Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-23
RICH MOND, VA.
Monday Morning, January 20, ls4s.
Virginia Herself:

4
attention of the Legislature aud people d.
ring an able debate Of nine days, we're, c
Saturday last, adopted by both branches I
the General Assembly by the overwhelmir
and crushing vote of exactly nine 10 one in eac
branch, viz: in the Senate 81 to 3; and in III
House lI7to Is The Provisois,s were utterl
routed-and Virginia stands forth in all her me
ralpride and commanding unanimity and firH
ness 10 re-assert her position in behalf OF tn
Constitution, the rights of the South ana 10
Union, and TO give solemn warming to he
Northern brethren, that "thus far shall they 6
and no farther." The result is the more striking
from the obstacles which were attempted to b
! thrown in the way BY parliamentary device
and by the course Of the leading Wing press il
this city-uhe Republican is an honorable ex
ception) In the House the resolutions prevail
ed Ito use Mr.. Greeley's language in regard Il
another matter) against a perfect cannonade o
amendments, substitutes and all manner of par
liamentary strategy. They stood this sort of fir
from the Wings for some time; but the friend
of the resolutions, iu their original form, (incIu
ding some noble Whigs,) regarding the attempt
TO amend as but rusc TO kill the whole mea
sure, manfully resisted and beat down all oppo
ition. As we said above, the resolutions, with
all their original strength and efficiency, passed
the Senate with only three nays; and the House
with only thirteen 10 the negative. Who com
posed this "forlorn hope" that, at this impor.
TAFT period, made desperate resistance to the
voice of Virginia, and sought to degrade and
disgrace the noble Old Commonwealth by in.
ducing her to back out and sneak away from her
high posilion2 few words will tell the
tale. On the list will be found the two Sena
tors from Augusta and Loudoun, two Federal
counties, which supported John Adams against
our own Jefferson the Senator from Am
herst, who is we'll known 10 entertain high Fe-
deral notions and who, on this occasion, COM
milted two gross indiscretions; first in leaving
his sick bed on cold and sleety afternoon; and
secondly, in voting against the resolutions,
representing the District that he does.-
In The House Mr.. Scott, as predicted by Mr.
Claiborne, carried eff only his t0elre "Discipes,'
viz: two from Augusta; TWO from Loudoun
(even this strong Federal county was divided,
Mr.. White refusing 10 voie;) one from Albemarle
(Mr. Hart, we were glad TO see, wen, boldly in
opposition TO his "monsing" colleague, Mr.. Wat
sopD one from Alexandria; Ooh! that this
blow should have come from virgiuias
youngest daughter who has been made
the PIT of the family and makes so migrate
full returnD one from Greenbrier and one
from Hardy Qhese Federal counties, we be-
believe, voted with Loudoun and Augusta for
Adams against Jefferson y; one from Mason and
Jackson Eve rejoice that Mr.. Clendenin was The
only member from Western Virginia, who re-
sisted the voice OF the SIa,e;) two troui ,,
and one from Patrick Even Fsuquier, MI.
Scoll's own county, was divided-his colleague,
Mr.. Rector, refusing TO vo;e against the resolu-
lions. With these facts before rs, counties divi.
ded and their voice broken TO pieces, can the
smallest moral weight be attached TO this minor-
~, measre as il isl Under all The circumstan-
CTS, We may we'll declare that the Legislature OF
Virginia are almost unanimous in their position,
aud The people still more so. We call upon the
people OF each county TO have early meetings to
confirm and give increased effect 10 the acls OF
their representatives. AS 10 the recusant men,
bers, we leave them TO the "ender mercies" oil
their offended constituents.
With these necessarily hurried views, 10 be ex-
banded hereafter, we attempt notice OF The
scenes on Saturday.
In the House, Mr.. Robinson offered resolu-
ton, that the debate on the resolutions close be-
fore The adjournment OF that day. Mr.. Cooke
moved 10 amend, SO as TO close the debate at P
NJ. Mr.. Har, moved 10 lay on The table, and
Mr.. Robinson having called the yeas and noes
The motion was lost 81 10 "a. MIR. Moncure, OF
C., movedlh The previous question; and the Eouse
agreed TO the amendment closing the debate al
P M.
The House then resumed the consideration o
the resolutions Of the joint commiilet.
Mr.. Whiule who was entitled 10 The floor, sale
'ha, he would yield it TO Mr.. Moncure OF S, ant
o MIR. Scott of Fauquier, the latter Of whom de-
sired 10 reply TO The speeches made against his
views. MIR. Moncure OF S. having yelled 'ht
floor TO Mr.. Scott, the later gentleman harangu
ed The House for upwards of Two mortal hours
He commenced by "doing" the conciliatory ane
discaiming any purpose Of giving offence TO any
member of the House, and trusted that all Woule
show the same fine temper as himself, al The emf
OF The debate. He did not, however, seem vii
ling 10 include the press in this general amnesty
for he continued TO charge them with misrepre
sen.ing and perverlins his views for party effect
For ourselves, we have only to say, if Mr.. Scot
will write on, and publish his speeches 'as spo
ken" they will be severer against him than any
thing we coull say.l He then wen, on reilerat
ing his former propositions and introducing som
new ones, which were more monstrous tina
any Of the preceding. Among others, he cor
tended that The Wimot Proviso did not discr
minalebe,ween citizens Of several States, Tor it
lowed a citizen OF Massachusetts, 10 take into tn
new territories His wooden clocks and nther pre-
perry, and allowed the citizens Of Virginia
take tie same property. l, was, said Mr.. s., IN
opponents OIL the EIuslsOi WIN ~eiS ~ u'SS' '"'
na,ion they wished TO allow the Virginians
take not only the clocks and other proper
which the citizen OF Massachusetts owned-bu
IN addition, their slaves, which property d
Citizen Of Massachusetts didnot own. Was hi
not, then, a discrimination, eIultingly ash
ed Mr.. 5. The argument is utterly futile, a
will admit; but it is worse; for il qualities an
virtually destroys the right Of property
slaves, which is guaranteed to the Southern cit
gems by the Constitution. MIR. S. also made
hit at the Democrats and their "new allies
(Nessrs. Segar, Pitts, &c, Of the Wing part
who had supported the resolutions.)
Mr.. Moncure Of Stafford took tho foor
half past one, and though much cramped f
time, made one Of the most beautiful and col
elusive arguments we have ever listened TO :
With few plain, strongly presented truths,