Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-17

I
concur in the amendment of the Senate, but adhere 10
the number fixed by the House.
Mr. PICKENS submitted whether the censure cast
on the Senate by the gentlemen who had addressed the
House rMessrs. Adams aud Johnsonl came with pro
prety from those gentlemen. The Senate, by the Ion
stiiution, was independent branch of this Govern
ment and the Senate had just much right 10 discuss
and amend the bill then before the House, any other
measure which came egitinately before them.
lie agreed with those gentlemen, that the rights and
The power OF this House sacred, under the Con
stuion, the ghts and powers of the Senate; and
he would 20 with them i'll maintaining it az co
ordinate and Independent branch OF the Government
and in making il the guardian Of the rights of the PEG
pie; hut, TO the mode of maintaining it in this posi-
lion, he submitted whether there might not be differ
ehca o.! opinion. If they carried out the principles
which had been laid down by the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts Cdr. Adamaj Tie trIe theory Of Demo
cracy, that each and every should have voice
i'll the representation, in what would it end In what
he'd ii ended in every country in which it had been
tried: In concentrating all power in the hands OF
few, who then would become the dictators Of The
Republic To gnard against this, they had organized
tins representative Government; but carry out the
principles of the gentleman from Massachusetts, and,
instead OF meeting here for consultation and legitimate
discussion, it would be body thrown iato confusion;
and from It's very numbers, 1t would be mbece for all
The purposes laid down in the Constitution To pre-
vent that he would have this body . efficient and
practical as possible, and then they would carry out
the principles OF the Consttution and then they would
make it the great guardian of the people, rights.
The gentleman from Massachusetts had assigned for
the Senate the that they feared the power of this
House. lie (hlr. Pckens knew not what the reasons
were which had influenced Tie other bady bat for
himself he was influenced BY fear that this House,
if large BODY, would degenerate into mob, and
break down the barriers laid down in The Constitution
lie in favor Of large ratio. because he sincerely
believed il would lend to increase lie power OF the
House. That House had the power declare war, and
to originate all tax bills and they had power which,
in the future history of this country was TO be still
impn!lant-they should have to exercise the
power 10 elect the future Presidents Of this Republic.
This consideration would always make this House
important body, if they did not by adding TO lis
bers, make it mob, and destroy its efficiency. Make
it Numerous body, and thereby make it unfit for dis.
cussion and practical legislation, and tie people would
look TO the other body-o the still more efficient branch
for the defence Of the peoples rights He for
the largest power of hs ionse contemplated by the
Consultation with that purpose he wonld make it an
efficient body and, 10 these objects, he would
oppose increase offs numbers It strange spec
tscle the gentleman from Massachusetts assum.
ing 20 be the guardian of Democratic principles. II