Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-09
DEBATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CON.
VENTION- lCoar.SrED

VENTlON-l Coar,ScED
ADJOURNED MEsrlSe.-Ihe adjourned meet.
log OF The Convention, composed of The Demo-
cratic members OF The Legislature and special
delegates from lew OF the counties, assembled
in the Hall of the House of Delegates Tuesday
afternoon, February 23d, al oclocG--Dr. l.. P.
SCOTT, Speaker OF The Senate, in The Chair,
and Mes~rs WIN. K. DRlNKERD and Til OS
RITCHlE, JR., aching as Sec'eIaries.
The question in order was rpon The substitute
offered by The gentleman from Wythe (Mr
Floyd) for all except The first resolution proposed
by The committee. Gen. WALLACE, The Sena-
Tor from Fauquier, was enlitd 10 the floor, The
Convention having adjourned in The midst oil his
remarks. Before he proceeded, however he gave
way 10 Mr.. r. G.. SCOTT who appealed 10
Mr. FLOYD 10 Withdraw his substitute before
the Senator from Fauquier proceeded. He beg
sed that he would do so, in Uder to permit the
original resolutions 10 pass lac ordeal OF Grill.
cism and amendment by which The issues pre-
senled might be seen IN different light and he
might regard Them with very different feeling.
Mr.. VOOLFOLK called The previous ques-
lion. He waned action-inmedlaie action
He did not want 10 see The resolutions cucumber
ed with various Amendments, by which the true
issue between The HunkeB and the Chvary
might be avoided
Mr.. SCOTT understood BY The rules of The
House Of Delegates that me previous question
was debatable. He wished 10 know IRON the
Chair il il was?
The Chair replied that iimiied extern, II
WAS. II was in order TO show why The previous
question should moi now bt put.
MIR. SCOTT trusted, then, The previous qnes-
ton would not prevail Ee hoped il for his par
~, Tor his friends, and least and last OF all, Tor
himself-for he had not any aspirations, person
ally, 10 graIfy-no, before his country and his
God, no! Hetrusled that he would not have 10
vote between the original resolutions ard the
substitute without amendment. He was prenaf-
ed TO vote for The spirit oil the original resoluiivns
bll was not prepared TO go a. ier rs those rcso
lulions required him 10 go. Yet he did mol think
the substitute went far enough. Holding The po-
sion he did, he agreed exactly neither with the
Senator from Orange (Mr. Woo,iolk.) nor The
member from Amelia (Mr. HARVEY Ii The
Convention would is!en 10 his warning Voice, il
would notdfive him 10 vote between III, original
Tesc''i suggestions which had been The su6ie.Gl
OF his earnest and anXions cohsiur' d''uu 'iit,
might avoid what would appear 10 BE- struggle
for men. lie was ardentiy devoted 10 The prln.
ciples of,he Republican party; and il his sus
pestions were received in the spirit in which they
were made-ii The previous ques ion wc!c net
pressed-he believed they might yel sui. the taste
of the Senator from Orange and The members
from Amelia and Wythe, and restore harmony
where disorder prevailed. He called On The old
grey heads Of the party 10 internose Tor The pre-
servaiion Of harmony and concord among lis
members. They had seen the spirit OF disroid
prevail until The pillars OF the parry were shaken
and totered. Lei bur the sunshine OF coed feel
ing and concession appear amidst them, and all
would be bright and cheering again, and they
would come back to batle for The party with
increased energy. He must say that il this game
was further played out, II was no meeting for
organization, but one for disorganization-,hat
trusted that all there were prepared TO join The
phalanx OF the party and presenting united
front meet the Wings and beat them in The
spring elections. In order 10 this, he trusted they
would now endeavor 10 heal, rather Than widen
their divisions He believed The resolutions
might be so modified as 10 satisfy the different
portions ofihe party.
MIR. HARvIE suggested 10 Mr. Scott that he
had better read his amendment. II il were al all
similar 10 those reported by the committee, he
coald net in any event vote Tor ii.
Mr.. SCOTT, in compliance with The susges-
lion. read ha resolution as'ollows:
"P mlred, That this Convention has seen with
sincere regret and disapprobaion, the course pur-
toiore acting with the Democratic party, in cast
Ing their vules for The expulsion OF The editors Of
the Union from the floor of The Senate and in vo-
ling for, sugse sling, or proposing measures in
opposition IL The vigorous prosecution OF The wal
against Meyico-a course .. conduct On Their
part. which, in The estimation OF this Convention,
is in violation Of lhe highest commands OF duty
Mr.. SCOTT continued his remarks. His re-
solution, he said, censured in proper terms, those
Democratic Senators and oilers who had fallen
short Of what The party had RICH! 10 expect oil
them while il did not draw line OF separation
between them and The Democratic party. He
had concurred heartily with The Democratic party
in employing The same language with regard 70
The conduct ii Senators Benton, Bagby and 9TH
els, who quailed and shrunk from their duty On
the Texas question. For similar reasons: he
would tell his dearest friend and political leader
thai he had done wrong. And ia this spirit, he
would pass The resolution he had read-he would
express his regret al the course oil certain Sena-
tors, which was in opposition 10 The highest com.
mands Of duty. But vet he drew no line of Sc.
paralion between hem-nor did he declare The
confidence Of The parry Withdrawn IRON them
He trusted The previous question might not be
sustained; but that they Nigh; be permitted 10
give the resolutions such a shape as would make
them more acceptable
MIR. VOOLFOLK now rose-he had only q
word or two 10 say. The Presiden, admonished
him that he had demanded The previous question,
and that The range Of The debate was very limit
ed. Mr.. W. supposed he might reply 10 the re.
marks Of The genlaman who had just spoken.
The President trusted The Senator would ob
serve order. He knew we'll The rules OF order
for he (Mr. W. was better pariamenlarian
than he Che Prssident)
MIR. VOOLFOLK confessed ne was better
parliamcnarian than the Chair, and in saying
so he did not mean to disparaee the Chair or
praise himself he had riebilo conrovert eve.
ry question raised by the member from Richmond
The President was understood To say, provided
he confined himself 10 arguments 10 show hattie
previous question ought now 10 be put.