Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-18

tons OF tho Constitution? Wer6 they compiled with
by voting for mau only' Are these obligations of
the Constitution imperative in every aud situation
of things except when il is thought expedent to elect
Mr. Rives' Was there but one man in all the thou
sands of Virginia whom tho Constitution required tn
be elected Are gentlemen serious in the aiiegat'on
that these obligations satisfied by merely gong
into election and then pcrtnacuusy voting for one
only man. and one else? | cannot receive moral
lectures from those who teach Do say and not as
do. Sir, they must shew their faith by their works
From them, the often repeated phrases of party infu
ought not to influence gentlemen and it ID to be
hoped, that gentlemen are not controlled by improper
feelings unaware and deal of such smooth, set forms
Of speech comes, say with dlsrellsh.
But we told, said Mr. B., that the popular vote at
the late Presidential election should have no influence
the action of this Legislature in choosing great
political agent That man IN the CONSCIENTIOUS ais
charge Of his duty, should not regard in any manner
the popular nhucnce and then in short time (hc the
Senator from Az says he has dodbt that this Gene
raj Assembly does reflect the popular will. Then
again he tells u.s. that need not fear the consequent
ces of elecng Senator whose opinions are not IN
unison with those ofthe State and who will not reflect
the opinions Of the State in its sovereign capacity be-
cause the General Assembly has always asserted the
right of instruction. These declarations are manifest
ly inconsistent with each other.
Mr. b. said that he and tliose with whom he acted,
did not maintain, either by their course OF policy or
their declarations that the end justified the means:
that this charge of piece with the first part Of
the Senator's speech The Senator from A. had as
sumed motives for those politically opposed to HIM,
and then gone on and denounced those motives IN
unmeasured terms And yet lie is Uery scrupu-
lous of violating the Constitution, which secures
freedom of opinion all subjects If his political OPP
ponents do not that to be their duty and the
for the legislature which appears to the Senator
from A. he declares their principles to be-the end
justes the And yet he says they all honor
able men and true patriots Mr.. D. said he could not
tell what the Senator from A. meant that while nc
was urging upon the Democratic members OF the Sc
nate the duty, by the Constitution, of agreeing to
fix day for the election of Senator, ana that
the conscientious discharge of his duty should not
gard any external matter whatever, he had brought
to view in strong colours, what might be the
quences at the Spring elections, to those who should
fuse noe to fix day for the election of u s. Sc
nator Now if external considerations should not in.
fuence q conscientious man, why tell us OF the next
Spring elections and if elections to influence why
not the Presidential election last fal' Mr. b. said the
electnr ola Senator was like any other Official duty, and
that he should perform 10 the best of his own judy
mcnt and according TO his own conscience and not o.
that OF the Senator from 4.
That the Senator from A. had alluded to the cnnse-
quences to Virginia of dissolution OF tie Union
tin, il would in that event. be- frontier State III re-
IRA RAJ 10 the slave population of the South Mr. H. said,
he hoped never to see the day, that it would never be
seen by any man in all future time, when tins glorious
Union should be broken un-whcn tins beautiful ana
majestic slp Of state shonld be wrecked OH the break
crs near which she is thought sometimes TO be carried
Br that ne could -e.ain from reniarklng that Tie
Jiaci cloud rom wn,c! only ;ic Storm could proceed.
which ni.ht drive her the breakers, was gathering
in tie North: That he Senator '.om ", and his party,
while they hold the hclm Affected aot 10 fear dangers
irom this cloud But that i dangers did conc, they
were answerable for them. Mr. u said, he would not
at this time 90 into extended remarks on that subject,
being inappropriate. lie again said, that he would
not Getan the Senate b. dry, legal arguments deduced
priori and tortiort, because they would have no
effect. No one expected such 10 have any effect.
(SEctch of DeIaic to be c0ntinued)