Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-22
LReIsLArURE OF VIRGINIA.
SENATE OF VIRGINIA

dIy ~, AOfO.
MI, Sneaker rise at all times TO address The
Senate with difidence. am content always 10
he listener. rather than participant in the dis
cussions of this body. But | arise at this time
10 address the Senate under circumstances pecu-
liary embarrassing Il is now near nshtiall;--
after a long, laborious and anxious session,
know that Senators are indisposed TO entertain
>protracted debate. have this feeling in common
with them; and, were Ito consult my own wishes, l
would moi, al his late hour, throw myself Tor mo-
ment upon their indulgence. But ON this OCCASION
am not at liberty 10 consult my own feelings or
wishes Higher, nobler influences actuate Inc.
feel that il isdue 10 my constituents due 10 ine Soou
old commonwealth OF virginia, that my voice snail
be heard, although it may be heard unheedeo. i ne
question now before US, the election OF Couhciior
of State, at no time unmportant, from The aspect
II has here assumed, has become TO be grave
and momentous question. The odious doctrine
Z of prescription for opinions sake, is now for The
first lime seriously proposed to be adopted in Viz
ginia. II is now for The first time proposed 10
evict from office well-Tied and meritorious pub
Tic servant simply because he differs from the
dominant party in principle-simply because he
is Democrat. Yes, Sir, this is the question
COL Rutherford, who is now the Councillor, and
whose reelection We advocate, is to be suillo-
tined because he is a Democrat-In State,
where there is a majority of G000 Democrats, he
is 10 be condemned as unworthy OF office, be-
cause he is guilty Of the damning and only Of
fence of being a Democrat. If this is not all,
Of what other offence is he guilty! Is any thing
alledged against him2 Is be not honest2-is ne
not fai,hfui?-is he not capable? These were the
questions, and only questions, raised in reference
10 the qualifications Of public officers in The
good old DAYS Of Jefersonian Republicanism.
If any Senator will rise III his place and slate
that Colonel Rutherford is not competent Off
cer-I any gentleman will venture The assertion
that he has not filled the Office in which we desire
10 retain him, with eminent ability and fidelity,
then will cease to advocate his claims-nay
more, if any man will say that he believes that
Mr.. Daniel will, or can, render more valuable
service to the State than Colonel Rutherford,
then will yield the question. pause tor re-
ply None-no, none All are as silent as the
grave No charges, no allegations, no specihca-
lions, no accuscrs-but still he must be con-
demned, for the only cause, that he in common
with majority Of the people of Virginia, have
determined to try what virtue there is in Demo
cracy. No! Perhaps there is a stronger rea-
son II may be necessary 10 diSpace him, In
order TO reward political partzan. 1t is known,
that Mr. Daniel was warm active, and jealous
laborer in the late political canvass In all pro-
babiity if MIR. Clay had been elected, he might
have been rewarded with good fat office, and,
since that event is now decided, his friends may
think that "haff loaf is better than no bread"
They may wish 10 do for him what Mr. Clay
canno,-that is, 10 give him an office
do not mean here to be understood as making
any charge against Mr. Daniel. know him, and
know him to be a gentleman Of worth and
talents but he is candidate for office before the
Senate, and il is but fair 10 canvass his claims,
and shall take the liberty 10 compare them with
those of his competitor. Now, il mclodious
voice, and a musical prediction for doggerel
verse, were necessary accomplishment Tor
Councillor ofState, then Iexpect Colonel Ruther-
foord might well shrink from competition; for
understand, (never having been present on any
oil those Joyous occasions,) that his competitor
was the leader Of the Gee Club of this City, and,
as such, is perfectly O. K in all the intrcacies and
beauties oil Ethiopian ballad-singing. But this
accomplishment, great as il is, hardly think adds
any thing TO his claims TO the office now to be III
ed | have always understood, that the Council
Chamber was not place for singing but place
for council, advice and deliberaton: Sir, during
the last Summer, when Mr. Daniel was ravers-
the Stale, singing songs from The TALLER XII
ver, and delivering partisan speeches, where was
Col Rutherford? At his post in the city of
Richmond, as cool as a Summers morning, ad-
vising, counselling and protecting The interests,
integrity and honor of the State. The one, fired
with partisan zeal, girded on his party armor,
and rushed and remained in the party war
whilst the other, preferring his country TO party,
do-cast his vote. Which ought 10 be preferred,
a. the safest, wisest most judicious and discreet
adviser OF the Chief Magistrate of the State? Let
the Senate decide. But perhaps there is another
reason why our Wing friends would prefer Da-
mel 10 Mr.. Rutherford as Councillor. Perad-
venture il may be because he claims TO be the
sole author OF the great disunion hurbug; and
that honor, no doubt, he will enjoy 10 the latest
poslerity; Tor | do not believe that any human
being will ever be found so ambitious as to con-
tes the honor of authorship with him. This
reason. II MOI more solid, is certainly more spe-
cious than any have yet heard urged in favor OF
his election Sir, think our present Governor
needs Councillor who is most devotedly al
,ached 10 the Union, even to fault, (if that
fault should be humbug,) for in his first an
nual message, the Governor utters the most els.
organizing unpairotic and disnnion sentiment,
HThat the city Of Baltimore is Of more impor-
lance 10 the Commonwealth Of Virginia, than
any of its own towns except the city OF Rich
1nond and the Borough of Norfolk" Eeforgotthai
there were such places on the Map OF the World as
she town OF Petersburg and the town OF Lynchhurs.
lie forgot, that in the hour OF The nations darkest
trouble. Petersburg sent forth her Canada Voun-
1eers TO face the British and Indians combined,
and what was to them more formidable, TO face
The incamencies of Northern winter. He for
got that there was one little town in Virginia
which entitled itself to the glorious anpellation OF
the "Cockade OF the Union" He failed 10 re-
member, that the gallan,ry OF the Soulh-sde I'LL
ed your armies in lime OF war, as her industry
fills your Treasury in time Of peace. Perhaps
il Mr. Daniel had been at his elbow, with all ms
love for the Union and for Virgins, nc might
have reminded him Of these important facts. No
doubt he would, unless his attention at the time
had been occupied with the British Gold humbus,
or he had been engaged in inviting J. q. Adams
10 partake Of the Inequalities OF Virginia. But
the Governor is a man OF great soberncss, ana
has, doubtless, long since discovered his error,
without the aid of MIR. Daniel. If he has not.
can tell him, as one OF the Representatives OF
the People, that differ from him on this subject;
and that |, and believe every true Vi;ginian
will agree with me- would not exchange The poor
es, village in Virginia for the great city OF Halt
more because one belongs 10 Virginia and The
other 10 foreign State; and that, if he means
TO persist in this sentiment, would not swap The
humblest Democrat in Chesterfield county Tor
his Ercsllency.
But probably our Wing friends think, that The
"scepsre is abou, to depart from Judah" and,
therefore, when they have it in their power, they
ought 10 reward political friend by supplantins
a political opponent. This, | doubt not, is true
tell YOU, gentlemen, you got into power last
Spring by accident-your sands are nearly run
your DAYS are numbered-the handwriting is al
ready to be seen upon the wali-"Mene, meme,
Tekel, Upharsin." The people are about 10 arise
and restore the Government to lis pristine purity
and consign you 10 the oblivion 10 which you are
entitled. But | beseech you, do not sport too
boldly Your brief hour--do not crown the last
hour of your brief existence with the shedding OF
innocent blood. Ifyou do recolleet that we will
give Won Moses lava tooth for tooth, an eye
Tor an eye, and blood for blood, Commence this
game OF prescription now, and we will play it
Out next winter to your hearts content. Not that
f~r huf
@6yb, the Devil with fire., all the offices OF profit
and emolument in Virginia will he filled with
Wings, while the people of Virginia are Demo
cratic 10 the core.
Have we not Democrats in the Commonwealth
as honest, faithful and capable Of filling Offices,
as Wings and when the Wings gel into power,
as they do occasionally, are they 10 eycl all De-