Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13
1cont;nued from Fourth Page ]

circulation in reference to what the auditor sud- bu
take his own answer sent in to-day ana the act
plain and palpable that IN answer 10 sesoiu''on " III
Convention asking for the amounts expended III t'is
r,nd divisions of the State-erns which all understand
here and no man of intelligence in Virginia can mistake
their neaning-he has undertaken to send us dsserta
ton upon what the grand divisions are. ana no, o
that but to define for whose benefit the expenditures
have been made. ra
Vow it is we'll known that the people OF Tue IN
water country are all united upon TINS an
We know that portion of the 1idewater I"u.
the south side partially interested IN so,n from which
ments We know that the part OF the stare iou
como has certain opinions which are not ehtef
by the rest of the commonwealth as 10 thesc
ments But we believe that most OF uese app "a
tions if you enter into the question AZ. ~ az ,.t
pnf What ia the purpose for which this report Is used
Mr., The nurpose for which it has been used Is to
compare the amounts expended tsupposins the actua'
expenditure to haze been an nus uene !" ,r
the legislature of the several sections to
whether that representation can protect against lPro
per expenditures aud also to compare 1t with the
Of taxes paid bv each grand division Now, according
to that report certain amounts are spent Within Tue
water counties-couues which belong to the consttu
tional Underwater division Do not the taxes OF 'aso
counties iuto the general tax OF tue
division and make part Of it: Does NOT thg
4ation of those counties make part oil the iioeWact
representation: And if for the purpose OF any sue" az
rument as this YOU are to deduct from the
expenditures all that has been expended IN the COUNTIES
Of Stafford Caroline Spottsvlrauia Hanover, &c. you
must also deduct from the Va,
s.ntation aud taxes Of those counties Is 1t not Pla
and obvious If gentlemen choose to do So then' per
hans thew may fairly claim to use the argument. But
the argument i ali egtmatc one, and, US It seems 10
me- without true force.
T,,o PRESIDENT The Chair must remind the gen
temnu that the question before the Convention on the
motion to print.
Mr.. NJ. X. H. GARRETT. l beg pardon SIMPLY
meant to explain the tendency OF my argument 'ie
other dav and the circumstances which ustlneo HE ~
nourins what unknown person had made this classl'
cation for the Auditor-supposing he had not made II
himself This is all intended to do have been be-
trayed into saving more than designed should not
troubled with these remarks at a but tor the
reference which made to me by my colleague
Mr. SHEFFEY. rise simply to state the facts con
nected with myself in this matter u" not rise TO dis
claim on nv part before this body before the people
Of Virginia having dved down into the dark rcceses
az one of our executive or ministerial offices for the pur
pose of concocting scheme of deceptlon-oi mh"lac
turing documents to be welded in argument here on
great State question.
not suppose that meant to ilnputc such a tuS to
him
Mr.. SHEFFEY. Not at all. do not suppose the
gentlemen Eeant, by the Language he used concerning
this document and the secOu Auditor few days ago
to iupute any agency i'll preparing that document
Nor do rise dcfcd any western man from an lnlen-
do THAT be supposed to have been thrown out ny
the geutlcnan from distinct inslluat!on tlat would
cast n dark reflection upon his honor consider That
the cause we have been advocating! stands too securely
and firmly upon the broad basis of truth and justice to
need resort to the tricks and articles OF deception 10
sustain it. Sir when my young friend lew days ago
was looking nquirinSly around TINS Hall 70 ascertain,
who had been planning this document Tor the seee'
Auditor-who had beea arranging this matter anu max
inn the venerable man who is second Auditor Of this
commonwealth a helpless too-yes, sir. tool IN the
hands of those who as the gentleman intimated have
had and still have in their power the command OF ms
living. of his daily bread-as if at the moment he
thought the Auditor corrupt and expected to Ind some
one on this floor more am sure know. he was
carried further under the excitement OF the moment
than his own good sense and his generous feelings
can calmly approve. james Brown, white headed old
man. bowed down by the pressure OF years spent IN the
serrce of the commonwealth man whose tendencies
and nclinato,s are rather towards the grave than the
plots of the shallow trckster-whose name has been
honored BY all-whose fair fame has not yet been tar
nshed by the breath of suspicion-such man rs tins
to be charged with pcrvertng the functions OF his office
for the purpose of promoting the and interests of
great sectional party (to which he does not besong
and that with the selfish purpose OF keeping himself Sc
curely in his office! Ny friend from Essex did not
could moi, amean such thing. He could not have
dreamed Of the wasting desoation of feeling he was
causiny-what assault upon well tried integrity aud
spotless character he making say to my friend
take the language back let It go to the winds the voice.
less Winds as If it had been dreamed, much less
made mistake in classifying the works of improvement
according geographical aud not as perhaps ne ought
strictly and according to the letter OF the resolution to
have done according to constitutional divisions OF the
commonwealth Suppose he has made mistake III
regard to these arbitrary, constitutional! grand divisions
and looking not to the constitution to ascertain what
counties are nominally in the Underwater districts and
what in the other districts but rather to the internal
Improvement map of the State, and to the interests OF
various sections in the different schemes of improve
hoe fhnsa ippro IA
his best Judgment in four grand divisions of the
commonly ealth suppose he has done this, and you dis
agree with him in respect to the Proprety OF so doing
Does it follow that you should denounce him aud his
motives No, sir. take the venerable mans statement
which YOU have Just heard read u regard the
which influenced him, sufficient shield against i'm
putations on his honor. believe James Brown when
he says he had sinister purpose in view; and if he
has made mistake, it is one of opinion-onc OF udg-
rnent-an of the head, and does not flow from
dark intent of the heart.
A word as to myself. l know that the gentleman
from Barbour, (Mr. CARLILE) had offered resolution
calling on the second Auditor for information
ing the works of internal improvement Before adj
dressed the Convention the subject of the basis OF
representation went to the Office of the second Audi
tor to procure if could the information sought for by
that resolution The tables, which were then almost
ready for the printer needing only, as informed
the careful revision of the clerks who were preparing
the document were shown to me- | did not inspect
the details. l copied the abstract reorganization
contained the last sheet hat abstract uScd
remarks and find it is identical with that which has
been published know not what clerks prepared, or
who planned the document 1t must have required
and was informed that it did requre-a great deal of
labor to perfect the tables The gentleman fro Essex
alludes the length Of time that interviewed between
the day used this abstract i'll argument t, floor
and the day it distributed BY the printer the
members Of the Convention. l only say think
the document to the printer short time after
this discussion commenced; at any rate know it
long time in the printers hands. 1t would require
weeks to print such document as that.
This is my only connection with this subject and all
have to say about it. And now, sir cannot doubt
that the good feeling feel confident that the OF
JUSTICE know that the generosity Of heart of my friend
from the county Of Essex, (Mr NJ. R. GARS Tr,) for
will venture to call him so, not formally bat from the
heart know that these will induce him to dsclam any
imputation npan the motives conduct-oicial con
duct or moral conduct-of the second Auditor think
tn officer has erred in not classifying these improve
nents in strict conformity with the letter of the reso
ton and the constitutional boundaries of the grand d
visions instead of arranging them nc has DONE "
charging Piedmont with improvements which run jus
within the borders of the Underwater district but are
substantially for the benefit of the Piedmont district
but surely in all fairness and charity this is error