Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-14
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1854.
The Virginia RESOLUTIONS Of 1913 and 1893.

MONDA1, JANUAhI ., loo1.
The Hirginia Resolutions of 1898 and 1899.
1t is only those who by hereditary succession are
believers in those venerable distractions which 60
by the name Of the nResolutions Of '98V who
know that the Virginia doctrines" so called, con-
sist of two sets Of resolutions passed in l79S
the other in 90. Misled by the common designa-
ton the gentleman who sent US the note few days
ago respecting the Report and Resolutions OF '99
inadvertently spoke Of them as the resolutions OF
'98. The publication Of that note has drawn from
a venerable and esteemed friend in Virginia, who
was member of the Legislature Of that State IN
l799 the annexed "reminiscences, which, coming from
partcipator in the transactions of that period will
be read with interest even by those who may not
admire the wisdom Of all the principles asserted in
the resolutions but who must nevertheless respect
the dignity and purity of those statesmen from
whose counsels, however mistaken, the resolutions
emanated
VIRGINIA. JANUARY 5, 1854.
MY DEAR Sins: My attention has been attracted by
article in the National Intelgencer containing the fol-
lowing scrap Of history connected with the Virginia Re-
solutions Of 9s copied from the second edition Of Eiotts
Debates
"When these resolutions Of Virginia adopted they
were sent the different States to invoke the opinion OF
each State upon them Answers returned by many
States and every negatved the apparent and d
rect meaning Of the resolutions These answers were re-
ferred by the Virginia Legislature committee Of their
body 1t happened that Mr. Madison who had report
ed the resolutions also the chairman Of the comr
tee to which the referred. He reported
upon the same and in very elaborate and ingenious
port destroyed the apparent and direct meaning OF the
resolutions"
"a 49, W. Nf.nys potr
the Virgins resolutions Of 49, for he not member
Of the Legislature at that time. During the great excite
ment of 99 he elected member Of the House of De-
egate and took his seat at that session with many of the
most talented statesmen Of Virginia. some Of whom had
been distinguished members of Congress 1t in that
year that PATRICK HENRY consented to the people
at the request of Gen. WASHINGTON The Commonwealth,
however deprived Of his valuable services by his
death before the meeting of the Legislature 1t was at
that session that prescription for opinions sake
enced the great disgrace Of the State The father Of
the Hon. HENRY A. WISE who had filed the Speakers
chair with distinguished ability three successive years.
was prescribed because he proessed the principles Of
WASHINGTON as was the able and efficient Clerk of the
House and other officers.
The House Of Delegates at that time considered by
strangers and others to be the most dgnfed and orderly
legislative body in the world. There desks in
the hail. having on them supply Of pens and ink and
writing paper and newspapers and books, to interrupt
the proceedings Of the House and Disorder
quently, the sessions seldom lasted two months.
There were particular seats allotted to the members
Each member whatever bench he thought proper
Mr. MADISON occupied seat the front bench opposite
the Speakers chair and next to him. his right sat his
friend the late JAMES NJ GARRETT well-known citizen
Of the State. They were the only two members, be-
ieve who occupied the seat during the entire
sion Mr. MADISON took his seat each morning with his
hair powdered and wearing blue cloth cloak, which he
never threw off when he addressed the chair. He spoke
but seldom, and when he did it with apparent diff
dence, low voice. and with little action holding
his hat in his hand before him, and looking into it occa
sionaly, as if speaking from notes
When the answer from the several States to the
utous of 98 communicated to the Legislature by
his Excelency the Governor and read by the Clerk he
late Hon. WM WRr) they caused great excitement and
member moved that they should be thrown under the
Clerks table. To this Mr.. MADISON objected, and
marked that such would be treating sister
States with great disrsspect and advised that the Gov
ernors communication, with the answers, should be
ferred to a committee Of the House. Nhereupon
nittee was appointed with Mr. MADISON its chairman.
From the reputation of the distinguished chairman the
report looked for with intense anxiety, both by the
House and the public and when it presented it
up the full expectation Of the majority who thought
folk who was, believe, the youngest member of the
House, rose, and, in ingenious and most eloquent
speech exposed all the vulnerable parts of the
port in mastery manner, as thought, to the sur
prise Of Mr. MADISON himself for he turned his eyes to
Mr. Taylor and appeared to listen to him with the great
est attention And after Mr. Taylor had concluded his
remarks he inquired Of Mr. GARNErr who that had
just taken his scat and his being informed that it was
Mr. Taylor young lawyer from Norfolk, he expressed
his opinion Of him in the most Hatterng terms hada
seat next to Mr. GAaSETr and heard all that passed be-
tween them.
1t was these resolutions Of 80, and not the Virginia
resolutions of 'oS, that Madison's resolutions
celebrated from that day until the present time.
It not too late to wish you happy new year. and to
pray not that "you may live thousand years but some
twenty or thirty more, if you wish it,
The bill introduced into the Alabama Legislature pro-
posing the annexation Of West Florida to that State
meets with favor in West Florida but is denounced by
the press in other sections Of Florida The Pensacola
Democrat thinks that 1t would vastly promote the growth
and prosperity of that town if the cession be made
SILVER CnASoE.-The Philadelphia Mint has fully over
come the complaint among small dealers Of of sill
yer change It is said that there is lying at the
Mint in that cty subject to the call of all who NAV de-