Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-04
GENERAL AssEMBLY OF VIRGINIA..
Resolution far tie Election f24 Senator os L Statc.
SENATE OF VlRGlNlA-FkB. 10.

Resolution far tie Election Of "a Senator etLe L Suites.
SENATE OF VlRGlNlA-FEB. 10
TDD'S SPEECH.
Mr.. TOD regretted TO be compelled again to pre-.
sent himself the attention Of the Senate; but the
notice that had been taken OF the arguments advanced
by him. the other day. seemed TO call upon HIM tor some
reply He must, however, with due SUBMISSION con.
tend, that these arguments had not been, IN The least
degree shaken rciuted. II certainly had not been
proven that there any constitutional obligation
resting on the General Assembly TO 90 into this cleo
ton this time The fourth section of the Consttn
ton provided that thc times, places, and manner OF
holding elections for Senators and Representatives,,
shall be prescribed in each State bv the Legislature
thereof; but the Congress may, at any time, by law,
make, alter such regulations except as TO the places
OF choosing Senator'S From this clause, II was per-
tectly clear that there obligation imposed upon
the Legislature 10 discharge the duty OF eeciing Sc
nItor at tie present session, al any particular time
Congress had passed no law all upon the subject.
The State had passed law, and il evidently IN
the power of the General Assembly to designate the
time. But he contended, that if the Senate, or the
General Assembly saw fit they might refuse to go INTO
the election of Senator at all By the 9TH article Of
the CONSTITUTIONS it provided, that "the Congress-
whenever two thirds Of both Houses shall deem neces
saEy shall propose amendments to this Constitution,
on the application of the Legislatures Of two-thirds Of
the several States shall! call Convention for proposing
amendments which, either case, shall be valid 10
all nen;s and purposes, IS part of tins Constitution,
when ratified by the Legislatures of three -fourths o
thereof as the one the other mode of ratification
may be proposed by the Congress: provided that no
amendment which be made PRIOR 10 the year lc0c,
shall affect the first and fourth clauses
in the 9th section Of the first article and that no State,
icihost its consent, shall be deprived of ITS equal sut
frare in the Senate" lie contended, that the last
clause of this section gave the States the power, or ra
ther recognized the in the States, to withdraw
their representation from the Senate altogether: and
surely, the major, including the prcpasitinn II
had In ref ID Senators
ther they had the right 10 postpone such election II
they considered that circumstances demanded they
should thus act.
He again commended, that the Senators the
representatives of the States their political capic
ties They the representatives q: the govern
nent Of the States but the representatives. OF the
people evil community, in their hghrst sovereign
capacity, and hence though elected by Tie Legislature
IN the character Of agents, they answcabe 10 the
supreme authority of the people themselves II they
were the representatives of the government Of the
State, the Judiciary and the Executive branches Of The
Government would have equal right 10 instruct with
The Legislature. He used many arguments and illus
,rations 10 sustain his position, and conended that pre-
sent circumstances called upon them to refuse T. 90
INTO this election for il would b. much less eri that
the State should BE- unreptesentrd for short gr than
msrepesencd for the space of SIX years IN tie senate
Of the ned States. II had been said by tic W h'r
organ that morning, that they dared not refuse 10 90
INTO tins election, but for himself he would state tilt
he fully prepared TO his full measure Of re-
sponsibty, and determined to play the game out
Tie would To the election, unless he could
lie assured that the principles al virginia could be
tanned thereby. He felt assured that he should bc
tanned by the people, because IL for their rights That
he con,endn-. They entitled to the exercise
Of the power and he would oppose any construction d
the Constitution which would deprive them III il He
regretted see, shat there manifest d position 10
construe away all the rights and powers of the people
Mr. T. deeply regretted that the Senator from Richmond
city should the aFGor Of his zeal have made otcl
pressions calculated 10 wound the feelings ogcntencn
opposed 10 him in politics. That gentleman had been
pleased 10 characterize the conduct OF Democratic
hers revolutionary III as tendency lie had pared 4
to the famous whshey instruction IN Pennsy yana lie
had far los sight Of charity, taliken their proceed
incs the reasonable designs Of the Hartford Conycn
ton i'll Massachusetts |, was true the gentleman had
gwen them credit for honesty Of purpose, but IT, was
that kind Of honesty which guided the hand o The
gcide he plunged the fatal steel into the bosom o
his king. lie had conceded To them sincerity, bit II
that sincerity winch prompted the reckless partlz2n
to the accomplishment Of his ends any and every
critce seven though he oerstepped the bleeding Con-
stllnton in his needless way. MIR. J. thought his
party had no reason 10 thank the gentleman Tor the
compliment HIS party acted according 70 the dictates
of their conscrnces; and that winch 10 the con-
science OF the gentleman from Richmond, seemed fac
tious and revolutionary, T. their cnnscIcnces was patr
otto and p-a'scworihy. lie knew hs friend from R:ch
mond WELL honored and esteemed INN highly, and he
was harry 10 say that lie had suffered nothing his
esteem for he there malice prepense
in what he had said lie that IN ms cool and
rejecting moments, he would have hesitaed long
he would have gwen utterance to such sentiments
lie also regretted 10 hear his attack upon the present
Chief Magistrate Of the Union. lie had pronounced
him to be dead man. and rs having no party. The
dead, sad he, have partes-he living only having
power have parties If The Senator believed kim 10 be
dead, il would have been more macnanmous 10 have
allowed hun 10 Fepose IN peace. Eut, dead .! alive, he
seems greatly 10 annoy the gentleman, who, he be-
leved rarely made speech without assail,ng
him. Whilst Sir. + had been greatly mortified the
assault winch Ind been made " Inc gentleman Upon
his party he ad been less astoundcd Al hearing tie
defence which n had attempted Of The political charac
ter Of Dame! Webster Esq lie lad represented that
dsting uished gentleman. pure patriot and first,
rate patent Democratic Republican. Now, Mr. I. had
hitherto regarded his friend State Rights politician
and as patriot much devoted To the interests and
the institutions of his country 10 undertake the defence
Of any man. who, when occupying high station in the
councils Of the nation had refused 10 gre his
country the darkest hour Of her peril. The gentle
man sa,d, that Mr. w. had done enough ntla,r 10 redeem
the OF his III relation 10 the last war; that he
had repenied of IT. and ought 10 be forgiven. II Mr.
T. tina, he had repentcd of II, i would still be
question with the country. whether he should he for
riyen For himself, he thought he could forgive
him. He confessed, tina, he would not lind il very
difficult to forgive gentleman for any change, in
ference 10 political opinions when he satisfied that
resulted from the honest vic,ions OF ms Judgment
but there against the peace, prosperity and
well-bcing OF the country Tor whch, III hts OPINION,
man oug ht not 10 be pardoned-sins, founded not
4 norance, a misguided judgment, but s'r, papable
want of attachment To the institutions Of the country
in II want Of patriotism lie could not find il his
heart, 10 forgive a who had stood by cold lnd
ference, and with folded arms, witnessing the sackng
of our of Hampton, and refusing 10 vote those
means which necessary to enable US successfully 10
rrsis, the enemy. lie could find no pardon his DO
som for tie man who, whet his country besicged
all sides by foreign foe declared ',ha, he would
1 finnuh tho ,,erp alII
catering down the walls Of the Cap,ol"-A man, OF
whom his friend the Hon J. q. Adams, said she
had only step 10 take, 10 march INTO
the enemys camp" But the gentleman had claimed
great credit for Mr. Webster for having h believes
during his late visit TO England, done much TO elevate
the sinking credit of these States abroad What,
said Mr.. T., the circumstances of tins The
European market had become so completely glu,ted
with State stocks, and the offering was still great,
the result of mad and ruinous system Of Internal