Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-11


.,ent YET though The gentleman from spo,,syvania
d not SO think he greatly feared there polI.i-
cans in the House who would deny that right.
i MIR. B. urged the proprcty Of action on the reso!a.
ton at once. Ii the gentleman from Spottsylvanm
would come to the rescue, the resolution might be
,assed at once-the voice of Virginia would be heard
would have effect and would be felt throughout the
country 1t was more peculiarly appropriate that we
should act now, when friends al Washington we!s
making effort to repeal the law Ii we aided them,
what, asked Mr.. B., would be thereby effected The
Friends of suspension Of the law for time only
would join those in favor OF repeal, and II would b.
Impossible for such an n,quous measure TO remain IN
force. MIR. b. referred to the petitions constantly
coming in from the West for its repeal ard for relief
from the grevous and troublesome litigation consequent
upon its operation lie thought that with the aid of
those gentlemen who really friends to the object
sought to be attained by the resolution, that il might be
passed ere the House adjourned that day. But his
fears that gentlemen here were disposed to play int"
the hands OF political party beyond the limits Of TIE
Estate, forbade him TO hope any such good result.
! Mr.. Hustler said that gentlemen would recoect
the notice he gave on the day when the members from
| Louisa and Accomac offered their resolutions OF his
intention TO oppose any attempt to consider and dis
cuss them at the present session of the Legislature
He was, therefore, astonished hear the gentleman
from Preston say, that ne expected debate the
motion take up. He hoped the resolution pro-
posed to be taken up would sleep the sleep of death
upon the table He apprehehded that its author feared
lest il should not be taken up, and, therefore, ayalrd
himself Of an opportunity 10 enter into lis merits far
Their than iustitabe. His friend from Spottsylva
MA he thought, had fallen the error, and he
should endeavor not TO follow the example which had
been him. lie did not desire to discuss the Bankrupt
Law the Distribution law; for it would be useless for
him 10 do So unless his constituents should have the
misfortune to send HIM to Congress, where would he
his duty TO discuss matters with which he had bust
ness here.
The SPEAKER said that the motion TO take up, Incl
denally involved the merits of the resolution itself
lie had therefore INDUCED the gentleman from Preston,
as he had the gentleman IRON Spot sylyania who pre-
coded him. in remarks on the nature of the Bankrupt
law itself The motion to take up might be made test
question; and on such motion the argument mi GIT be-
used that the law dangerous and unconstitutional,
or that it wise and polite. On the hand, that
the good of the country required prompt and mme
date action by this body to procure its repeal, or
on the other, that all action neypedent and
unnecessary. Such was the opinion OF the Char,
as to the scope and extent which the discussion
on the motion might take. If the House differed
from the Chair, it competent at any moment
to correct his decision and narrow the limits Of the de-
bate.
Mr. Hustler neither asked ndul gence from the House
or the Chair; he did not wish TO discuss the merits OF
the resolution. With due Difference TO the Speakers
decision, he begged to differ in opinion, and 10 express
it as his belief, that the gentlemen from Spottsyvania
and Preston had ransgressed the rules Mr. h. only de-
sired 10 express his opposition TO the oil the gen.
tlenan and his sense Of the general improperly, the
inc pedency, and the bad taste Of thus entering into
this subject, and entertaining the House with debates
of Federal Relations al the expense of the People. He
invoked the House 10 consider whether the play was
worth the cande-wietler any good would result
and, if any, to what extent, and what influence il
would have the action of Senators-whether
we should be compensated for the time, money, and
labor which must necessarily be spent. Mr.. IL.
would say 10 The gentlemen from Louisa and Accomcc,
that they might expect with the same opposl-
lion from him that he had made to the gentleman from
Preston, whenever II was proposed to take up their Sc
yera resolutions lie should oppose all such, unless
the House should declare that it could not be better
employed than discussing Federal Relations. Should
the House satisfy him that they intended TO devote the
whole winter part OF II TO tins subect-gylng gen
emen full scope for their specches-hey might 60 on,
and he (Alr II should not interfere. He, however,
trusted that example would be set to-day for future
Legislators 10 follow, By determination the part Of
The House to attend To the business of Virginia and let
the General Government attend 10 its own. Mr. n
aware of the charges which had been made against
himself and his friends, account Of their in
this matter. He knew they charged with desire
10 keep dark these subjects-to hide their light
der bushel-to be Influenced by strict party drill
Now, if he thought that the people could be enghten-
edit his humble efforts could do any service
he would most assuredly consent that the subject be
discussed for, he willing to "let the light
shine lie could not, however, imagine that the peo-
Pile would be whit the wiser after gentlemen had
closed their speeches. He did not doubt but that there
many, very many grave and wise sitting here
thought there were others still wiser at Washington
II high time that Virginia should her ha
bit Of arrogant dctaon to her sister States and devote
herself and all her energies TO the improvement of her
degraded condition. In relation TO that condition, Mr.
H. declared,
"Ftir qai pOtuit eosnoscer, eapsas"
And If the proposition true, and the converse
also true, then most of the Virginia politicians were the
most unhappy men under the sun, for they the
worst hands at guessing at the causes Of things
lie then proceeded to Investigate the causes OF the
fallen condition of Virginia, and attributed it mainly to
want of energy and decision Of character on the part
of her citizens, and to their eternal wangng about
distractions. Mr. II. then referred to what he con-
sidered the continual song of politicians that Virgins,
with all her natural advantages, was dependent in
great measure the North. He spoke Of her
mercIal relations with that section of the Union, and
of the Tariff and some Of It's effects.
At this stage Of his remarks, he was called to order
by Mr. CRUTcHFIELD, who contended that he
transcendlng the limits permitted on motion TO take
MIR. Scorr desired the point of order reduced TO
writing.
MIR. CRurcHrIELD again stated his point Of order
The SPEAKER remarked, that tie motion TO TAX up,
involved incidentally, to tent, the merits Of the
resolution.
MIR. HUNTER expressed his surprize that the gentle.
man from Spotsy lvana should have called him
der. He merely endeavoiing to show how Yir-
gnia had been injured BY discussing resolutions Of this
sort. Mr.. Hunter proceeded with his remarks, and
proposing 10 examine into the character of certain
class of politicians well into the question of Com
merce, the Speaker inerposed, and admonished him
that such would not be order; whereupon, Mr.
Hunter took his seat
MIR. CarERToS rose for the purpose of operating
with those gentlemen who were endeavoring to nail
the resolution to the table. lie thought few hours
might be well spent in debate if such result could be
attained, and precedent set for the future He
opposed to discussions the subject of Federal Rea
tions and he expressed it his belief that the dig
nd intar Of Tho Cata hs
best maintained by retaining from such discussions,
and combining the attention Of the House TO such SUBJ
jecls related TO the internal condition OF the
State. He had long hoped that some gentleman would
have made it issue before the people, issues
pared to sanction the abuse and consumption of time
which has annually taken place for the last 10 Is
yea.s. He should make the issue before his constM