Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-05


not TO defeat particular Individual or party but to
deny to the Commonwealth the right OF representa-
ton aiiossiher-to disiranchise her psr,nansnti,-
unless they shall be permitted to say what indvidu-
al shall fill this high dignity.
Nor is this pretension on the part Of the Senate
less idadmssiblc, as being maintained by sixteen
gentlemen (the precise half Of that body t,oo OF
whom represent districts, exhibiting in the late Pre-.
sidenal election an aggregate majority of some six
teen hundred votes, opposed the fortunes Of that
condemned and dispersed party, of which the aore-
said sixteen form very small, but very persever-
ing fragment.
These gentlemen present grave and important
question-onc which should be met and settled at
once. Have they the right to "eheeknaie" the POD
ular will as manifested in the recent and full cleo
tons of the members Of the popular branch at their
will and pleasure7 For il is said that i'm regard 10
one oil the two vacancies, they are resolved there
shall be no election this wintcr-ellhoush there is an
absolute necessity for called session OF the Senate
during the month OF March, and n strong probabl.
~ of extra session OF the whole Congress during
the summer.
1t is understood that some of the "potept, grave
and reverend Sisniors" OF that patriotic body, re-
gard the vote Of Virginia against the President elect
as instructions TO the Legislature not to elect any
man who may have been favorable to his election
In other words, that tic people of virginia no, ha
wing cast their votes for Gen. Harrison (who, not
wi,hstandns, is elected by the orgest majority ever
given to any Presidency require and expeci them,
the General Assembly, send to the Senate no Sc.
nator who does not accept the station on the ex-
press condition of waglng an indiscrimina,e war
fare upon an Administration, the measures of which
have not yet been even propounded to the country
Such may be the opinion of rabd and yndiciye
partzans, writing in the agony OF personal morti-
hcauon and defeat, and mad with the rage OF party
exeemeht-but certainly it cannot be the Sc n,men,
of any one of the conscript fathers OF the Virgil
mia Senate-and yet more certainly there is no such
feeling among the pep'e, who are tall | mean who
are honest and sinterescd) willing TO see whether
gentleman coming into the first magistIacy of the
Republic, by majority Of one hundred and fifty
thousand votes, is an "Imbteile," "FeaeraIisi.p
aud Tory" or n sound Republican, and strait.
forward and honest patriot.
Such principle could scarcely find an advocate in
the historian Of Quodibei and in the present state
oil things would hardly be cnuntenancei in Tam
many Hall.
But we informed that sixteen of the Senators
being very remarkably endowed with a singular
tenderness and deIicacy of conscience upon the mat
ter of politics, cannot bring themselves to indulge
the House OF Delegates with settling the point as to
'ohen they the House Of Dsieg0fes are ready to pro
coed TO the performance Of this high DUTY Soanx-
ious are they, that the great principle OF the popu.
lar supremacy" should be religiously recognized in
every operation of the Government that they insist
m dsri Of ,ha
ing before the House and its Committees, before il
shall proceed 10 the performance Of its regular ba-
siness ! am the last man in the world to question
the perfect sincerity and patriotism Of these gentle
men; but to man less conversant than myself of
their genuine and unauthorized republicanism, il
might seem little suspicious, that ioo least, Of
the aforesaid sixteen, hold their seats in noto-
rous and UNREASONABLE violation of the spirit il
not the letter OF the Constitution. To such an one
1t would seem, that their attention in this behalf
might be prohtably directed TO the cleansing Of
their own household.
Nor IS il unworthy OF observation, that the other
sixteen Senators, whether Wings proper. Whie
lmpracticablss, or Wing Conservatives are entirely
free Of any scruples this pont--a fact going
strongly TO show, that our Van Buren, Republicans.
however opposed TO all other monopolies. NAV.
without any violation Of modesty. claim n monop.
oily of conscience, on the important point of ",he
popular supremacy"
The law requires that the House of Deeeote,
shall themselves decide phe1 they are ready TO 20
into the election Of our Senator's and thereupon thew
shall ask the concurrence Of the other branch They
have slgnIhed their readiness, by a very decided
vote and one-hilf precisely, OF the Senate respond
that ihy too are ready But say the other six cen:
mo, gentlemen, you are not ready-you have
some ten or fifteen contested elections md tbev
must be settled before We can proceed. IL is cur
business TO see to the proper fl ing Of your seats.
True, you have hundred and thirty four members
Present-that being oil you are entitled to-nnd
equally true, that each one has regular certificate
ofelecton but our boys in the country have deter
mined on general squabble, and the Government
must be arrested until each case is heard and deci.
ded on" There is no reason why this principle
should not be acted on in reference to any other
act Of the Legislature, as we'll as the election Of
Senator for 1t is required perform many duties Of
infinitely greater importance. SO that If this mod.
ern theory be sound, It is perfectly in the power of
factious minority at any time 10 stop the wheels
ofGoverhment altogether, by getting up contested
elections as at least one OF those now pending wss
gotten up, upon party subscription Of the mean,
Of defaying the expenses.
&t = in vain that the Constitution provides. that n
eediin portion Of the body shall form a quorum for
business. These "new lishtsr of modern Demo.
eraey require that al shall be present; and nightly
present, according to their particular views. Not
upon regular rstHrai, for the Democracy in higher
places has declared that il "scorns the broad sealn
TINS pretension Of the sixteen (if did not know
how high their patriotism rises above the Influence
Of PariyJ should pronounce no less mpudent in
ITSELF than It is abhorent to the spirit Of the Con
s'tuIion. REPUBLICAN.
Mr. Taylor's substitute published yesterday con.
tanned many typographical errors. But they
couldn't be helped. Il was most eKecrsble piece
Of ebirogrsphy. But oil great men write bad
hands.
a communication from Mr. d. w. Mallory.
unavoidably deferred.