Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-15
SENATE.
SATURDAY, FEs. Is, ls4

MIR. TOD felt bound to express his opinions and
the reasons which would influence him in giving his
vote upon this question, and as he conceived that
| the whole argument for going into the election OF
Senator had been embraced in the admirable speech
Of the Senator from Caroline he should confine his
remarks TO refute, so far as he able, the posi-
\ tons by him assumed. lie denied that there was
any constitutional obligation upon them TO 20 into
the election OF Senator now, that unless n part-
cusr train of events occurred. there was no neces-
sty to do so; yet, there might be reasons which
should induce thsm go into the election this ses-
sion, he should vote against the motion TO indefinite
ly postpone. The constitution, he contended, did
not make 1t obligatory on them TO elect Senator at
all: Senators were elected for the benefit OF the
State and II the State thought that her interest
would be su6served by having but one Senator they
certainly could not he bound to elect two. IL had
been assumed that the Senator was the representa-
tive OF the sovereignty of the State and not of the
peoPle;-this he denied; he was elected by the re-
personalities OF the people from every county of
the State, was bound to obey the instructions of
those representatives, and was, in ia6I, the repre-
sentative OF the people nj large. The blending of
the Executive, Representative and Judicial fuuc-
tons, constituted the sovereignty o; the State and
u the Senator were the representative OF the soye-
relgnty of the State, the Judiciary and Executive
had as much right TO instruct the representatives,
OF the people. He contended that the late Pres-
dental Election he'd proved that the people Of VIr
gina were opposed TO the principles OF the incom-
ing administration and he was prepared to stand
there until dooms-day, rather than go into cleo
ton which would have the effec; OF sending TO the
Senate any gentleman who would oppose all those
measures for which the people Of Virginia had Just
declared their attachment.
MIR McMULLEN asked leave TO withdraw his
motion for indefinite posiponemeni;-hs only object
IN proposing 1t, had been TO throw open the field of
debate, and to give himself m opportunity of set
ting himself right with the Senate and the country
in certain particulars, in which he had been misre-
presented 10y the Editors of the Wing.
The leave TO Withdraw gave rise To a desultory
but very animated debate. The Wing Senators
opposed the moton-ihey objected to their oppo-
nents getting rid OF the motion in any other way
than by the motion indefinitely to postpone; the mo-
ton indefinitely to postpone being according to Par
hamenary practise the way OF settling II for that
S; ssloni they objected that now when the battle
pressed warm upon the opposite side that they
should change their front
On the opposite side, II was commended that the
motion indefinitely TO postpone did not necessarily
get rid OF the subject for the present session. but was
only taniamount 10 motion TO reject.
In the course of the debate sCme very beautiful
and scientific sparing took place between Messrs.
Lyons and Smith, TO the grea. delight OF crowded
audience.
The leave to withdraw was refused-Ayes u,
noes Is.
The Senate then ndjou ned, MIR. Lyons having
the floor for Monday morning at II O'Clock.