Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-07-09
[Ekom nc GloIc, Julu p


penel that tho speech which he went so lar ic
make was altogether political speech; ana worse
= rariv speech of the most malignant type-suct
= sreecb as was utterly Incompatible win al
social and friendly feeling. ifthe assem5lasa were
ms Mr. clay admits il was) composed oi man.
~ bo,h tie great parties among Us. The very
o,en;,,o Of his ora,ion!-addres>ed 10 persons q
every age and ofhoth sexes. by the distinguish
Ell visi,cr. intent oaiy as he would persuade inc
nublic) on rcpaiink with grateful anC
kindly feeling the hospitalilics and socia
e,dearmen,s with which he was receiE-
cd-was direct insult 10 such as did mol en-
list under the banner of WhiSgcry Wnich ne
raised on the occasion. although, tellow-clii-
ions (s3ys The sociable scnteman,) have moi
come to your state with any political AIMS OF
PURPOSES am aware Of the general expectation
! Entertained here tina, should embrace the occa-
! sion 10 make some exposition OF my sentiments
and views in respect 10 public affairs. wen,
| AIR. CLAW might probably have expressed his OPT
Mons touching public Affairs. without wound
mo persona or patty feeling: but instead Of discuss
inc affairs he Immediately breaks out inio
mere party invecjyc: -,
| NV opinions (says he) upon great ana leao-
ing measures Of public policy have become set
| lied convictions, and am Wing because 'hd'
party seeks the establishment OF those measures.
| In determining with which OF The two great par
lies of The country ought 10 be connected Rave
been governed by iull consideration aud lair
comparison OF The tendency OF heir respective
principles measures, conduct, and views There
is one prominent and characteristic difference be-
tween The Two parties which emincnlly diSin-
euishes them, and which, il there were no DINER,
would be sufficient 10 decide my Judgment; and
tia, is. the respeci and Difference uniformly dis
PLAYED By the one. and the disregard ami contempt
exhibited By the Other, 10 the Constitution, 10 the
laws, and 10 public authority.
Was t.ert ever Il more sweeping Remuneration
Of the Democracy-,he party to which Mr. Gay
was indebted for his elevation as public nah
than that couchcd in the last words OF this pas
sage? The prominen; and characteristic differ
ence" which disinguishes the Democracy IS me
diyccard and contempt crhbiied bya 10 nc Con-
s.itution, to INC Lcws, ami 10 pdL'6 o"taordy!!'
This is the general charge and Mr.. Clay at
tempts to support it by specifications ana men
the speech is made on this impeachment OF 4
whole party 1t is precisely in character with
that OF a prosecuting attorney, seeking, o. false
statements and Suggest ms Ia CONVEX some one
Dragged 10 the bar OF his own malice. And IN
the case of Mr. CLAY, the prosecuting attorneys
instinct is shlrpened by the Consciousness mat
miscarriage is his own condemnation. lie Wa>
plcadin9to condemn The Democracy 81 Inc Wioie
country Of disregard and contempt OF the Con
stitutiop. the laws and public authority thai NJ
might become the e.recn'or of the Constitution.
the laws md the public authority and shoud ne
succeed in this his suit. he fell no Gouh, ha. he
might again taie the satisfaction he enIayed al
the famous extra session, D; Roasting that the De
mocrdtic Representatives in Congress were IN
the condition of condemned criminals in cart
with ropes round their necas, and ready TO be
swung of.
But 10 cone TO The allegations by which the pro-
cess of hanging is 10 oe Warranted, IN case VII.
Clay should succeed in catching the Democracy
Mr. CLAY opens them thus:
"It is far from my intention OF desire, to do inc
least injustice 10 the party 10 which am opposcd
but think that in asserting the characteristic dill
ference Between The two parties which ! have
done, am fully more borne out by facts, to SOM
of which onl,, on this occasion can refer, ana
these shall all be Of a recent nature.
THE first TO which shall call your attention
has occurred during the present session Of Con-
gress."
After recital Of the supposed mischiets OF the
general ticket mode Of elecling members OF Con-
sress in some of the States (which had never pro-
duccd the least dissatisfaction in the country, =
Mr.. CLAY GOES on to yindicatc the infamous man.
damus act. and concludes with the assumption
that The Democracy of the Union were guilty OF
a contclnp, OF the Constitution and laws in admit
iino REPRESENTATIVES to their seats elected under
the laws whichthe nandamus act commanded The
States to alter but what they did not alter. he
thus attempts to make out his ease:
aWcy the last Wing Congress, in order 10 pre-
vent The abuses and 10 correct the inequality arts
inc ont of the diverse modes Of clccling members
of the House Of Representatives, passed all act re-
curing that it should be uniform, and by districts.
This act was in conformity with an express grant
of mower contained in the Constitution OF the U:
States. which declares that the times, places, and
manner oil holding elections for Senators and Re
prcsenatives shall be prescribed in each Stale by
the Legislature thereof int The Congress may, dtG"E
time In Iac, make alter such regulators, ececP
as 10 he plaecs of choosing Senator's With that
reasonable, equal, and just &C, Of Congress, every
Wing State whose Legislature assembled IN tune
after its passage strictly complied, and LAID on
their respective States into districts accordingly.
Blu, four States, with Democratic Legislatures
Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri and New Hamp-
shire-refuscd TO conform 10 the law, treated II
with contemp.uous neglect, and suffered the cleo
tons for members of the House ofRcpresentalives
10 proceed in total disregard oil its provisions
This was new species oil notification. mol less
reprehensible than that which was attempted form
erlv in another State though admitting OF more
easy and peaceful remedy. That remedy was
10 refuse 10 allow the members returned from the
four States TO lak@thsr seats in The House OF he
representatives. Rhich they hal no constitutional OF
legal righSfo occupy That question the present
House of Representatives HAD 10 decic. But was
predicted, long before they neutrality-suspicious.
IL predc;e,-lha, the members from the tour Ic-
fractorv States would he allowed 10 take their
seats, the constitution and the law notwihstant-
ing Why was it 50 predicted? Was it not BE-
cause it was known, from the general characts +
and conduct OF the dominant party IN the House,
that ii would not hesitate to trample under loci
both law and constitution, itnccessaly to The &C
complshment of a party object! Accordingly,
The question recently came ur in the House, and
the members of the four States were admitted 10
their seats
The Federal Congress, instead of awaiting il
self Of the Constitutional authority which pre-
scribcs that "Couorcss n,au at any tlne by hsw
mate or otter" the mode of electing representa-
tives. adopted by the States, ordered the Stale LIE
giSlaturcs to become its deputies, and do The
work which Congress was required TO do il thai
body deemed i, expedient that il should be done a.
all Several Of the States had no opportunity 10
comply with an Unauthorized command, on the
part of Congress, 10 perform its functions. The
elections were over before the MandamuS Act
could he possibly promulgated. and the State L.
gislatureS convened. In other States Georgia
and New Hampshire) The Governors Justly held
the order 10 the Legislatures unconstitutional,
and did not call them together. In every In
stance named by Mr.. Clay, it was entirely out OF
the power of the people to choose their representa-
tives to Congress otherwise than by general tick
et-no law existing prescribing any other mode;
and the simple question for the House to decide,
in virtue Gifts constitutional authority ito judge
Of the qualifications offs members" was, whether
four States should be disfranchised in virtue Of
an unconstitutional and une1ecuted act of the
preceding Congress. The question was brought
before the people, and discussed in The election OF
the members to the present Congress; and ma
loriy oftwo-thirds of the Judges appointed BY The