Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-23

and while | held this station, no demand of the Go.
vernon oi New i"ik will be peccd until il is
conceded that Virginia entitled TO at leas, nm equal
measure oi justice and respect with New York. 1t
would have been To me of lnexpIessbe salts.
taction If, IN ths view of my official duty had been
sustained by The Legislature | am very sensible OF
the III consequences resulting from dissensious in the
councils OF our Stale on such subjects IL cannot be
longer disguised that interests involved in this con.
troveIsy which are in danger while virpnlans
are united III their Defence which, the other hand
are exposed TO extreme peril by our divisions. | may
have formed en- erroneous estimate of those Interests
or entertained mistaken views the HIGH RESPONSE
blites Of my station. On questions Of such moment.
| am not willing 10 obstruct the action of the Gene
raj Assembly by my individual Judgment. II now
apparent that whatever Of force the position of this de-
partmen may have possessed has been impaired if no,
destroyed. The General Assembly have done me no
tlnn Justice i'll believing that my has been
prompted By proper motives. shall rejoice the course
which you have indicated will attain the ends which
we mutually desire; and while my own console nious
convictions of duty 10 the State will not allow Inc
conform the action Of this Department to the views
you have expressed beg leave 10 resign 10 the Gene
raj Assembly, as now do most respectfully, the office
of Governor Chief Magistrate OF Virginia. in order
TO afford you an opportunity of selecting an individual
who will concur in the measure which you have re-
commended. In thus dissovng the Official ties which
have connected us iorbear TO express 10 the
General Assembly, and through them to the people OF
Virginia, the profound Of gratitude which shall
always cherish in remembrance OF the unnerted dts
tnclion which their confidence bestowed on Inc.
am, your iellow-ctlzen,
THOMAS w. GlLMER.
This communication was laid upon Tie table.
Mr. Bal offered a resolution that the resignation
of Gov. 6ilmrr be not rcccycd al his instance, now
ever il was laid the table lie stated that he was
not certain that the Legislature had the power To re-
fuse 10 receive the resignation Of Governor. II he
should upon reflection, conclude that the power did
not exist, he should change his resolution into re-
quest to the Governor to withdraw his resi- gnatIon.
The SPEAKER hereupon vacated the Char until four
o o'clock for the purpose of signing enrolled bills.
THE GOVERNORS RESIGNATION, &C
When the House met again, Mr.. CRuTcHfIELD ad-
dressed the Chair. lie SAID he had risen any
former occasion, with feelings of greater cmbarrass-
ment, with deeper OF the obligations and duty
resting upon him. than upon the present occasion he
of course alluded TO the communication that morning
received from the Executive Of tins Commonwealth !;
and he would venture 10 say, that earthquake or a
thunder-cap could not have been peced, or
created greater astonshmcnt, than the expression
the part of their Governor Of his determination 10
sign If gentlemen would pause and reflect, and see
how short aud sudden had been The whole action upon
the which had led 10 tie resignation, he thought
they would he disposed TO give time for recons-
Iteration Of the matter. 1t unnecessary to say
that they all liable to hasty action individual
", as well when they came To act the guar
duced by an individual member on his responsible
", had been hasty. lie had begged them 10 allow
little time for deliLeration, and had that been
granted, in ali probability recent events would not
have occurred They had now received Il c0mmunlca-
ton from their Governor, with the tender of the rrsg
nation Of the office Of Chef Magistrate He need
call attention 10 the shotlved existence of this whole
transaction. The resolution which had led to this un
fortunate result sprung into existence in that House but
yesterday morning: II was taken up during the day
when they had had no time 10 reflect upon II: that
morning II had again up, and passed in Tim
House. almost without discussions; 1t then sent TO
the Senate, unanimously adopted, and forthwith COM
munlcated 10 the Executive. The result was before
ihem However well gentlemen might be satisfied
with the course which they lad pursued, he felt con.
vlnced that there was mol one in the House who would
not rather have more time for reflection. He had
himself voted that morning with the overwhelming
majority that had passed the resolution, and he en-
.ertained the same opinion now upon the SUBJECT IN
question, which he did then; but he believed that
most would concur with him in opinion, that II would
have been much better for the Legislature 10 have
taken steps in the matter, than for their action
have led to the present position OF affairs. IL was
not important that they should have taken action at all
there was nothing that Imperatlyely required them
to do sothc more particularly as their course might
he construed INTO improper interference with
co ordinate branch of the Government. lie could
not express himself as he would wish but would sub
nit resolution which he trusted would meet with the
cheerful and prompt acquiescence OF that House
Resoired, That the message Of the Governor of this
Commonwealth Of this day. be respectfully referred 10
that officer and that he hereby Informed Of the wish
IS of the present General Assembly, that he would
Withdraw so much thereo. embraces the resignation
Of his said office
llr RADCLIFFE, after cuogising the private charac
.cr and official condact oi the Governor felt bound to
oppose the resolution which had been Just offered lie
conlended that under the Constitution, they had no
ma Ip
Mr Gilmcr had ceased 10 be then Governor and there
was power authorizing them to elect Governor by
resolution. With respect 10 the Office Of lhiei Ma
.istratc the Constitution provides, that "the Chief
Executive power OF this Commonwealth shall be vest.
cd in Governor, be elected by the joint vote Of
the two Houses Of the General Assembly lie shall
hold his Office during the term OF three years, To com
mencc on the first day Of January next, succeeding
his election or such other day may from time TO
time be- prescribed b. law; and he shall he ineligible 10
tia, Office for three years next after his term Of service
shall have expired" lie coutcndcd that Gov. Gimcr
was not al this moment the Governor OF Virginia.
ndcr the Constitution, they had the power 10 prescribe
..from time to time" the day when the three years
term of service should commence, and It was perfectly
Tor them 10 pass act fixing the term
Of service from Isl pr next, or from any other day,
and then if they thought proper proceed 10 elects Go
vernon
Mr. Fufroy regretted Tic prcscn, position Of aitlrs
ne ,uch MS any man III the House. The Governor
had. 10 The best Of his ability defended the rights Of
,nc State and lie and every other Virginian would
stand bv him 10 the las; in resisting aggression andc
croachr,cnt from any and every quarter, lie lad
vol, for The resolution which had led 10 ths unior.
unnlc result because he believed that their Govern
or had, il the particular instance before 'hen' allowed
his ultra State Rights feelings to lead han 10 pursue
conrsc which neither the Constitution ot the Y. = nor
sound policy could Justify lie conienGcd that The act
Of resignation full and compr,e-ihe Governor
4 House
~ sume an Office which tie Constitution of their
State only allowed TO be filed by election b. the nlnt
rn,c of,hr two Houses Of the General Assembly. The
Governor could resume the authority which he ad
chosen 10 return 10 the people.
Mr.. srrornEn thought it was perfectly complication
The General Assembly Of Virginia 10 continue the CO.
vernon in Office, by permitting the withdrawal oil inc
resirnalion and cordially concurrcd in the view taken
II ,Iis subject by the gentleman from Spotsyivan;a
The gentleman from Wythe had confined his remarks
As 10 Whether ii competent Tor them to permit 'hs
Governor to withdraw his resignation As they mao
m case Immediately in point, they could only reason
from analogy, and he found that IN every case ,ms
mower of withdrawal recognized and constant
H. .,,od unon The question was one oil power