Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-25

member referred to had received his COM We
ton as Attorney long after his election n X
sslature Although the law was thus plain ~. .%
although the current of decisions pronons a..
that and similar offices lucrative Office, W.
the meaning of the Constitution. and no, .'Nh
holding them ineligible and although SIMS
evidence was aGduced 10 sustain the tact all;
the Wing majority would not allow The man,.
be enquired into, without coupling with Inc ;, ="
lion an amendment, directing the Commi,,sa,' -"
enquire into the eligibility of erry mc7ayey ;, -
House. This solemn triing was not on,v ., ,aS
worthy the representatives OF an intelligent cGr
sliiuency, but had the direct effect Of Ielusal y
allow the inquiry 10 proceed, by rendering am :"
port from the Committee impossible. As migt
have been ioreseen, no report was made a.?
few days before the close of the session The
miltee asked TO be discharged "'
Notwithstanding these disadvantages. prnin,..
by the utter disregard, by the Wing nemhs,.
the dignity and responsibility Of Legislators :,
Democratic Senate eoneurrcd in TIC rcsoip,,o,' ~
the elcction nj Senator on he dav fired bpt{, J,.1
Hcn@. i, is objected, that the Senate pursaa;
unusual course, by retaining the resolu,i,o usi
out acting upon il, until The very day fye, ~ =.
holding the election. But il should be remer,..
ed, that the same course has been pursued in 0g.
elections, and that there is nothing impror.r
such action. The House had suggested . ~
for an election The members, il was 10 he a.
posed, had so fixed the day because i, suited ~.
convenience, and 10 have been aware ,ha, ~.
wonld be the day, unless some other was ~,
| sested The Senate very properly, did no, =.
/ upon the resolution al once For had il done &
/ The day fixed upon could not have been ale--.
without the concurrence of the other branch
the Legislature, however Gesirabl such an a b.
% he hir attp cpO.
any thing from this course, it only proves lha, i,
members did no, believe that the Senate would
into the election al tha,lime, and had not proy:e
! for an election when they fixed The day Il.
only rational motive Tor such conduct beng
desire 10 entrap the Senate in an unpopular ~.
ceeding, while pretending 10 discharge hsh can.
siiulional duty But, as we have before state
the Senate ag eed 10 go into the election on n,
day Fixed by The House. In that body. M, /,
! Wing uttered his voice against it. THUS bo
| Houses agreed 10 go into an election Bu, H.
Wing party in the House Of Delegates fniir,
that Democrat would he elected. in accortarr-
with the wishes Of The people OF tie Common
wealth, determined 10 defeat the election. sr.a -,
tcr i. ras commenced IN putting Deaoaa. !,
nomination; and, displaying discouue>y to NJ
Senate, adjourned without giving that loiy s-y
intimation of lis intention. And Row We Ia,
/
ure 10 elect 4 Senator IS property ckarscaDe ~,
disoredni-ing course Of he Wig payt, IN !r,q,.
IN. Upa joint erier oisli0iei IN he Jais 5-r,
itseG, ual,r circumstances whieh I,st,op he fd..
| Of erery plea hty hare urscd IN h.V hnG B..
lieving, as they contend, that they had 10 obey liz
| command uf the Constitution, they made h,,,
obedience depend upon contingencies unsuvv.
10 that instrument. They pretend thai the So
was not fully and fairly represented, yc -.y
wished 10 elect Wing Senator for Democlsl.
State; and had refused, in effect 10 decide the en-
Tested elections, winch might have changed h
majority on joint ballot. The Wing AdIrs,,
admits that the Wing party wished 10 AVOID a
election BY adjourning, and endeavors 10 u,i.,
that course. Why, then, did not their mrmle,.
in the Senate vote against going into an elec,ia.
Did they wish 10 avoid The responsibility olc,.
posing openly 4 measure they sustained q.
House for defeating indirectly? Were they nu'.
afraid OF the unpopnlarliy OF an Act Than The u,
itself2 these questions are unpleasant 10 Z.
Wing members ofthe Senate, they must remea.
ber that they have co-operated in defending
course of action which they thereby approve, az
yet would not pursue.
Having disposed of the Wing address, so Ia |
as il relates 10 the course pursued in the Virgin.
Legislature on the Texas Resolutions, and Ii.
election of Senator 10 fill The vacancy is r.
Congress of the United States; we vii! ~
but a few words 10 the course OF the Wing Par
in receiving the land fund.- and electing Ccy.
cilor the other matters treated OF in their atdr.
The question involved in the reception .. Il. l
land fund, has long been familiar 10 the Peci |
Of Virginia. In the last contest it was mace /
political question, and was decided by the voice
the State The Democratic Party everywtc-
contended, that the act Of Congress diS,rlaf.
the proceeds Of The sales Of the public LANDS amor.
the States, was in violation of the Con>Iiiuaa
inasmuch as no sanction could be found IN ll4 4
instrument Tor such proceeding; and The Tu.
domain was intended a. common fund, ce'-
originally 10 avoid the necessity oil ,a1ing III
different States The practical operation u q.
Distribution act, as well as the violence done ioi-.
Constitution, was a source OF complaint l..
Democratic Parry could never consen, 10 =.
Virginia, a sipendiary Of the General Cover,
mcni, looking with anxious eyes 10 the action
that Government 10 determine b. lis contribution.
what schemes OF domestic policy the Commr.
wealth might carry ont. When the Di>rtlta
Law was passed, the Treasury OF the Union VS.
exhausted. The subject Of revenue was Of gre:
Importance while TIE manner OF raising that =
venue had convulsed The whole county ~
public domain vas yielding fund 10 the Gosd'
mcnt, which all parties agreed might pruret !.
used 10 defray lis expenses. With this irF'
us control, about the use of which there couc Z
no question, il was highly inexpedent in Congo"
10 adopt such line OF policy as would derf
The Treasury OF this source of revenue, ant thee
by create The necessity of raising an addi'lct
amount from system OF unjust and nneqi
taxation.
The consistency Of the Democratic mem.t.
of the last Virginia Legislature in sustaining
our Halls of Legislation the doctrines they a..
Gated before the people, has been made =
Iect OF complaint by the Whgs-inGeed i Is 81
mated that their action on this subject >aroO>
disposition 10 NEEDLE with and ,hwau tn u
ton OF the General Government in the lc?n.a
exercise of lis functions. This is utterly urip
The Democratic party wishes al all times lls'' IL
the Federal Government exercising, wit1n.
or hindrance, its legitimate powers, art -
should that action be contrary 10 the Con,i!s.y
and al war with the interests Of The coun!'
cndcayor 10 seek redress in the constitute n
modes. But when an unconstitutional 81.
pressivc enactment is made, il will in no e.
lend its assistance, and give validity 10 a pfocs
ing which, without that aid, would be noIt
tive.
Ii is proper 10 lay before the people az a
the Wings on This subject, which their !lit II
omi,s 10 mention. II is well known, ihs' z
have, throughout the country, endcavoreG e
list the cupidiy Of tie people in favour oiieo.
ing The Land Fund. They have poriraye.
glowing coIors the benefits which il could If
the Improvements it could carry out, AM
blessings Of education il could confer. Tie
was represented as a Fouunalus' pure, y.
would enlighlen the ignorance OF The
remove the barriers TO Internal commune
and which no public exisency could rShar' IL
Knowing that this course had been adop'ei II
Senate called upon the Auditor of Put!c.
commits Tor an estimate OF the amount which
be received by every white male over lwedi,-
years, il Virginia's quota Of he fund Wa a.
bntod among them. The Auditor, in o.'1f
10 ibis call, stated that the sum received ~ 2
would be fmeniy:frc cents and Mn'yfr 90
dredths Of a eent. After the adoption u itsi
luton To receive this fund by he House =
ton similar 10 The call otihe Senale was ~.
BY member OF the Democratic paIls
was adopted But The Wing party soon sap
the fund on which they had decla;met = y
would appear contemplate in the eye q j.
pie A Iolion was Then made 10 ftcoa>>r