Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-06-11
THE JORDAN HATCHER CASE.

THE JORDAN HATCHER CASE.
REMARKS OF MR.. DOUGLAS OF KING WILLIAM
Made In The Senate OF Virginia, tho proposition of Mr.
BRAxTos to take from the table Tho preamble and rcsolu
ons, passed by the House of Delegates ccnsuriDg Gov
ernor Johnson, for committing The OF death upnr
Jordan Hatcher.
Mr.. REaER having closed his remarks in opposition II
taking up the preamble and resolutions
Mr. DoUoLAs said: This subject be ,realct
with evIly and whilst he should the Senator iro
Barbour nlnatcd lie should vote on the motion take up
he could that Senator his rdiculc was iimcd an
lnisdlrccted He, and those like him. (Mr. repro
sented large saveholdng constituencies did Imagine
Tor an instant that their section constituted the whale
Virgnla but they would have remembered by gentlemen
in whose districts but few slaves were found that propc
maintenance OF the laws designed support the authority
OF masters and TO punish nsubordnaton matter
such serious import TO he that they could be nde
cnt 10 step tending break down those laws sub
vert The true relations between master and slave TO those
Senators who thought that Difference the outraged feel
ngs OF their constituents demanded of them 10 take up
and consider the preamble and resolutions from the House
MI DOUGLAS desired to say that but three days left
TO complete business OF immediate and pressing importance
to the State and he could not consent however strongly
his own private and personal feelings sympathz.d with
theirs 10 waste any part of The little time had left in
the discussion OF batch of resoluons which neither made
eXpounded any law, and which might or might not be
respected by the person against whom they evecd.
Mr. DOUGLAS was Us sensitive as any could be
This question, and when il recolccted that he
represented district that for its nnd white population
he thought he had good right 10 be and satisfied his
constituents wcre but he proprcy in one depart
Of the Government travelling OF its way and neg
ectipg its legitimate duties another and co.
ordinate department. We had such right said Mr. D.
and if these resolutions taken up debate would en-
sue involving as he believed the destruction of those bar
ers wisely nterpossd by the Constitution ITSELF between
the several ordinate branches of the Government and in
tended protect each from the invasion OF the Others He
did wish 10 smother the matter ste free cx-
preston of opinion, but if il important particularly that
known
lrnes in the Governors message of the llt Nav let
them resolve themselves after the adjournmea Of the two
houses into meeting without distinction of party and give
free 10 their up wrath. This they had undoub
cd right TO 10, in with oil other citizens of the
State and he promised them that he would be indignant
anyb body clse and speak boldly But he again de-
MED that there was either propriey right in the
Houses under taking by joint resolution The Co.
vernon cxpound the law for hiany than he had the
right, his official character Sit in Judgment upon and be-
the Of the two Houses And he called attention
the preamble from the House of Delegates, in order that
might express his decided disappl obaon Of of s
doctrines Tia document asserted that the Legislature had the
right conedcr the views of the Governor for the purpose
rsr of legslang and secondly, prefer Impeachment ii
should be nccessay and in these particulars il is correct
because it precisely Tor such purposes that the Cover
is required in cases OF pa:doa connuluton
muncae the fact with his reasons the Legislature But
in the third place substantially The right of tc eg
slaure constitute ITSELF the legal adviser Of the Governor
and concludes by becoming his judge in which view sgIslo
tribunal to eXpound The laws; and the Constitution had sup
piled the Executive department itself with officer and
clothed hI Win Inc a'lil6ulc oil legal adviser
magistrate When VIC (said Mr. stepped in TO discharge
the functions of either became usurpers and The Gov.r
neither bound obey heed us. Our lus.
ness is 10 make laws, sEpouna them legislative in
depreciation Of law except il be made in tha form OF
law, itself, 10 bc obcycd, has binding force the
humblest citizen i'll the commonweall much less then
parte proceeding 0! one Coordinate coCqua 0dcpe
dent department OF government resulting proceeding very
much like trial and condemnB without the requisite
legal FORMS have any urce efficacy when directed against
another If legislative action called for BY the circu-
OF the before u.s. e, proceed in legitimate
constitutional If the laws require amendment lei
s alrcnd lhcm II the Governor, in the Judgment Of The
.hc House, escrve5 impeachment, let that body prefer
:icles and We his constitutional Judges in such case will
try him If neither IL Necessary ic1,
censrc and our dcnunciat!on for hc private circle the
popular mecrIng,- ncrus ;r;u"tfs niust
nuunCc the Governor the floor OF The Senate and
his conduct let Them Go It private individuals, their
individual responsibility but not by I0nl resolution, which
ncr IL ia adupted will be worth the paper II IS written
40 far which he did not mean 10 lend
his n;d But still il gentlemen 1roun call up the rcs0!u
lions give them tile opportunity oi expressing their lndlg
naou in strains of Senatorial cpquence lei them not con
sume the little remainder of this session in thn; way but
!eynnc themselves public business nf practical
reserve themselves for November by which time, IL
Is TO be hoped their passions will be cooled down. and their
judgments more impartial Mr. D. did hesitate, upon a!
n,oper OCCASIONS declare his dlsapprobaon Of tine Gov
rrnos conrsc but far thing in the message OF the
lh May Objectionable on The score ol uEsuund doc
ne upon the question Of The relation between master and
Virginia. he though, had been eiracted suIisfac
o1ily explained in The message Of the l9h Of the month
He hoped therefore, that the resolutions would not be taken
p at This time whatever disposition might hereafter be
made Of them.