it might we'll be questioned, whether the stakeholder
that that miscellaneous assembly would have had th
appointment of those controlling func,ionaTies. Th
was view Of his. In 1897, when the il
crease in the capital asked, he then acting with th
Wing party, he remembered that n proposition wa
brought forward in that hall TO to the Stat
through the legislature, the appointment ola majority
Directors, and that the Wings then denounced such
proposition thoroughly.-He then declared his pu
pose never to vote for any measure, which woul
give TO political body the right to control the op'
rutions and cement of Banks He then said thi
all political bodies unfit, from the nature
things, TO have this power Of controlling Bankin
institutions for that in such a case, they would be pei
verted from their legitimate duties Of aiording accom-
mediation 10 trade and commerce, and would be mad
political machines. lie would not consent that such
power should be enjoyed by the Legislature. But,
was urged that the request which they would max
would not be obligatory upon the Executive. Was III
gentleman from Tyler serious in this opinion, Did h
suppose that the Governor Of this Commonwealth
would disregard the solemn recommendation of til
General Assembly, lie had too much confidence i
that Governor so to suppose. He had voted for tina
officer, and had seen cause to regret that vote-H
knew That The Governor would not SO act as to disre
gard their wishes-he would not take the responsible
ty in case like this, 10 put in officers who would