Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-15


semble convention, but on terms such as Ii
west would never accept.
Mr.. Hopkins remarked that, as an appeal
Western members had been made upon this sui
iect, he desired 10 say that the extension OF Ii
right OF suffrage was one among many otner !!
MICS which enter into the convention question
Virginia. So far from its being The SUBJECT which
more than all others, engages the public mind !
that State, be felt authorized TO say that the loul
est clamor we had heard in favor OF calling
convention was for restricting the rishlofsuifras
so far as 10 cnt of the floating foreign votes whc
gave the cities and towns, and especially alon
the lines OF railroads and steamboats,, the right
suffrage in other counties than those in watch III
voters reside. TIE great question which, NOR
than all others, agitaled and divided the people
thai State, was the basis Of representation.
MIR. Payne resumed: He denied that be ha
Inferred with the affairs OF Virginia, bu, insis
ed lha it was most natural that one of her SON
who first saw the light OF Gay upon her soil, wh
had FIRST Quenched his thirst from the Tiyulets ths
ran al the foot OF her Western hills, should TAX
an interest in the success OF principle which ma
made Western Virginia what she was? Wa
il out OF order 10 name the Stale oil Virginia I
There was something about Virginia in this re
spect which he had long been tired Of; there wa
a devotion 10 long exploded crroIs which sickel
ed him, and must sicken any other man not il
fecled with il. A gentleman woo had told hir
that lie was impairment in speaking OF Virgin;
must not complain il he held up 10 her he mil
ror in which she might contemplate her own Tea
lures.
As 10 Western Virginia repudialins his friend
ship, he feared not that The Democracy IN an
part OF this Union would reject il, after life Q
81 Jay 10 pr,urirle {
II, indeed, he had boxed the political compass;
he had been Wing to-day and Democrat 10
morrow if he had travelled round the poiiica
zodiac 10 try and get chance Of rising upon lht
breeze, and, when one side was found 10 be unpo
pular, he lad gone over 10 the olher-then, indeed
the Democracy of Virginia might we'll doubt the
motives OF his friendship But this he never had
done, nor ever should. He ieared no loss OF
friendship, where his humble name happened 10
be known.
Mr.. Bayly said that the gentleman from Ala
bama, with violence OF gesture not unusual
with that gentleman, had seemed 10 express Of
fence at what Mr.. B. had imputed TO him. MIR.
B. shonld not throw back upon him imputations
which he had once already made.
Mr.. McClernand now, al length, got posses
sion OF the floor again, butamidsl so much com
motion raised BY The dust Of The Virginia war,
thai for some time what ne said was totally in
audible. He was understood 10 say, that when
gentleman from Kentucky MIR. Boyd) had asked
the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Payne how
his doctrine would apply should an earthquake
destroy this district, he appeared TO think he had
fully answered his objections 10 this bill; but IN
that he was mistaken; the gentleman miscon-
ceived the true question, which was not whether
Congress could remove the seat OF Government,
bul whether il could discover this territory with
on, The consent OF majority oil lis people |!
Congress had no right oil sovereignty over this
district but such as a State Legislature had over
Slate. The relation was precisely the same.
He would then PROFOUND one question 10 the gen.
lleman from Virginia, (Mr. Huner.) Were not
the people of Alexandria a minority OF the peo-
pie oil the District of Columbia2
mir. Hunter replied in the affirmative.
Then Mr.. Nice. denied the power OF Congress
10 disinegrale The District without the consent Of
the majority. The district was unit lew
people in one part OF ii could not withdraw them
selves from the rest, and divide inc District with
out the consent of The inhabitants, no more than
a few people in State could divide State; nor
could their Legislature. al their request without
the consent OF The people. Mr. Nice. held il 10 be
the junction OF Government 10 protect Is people
and preserve its territory. Ifit transferred por-
lion Of either 10 foreign jurisdiction, II struck
al The foundations OF Government and OF human
sociely-it was ttLo De Sc.
Mr. Nice. here quoted French history TO show
that monarch who had attempted this had been
impcached BY the people, and, in their National
Assembly, the cession had been annulled and
the jurisdiction re-assumed. The same doctrine
could be adduced from English history, and he
quoted case. lie also referred TO Vaue and
Story in support OF his position. He lamenled
the political disability ofthe people OF Alexandria
and was willing 10 remove il. But he denied
that, after the people OF the District had incurred
a general debt, Tor which all The property in the
District was bound, a portion could withdraw
heir shoulders from Tie burthen without the con-
sent OF all.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, said The people OF the
District, as such, owed no debt. The debts were
owing BY the Corporations of the three cities.
Mir. McCLERNAND said that was inmate
tent 10 contract debts, and that covered The prin-
ciple. A portion OF them could not go of with.
out leave OF The rest.
After some explanations with Mr.. Jacob
Thompson, Mr.. Nice. declared his inability 10
vote for the bill without clause requiring the
assent Of majority of The whole people OF the
District. and illustrated his doctrine by the case
Of Texas, where lie act oiibe Legislature trans
terring her TERRITORY 10 the United States was
held invalid without The consent OF majority OF
her people.
MIR. Mcdowell, OF Virginia, here addressed
The committee in speech whose ornate style
and graceful delivery reminded one OF Virginia :
former days. The Reporter is unwilling 10 spoil
il by hasly and garbled report; but hopes 10 pre-
sent il entire in day or two.
The question was then taken on the amend
meni of Mr.. Payne, and decided in the negative;
a yes %, noes not counted.
Mr. Ralhbun moved 10 strike out the 4,h sec
ion rs unnecessary, as he understood all the peo-
pie Of Alexandria we're Of enc mind.
Mr. Daniel assured him such was not the case.
The question being put, Mr.. Rathbuns amend
ment was rejected.
IRE 9Th section being read Mr. Morris moved
o amend il as 10 read
"TLat The United States cede The right Of pro-
nery and jurisdiction over the long bridge across
he Potomac river, and over so much land on The
northern side of the river as may be necessary Tor
The abu,men, Of the said bridge"
He said the bridge had been erect, 10 accom-
modae the people OF Alexandra, and he thought
hev onsh, 10 be a, the expense Of keeping il up
The amendment was rejected
MIR Hungeriord moved 10 strike ont The said
section and Mr.. Holmes of New York and Mr.
Erinkerhofi supported the motion.
The question being taken, the motion prevail
cd: Ayes &c, noes so.
Mr.. Payne moved an additional section:
"Andbe II turther enqctcd, That Congress will
in no even, assume and pay the debt or any par
hereof now due BY the Corporation OF the city OF
The amendment was agreed TO without coun
The committee then rose and reported The biz.
The Speaker having resumed The chair
Mr. Jones OF Tennessee moved the previous
question.
1t was seconded; and the main question was
ordered 10 be put.
And the amendments Of the Committee Of the
Whole were then read and concurred in.
The bill was then ordered 10 be ensrossed and
read the third time.
And il was read the third time forthwith, and
The question was stated that il Go pass.
MIR. Jones of Tenn, moved the previous ques-
ton: which was seconded, put, and carried.
The main question was ordered 10 be put
And ii was put-lhat is, on the passage OF the
biIl-and decided by yeas and nays as follow
YEAS-Mess,s 6. Adams, Atkinson, Baker, Banin-
pet Bayly Bedinrer. lame, A. Back. Eowlin, Boyd,
William C. Brown, Burt, John H. Campbell, Augustus
A. Chapman. Reuben Chapman, Chase, Cobb. C"sSs,
collin. crozier CuI.om. Darrach, Dobbin, Douglass,
Dunlap, EdsaIl, Edwin H. Ewing, Ficklin, Foot, Gen.