Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-11

Sketch ofais Debate ii DE House of Delegates
Saturday, on the Be.olat,oas of Mr.. Le,cis. in
reference TO The Proceedings before The Gorernor's
House.
Mr. Robinson, of Richmond city, said that a
slave had been sentenced by the Corporation
Court OF Richmond, to be punished with death, and
the Governor, inthe exercise ofthe authority con-
ierred on him by the constitution and the laws.
had ordered communication of his punishment by
directing him to be transported beyond the United
States. He believed the Governor had exercised
the power not only lawfully, but conscientiously
Yet there were differences of opinion in regard
to it, and some of the citizens had held meet
ing and expressed their sentiments on the subject
NoJust exception could be taken to their right
Peaceably to express their opinions in public
meeting, even by persons who might think such
action unnecessary. But ifany of them had gone
to the executive mansion in noisy and tumutu-
Gus manner to insult the Governor or annoy his
family. because of the executive action, he (Mr.
k.) would look upon such conduct, not with ap-
probation, but with reprobation. Such conduct,
he thought, should be examined into by the con-
stituted authorities of the cty and he anticipated
such examination. Still he was very willing
the matter should be investigated by.a committee
of the Legislature. But he was unwilling to see
aresolution adopted which assumed as a fact, that
the executive could not, in this city, discharge
his executive functions, without being subjected
tolnsult and his mansion to violence. He thought
no resolution should be adopted, importing that it
was necessary on any such ground to remove the
seat of Government
In reference to the remark of Mr. Lewis, that
all the citizens of Richmond were to blame who
had not taken steps to prevent what had occurred
| Mr. H. said that such citizens as he had conversed
with yesterday on the subject had thought it best
not to add to the size of the meeting by going to
It, but diminish its size by staying away. This
course, it was thought would make it what was
sometimes termed flash in the pan 1t had
never occurred to him that if meeting was held
anything more could be done than to pass some
resolution expressive of their opinions 1t had
not entered into his mind that any of the meet
ing would afterwards go that night to the Cover
nor's house, Had he anticipated such thing, al
though very little given to attending night meet
ings, he might and probably would have gone out
to do what he could to induce those present m1i-
city to dispense.
In reply to MIR. Whte of Hanover Mr. r.
said he thought the gentleman mistaken in SUD-
posing that what had been said and done against
the Governor action, was the work of men DO
litically opposed to the Governor. The President
OF the meeting was Of the Democratic party,
and the opinions which he had heard expressed
by citizens of Richmond against the Governors
action came in full proportion from that party.-
The opinions which he had heard expressed bv
them on that subject, it seemed to him were 90
verned mainly by their views on the subject of sla
E very-their views of what was required bv sound
policy, In reference to the relation between master
and slave.
Mr. R. sal he should willingly vote for the
substitute offered by the gentleman from Hano-
yer.
Mr. HowERToN, of Halifax, spoke substan-
TALLY as follows:
MIR. Speaker:-I am sorry have to differ on
this occasion with some friends, with whom |
often cooperate. regret, as stated when first
upon the floor, that was not in nv seat when
the original resolutions were offered and hence
have not heard all that has been urged in their
favor Understand, however, that those resou-
lions, offered by my friend from Harrison, (NIr.
Lewis which have undeniably grown out of the
mob of last evening, have in view the removal of
J the seat OF Government. Sir, am opposed to the
mob and to the removal ofthe Capital, as means
OF redress ard shall support the substitute offered
by my friend from Hanover, Mr.. White, which
proposes to raise joint committee invested with
power to sen d for persons and papers-charged
with the duty OF ascertaiing the persons enga-
ged IN the riot and recommending such measures
Of punishment and redress, as Justice and the dig
nifty ofthe Commonwealth demand.
Iii to be regretted Mr.. Speaker, that here in
the heart Of our good old Commonwealth, mob
has been raised to insult her chief Magistrate for
executing what he deemed his solemn duty
Sir, it was wrong grossly wrong and disgraceful,
| Tor two or three hundred men to assemble around
the mansion of one individual to insult and attack
him; and when add that they did, in pursuing
their purposes insult and fiighten defenceless fe
males, the very least can say of their conduct u.s.
that it was unmanly in the fullest extent
But for this is the removal of the Capital the
proper remedy? To remove the Capitol would |
be to punish the innocent with the guiIty-those
| unconcerned, as well as those concerned in the
| riot-my constituents, as we'll as the rioters l
humbly submit that the proper redress for this
gross outrage, is to bring far as we can the Of
tenders not only to justice, but in full view of the
gaze public indignation, and at the same time,
not to visit our censure upon those who are inno-
cent in this matter as we ourselves. Adopt the
substitute then, ofmy friend from Hanover, (Mr.
Whitley and your committee can ferret out the
rloters-report them to the public-to the law
and to justice; and can then recommend such
measures of redress seem proper-even the
removal OF the Capital itself, if that seems to be
the proper measure. The original resolutions,
however, seem to look upon this removal of the
seat of Government as their primary object, while
our first object now, itseems, ought to be to main
tain the dignity of the chief Executive office of the
State. This object, it appears to me, can be bet
ter effectedby putting doaon the mob, rather than
by pulling do,cn the Cdpitol-by removing the
rioters, than by. removing the seat of Govern
ment.
What is to be gained bya removal of the Capt.
tai suppose the advocates of these resolutions
will claim that we will escape mobs, as it wasthe
disgracetul mob of last evening that gave rise to
the resolutions But can we go to any spot where
we will, for all time, be entirely secure from