Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-10
RICHM0ND ENQUIRER.
s0SnsY MORNING. DECEMBER o, 1850.
ELECTION OF L. s. SENATOR.

ELECTION OF u. S. SENATOR
On Saturday James NJ. Mason Esq was reelected Sena
tor of the United States for six years, from the 4' a
next by the overwhelming VOTE on joint ballot o' '.,
scattering 49, The full of the Senate and Housc WIN
be found below In making this announcement We su'y
both our duty and pleasure II would be suc'eh' 0l
us to say that had occupied the responsible position
member Of either House, would proudly anu eheeiu"s
have cast our vote for James NJ Mason. We might stop
berc-but we deem 1t our duty make orief sSpianao
In the first place. Mr. Mason in cancns received the nnan
mps vote Of his own, Democratic, pary-both those op
posed TO- and those in favor of tho late measures OF ADJUST
In the election on Saturday. he received the vote OF
oyery Democrat and OF many Wings who felt 1t their duty
| to sustain him.
| Again /, will be remembered whom those new ques-
ton were sprung Congress- that we expressed our own
views on the subect but at the same time avowed ourselves
willing to leave each member of Congress from ema W
act on his own high responsibility under all the ghts before
him. and under his interpretation Of the resolutions
Of his State and his convictions of duty We iur'
,her ,hen and frequently since have declared the opinion
the, We would make no issue, this subject with our
Virginia friends at Washington, who, 1t will DO re-
msmbered differed in their the Texas boundary
alone We willing 10 respect their honest consoera'
ions of duty, trusted they would our own Neither
IN their votes nor our own avowals of opinion, the
resolutions of the last Virginia Legislature at all violated
ENLARGED discretion and responsibility under the ccum-
stances extended to others we claimed for ourselves
Congress acted-the adjustment measures were passed
Discomfort was Of course maniested-but we took the
ground that for dissolution OF the Union had a-
sen and tina, we accordance with tho sentiment OF Viz
xna as we sincerely believed acquesccd In the action OF
Congress- but would insist upon the strict und full comp-
ance with all the provisions nominated in the oond-espe'
cay the fugitive slave law upon the repeal OF nulhcalion
of which, Virginia would be prepared to leave he lnon
similar position on Saturday assigned TO ar Mason
BY all the speakers who eoqueny urged his reelection
They repudiasd the idea tha, Mr. Mason had any SYM
| pathy with disuniop. They boldly and broadly de-
clared that Virginia would acquesce in and abide by the
action OF Congress-,hat Mr. Mason would equally
and abide by the laws they had passed. and
would oppose every to disturb the adjustment
and so far from following the lead Of South Carolina or Mis-
sissippl faithfully obey the instructions Of his own
State Virginia. ",he flag ship of the South, as Mr Tribe
Of the Senate few days since, properly called her,
What more could any Vginan ask after this, 10 Induce
him to cast his freely for the reelection of Mr. cson
We wsre consequently delghtedo hear Mr. Speaker Hop
kins declars the Chair with much grace as good
feeling and high of duty that while he had come to
the House prepared 10 vote against Mr Mason the avow
ais of Mr. Masons fidelity the Unon and to the voice OF
Virginia had impelled him his for Mr. Mason
| But, were there other consideration 10 operate the
broad and important fact that James Mason the author
Of the Fugitive Slave Bi-the great measure of the COM
promise which Virginia has made the touehstone OF the
Unon-should have impelcd every Whig os we'll as Demo
crat to his for Mr. Mason at this very mo-
men when the Northern fanatics moving their nfena
machinery, PROSTATE Southern rights rob our property
even at the sacrifice of Union itself This point strong
y presented by the "Tenth Legion compromise paper in
the heart of the stronghold of Democracy az follows
at be borne in mind, that the South owes to Mr.
Mason small Of gratitude for originating and
carrying through the FuairIvE SLAVE BILL, which we deem
the crownng measure in the Compromise scheme. The
practical results OF this measure will have greater tendency
to throw of the shackles Of anatcism which have placed
the Northern States n position OF hostility to the South
than any other possibly could have done The al
Tentative yielding obedience law founded In justice to-
ward the South and in accordance with the Constitution,
opposing law and thus placing themselves in attitude
Of rebellion viii be pressn,ed and ha, the North will
cute this Law, we have the most convincing proof Fugitive
slaves will be surrendered and the agitation and angry feel
ing which prevail the South will be In great measure al
ayed and better understanding spring up between the two
sections than has heretofore existed In view then OF these
facts we think that every high minded sensible must
exempt Senator Mason from tho charge OF being al heart
dsunionist Of advocating measures, which, II adopted,
would have resulted in catastrophe 80 terribly disastrous to
| our common country.
with all due regard then for the opinions Of those who
differ with upon tho subject we give as our candid opn'
on at JAMES NJ MASON should be Reelected TO me SENATE
Notwithstanding sustained the compromise bill, as u
whole because believed that s provisions were as ayo-
rabe to the South abe could possibly expect TO get
bodied in a INV nevertheless believed, at the same time,
that she entitled equal participation in the public do
mas that the slave interest should not have been forced
into any compromise of Its rights for after ALL the conces
nothing practically at stake AND we are NOT singular ~
the opinion that Mr. Mason and those who acted with
him. are Southern States indebted for even as favorable
| a result as the Compromise measure.
ave think Virginia should re-eect Mr. Mason 10 be con-
sistcn with herself well vndicate the manly and
ro,c stand taken and maintained by her Senators be.
eving that they carrying out the wishes OF the
Legislature and of the people, they weatered the storm ano
conended for the rights OF their constituents Ana tney
tha Ennup pxtI Ift
their constituents good Republicans as they have done
heretofore And in conclusion we will say that nee oeere
the in this county Shenandoah) lcM sustain our dele
gates in roting for Mr. Mason's reelection to the Seaae
The defeat of the author of the fugitive slayeaw under
the circumstances would sincerely believe have given
laid and comfort" the Northern fanatics and paralyzed
the patriotic efforts Of friends at the North We had
hoped therefore, the Whg members would unanimous
w. with the Democrats have rallied the support OF Mason
We regret that the majority of them thought proper 10 act
differently and for their rather lame
It fatal policy party movemen.-,hough on this
| que 7,on party is not II: TO be mentioned.
The character Of the speeches made in both Houses
Of high order. The debate which lasted three end hall
hours was marked by ingenuity, eoquence, love of the
Union but Of Virginia and the South before all, and was
deeply interesting. Where much excellence prevailed.
We shall not attempt discriminate. Our readers VIII
judge for themselves when they read the reports,
| though much of the effect will necessarily be lost
In the House speeches. in favor Of Mr. Mason made by
Messrs Ferguson of Logan Jackson OF Ritche Craig OF
Roanoke Newman Of Madison, Harrison of Prince William
Wcksr (whg) Of Pitts, vania johnson Of Taylor, Flour
noy Of Prince Edward, Horner (Whig) of Tyler Cocke
(Whig) Of Fuvauna Martz of Rockingham, anc Louis Of
Harson-and, against his election, by Messrs- Csrrnson
of Bo,etour Massey of Alexandria, Segar Of Elizabeth CITY
Sother of Rappahannock and Dorman Of Roekbrdge all
Wings Afterwards In the Senate, Messrs Isbe, Barbee,
Woods h) and Horner sustained the election of Mr. Ma.
| con.
The report of the debate In both Houses which we shall
give at length Tomorrow will fully bear out In all that
have said The result fne, moral influence,
both South and North. II will shew rather erahs
brethren of South Carolina and Mississippi that Virginia
h not ready secession dsunlon will acquiesce In tho
action of Congress- but will scke for the faithful execu
on of the fugitive slave law and resist all future aggres
sons. 1t will sgnally rebuke the fanatics and nulhes
Of the North, and eloqueny proclaim to them that
continued pursuit of their mad schemes will call down
their hsads the heaviest rebuton from Virginia and the
8ouh II will spread good feeling and harmony of action