Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-12
The Discts.siou.

cuSson came on IN TINS city, between Mcssrs. Bolts and
Leske the opposing candidates foe Congress Metro
Poli'sn District Atan early hour, the African Church.
which the discussion held. crowded to overflow
ing No, less than 1000 persons presents and by far
the larger portion Of them remained until its close at
O'Clock n NJ each speaker occupying two hours in their
opening. and hall hour in their concluding spccches
We are sure We utter the verdict OF immense majority
Of the audience when say that the triumph OF Mir Bos
was complete and overwhelming. The argument OF Mr.
Lcakc was ingenious indeed but sophistcsl degree
which have rarely known cqualed. Yet all the points
which, with much labor, he ondoavorod establish in
his two hours reply TO the opening speech Of Nj. Bos
were demolished, IN the brief half hours reoinder the
latter, as by the touch Of Ihuriers spear
We shall not attempt any thing like sketch OF the DIS
cussion; but we propose TO advert briefly the
positions assumed by Mr.. Leake.
That gentleman. Of course, attacked Mr. Botts's vote
against thatmagnheent humbug. the Twenty first Rule"
the rePsai OF which nevertheless one OF the first acts
al the Inst session OF the last Bocooco Congress. That
vote, we DO not hesitate say has trumphany yind-
Gated by subsequent events which establish the sagacy of
Mr. Bolts, and demonstrate the folly OF its authors The
avowed object of that rule quell the spirit Of Abo-
ionism-its eject give vitslty and energy and
to add thousands to that party, who believed the right
OF petition had been violated by its enactment and who
united with the Aboonsis, though disappearing of hor
principles and designs, for the yndcaton OF great doc
ne which lies at the foundation OF representative insuu
nons is vain for us OF the South to say that the right
petition was not infrnged by rule. The North be-
eved otherwise and, believing, thousands of anti Abo
tioniss combined with that faction to resist what they
conceived be dangerous attack upon the great prnc
pie OF popular sovereignty. Hence during the existence
OF that rule, the number of Abolition petitions so far from
being diminished by the refusal them were null
upheoto an inconceivabe eNtcnand the struggle bring
them before the House repeatedly led TO scenes of
and excitement, such as have been known on any
other subject But since the repeal that rule we have
been assured, on high authority, that 'Abotoais on
inc deeiine-so said the Enquirer Of June lsI6 and
whether this be So or not there be question Of the
fact that The number Of Abolition petitions presented 10 TN,
House OF Representatives has greatly diminished And
what evil results from their reeeptOn-wha danger 10 the
south has occurred, or can occur from i'll Tpcse questions
arc answered by the fact that the Senate OF the United
States, no such absurd Ru'e-which as means of resist
ance to Abohonsm, is as poweess a straw TO impede
the OF angry 5od-has ever been cnacied and
yet IN that branch OF Congress but such petitions COM
paraively, have been presented, and we have never
witnessed those exhibitions Of disorder violence and
fierce passion, by which the proceedings Of the other
House, during the existence Of that Rule was SO often
characterized, but which have ceased since its
Now, the petitions presented received and reerr,d
as they had BEEN in the earlier periods Of our history and
UNTIL Tor pay party purposes, this humbug was connected
from which mSchcis have resulted than IFS author,
We should have been CAD IT, in his tragic zeal for the
safety of the South, Mr.. Leake had told his hearers
thing about the pursued by ~ Southern Iocotco
members OF Congress, pho uOed for the pr!nee Of the
IVilmOf propso the bill for the organization Of terrific,
rial government in Oregon, the last session Of Compress
and OF the Convenient absence of % other Southern o
cooco members Of that House. on that occasion BY which
that bill received the sanction OF majority Of that body
We should like to know whether the principle Of that fa
proyiso, which Mr. Leake denounced with s., much
emphasis, is not ogeHSre and dangerous when an
Piled TO territory which already possess in Oregon IS
is when held up IN terToTea, regard territory which
We have yet to acquire in Mexico 1t is only when
IVhss are to be assaed however we have uniformly OBJ
served that Locoioco zeal for Southern rights and ns
tons burns like consuming fire..
But to another theme. Mr.. Leake CHARGED NJ, R,,.
with having voted against the Tariff Of 1912 This ebaroe
made without qualification explanation course excited
sensation among that portion Of his audience who had
forgotten the attendant circumstance Ii was doubtless
INTENDED 10 produce sensation for 10 was enumerated
with solemn gravity, aud al the same time in tone os
triumph which evidently beickened the belief OF the sneak
er that he had made most astounding discovery Now
MI Leake told literally the truth but he did NOT ne a.,
aceuers, IN courts Of justice sworn 10 do tell the
truth lie fortified his assertion, by quotations from the
Journals of the House OF Representative: but ike ,,
atro lawyer, he read only much OF the Journals - ~
ed his purpose And what, Gsk, IN the name of COM
mon sense. seaS that purpose, If 10 a. produce an
Impression upon the public mind justified by the whole
body oi facts True, Mr l.. subsequently, conceded all
that Mr.. B' explanation OF his perverted ircdcg, re-
derei clear and saslac,uy-but DO seemed ID, m IN he
reluctant and cSoried concession, the force Of which no
vain endeayo;ed to destroy at the moment oC r,L n
What are the facts MI Bolts voted for the Tariff Bill
OF 1912, as IL originally passed both Houses OF Con.
g'oss. Mr.. Tyler vetoed a., because it contained p,o
vision !t-enactng the law directing the distribution OF the
proceeds OF the sales OF the Public Lands Mr. Bolts again
voted jOr the bill, upon the question: arising in such cases
" Shall the bill become law, notwithstanding the obcc-
tons OF the President p Thus he twice voted for the IA
ri Of lsi2 But subsequently, the House Of Representa-
yes IN order To accommodate itself the will Of the Exc
cutye, struck out the dsfrJuiioa elquse-and then NJ
Bolts voted against IT, and properly yoed for the purpose
o. yndcaung the independence Of the Legislative dcpart
msnt Of the Government, and Of resisting Executive dct,
uon in reference 10 Revenue Bill, which here as in En-
gland s emphatcaly under the cognzince Of the Cam,
mons, aud with which the King has no right to interfere
Had the Wings remained firm, as Mr.. b It's and few
others did, the President would have been forced to yield
in England in the days Of the Stuar the King when
he has needed supplies the grant Of which the Counons
thought proper TO aihX conditions has often been forced IN
yield in the contest there which then re-enacted here
ofPrerogaye against the Popular Will Mr. Leake III he
had any object IN view, by this must aye
tended to produce the impression that Mr. Bolts was op
P'Stu 10 the principles OF the Bl Of 1872 Do pasred
bat from this impu;dton he yndcaed by his vote
for bill in which all those principles were embodied but
which looked to other objects Also the deiea, Of which bv
EXECUTIVE DicrAroN he determined resist, by forcing
the President 10 submit the only means Of obtaining
"suppes"-tho great weapon he,e a. it is ia ENGLAND
o. resisting tho cncroachments Of the Monarch But If
Nh Bots had been opposed the tariff Of I2 was b,
FOR Locoioco orator to complain Of bic hostility 10
measure, which had been the object Of Locoroco abuse
and donuncilnon from the time Of it, enactment until
D, was superseded by the tariff Of 1857 l. Mr. Le,ko
para to the tariff Of 49, that he is thus eager eo,ret
Mr. Bolts Of hostility to that messuro7 Or did no hone 10
catch stray Wing vote two, by his mulaed history Of
,hut Incident
Mr. Leake' however, seemed to be very much horri-
fed that upon this question the name Of yOla Minor B,s
To- the yeas and nays, uniformly preceded by that of
John Quincy Adamsihat terrible bugaboo 10 the self
constituted champions Of Southern rights and institutions
and opponents Of Southern feng-who. in their AFRO.
glnce' erect such standards as they think ft-yueb
as tho stupid 2lst Rule, Tor oxampe-and denounce. as
enemies 10 the south, o. least as suspieoys ebgyse