Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-09
For the EnqN:rsr.
Al. r. n. GARRETT. OF ESSCN,

Messrs. Editors 1T has beer long period, II ls
generally conceded, since galaxy 80 bright tor tai
ent bo;h solid and brilliant, has been assembled at
the Capitol of this old Commonwealth. Ii 49, Indeed
!; mist be pleasingy proud reflection to the people
of the State, to know that the places OF Mcdowell,
Giner, G0odo and Hopkins have again been honor
ed by the virtue and talent Of such men a. the we'll
balanced and impassioned Edmunds the gifted and
able Floyd: tho talented Claybrouk; the eloquent
Srddnn the accomplished Preston; the astute and
Incthodioal Johnston, and the argumrntave Segar;
| men whose abilities tho bright reflection OF the
we'll revered intellectual glories of the past Then
there were Kcmp-r, DIIlard, Sanard, Sinclair, Lee
Rutherford, BrannOn, B0ndurant, Dean, Pow ell Nj
culsun ana number of others vi equal merit, whose
talent truly Indicate either the high position they ere
destined To occupy in the future or the still vsab!e
services they are yet to render the State.
Ii WIS among such men as these It was III the
collision of debate where sentiment opposed sent
ment; where thought ctInbated thought where
mind met mind IL ALMOST deadly conflict, and intelec-
tualty flowed into intellectually, the majestic cur.
rent ui the Potomac pays itself as tributary water
into tho bosom Of the Chesapeake, that the chairman
nt the committee of finance, Musco i. Ii. Garnett,
won his laures and placed himself among the first af
those TO whom Virginia. like the mother Ot the "Gra.
Chi, may proudly point to ~ her Jewels ihere
We're many exciting and able debates during the ses-
sion-debales that reflected high credit on the
participants. both for tai :E. and the most courte-
and gentlernanlH experiment; but The intel
rctuA conflict o. the session came OIL on the report
cf tie raost important mensures recommended 6y
that committee, had been early announced by the
distinguished gentleman from Washington. and, true
to his words, when the bills came up sustaining tAe
report of the committee, he entered the l!at fully ar
ell for the contest. 1t was pitched battle indeed
The eloquent Floyd attnckng, the HrgumentHtlve
Garrett defending. "WheE Greek meets Grnek +,
then comes the tug cf war. Il is much to be doubt
ed whether Gov. EiOyd ever eXered himself more or
ever proved more efficient in debSt5 than during this
4 tDa ha ,SuulI fell
aud most vivid picture ": The dilapiated condition OF
the Fuancrs of tho State and at another aroused by
the inspiration Ot his genius, he would shiVer ms gilt
terng !snoe ofhrllng eloquence and hur his spear Of
massive argument against the positions ot his ccut aud
calculating adversary. He than equalled theex
pectaiions Of his frieuds-havng added not less than
cubt to his already deservedly high reputation The
smoke OF the eSGovernors brilliant attack had hard
Is cleared Away before :. hut, true 10 that
spirit which, headed By the daring and chivalrous
Rupert had scGa tie "Envaiier and the Ruundhead
i'll rI<ary bloody and deadly contest :" that true to
that spirit which driven from its vernacular
shores by the uwnnll of ts native prince, To seek
its home amidst the colonial wllds of Virginia that,
true - its synonym, tgt.ta cAn"iry, the ciairnan
of the committee Of .:nancn had picked up the glove
that had heeR galianily thrown down by the dis
tnsui,hed orator ol the west Garnet came to tie de-
iei:SGhTd "A most able and effective defence he made
Armed by most thorough investigation ni the fnan
cia condition OF the State h5 threw the adamantine
wall Of Jaci around his report, into which the most
brilliant charges Of his distinguished antagonist could
not even make d brsach Aroused by his know ledge
of the prustrste condition of the credit Of our
beloved Old Cumnunw and fully persuaded that
tho Inuasures he proposed would be- remedial, with
his war club ot Herculean argument liz deult the
most deadly and effective blows agHiust the position
Of his adversary. So completely did he interweave
tact with fact, 80 nseparao:y did he associate rea-
son with reason and Incorporate srgHment win arHu-
ment that hr sent convirc, the bright evidence of
truth, 10 the mind and Judgment Of the House. Gar
nett triunphrd. The many bills recommended oy
his report, Three excepted) were largely susaineu
by the koase. II Floyd was eloquent, farnett was
arsuRentsiive Ii the former could awake me 1851
iag the latter enlightened the Judgment OF the house.
II the Ex-Governor was wiling 80 appropr"re
with the most profuse berality the !nnos "iu creut
of th. State to works of uerna! improvements, the
Chairman of the Committee Ot FINANCE stoou oy
Ik th, thr,ble headed crberus OF old, guarding ns
pubic treasury. Ths young farmer OF Essex, hko
the .kfu physician, has probed the nhancia! "ouhn
of the State the bone, anu nade iai! expose VI
II, nou,i;tion lie has solved the mysterious cacu.
i.,;nn. which have so long obscured the Indebted
ne.. nj ths State, and had the manllEeas to tell the
n.onle how much they owed He has shown that,
ss nrncipa and guarantor the State Is S33 OoO,UOO
in debt and been frank to ssy the way to be solvent
u,as for her to pay her old, md make no new debts.
lie has had the candor TO tell the people that their
must be doubled that the honor and credit
of the State will be tarnished BY repudlation, and e
had the hnnes; inde ependence 10 do that which Nr
ginian always appreciates; TO do that which Virgil
ria constituency invariably sustains; to do that which,
like the golden rays of sunlight, sheds its genial 10
tuence of popular appreciation over the well DIS
charged representative dIties-ths houest inde-
pendence to urIie the trtt and to fsnr not rsSpoH
slbihty.
Gsrnett's speeches in defence Of his report were