Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-07

sheir own body, either from death, reSig-
ration, removal, INABILITY, or any other
cause"-and nothing mofe.-And here
follows the correspondent clause in the
law referred 10 by S. 10 fix the charge of
haioCHS misrepresentation: -
They tihe President and Directors of
the Board of Public Works. shall also
have power, at any time daring tie recess
IF he Legislature, TO fill any vacancy
which may occur III their own body, Ell
thcr from death, resignation, removal, in
ability, or any other cause. K.
To the Treehollers of the Congressional Dis
nfct composed of'the Counties Of Heuico.
Nem- heMt, Char'tes-City, Hanorer, and tie
Cty cf Richmomd--
FELLow-CITIzENs,
Tile second session of The 18th
Congress having nearly drawn to close,
and the period being not far distant when
am to return TO the body ofthe People,
before | law down the trust which has
been coniided TO me, feel it my duty 10
lniorh. you OF the manner in which have
discharged that lrust-'Ths course is not
Only IN consonance with my own feelings,
but seems 10 be required by the usage of
my .predecessors-The public agent, who
shall have discharged his trust with con-
scIous recttude, even if on subjects of
minor importance he shall have erred.
has nothing 10 fear from his constituents
The fralty of our nature is proyerbial,
and the older and wiserwe grow, the more
fully are we convinced of our liability TO
erin truth, when we reflect upon the
manner in which we are constituted, the
various and conflicting passions by which
we are actuatcd. the at best bat feeble
r.,v nf Inh ft,ut 70, & 10
and the brcvity of human life, it is not so
much IL matter of surprise that we should
sometimes err, as that we shout err so
seldom-lf, then, shall have given any
vote not cousonant with your views OF
propriety, shall find my excuse in your
liberality.
Among the first subjects which claimed
the attention of Congress, was The act
passed at the last session, altering the
mode of compensation TO the members of
that body-It is unnecessary TO remind
you of the murmur excited throughout
the Union by this law-From every quar-
Ter IT was severely mathematical, and all
were forced TO acknowledge that the great
majority of the People required IFS repeal
The onlyquestion, then, which remain
ed to be discussed, was, whether the Re
preseitatipes of the Nation ue7'e bound to res
on of this question gave TO the subject
additional importance; and the repeal Of
tile law may be regarded as decisive of
the opinion of Congress, in regard to the
doctrine of instructions-A .,ecision
which goes 10 convince the People, thai
they are not merely " hewers of wood and
drawers of water" but that Government
Is d trust proceeding from themselves-an
emanatIOn oftheir strength. Although it
was the wish OF many, amongwhich num-
Der was, that the repeal of tie law should
have had reference TO the first of the ses-
sion, yet, after trying every possible ex-
pedient TO obtain this. object, we were
compelled TO vote its repeal from the 4th
OF March, or 10 leave it as we had found
it-As TO myself, did not hesitate in nv
choice of the alternatives.
- The relations of this country towards
Spain and her South-American colonies,
have always been, as far as it has depend
eel upon our Government, of AN entirely
ne1lral character. Many of our citizens,
however, who regarded the colonies as
for their emancipation from the
thraluom OF the mother country, and for
those rights with which man was lnyestedat
his birth, but OF which cunning and arti-
iice have united TO deprive INN, were in
iuced TO take part in the struggle, and in |
some measure toJeopardize the neutrali- !
~ the United States--It was, therefore. |
by the Executive. thai |
such measures should be adopted, as |
should preserve ourneufra!ity, and be the |
means avoiding rupture with Spain
IN pursuance of This recommendation, a
bill originated i'll the House of Represen
tatives, to prevent the arming and equip
plnS OF vessels in our ports, or the sale of |
armed vessels either Witkin olD ports or else
ohere. To this measure could not weld |
NY assent. Although Spain had failed 10
discharge herrelalions towards the United
states, with the good faith which we had
| right to demand other; although she
lad suffered French privateers TO arm i'm
Ter ports, and from thence 10 prey OH our
commerce, and thereby, under the inter
iatIonailaw, became properly Indebted TO
is iorthe amount OF every capture thus
made, andyet bad never discharged one
'ent OF the $4,000, 900 thus contracted
'lihough, at later period, she had suffer
"a tile irisate Essex, commanded by the
gallant PORTER, to he attacked aud cap
ured, by two British ships, immediately
lnder her batteries, at Valparaiso al
hough, but the other day, d sloop OF war
u the United STATES navy was fired into |
Jy two Spanish sloops, and no expIapati
In yet given To this nation in regard to |
nat trdnsactIon-yet, deemed if proper
or the United States To- maintain its neu
faliIy towards that country and It's colo
lics-bui, could not yield my assent TO
my proposition which wei, further than
lgrfs a A