Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-20

~ commemorative to obey the constituent
me, ~ resien. Obey that will when it would
v.an;ra ma 20 vote for the bill in question
b9u,b II we're the will of a clear majority or
oron 81 tho whole constitutional BODY, l would
M. + view it AZ q Pandora's box, full to the
him of evils and suffering to the whole coun-
rrr-hut most of all Nf calamity anu distress
rusneakable to this city. Twill not contribute
70 l;ft rs fatal lid. Nv reasons 1t would not
he nrnner or becoming here and now to enter
into. I conclude, therefore, to resign my
seat. ~
part from lou at g moment OF great int
ros--wheu the two great antagon'stic sys-
tenn of Force and Of Moderation stann lace 10 70
face. and are about rushing together inteari"i
conflict. In my view. the spirit OF Draco
seems 10 inspire the one-the miE1er genius VI
Scion or nf Burke 10 preside over the o'hcr'|
The cne seems founded on the idea that man 5
tendency is 80 strong 10 rebel aSa!ns: me per-
f,rmance Of his public and private obllsations,
,hat force and coercion must he pArpetuIiy
on,o,led 70. u. enforce them; the other, that
h;I nature is essentially good, and demands
,nIr inst treatment, to secure from nm we
,oror,l narfarmance Of his duties IS well 70
mo puhlic ~ 10 individuals Your impress
mem bills. your maximumS, your bills for e3-
c,ssive aaj unusual punishment tor violently
E,r,inr trade. are of the former class. Designed
~ rsn!,cn the mii!er system, which Is that az
,,r present law. will not deny but oar
,b,n,,,i circumstances mag call for exception
al notifications Or tho system at peace; bnt
no. The strong ~currc.c system proposed VIII
;n-roiu.e increased disorder. violence, d'sar-
ointment. and fna! failure. / entertain no
anuht. |, would have been my mission to en-
:cavor 70 restrain. n qualify, TO moderate :
far as I could, this system Of orce-conhfenf'
as I am, that the people will never ta'l 4 gov
arnm.nt that founds is laws on the prcsump-
ton thai they arc. ia the main. Just. honest
md patriotic. Bat :hn hour. the increasing
want and unaccus;omni privatlnns. make men
now ;mpatipnt and roo ready. perhaps. 70
r-a.r at arythins that may be held out 10
them a, Il remedy: and the tide Of passion. l
fear, threatens - prove too strong Tor the
counsel. of muicsa,ion, Il wisiou-perhapS,
cren of i~u-tir.. :. -.
Mr.. SrE,kLR. | now close ny public life.
Somo ten wears Of il have been deroset TO
rho iurin. oE hi, hall Of Legislature Of my
native State. | have scrrei here. SIR. IN
our haIcyon day, Of peace and prosperity.
when scarce Il ripple disturbed the surface OF
that pacific ocean over which the bark of Stare
smG0rhiy cliiel. or when at most the mock
temncs,s of party alone dashed us into 4 'actl-
lions and transit0ry excitement. ! was here,
too. during that ~'lelusive calm-'the torrents
smoothness ere it dashed helow'-whi"h was
followed nv our being suddenly p~recip'ta'ed
into that gulf Of whirling trials and troubles
with w'ric! we have been since strugGling.-
" 49,. l..,.b Ill tba rno1 and tnr-
rihln tornado. in the very heart and centre ct
which we are st:il whirl!ng and surSlne amid
angrv and raging pillows. Through all these
various srlsonS-of sunshine or OF storm, OF
peace or of war-I have ever found the Leg
isla,urcof Virginia equal 70 every occasion ana
every trial. !, stood eyer we'll up TO the hon
or and rights Of the State. It prepared and
strengthened itself for the coming and inevlta-
BE conflict, which it vet wisely. though vain
", strove t. arert. When it cam". it threw
itself into the contest witt q spirit. a man
hood, AMI undertaking devotion. which lelt
nothing for itS friends u desire. nor ANYTHING
wanting u its fame, and which carried ter
ror and death to the ranks and CONSERVATION
and dismav to the hearts Of our enemies
Srch mas been the Legislature OF Virginia.
Tie role it is now. playing | consider the high
es:. and grandcSr. and most trying 1t has yet
had 70 perform. On it, in NV opinion. more
-han any other civil power of the C"nf"de-
rate States, depend the issues OF the conflict.
On It's nerve, its wisdom, its cnnstancy, IFS
~fornrast hang mainly the success of our cause
,hc achievement of our Independence. lean on y
trrss-hat now. rs h .~retoGnr" this re7resrnraur e
assembly nf the means, and power, and will
If the people Of Virginia will still prove equal
To- the emcrgancv, and bear her banner tri-
umuhantlv, as it has ever done heretofore, over
all difficulties and through every trial.
Mr.. SpEAEER. my personal relations with the
members ofthiS body have ever been Of the most
gratifying character. | do not recall IN en-
mitv. I do not remember an arrangement to
mar the uniform agrecahlencss of my inter-
curse with my fellow.members on this floor.
Examining my own bosom, | do not detect a
single trace of unkindneSs towards any one
with whom | have ever served here. | here
formed many and valued friendships, cher
i-hcd for members a cordial regard. respect
for ali. | hope these sentiments have not
been wholly unreturnnd. 1t IS the sundering
Of these ties alone that eXcites 4 rang Of re-
grct in terminating my service here. All else
my private tastes. ms personal nominations,
and manv strong private inducements. he
sidcs-bccknn me back 10 the bosom of my
family. You will believe, sir, these feel
ings urge me with PECULIAR force, now,
when. Mt the very moment ] am address
ing you. | have reason t. fear that some If
my family are cnvnl0ped in the hateful folds
ri the encmy'S forces. and some of them fu-
gitives from their homes. | now. sir, len"c
this seat, I will say. proudly, without a tairt
~" the honor or fidelity with which il has heen
filled. | have but one wish, sir, that it may
be filed hereafter bv some one ahler than
myself 10 advance the public goOd--by one
moro ~anx;nus to pr mote it. it cannot.
Mr.. EOgERT>oH's remarks wee. listened to
Hi.!l Icrp interest, and a. soon as he had con-
rIudcd his friends. taken somewhat by sur
prise. Immediately clustered about him.
The bill to q mmutc the pay of members Of
the LEGISLATURE was taken up.
Mr.. GoonE. in opposing the bill. said that
he would not do aught 10 discredit or deprc-
ciate the currency of his country. We had
bren called here TO legislate upon the sub
iccts of militia and the currency: and cspe-
r;ally to put down brokers and spcculators.-
These objects had been accomplished in part,
and we were now called upon to do that which
we had assembled especially tolegislate against.
When we take this step in dcpreciating the
public currency. it will reel and stagger, never
to recover from the blow.
Mr.. RICHARDSON advocated the bill on the
ground of its Justice. He did not look upon
it as a side blow TO the currency, for it did not
acknowledge a depreciation one half as great
as that which was proclaimed by the Confcde-
rate Government itself. The measure here
produced was inaugur,tcd bv the Legislature
of Virginia during the old Revolution, under
similar necessities. md that body, to whom it
was always with pride I'VE referred, living in
the earliest infancy Of the Government and
the Constitution, it could not be presumed
would have done aueht 10 iniurc their cause
~ break compacts into which :hey had just
solcmnly entered.
Several other gentlemen made arguments
for and against the bill. the burthcn Of which
vas. in tho former. .'thn iaborer is worthy Of