Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-16

We had intended following up our aftcie
Yesterday with more reflections upon Tue suoj
OF the Liberty OF the Press, but we decline oo'
60 at this moment, in order 10 allow space
the following article from Saturday nig'
Union. in The sentiments cf which weiully conc
THE SCENE lNTHE SENATE.-We c;
moi adequately describe the excitement which
nrevailed iorlhe last three days in this city. I
Senate chamber has been The great centre Of
traction, and The denouement of The drama h
been exhibited in The vote OF this evening, whit
expels the editors OF the Union from their p,iyi
eyed seats. All The democratic senator's have :,
ted against The infamous resolution. EXCEPT ihcs
whose names are inserted below. 1nfuhave uni
ted with lbe federal patty in The Senate in The
miserable, frivolous attempt To attach a moral
degradation upon The character Ol the editors Of
this paper. The bond is sealed. The coalition
complete, between these four men and lie resu-
larry organized opposition 10 The present admins
tration and The great democratic party I'll the
Union. In vain has this administration slrue-
eled, and succeeded in earring ont Inc grea! and
: fundamental principles VI The democracy. II
, has done more towards reforming The abuses OF
the government, and putting The ship upon The
republican lack, Than any other President, who
has had The power 10 perfect these reforms, since
the days OF Thomas Jefferson. We boldly and
iearlessly pronounce The tact in The face OF the
world. In vain have we s.riven our utmost for
nearly The two last years, and devoted every en-
ergy ol mind and body, in cooperating with our
friends Of The administration in achieving these
| important purposes. And now, because the lea
der OF LILLE clique, protesting 10 belong 10 the
| democratic party, has become lsoured and dis
satisfied, he and they have united with The iede-
ralsis 10 strike al us, and through u.s. 10 strike al
The administration; and TO effect that object, they
have rushed on 10 strike down The liberty OF the
press, consecratd as i, is by all the strongest prin-
cIplts 81 The democracy, and embalmed IN the
memory OF every republican BY The protests OF
Jefferson and OF Madison, against The prosecu-
!iou OF VIM. Duane. and still more remarkably,
against the prosecuting spirit OF the sedilion law
Of old bIack-cockade federalism
Tell u not that il was this particular commu-
nication OF "vindicaloI" which has invoked
their vengeance upon our devoted head. Vim
dcator' might have spoken in more courtly
phrase; but he spoke with nm homes, zeal tor the
honor OF his country, jeopardized, as he believed
II 10 be, By the opposition in The Senate, Consist
ing OF The Federal party and The small balance
parry Of that body.) "VndicaoI" might have
employed more courtly and polished phrase, bu
he virtually spoke the truth as 10 the consequent
cc5 OF their act. lie believed the defeat OF The len
regiment bill was calculated 10 weaken the sup
plies OF The nation in the war against Mexico,
and therefore he spoke OF il as 1Ie1ieGn plcforb;
anu Tor speaking the truth as TO the virtual conse-
quenees OF The vote, he denounced that vote, and
gave The pretext To the enemies of the Mexican
war 10 strike al uS-to strike al The administra-
lion-and, BY SO doing, 10 strike down The liberty
OF The press.
The Federal press persecues The President
without any moderation. /, abuses him in the
most virulenl manner. |, heaps charge upon
charge, like Pelion upon Ossa, upon his devoted
head. There is no punishment Tor them. They
are tree from all responsibility. And set the Sen
ators must punish every free press which pub
fishes any communication crticzing their course
What gives them higher claim than The Piesi.
dent Of the United States?
We defy them all, and appeal from ambitious
leaders and their supple followers 10 The people
themselves. They will not desert The cause
What becomes OF us is OF little account. We
are but atoms in powerful community OF twen-
IS millions OF people. We nvoke no commsse-
ration upon ourselves. We defy any coalition be-
tween the Federal party and the munsirl party Of
the Senate 10 degrade us, or 10 injure The admin
slration, or 10 slab the great constitutional prin-
ci2lc Of free pres, and tree discussion. FuI
one, we repeat We nail our flag To the mast and
under that glorious flag We are prepared 10 stand
or 10 tall.
The strong and indignant sentiment, VI the De-
mocralic party flowed in upon us this evening -
We have not time 10 dilale upon The subject; but
We content ourselves with laying before our read
ers, as specimen ot the Using spirit ol he par
Ia hot ..lt Vrlrsx al
by one OF the abesl and most distinguished re-
publicans OF thi, city:
vi cannot withhold my word OF appreciation
and encouragement, in your controversy with
The Senate. In the first place, you did no more
than your duty, in letting that body know that il
was amenable, through The press, 10 the people
Tor its conduct You will remember advised
you 10 this some weeks ago. and suggested 10 you
that, al The head Of a strong Democratic journal
oil This country, you welded a greater power than
any member or clique upon that toor Perhaps
il was more prudent Tor you 10 wait until public
opinion, in regard 10 The course Of Congress- had
more fully developed itself in The country That
time has now certainly arrived; and was reloiced
TO see The spirit OF the people reelected in The CO.
lumns CT the Union. And the attempt 10 muzzle
you will be regarded everywhere as an attempt
10 stiie the Tree voice OF the press. So far, you
been lofty, dignifed and palIiolic-just such as
the cause and The occasion demanded. And you
will be sustained By the people You will mol
only triumph in this controversy with The Senate;
but the inexperienced gentlemen who have per-
mitied themselves 10 be used as the instruments
OF others, will have 10 endure the modification OF
al ignominious defeat in public opinion"
We have lime only, al this late hour in the
night, 10 subjoin lew more remarks which
grew out oil the scenes Of this memorable day
We inform the county, then, that al late hour
this afternoon, The Senate of The United States
perpeiraIed gross outrage upon The liberty OF The
press, by The adoption ol the following resolu
ton:
"Resolvei, That The Editors of the Union-a
newspaper publisher in The city Of Washington
having, in publication contained in num-
Der of that paper dated The 9Th OF February IS
sued and uttered public libel upon The charac-
ter Of this body they be excluded from the privi
leses oil admission 10 the floor of the Senate"
Ii is our purpose, without delay. 10 express al
some length our views upon the whole character
OF This proceeding, upon the purposes which il
was designed to accomplish, the preIences alleged
10 justly il, and The combination Of agencies on
OF which il grew. We shall deem il oul
duty TO hold The doers Of this decd 10 The whole
OF their just responsibility before the people
We shall spare no effort 10 present 10 The country
all the facts and all the considerations upor
which sound judgmen, in this case depends.
We shall begin the discussion OF this subjec
in our next publication, when our reporters vii
lay full copy oflhe proceedings oil this evcn,tu
day before our readers.
The protesting Democrats who united with III
Federal party in perpelraling this disgracenl dee
are the following: A. P. BUTLER, JOHN {
CALHOUN, JAMES d. WESTCOTT, an
DAVID L. YULEE.
For the Enquirer.
I,I.,.r,. I, e ,,.;,h ,nl,;rpad tao 4 h.