Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-09-29

Holcomb Holt johnson, kenan OF ia, kenrer Lander
Lyon, Lyoas, Mschen, McRae Moore, Pugn, Read
Rassel Sasnu, Tibbs, Vest, Wright of TeIas-40.
SUBSTANCE OF Mr.. WYNDHAA ROBERTs0N's
REMARKS ON THE SALT BILL-sEPT 18th, 1862.
Speaker We are nov called on to pass finally this
very poraut and very extraol diuary BILL II has been
put in such shape its reL ds wished, aud Ia SUD-
mtted 10 our judgment. 1t is a measure involving
questions of great magnitude and deicacy, and OF the
lnos. novel ard extraordinary character. speak on il
with regret from having had time to ad, aatey
amiue it. it for the first time yesterday morning,
and it at fixed my aent on that may say that
have scarcely thought OF anything else, with brie
interval OF Sleep from that time 10 tue present. Yet,
will not be deferred by reason oil the imperfect name
in which am thus compelled TO present my views, from
expIsing my enire and strong opposition to so extra
ordinary and Objectionable measure-one giving such
enormous and ulprecs denied poNers, aud seriously
involving the sacred rghs OF tie people, and the
mosl mper ant provisions OF lne Constitution.
Before presenting more specislly my grounds Of OBJ
lee ion 10 it, will notice briefly the which
aloue have beard offered in defence OF it. Toe most
promin MT is that the people demand it." Incapable
OF maintaining IL by argument, ts friends seek il flu
euce your voles by threats Of the popular dispet
take issue with the gentlemen on the fact, we'll
The force OF IT, if il true The people demand
sue t6iug They cry, indeed, for salt and you give
them this bill. Salt is not furnished by words OF by
aas, bu by labor and this bill gives increased labor,
10; opens sources Of supply. All the labor nsces
sAry being applied now, TO all the sources that
accessible, aud with constantly increasing production
What the bill docs, not TO furnish salt, but only
administrators OF the salt and salt property of the
THIS vast fund, Of commodity OF vital importance 10
every ciizan OF the State /! puts into new handI It
d. in the hands oil sort Of mixed commission" Ct
tue EIeou i've and the Legislature 10 control aud
age at will Il ereCts an enormous Dictatorship COM
posed Of The Governor aud certain members Of each
House. with absolute and unlimited poHeIs this
vital COMMODITY, TO make, SELL aud distribute, as they
plsase. L. gives unlimited power over the propry OF
every man which they may consider useful for tbeir
purposes. l. Is poser, novel, unprecedented, abso
Lutte and enormous OF which the people thought,
Ehich in my opinion, they will not tolerate, aud which,
repeat, they have demanded IL provides mtaas
il ue for the production Of salt bur whether Lbose
neaus, o. the means now in use will produce it tue
more rapidly, may be question. do not believe the
production uucer the bill will be as great with
QUE t. bui its immediate ,,ct give il ny opinion,
TO piss for Hha IL is worth, vii 90 the instant dmnl
tiOa Of The supply. Ny reasons for this opinion vii
sA e hereafter.
II has been thrown out also that our proposed legis
Ia ion finds precedent and authority in Of Re
solulionary fathers. deny 1t utterly. = gagged in
ugge agans the claim OF Illegal appropriation by the
efument Of Or, at Britain of private proper y bad
bsen strange Indeed TO f9d mea thus engaged violating
towards their own CIT Ms rights which 1t the very
purpose of the uphold They never did it. YOU
viii nd no precedent Tor the seizure by them Of private
property eIceptby due process OF law. No. by e.
ecu o. here but by the C,ers OF the law TIE
Sher tie aud SsrgeantF, in broad day, accompanied by
frteh ders sworn to and value the property need
ei-thess the lawful processes Of 10
take what the public uses made Necessary. And In
spect TO alt the law IN reference TO it. seizng il with
those guards Of prvite right, was aimed believe,
alone engrossers aud fixed the prime pie Of valuation
that should guide the And Il should be men
toned too that this law listed but single year;
uaaA n, her ~ in n,tnh ard
followed BY the policy OF increased rewards tn
Increased produc ion Of salt Is situation SINH.
larS Are not We, too, engaged in struggle made
cessaTy to project our r perry against tue Illegal iva
sion OF the Government We have scardeo | invoke
myself sir, example fl for reyereGty 70 el.
o", the course taken, under similar circumstances by
ancestors, and appeal to you TO follow H. By T. sc:
Ing this bill thai s!anes directly opposed 10 it,
come now, Elf, TO slate the spec &c Oh acitns have
70 it. sii fret address myself 10 thote which are OF
constitutional The bill SEEMS 10 have been
psepsred la utter disregard If o. contempt Of the
s.tuon-so the violations OF the spirit
well as the plain text Of il. The first shall notice
il the provision which gives power TO the Governor to
directly, by Exscu i've agents and servants, the
property OF the eiaz u This strkes down the q en-.
imOrdsl and fundamental principle Of all free nstu
ems, and found, In some form other, underlying aud
s.aiI ali our constitutions IL s the principle an.
nounctd f'st in hsgns Cbari, which protects all phi
vate property from seizure By the Government sept
thOu. due process aw IL Is that ~hich interpes,f
alsay the Iutica officer, TO the swift suoop
EEetuuvc or legislative power aimed at the life, liberty
properly o. the ci.izr. Ii property may lie sez:f,
here provided, by the direct agents Of the EX cuve
authority, by the same principle you or SIR, might, if
obnoxious, be hunied Cn to the gsloss tomorrow by
mere act Of legislation OF this body.
doubt il the legislation OF England, or Of this
country, ftom hsgna Charta down. tIrds on instance
OF departure from This great principle Of raedom-
Our Revolutionary pr ceden,s Of seizure Of properly
hH law and orstno lava helieHa all - IL