Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-24

the Ihalr announced the committee 10 CONSIST OF
the following gentlemen viz James L. Gordon, Ciias.
\. kimbrough, WIN. Oyerlon, VIM. ). Fowler and
Nathaniel Mills
w. y. GILLESPIE, Chm.
JonN PoiNpExrrE, JR., Secy
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE or VIRGINIA.
MIR. THoRSroS's Speech Tie Erftiom IF Governor,
friday, ftb II
Mr.. TnoRSroS SAID, that IL deeply regretted the
stence ut the circumstances by whchsne found HIM
sell surrounded forbidding him purs the course he
had adopted similar OCCASIONS, Of casting his
vote unaccampanied hy remark explanation. Ad-
monitions however, paramount IN Their nature, over
came the repugnancc which Ie felt 10 rrspass the
duneucc Of the Senate and hls deeper repugnance
of attracting attention TO his opinions and posliion
The occasion in itself would not require any such
criice his parl for the gubernatorsi office was, in
his view, OF iitle intrinsic mportaisne most Of
\ the appointments which devolved upon the Legisla.
ture Its duties simple, and such ~ 10 be equally
we'll discharged in the general by politician of one
I political school rs OF another. Responsibility OF talent
and dignity of character the chief requisites add
these dsnerestedness OF purpose and freedom from
great party bias and you have enough TO make you
good Governor. But it was occasion hich is
very generally looked upon furnishing suitable po-
litical test, which parties divide, which
garded therefore, b. the people as exposing party
weakness and ehcng party strength, aud as furnish
ing index to the party relations OF all who partic
i H.
!aon which he bore the two great political parties of
the day, and in contemplation OF the character
| which vas thus universally attributed 10 The
son, that he felt i. incumbent upon him 10 occupy
| their time and attention. Ii would be prudish IN
him TO seek 10 disguise that The course which lie
would pursue that day, owing TO the very NICE
division of parties subject OF some interest and
speculation, not only here but with his constituents,
whose appreciation, next 10 tim, OF his judgment
and conscience, he desired most 10 lie did not
htsn t,tpn, ya n
| derable embarrassment Net that his opinions
unknown to those who fct interest III them, that
they not, he verify believed, agreeable 10 a
large orty Of ms district; but SIR, (sad Mr. /, III
times of high party excitement, when counter cur
rents strongly in opposite directions, the moderate
man. vino does not conscientIonsly ride on either, who,
avoiding ex tremes takes medium course counseed by
prudence, wisdom, aud safety, OF all others, perhaps,
/ less envabiy situated. Such position almost in.
variably supposed 10 be assumed IRON considerations
of policy but his mind nothing cleare-, forth
fled BY reasoning from the nature of lin"gs establish
ed and confirmed by unvarylng observation AID expe
| rience, that could be more likely 10 defeat
such an end whether the precise OF Get hc personal
political advancement, the appreciation Of associates
or the laudab!e desire of attaining influence public
man with the view to extensive usefulness. The man
who adopts such course with such hopes, orerlooks
the strongest impulses Of our nature. Nothing but the
determination 10 preserve, al ell hazards, conscience
void of offence lnconsiderale folly could recommend
IT, Refusing to rush headiong 10 The " ima Muic Of
party, politician subjects hlself TO he suspicious
and want Of confidence Of ALL becomes iLe ally Of none
and in order to support himself encounters unwon,ed
abour, unaded by The advice assistance o! coadu-
tors and unregucd by The smiles and piauses Of the
world To acquire md tn repeat III. atchword of
party easy task which found it, Ftifca,ion in,
the cooperation Of party associa!e-, out looking
abroad for reasons In sustain II.
.Go, lie hine'- i cnc,o So
And uaou easy sald ave"
The calm and dispdssionaie observer cvcIuH who
delih cODliy MS th,,
consequences of his course, unlnuen by fiat en-
thusiasm which is won, 10 deyeiupe Itself in II uushs
that burn, and words lhnt breathe This wa the re-
sponsblty-iiese portion Of The disad 6ntage,
which attached to his present position.
Mr.. T. cooperation with the Wings, aud the extent
of il, was within the knowledge Of those who had OBJ.
served him public man. lie acted earnestly and
zealousy with that party, with sincerity was need
had observed his OF what hlhad dane and
saa in that anxious contest, he had noit torePen-
nothing 10 expate Were it to do ovefy he should he
was thoroughly persuaded, reenact The part he had
performed. He had taken occasion to make this an
I ANNEXATION TO his constituents. The especial purposes
were the with all those who associated
together in the late powerful Wing Party. They all
desired and aimed at reform in the administration of
the General Government, and none could attain their
ultimate end, matter what, without removal Of the
Executive. This then, object common to all.
MANY doubtless looked 10 the policy Of the late Extra
Session Of Congress, as the reform which they most
sought, without The establishment of which, they could
acknowledge II, good effect eating from the victory
they had obtained with much ea,at That, however,
was not the reform for hch he had been fighting. So
far ircG, it, he distinctly opposed 10 il, and had
awaited himself of the 10 that opposition
in the public manner, Wien seeking the seat he
now occupied. SO far from hasin. changed or modi-
fed those opinions every day observation iad con-
frmed him in The correctness OF them.
Now, according to his view, there could be
sonable doubt but that This policy must be adopted by
a majority Of those who lately composed the wing
party. Events most obviously soping 10 that
result At public meeting in his district, he had
heard it vauntingly proclaimed, that "snce the PTesl
dental election, the party which achieved that triumph
were going through wnnowing process, by which
those who would no, 70 the length OF the Extra Ses-
sion would be blown away chaify or faulty grams,
leaving behind all such possessed terminating quail
IT," Ii was with feeling of complaint that he
ferred to this incident OF party history-nor was it to
revive the sensation which its avowal Produced and
which had "iet no behind; but he confessed that
he felt burning desire at the tune coming as 1t did
from gentleman Of talents and inhuencc, to handle
what he deemed an arrogant and yangiorIous boast
puual at those who would no, follow the exampl and
nder at ten days notice. TO the b esls OF party,
their best settled and dearest chershe' onyctions-
Very many of that party of this Legiss' ope:ly and
candidy avowed that the charter or a Ratian Bank,
Protective Tariff, and the Distribution tRa koceeds
of the Public Landa, were the issues bn ech the
Wing party now rests and the opinions by Which
true wing was known. IL was WIN nv propose O aIgu
ing these differences of opinion between himself and
his late CO aborers that he advered to them !.
very far from being fit occasion tor such discussion
nor was il from any disposition TO eprore them for the
separation in which might result. lie referred to it
only 10 show, that old connections could not be pre-.
served upon new issues Mr. T. sald he elt the warm-
est sympa,hics for his late comrades IN arms lie en-
erained vivid recollection Of the perlls and hazards
of the numerous conflicts IL which they had been
engased-of the disasters they he'd shared in COM
mon-of the rumphs and victories they had at various
times won and enjoyed. With them had lie been IN