The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-01-21
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURES.


ties as Representative of,he People.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
The Speaker laid before the House the
following communication from the Hon.
JOHN MINOR Boris, which was read and
laid OH the table:
WAsHisGroN, JANUARY S, 1S43.
To the Speaker and blenders of the Sem
ate and House Of Delegates of Virginia:
! have received, through the acting Go
vernon OF the State, copy of the resolu-
ton adopted by your honorable bodies,
instructing the Senators and requesting
the Representatives of Virginia in Con-
gress 10 use their best efforts to procure
the immediate passage of bill reiunding
to General JACKSON the amount of fine
with interest which was imposed on him
in the year lSl5, by the judicial tribunals
of the country, for gross contemp, of
court, attended with violent assumption
of authority and dangerous inlraclion of
the Constilution-declaring martial law
and suspending the writ Of habeas corpus,
subsequent to the period when the ralf-
cation OF peace was known to Kim.
My extreme reluctance to give any vote
for which | should not be prepared to fur
nish plausible reason, if questioned by
those who have the right to inquire into
all matters connected with my legislative
action here, together with an unaffected
disposition, on all suitable occasions. to
comply with the reasonable desire of the
people OF my state, as furnished by legis-
lallve expression of the public will induce
me to inquire upon what ground this claim
Is intended by the Legislature to rest
II upon the ground OF private claim.
would respectfully ask the favor to be
furnished with The testimony laid before
your honorable bodies, which mus. no
doubt be ample, to have controlled your
decision so promptly after the lapse of
seven and twenty years.
IT, tn the other hand, it is intended to
be placed OH the ground of mere gratu-
ity, hope Shall stand excused for hes
ilaling long, ard considering ell, before
| subject myself to the unmeasured GEN.
sure so Literally bestowed on those who
voted a gra,uily to the widow of the late
President HARRISON, who did not stand
charged with any offence against the Con-
sti,ulion and laws OF his country.
II labor under misrepresentation in
supPosing the claim to rest on either of
the grounds above referred 10, then know
of none, ether imam that of political claim
upon which the Legislature could have
requested me TO vote for remission of
that fine; and, in which event as could
not approve or justify the object. should
claim 10 be excused from aiding in the &C
comPishment OF the end.
An inquisilive mind might be excused
for asking why, after the lapse of so long
period, this question IS pressed on the
first Wing Congress tina. has convened
for upwards Of one-eghth of cen,ury2
And why, when the power was in the
hands OF Gen. Jackson's friends, they did
not themselves exercise il2 And an I'M
charitable mind might ascribe it to party
movement, to excite the sympathies of a
portion of the community against those
who might not acquiesce in your views.
But am neither so inquisi.ive nor so un-
|
l know too well the high and patriotic consid-
erations which at all times govern your action,
to indulge in an inquiry or suspicion so far remo-
we'd from your real objects, and so preiudicial TO
| your patriotism.
But, in any aspect of the subject in which it
can DO viewed, it is not unworthy Of remark, that
| there are five of my constituents to be found in
part composing your honorable bodies, and four
of these five, if am not misnformed, voted a.
gainst the request you have made: from which |
might reasonably infer, unless they are to DO
supposed to have misrepgesented their constitu-
ents, that, in yielding to the very earnest desire
| indulge to obge SO large a number of respecta-
BILE gentlemen as have made the request, | might
run some risk Of disobliging, if not offending, n
much larger number of cqua llv respectable gen.
tlemen, who have stronger claims on my servi-
ces and votes in Congress. And take leave to
say, that have too much confidence in the gen.
uineness OF your democracy to suppose that you
desire me to do what the constituents whom
represent would not sanction or approve. My
means of communicating, however, with my
constituents arc abundant and convenient and
shall not fail to avail myself Of them, to ascertain
whether it will DO agreeable to them that should
make this disposition of the public funds In
viii ch event, will promise to give the subject
tho most respectful and attentive consideration.
And, in the mean time, subscribe myself, with
sentiments of the highest esteem, most respect
| fully, your obedient servant,
JOHN M. Bolts.
Hon. JOEL HoLLEMAN,
| Speaker 9th House Of Delegates, ia.