Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-25

as we cheerfuliy admit them to be, Tin other words
the true spirit OF the usage TO the case before us
We ask then, you not as well acquainted,
very large majority OF you, with the political prin
cipies the character, both public and private, the
qualifications OF Mr. Giles, as you are with those
of the gentleman whom you elected? We presume,
that YOU will not acknowledge such an ignorance
of the political history of your country, as to deny
that YOU are. The one has been in the coun-
ellis of his country, during the fourth OF cen
tury-and when out of public life he has not been
| idle although in bad health, az his able numbers IN
defence of the constitution OF Virginia, in 1917,
and his late writings sufficiently evince: his con-
duct always exposed to public view, his principles
unfolded in every debate, in all OF which he took
distinguished part Short his name and charac-
Ter are identified with the history OF his country
1 The other gentleman has served portion OF you
| some six or years, in the House OF Delegates
of Virginia, faithfully, and usefully, we freely ad-
nit, for we wish not to depreciate his worth-but
perhaps from the want OF opportunity, This sphere
OF action having been heretofore much more limit
ed, J he has not been able so fully TO display his
abilities, and lay open his political principles, as
TO auihorise as at least 10 say. that we are ecen
as nell acquainted with his qualifications TO repre-
sent u.s. as we feel that we are with those oil Mr..
Giles.
How is the interest of MIR. Giles identified with
yours He is exclusively an agriculturlst, and
upon large scale too; he lives and supports nu-
merous family, solely by the cultivation OF the soil
he must bear all the burthens imposed by the ede-
raj, or stale gov eminent, which you bear lac en-
| Joys all the benefits derived from either which
you enjoy. Is the interest OF your representative
more identified with your inlerest-the great inte-
rest of the dstrct-the agricultural interest, the
centre from which all other legitimate interests oi-
verge as rays from the sun-,han Is that interest
which we have described as possessed by Mr.
| Giles; and which we knew was the fact, (and go
did you,) when we voted for him? Seriously re-
fleet we beseech you upon this view oil the subject,
and ask your reason calmly, what great difference
does it make whether man who possesses these
transcendent qualifications, and this exact identity
of interest and feeling with you, lines or thus, or
the other side of the TUeed; whether his property
lays the south side of APpomattox, elk miles
out of your district, or on the North side, two
miles within your district If we had searched for
a man remote from you within the confines OF
! Virginia, one from Wheeling on the Ohio; the
| banks eft Clynch river, or from Horn Town In Ac-
conack, to whose principles, character, interest &
qualifications you were strangers, solici ed you TO
vote for hn-then Justly would we have excited
your displeasure. Truly, might you have said,
that highly censurable for soliciting you 10
cleo; an individual whom you did not know, and
who might have no common interest and feeling
with you; or, it Mr.. Giles had come among you,
and by public addresses otherwise have solicit
ed your .uhrages, indeed we will admit, that even
II he lad suggested TO US his wish be elected,
and given us hint as TO our conduci-in any such
| case, we acknowledge that you would have had
Just cause of complaint, that were violating the
spirit, well the letter of the aforesaid usage;
and which, like you, we highly appreciate. But
we pursued such course. Such was not Mr..
Giles's course; very far from it. Believing, sin
cereiy believing, that most serious crisis, 1--WE
VIII use the word however much it may hav been
criticised, had arisen in the affairs of the Federal
Union: Believing that measures the mos, oppres-
sive and tyranncal to the Southern States partcu-
larly, had been already adopted,and others equally
unconstitutional and still more injurious TO our
liberty and happiness, had been proposed from the
highest authority; we were anxious TO select Re
preventative, who could, TO the language OF
your fsvoFite, serve this district and his country,
with the best effect" This man Ue bellev ed
to be Mr. Giles, almost your neighbour, whose
! political principles and public Conduct you had
known all your lives, WHO had once actually rep
resented part of district in Congress- and
whose abilities transcendant as his expert
ence is matured Of our own free will and ac-
cord, from no extraneous influence, and we may
be permitted TO say from the most patriotic mo-
tives, some OF us invited him TO suffer his name
TO be used in the late election. His answer is be-
fore the world, and in our poor opinion, does ho-
nor, aiihe 10 his head and his heart This was the
only Intercourse between us. lie was perfectly
passive, took no part wha;ey cr, neglected no bu-
slness moved not from his own house, wrote no
letters, that we ever heard Of nor dispatched any
agents. Under these circumstances, and for these
reasons we voted tor him. We were vanquished
but not subdued; and we confidently believe that
the more we shall reflect upon conduct in this
particular the more our best judgment will approve
IL. There could have arisen dangers from the
4
themselves by surrender of local feelings attach
ments and prejudices2 These will always be
strong enough TO prevent any free community from
going out OF its precincts for a representatives IN
less, indeed In search OF most superior qualifica-
TONS Abundant instances of the truth of this
sentiment might be adduced, from our own history
as well as that vi other nations. Need we go far
Tier tor an illustration than the very example be-
tore us! Perhaps, gentlemen, we ought here 10
siop but the reasons for conduct press upon US
as we proceed, ''vires acqurit eundo, 20 that with
your permission we will suggest one or two more
considerations Tor your deliberate reflection
We nave said, that we are not as well acS,uaint-
ed with the political principles Of your Representa-
tives as we are with those of Mr.. Giles, and we
animated The reasons wherefore. Not 10 mention
other and numerous exenipfcatlons W will state
one which we deem Of vital importance at This
period. i, relates TO the construction of the Fed
ersl Constitution, as il concerns the trestv-making
power. We do not say that DIR. Crump differs
with Mr.. Giles, on the subject which we have
here init oduced; but, we only mean TO say, that
we do not know what his opinions are in regard to
IT. He may agree with Mr. Giles, probably he
does, and we admit this probability, IS well from
the general tone of his politics, as from wish not
to utter an unkDd word towards that gentleman -
To the subject The Constitution Of the u. States,
says: Art. LIST, Sec. 8, clause I. "Congress shall
have power to lay and collect taxes imposts, and
excises," &c.