Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-01
LEGISLATURES or VIRGINIA.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
(Coa;ipned)
REPEAL OF TIE BANKRUPT LAW
T,n Ift

III.
Tntsday, .jan. H.
REMARKS or Mr. HOPKINS, ~ PowusraS,
On Mr. DANIELS moton to postpone lhachhileiy ''e
resolution offered by Mr.. BfLY declaring that the
Bankrupt Law was inexpedent, and ought 10 be re-
pealed: 49,.
Mr. Speaker: ! rise in accordance with The intima-
ton given yesterday, to throw myself upon The ndni
gence Of the House, for the purpose oil expressing my
views upon this interesting ana important s'"Jec"r
Suffering am, Sir, under some degree oil bodily al
Fiction, and with the most painful sensations on ehpaF
rassment and confusion, | would most giadiy retreat
from the position have assumed could reconcile II 10
my sense of duty 10 do So cannot promise le House
either the treat ofenrapturng elcquence, which we re-
ceiyed from the gentleman from Richmond (Air Dan
ieD on Saturday, the feast Of logic presented 10 Us
Yesterday by the gentleman from Wood MI JackSon)
Much has been said in the course o thus DEBATE III T..
ference to the cost ot discussing Federal Relations; and
the Wing have appealed Ia us, III manner tic
most sincere, language the most tonc!iing ana III
rhetorical hourishes the most lofty and imposing, fo
shut The food gates n discnss0n upon these SUBJECTS,
At least for one session Of the General Assembly Be
fore have done with these gentlemen, Sir, viii eNii-
bit such an array OF statistical proof reference 10 the
discussion Of Federal Relations within the last ten
years, aud to show upon which party Tue cost Justly
rests, that fancy SIR, they Will blush at the Wtsstree
lion OF their darts and acknowledge the tnnDcfHcr oil
their intended victims Let them beware, Mr. Speak
err how they invoke the vengeance OF public sentiment
upon those who have hitherto moved IN tins Hall upon
The subject Of Federal Relaionstor assure them, III
all possible sincerity, tNal VI VI
try IS to be based upon, and the popular indignation 10
be measured by, the relative amount Of cost incurred
by the two parties III The consideration and discussion
oil these questions within the last ten years, they Will
find ssthe scord at Damacs suspended over thc! own
heads and threatening their destruction In this
connection beg leave especially TO review the
of the gentleman from RockbTiGgc, OR. Dorman,)
which has heretofore been in striking contrast with
what it BY reference II the journals OF ,is
House, | find tia; ccHtiemanS name upon special
rp.h Rlrla hon
Wing on the I0ih Of December, 1888, upon the Re-
,noval Of the Public peposiles; and throughout the
whole proceedings OF tins House upon that subject,
all its various phases, he found willingly and
lively cooperating with his Wing conpeers-he Ut
tered no complaint then against the subject cf Federal
Relations On the 3lsi Of December, lc31 perceive
Mr. Dorman offered Preamble in reference 10 the
proceeds of the sales Of the Public Lands, terminating
with the following Resolutions:
al Be IL therefore HrSofred 6y The Gencroi .3SSembfH
of Iirginia, That Senators in Congress BE- IN
slructed, and our Representatives requested 10 use
their best efforts to obtain the passage OF law pro
yidno for the future distribution OF the proceeds arls
ing from the sales CT the public lands among the
raj States of this Union, according to their Federal
representative population, 10 be limited at all tunes
by the wants of the Government ARISING out Of state
Of war with any foreign power.
90 Resoired, That the transfer alienation Of the
public lands TO the States within whose limits they
are situated, would be regarded by the people Of this
Commonwealth miracton Of the compact entered
into by the several States their deeds Of cessons 10
the U. S, and fragrant breach oai,h towards Vr-
gnia whose munticence has greatly contributed TO the
discharge OF nation debt contracted in prosecuting
the late with England
SO. Resotred, That the Governor Of this Common
wealth be requested 10 transmit copy Of the fore
going resolutions TO each of our Senators and Repre-
scntatves in the Congress Of the United Stacs with
4 request that the same be laid before their respective
bodies.
l presume that gentleman did not then consider
it improper for the Legislature of this ancient Com
monwealth to deliberate, TO discuss, and to t7prt%S
its opinion upon subjects legl,lmatclY appcstanlng
to the Federal Government, could he have re-
garded her voice unworthy Of the profound con-
sderation of Congress, and Of her Sister States, III
matters of Federal concernment. During that same
session, the gentleman from Rockbrdse, in discussing
Mr. Gilmer's resolution upon the subject Of Abolition,
which had been, in some respects, connected with Fe.
,!eral Relations, in the outpournas of his indignant
eloquencc, proclaimed, hat it were better the proud
walls Of this capitol should crumblc INTO mass OF
cinders than that the present Legislature should al
TO act upon this subject" So much for the gentle
man s course, during the session OF I>.l6 On the
10th December 1889, Mr. Tyler moved TO refer much
of the Governors Message, related 10 the proceeds
Of the sales of the public lands to select Committee,
upon which the geRticman from Rockbrdge was ap.
pointed member. lie advocated the Report Of tina,
Committee, and such his anxiety that some action
should he had upon the subject that when he found u
scheck. mating Senate would reject the resolutions Of
the House-ihc one having majority Of Wings, the
other ma ority OF Democrats he moved the 30th
Of January TO insert before the words "Gcuera i.s1m
6iy" the words "BroHch Of the, 10 make II read
"4nd tbs Branch Tie General assembly doth decare,
&c Here it is apparent, that he felt much sol,c,
tude that this Legislature should act upon important
subject of Federal Relations, that when he lorHn hc
could obtain the concurrent action of the Senate
he was content take that of the House Of Delegates
alone And yet, after all this, Mr.. Speaker, when the
same subject of Distribution in connection with other
Ill ~,
nocratic members, at the present session, namely,
the 2Jd of December, the gentleman from Rochbridge
from his seat protested against the agitation Of
such subjects in this Hail. and by Of ridicule gave
notice, that carly day, he would present the fol-
lowing Preamble and Resolution for the consideration
Of the House:
"Whereas the people Of Virginia are per Sc, the
greatest wisest, and most enlightened OF all the pro
pie Of this Union, OF the world and whereas the
Federal Government would altogether be unable TO lc
eslae upon The great subjects couided 10 lis by
the Constitution and laws, without the aid assistance,
and instruction of the Genera! Assembly Of this Com
monweah, regulated at every session thereof; and
whereas the present House Of Delegates and Senators
assembled in General Assembly, may either BY the
will Of the people, IN the providence Of God, be
again together TO dispense their instruction 10 the
world and whereas poster'ty, as well as the present
ration may suffer rretrievabc loss and deticn
II this present General Assembly should longer delay
any action upon the subject of Federal Relations, Of
def,inet abstractioaS-Be it therefore
"Resoiped, That a Convention of the People Of Vir
GINA be called for the purpose Of amending the Const
tuition Of this State, 10 authorize the perpetual scs
sions of the General Assembly, and comforting upon
said General Assembly the power of supervising the
conduct and action Of the several departments of the
General Government"
Now, MIR. Speaker, am sure need not predicate
any argument upon these facts, to convict the gentle
nan of the most direct inconsistency in the comparison
IF his former and present upon the subject OF
federal Relations His acts are too numerous and
TO render any argument from either
necessary properand the only surprise 10 those who
AVE not traced his will be- 10 find that he who
,enned the preamble and resolutions have just read,