Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-26

measures that was ever brought 10 the considerable
ofthe American Senate 1t was ineIpedent, unjust an
unconstitutional Ii was, besldes INTENDED 10 oisran
che several of the States which had already eIecte
their Representatives, aud several when ~ouio ye.ec
their under the general ticket system
md would yond all doubt If carried into effect, DIS
franchise the State which he had the honor 10 part,
represent But she would 90 on 10 elect her
iives in the usual way, without any advice on his par
as he had felt authorized give it in this
He called for the yeas and Nays promising that lh'
bill be taken up, It will either prolong to most un
reasonable length the present session, or preclude al
action on the Revenue bill and he assured gentlemen
that he would feel il be his duty to contest the bill
inch by inch, and endeavor, by all fair MEANS TO de-
feat it, This he determined to do, as the bill was
calculated to dislranchse the State of Mississippi.
MIR. CRITTENDEN remarked that he would moi
now reply TO the observations of the Senator from
Mississippi When the bill shall have been taken up,
ii would be proper subject for consideration.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and, being taken,
resulted-Yeas %. nays 90, as follows:
Yeas-alessrs. Archer, Burrow, Bates, Choaie, Bay
ard, Clayton, Conrad, Crafts, Cri,enden, Dayton,
Evans, Graham, Huntington, Mangum, merrick, Mil
Ter, Morehead, Phelps, Porter, Preston, Simmons,
Smith Of Ia, Tallmadge, Woodbridge, White-2o
.fays-Slessrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton, buchanan,
Calhoun, Cuthbert, Fulton, Henderson, King, Linn,
Rives Sewer Smith, Of Connecticut, Sturgeon, Tap
pan, Walker, Williams, Woodbury. Wright, Young
20.
So the bill was taken up and read.
MIR. CRlTTENDEN briefly recapitnlated its pro-
visions He replied to the Senator from Mississippi,
conending that the objections of the gentleman rested
against former law, (he apportonmentD and not
against this. If there any Acknowledgement OF
State, it the result of former law; because tins
merely made provision concident, and only prescribed
The manner in which the effects of the apportonment
bill are TO be authenticated He did not apprehend
long discussion on this subject the Senator antic-
paled and he trusted that in very short time, the bill
would be disposed Of by the Senate.
MIR. WALKER said that if the bill should become
law Mississippi would be precluded from having re'"H
in her own defence in the House Of Representatives.
The Senate had right to prescribe what shall be inc
form Of the under which member shall be per
med TO participate in the organization ana proceed
ngs of that body The House alone was qual'ted, by
the Constitution, 10 Judge of the return OF It's MEMBERS
Int by this bill the Senate and the President
quired interfere with that which the popular branch
solely had the right TO determine.
Mr.. ALLEN proposed to strike out The hrst ana Sc
cond sections ofthe BILL and insert IN lieu thereof an
amendment repeating the second section OF the APpoF
onment BILL which requires the several States to elect
Representatives by districts He submitted few re-
marks in support Of the amendment, and against The
provisions of The bill it'll regard TO the act for the
superintendent of Representatives, he considered IL
first as UNCONSTITUTIONAL and, secondly, IT'S existence
would embroil the House Of Representatives at the or
ranzaton Of the next Congress, and set an example
Of discord and disunion in this country which might
lead 10 consequences which they would have serious
reasons to depoe. He called for the yeas and nays
which were ordered
MIR WOODBURY. opposed the bill, and said that
it was unconstitutional and ne1pedlent, Ill-advised
fatal and dangerous TO the fraternal feeling which
ought 10 be cultivated among the several States.
Mr. WRIGHT had hope that the amendment
would prevail notwithstanding he should regret 10 see
il defeated He considered this bill as undertaking TO
force the Legislatures Of the States to do that which,
&c than had fail ed IN
under the bill for the apportionment OF Representa-
tiyes among the several States.
Mr.. BAGBY said if he could be the means OF de.
feating this bill, by remaining here until the 10Th oil
December next matter what considerations, pubic
or private, such course might involve he would con-
slider his time better spent than any other portion OF his
life.
Mr.. CUTHBERT opposed the bill. The Senate
were in pretty situation, indeed, TO consider subject
of such great moment! Look at the empty chairs. On
the other 1.-THE Whg) side of the Chamber only four OF
The six and twenty seats filled; on this, (the De-
mocratc) six or seven only were occupied. Where
was the Chairman (Mr Crttenden) who had intro
duced this bill? Where he? The Senator from
Mississippi, (Mr. HendersnnO whose State was to De
dsfra nchised where he? The Senator from Geor-
ga, (Mr. Berrien,) where was he' voice "gone
QUIT One Of the Senators from New Hampshire,
mir Wlcox,) where, too, was he' All absent! and
their States so deeply interested! Shameful condition
in which 10 pass bill which would il II became law,
exercise such important and vital influence upon
the country The honorable Senator continued, and,
at the conclusion of his remarks,
The question taken on the amendment OF Mr..
Allen and decided in the negative-yeas 20, nays
%, as follows:
Yeas-nIessrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton, Berrien, Buch,
anan, Calhoun, Culhbert, Fulton, King, Linn, Rves,
Sewer, Smith, of Connecticut, Sturgeon, Tappan,
Walker, Williams, Woodbury., Wright, Young-2o.
.Naus-Messrs Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Choaie Clayton Conrad, Crafts, Crittenden, Dayton,
Evans. Gruham Huntington, Mangum, merrick, Mil.
ler Morehead, Porter, Preston, Simmons, Smith, OF
Indiana, Sprague, Tallmadge, White, and Wood
bridge-25.
Mi BERRlEN, after few remarks, submitted a
provso TO the first section-that nothing in this section
and the act therein referred TO he apportionmen shall
be held 10 extend to the election OF any person elected
member of the 2S,h Congress in any State in which,
BY the laws of such State her Representatives are re-
CURED to be elected by general ticket, and where The
election has been held may be held before the regu
lar session of her Legislature And he called Tor the
yeas and nays.
MIR. CALHOUN said that, if there was any period
when the Government might come into conflict with
the States now was the time, for il never before had
less hold on the public confidence than now Without
entering into an argument as to whether the Appor-
tonment law, the bill before them was wise III It's
provisions, it apparent to all that The Government
must come into conflict with four or hive States. lie
was in favor of representatives being elected by dis
trcts but in the present condition OF things he saw
that dangerous conflicts were about 10 arse and he
hoped that the Senate would pause and reflect before
they took any further steps.
Mr.. LINN was glad that the Senator from Georgia
had introduced the proviso; but he trusted that the
whole subject would be laid upon the table.
Mr. KING asked whether it would not be well to
delay further action at present. for the purpose of giving
Senators opportunity Of looking into the matter and
de ysng some mode by which they would not interfere
with the States which had already elected their repre-
sentaves and he moved that the further consideration
of the bill be post poned until TOMORROW.
Mr. ARCHER said that, as the suggestion came from
so source he trusted that this side OF The
Senate would not interpnse any objection.
Mr. LINN said that he stopped TO look at the
source Of motion that he might govern himself accord
ngIy, but if proposition just in itself he gave 1t
his support.
The motion of Mr.. King prevailed. and
The Senate went into an Executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. STANLY offered the following joint resolution