Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-05-14
SPEECH OF MIR. LOYAL.
CONCLUDED

one or more cases " hich had been decided by the
House of Representatives., they should be found TO
initiate against any principle of lay or rpbt they
would not be considered as binding authority upon
you but, az in all other cases before judicial tr
bunas. be overruled disposed however 10 con
test no point decided in the of Basssett aud
Bailey Every word OF the report in that case, which
has any relation to this has been read In that case
the question as to the authority of the officer to I'D
1ourD over the POLL was mere question of fact, and
1t appeared most clearly, from the evidence, that the
event upon which rested his authority did no; huppen
Yhere 1t was proved that the election commenced
E and progressed rapidly. &C. In this case it is pro
vod. the testimony of the sitting member Itself
Proves,@ that the election did commence till
kate hour Of the day. the dispositions ofthe officer con
Quoting the election and others prove that the pol
GOULD not have been opened at an earlier pcrsod
without wanton departure from a usage which pre-
wallis throughout Virginia of ao ing the candidates
irst should they be disposed, to address the peo-
pie; that the sitting NEE Der avanp himself Of this
privilege made it incumbent 20 reply; that tho
election progressed with but little internission ex
cept such us was necessary IN determining the right
OF disputed votes, till sunsettlug, when in copse-
queuce OF the appearance of voters DEMANDING the
exercise of their right. the poll was adjourned over
81 cannot DC denied that here all the material facts
vary fro" the case of Bassett and Baiey The first
event upon which rests the authority of the cficay
Gs alleged III that case, distinctly proved not %
hdve happened. In this the evidence concIusiveIy
establishes that st did The case of Basset
and Bailey them instead Of supplying any prin cple
feature adverse, come strongly IN support of the
authority exercised by the mayor Of Norfolk For
port of the committee, if IN that it had been pro-
we'd as affirm it IS, beyond all question: in this that
che voters could not all have been poed before sun
set the first day, that the decision Of he Ronsa in
the former. would have lcgaIlzed the proceeding ON
the poll until the merit d1y.
This, Sir was most ardent contest. Having
passed through four counties, 1t reached NorfoIk bo-
rough, where 1t was obvious tie friend. of both can
dldates would come. with their whole STRENGTH, TO
the polls full! election was demanded es we'll
from the deep interest with which all were Iootin 70
10 rrsat Er,fr,f tr.E So, 81,
tcrnined. was one entire ordinary election day
then. too much for the people, on such uu cccas1on7
And be 1t remembered, that whilst the interest of
the 81 ting member could rot suffer by stisino .hs
pcpular voice, Oft this pinch Of the CONTEXT the Sther
side had an interest equally strong il removing eve
ry obstruction, consistently with Ias of the land
20 far and fui expression OF thar voice. WAS one
entire day, ask again, Sir from the hour mem, az
sosich elections usually commence, ssgp-sefti, too
long for the voters in such election as hsf :And
here permit me to notice remark made by the gig
ting member, IN one of these papers. ~ have known
instances, he says, land they have rot been u,fre
queut, when the candidates being disposed 10 make
long speeches and waste time, the people came for
yard and demanded that the poll should be opened
and compelled the sheriff to open /. and take their
votes. In reply to this would inquire who man
ested disposition to make long speeches. on this
occasion' The gentleman himself who until tho
contest vas brought to thi. point, do him tho ms
tice to say, had not wasted much time in that V,nv
here boldly challenged discussion yhict, cnn,rhn
TEA IN no small degree, to delay in opening the poll
Instead OF the usual hour, ten, the voting did not
commence hil between one and two; aud LOOKING Ia
the peculiar nsture OF the suffrage qualifications ia
this borousf-the keen vigilance exercised by the
contending parties over the poil-nor uufr,Uienriv
ly Consuming from five to nlDates in deciding the
right OF single vote. be said chat reasonab Die
iirne was uilowed-rhet it gus even prccacabIe to
tRke the whole poll the FIRST dap o9 THAI the roay
or, IN aflourning 1t over, really obnoxions to the
charge of Partially and usurpations You ere tcId
that the voters had right demand that the poll
should be opened to receive their votes. Re il So
IN hat no
Dot NADER And IT not made, by what exercise Of
authority-by what sort OF management could
the officer have contrved to record the ,ho
who alone had right to give them, before The dis.
cnssIon terminated? Uhe discussion, fconmeuced
SO far as :hs election concerned by The sittinG
member no one can doubt, delayed the opening Of
the polk end the argument which denies ths power to
odourn 1t over. would lose force if double por-
ton OF tiEls had been consumed by the speeches In
sflch eass, who hardy to maintain TINT thu con
lhSency Tor Whloh HE law has provided, would not
iotaiIlb!y eceur 1t clearly occurred in tie present
case fhe dispositions concusiyely prove, that she
poll was net opensd till nearly four hours of costo-
mary election day had expired end that frou, this,
combined With other causes the Voter. were ..too nv
meroust to he poIled before sun-settino" Tlha mt
W1lshow that as the poll not closed on the first
cay Is required to be kept open two DAYS
ss eas. gut the testimony produced support of
tnese facts, fortified you will find it. must void 10
cftain facts and remarks contained 10 a pauer mark
en- a. Nils paper you gravely told by the si;tina
snchaoer elbows clearly that not one of the causes
specihea 10 the lay occurred to justify the officer in
keeping the poll open beyond the first davis election
yet strange as it may appear, this said paper. which
tfom the tone ofiuposing authority in which it is an
uoonced you might conclude would put this matter
~ asasi Is noIng Hore nor less than protest. spread
Upon the list OF votes taken for me 10 The borsug IF
Noroik, % objected to by the sitting msnbsr;-a pro-
test setting forth facts which do not even pretend to
carry VIVID them shadow of proof and remarks adj
Vanclng, u any certainly the smallest sossible claim
70 argument. say this, without intending anv sort
OF oHenSe 70 the member but ueuDing yvbat
is literally true If have deceived myself however
uno tbere reaIy be IN thus paper marked &. some ma
gicai incantation, or mysterious power GLIDING NV
comprehension, Which settles the point n question
tnen sir, instead Of coming here, as Supposed had
70 support the peoples right, deserve your scorn
for my folly and the sooner you dismiss ne from
presence the better. '
10 Sustain this leading objection presented in tho
document before me- 1T is said that prior TO the last