The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-27
PRESS.
WASHINGTON CITY.


we DeNocratG party IN virginia, not satisfied
with silent shame, calls now on the members
Of the Legislature to set the seal to the subms-
sion Of that once proud Commonwealth, by the
passage OF those huniating resolutions intro
dnced by the committee Of thirteen. We re-
Joice to see that they are rcpudiated with
scorn by truer representatives OF the old Virginia
spirit.
The Richmond Examiner, which is rapidly,
If il has not already, superseded the Enquirer
as the central organ Of the Democratic party,
thus manfully denounces the compromise meas
ures as intanous-and adds the gratifying intel
ligence that such has been the openly avowed
opinions OF the newly elected Gov. JOHNSON.
Thus, in the election Of her chief magistrate,
rs before in the choice Of Senator MASON and
Mr.. DANIEL, the representatives of the people
Of Virginia have shown that, though they may
sullenly acquiesce" in the treason" Of the
compromise measures, they yet will not reward
the atrators" who aided in it--but lavish the
highest honors on those who have most nm
flinchingly opposed aud denounced the whole
series collectively as infamous"
e We subjoin a portion Of the Examiners cdr
torial, emitting the concluding portion, which
lashes fercely the plotters who are seeking TO
stain the escutcheon Of the old Dominion with
such blot as this:
The proceedings of the general assembly on
last Friday were the most important which have
transpred in that body for many weeks The
morning session was occupied with the election
Of governor to fiji the interval between the
first Of next January and the operation Of the
new constitution Mr.. Joseph Johnson of Har-
rison, by unanimous vote Of the Democratic
party, was elected. Mr. Johnson is gentle
man WHO has represented in Congress and the
Legislature nearly thirty counties Of northwest
ern Virginia, and is much endeared to the people
Of that section. We announce his election with
satisfaction; because it will assure our ADVERSE
RES that no sectional disputes will be permitted
to divide the Democratic party, and because Mr..
Johnson ia a thorough and determined Demo-
Graf, sound upon all party questions, and sound
upon the compromise. In the late Democratic
meeting in Richmond upon this last named sub
ject, he denounced the compromise measures,
ssveraly and collectively, as +" Infamous
which is just what we think about them our
selves.
The gubernatorial election of the morning
passed off without the slightest excitement.
But ut FIVE o'clock in the afternoon session, the
resolutions replying to the State of South Caro-
lima, and approving the Clay compromise, came
up as the order of the day. They brought with
thenha heated discussion. Mr.. Fiournoy moved
their reference to a select committee to be ap-
pointed by the speaker, for the consideration Of
the South Carolina resolutions. He was sec
onded by Mr.. Crutchfeld, and supported by Mr..
Jones in a speech which attracted universal at
tention for its good sense, and for the excel
lence of its style. 1t was perhaps the best of
the evening, and caused all Democrats who
heard it. to regret that the member from Ches-
terfied so seldom minges in the debates where
he might be so useful 1t is an injustice alike
to himself and to the party with whose interests
his course is ever identified
Mr. Scott then took up the theme with the
voice of kettle-drum lie dilated on the beau
ty, the simplicity, and the innocence of his reso-
lutions, with the pathos of a cracked gong. He
could not understand how any gentleman could
find it in his heart to object He told how those
resolutions had been adopted in the organized
and nocturnal meeting Of the Wing MEMBERS
He dwct upon the unanimity of the Wing party
in their favor. He was overwhelmed with
amazement that objections could be made to has
resolutions thus endorsed. Mr.. Crutchfeld very
clearly pointed out the salient points of his re-
markable harangue and called the previous
question on the useless debate. But the call
was defeated by the conscientious scruples Of
two or three members of our party, who have
managed to convince themselves that the pre-
vious question is UNCONSTITUTIONAL When it
was ascertaned that the call was not carried,
Mr. Boiling rose in his ordinary rampant mood
and was very terrible on the defeated motion
Perhaps Mr.. Boiling wants to hear more of his
emancipation speeches in 1882. MIR. Scott Of
Powhatan, followed with some eloquent remarks
which manifested the remarkable correspond
ence between the lengths of his tongue and his
ears. Mr.. Martz the sturdy old delegate of
Rockingham, made speech of much fire in OPP
position to the resolutions. He expressed a
strong attachment to the Union, but declared
that he was ready for any extremity before he
would subscribe to the principles set forth in
those resolutions Messrs. Campbell, of Motto
way. and Mortimer Johnson also addressed the
House upon the same side.
Mr.. Flournoy addressed the House with en-
ergy and eloquence. He dweIt upon the federal
principles everywhere apparent in the resolu-
tons, and the fact, admitted by their author, that
they were the offspring of a Wing caucus. He
declared that he would sooner suffer his head TO
be severed from his body than vote for any reso-
lutions which approved the compromise. Mr.
Scott pursued the subject in alternate screeches
and whispers, and in his customary style Of bald
sophistry and impertinence. He labored hard
TO do away the admission of his first speech rea-
tive to the organized assent of the Wing party
in the legislature to the resolutions drawn up by
him. 1t was true he said, that certain notorious
members had met in the hall by candle light;
that none but Wings. were there; that one mild
Federalist presided in the speakers chair, and
that another actsd MS secretary. But yet it was
not caucus. awe do not use that machinery"
The patriotic gentlemen in question merely lis
tened to the reading of the resolutions, and then
they ''chatted" them over; after which they all
agreed to support them Many more funny
things Of this character fell from his honeyed
lips; but we have already devoted too many lines
to them
Mr. Flournoy again took the floor to rebut
some Of his nonsensicnl observations--wl'ich