Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-21

have BEEN compelled to give YOU and this House
Left to myself, should have submitted the major
w. matter how obtained But my friends who
had supported demanded of me to v,ndicotc their
rights, however might be disposed to abandon INV
! rejoice speak men who know how to
appreciate the voice of the People 1t was addressed
to in Il that could not but be obeyed will
not now enter into the details which occurred while
demanding scrutiny, but hasten on TO the result of
irregularities which occurred at the precinct elections,
particularly as to the omission of the superntendants
to be sworn and the conduct of the Sheriff, in re-
jecttng hem from his innate. The opinions enter
tanned to the Sheriifs of power in performing
the function he did, too decided, to he sl ken by
any thing can say-but, in Justice to HIM I ma v
say, that he true lsraete. in whoa, there is no
gufe; and whose character, with all who know him.
Is beyond suspicion. The view taken by hin, was
that those precinct elections void-;hs House
have virtually decided So IS manifest by your de-
cision, in he of the Nicholas elect,on-beinu
void, he held High Sheriff. he could not ac, as tho
they were cga! Pine further suggestion was made
that while the elections were conducted at the Court
House no difficulty like this could have occurred as
the election conducted by one mind-whereas
on the precinct sys EN-, different persons conductinp
It, dtt"ren and unequal rules might obtain and great
injustice De DONE as had happened in this case. As it
was believed no statutory enactment reached The
the common law, which constituted him judicial ,fE
Ger, with power over the subject, reached his case
and he was bound thought, to follow YOUR
own decision winch proclaimed elections in the pre-
dicament OF tho Orange elections, void-that howe
yer, was no matter of surprze, if we country pco-
pie interpreted the lazy wav, and the VS. ones at
Richmond IN anoiher--this occurred frequently in The
Supreme Court which frequently reversed the iudp
ment even of our engh'ed county Judges and as
further evidence that the decision of our Sheriff was
not singular, the me has been pronounced by the
Shert OF Prince William, end the Sheriff of Patrick
In hne, that 1t was new case, on which no decision
having been made il is no matter of surpr,z. thar
there should be differences Of opinion on the case
These are few of the arguments that NAV be re-
sorted to IN vindcation of the conduct of the Sheriff
Is .nd ht,,,,
my part, no: content with nb aiming the She-i re-
turn, proceeded to give notice my opponent of
some i2O bad votes. on his polhe replied by gvinp
me notice OF some l40 and we have taken n mass NJ
testimony on each side, 10 justify votes respect
veiy 1t is to that poin' have directed all nv efforts
to ascertain on what side the majority of the good
votes prrpnnderated i have no doub they are on
mine ~ scrutiny has been continually solicited TO
be made by neighbours, distinguished for their
nome spun intelligence and imparrlalitv or by the
nrsi legal characters of the land dsregarding all
forms ana pu suing The only end worth arriving. at
namely who was fairly elected, These invitations
have been again made before the Committee of
Privileges and Elections, and resisted by nv oppo-
nen' and finally. the Committee have resolved to va
cate the election altogether. and hence have refused
70 investigate the polls, and in this resolution
thought we both acquiesced; and after all this,
what Is the proposition submitted Ito de
clare my opponent entitled to seat in the House.
WINE nave tne poor privilege OF going home, give
notice and then tn proceed take dispositions 1t is
Mr. Speaker little too late The day for me to un
dertake, at this Indictment season to do that-the
moment you come to that resolution the contest is at
an end at far a. am copcerned-I shall have done
what was due to my friends I will then do what 10
que 70 mVsrlf And on what ground is the motion to
be sustained? The resolu ion must be taken nlnoe,b
erthe mover cannon am himself ON en-. hE,ncb
anu 'hat very unmportant one, who was entitled to
the return and reject The other, which saws that
henher n us was elected I could have unders God
tue gentleman, II he had moved 10 recommt the re
port and ms ruct the Committee to report all the
facts and with Injunction to scrutipize the polle
40 tnat with an anding, that the election is
not TO be set aside, and it would meet nv en-
| TT I1e aP'i ooat!sh-out so long the of the
Eousels confined 10 the re solution itself which do
cares that the proceedings are so vicious that the
election must be sent back TO he People, cannot
see the ground on which the gentleman stands which
requires the House TO decide, that INV opnonent sh.
be admitted to seat. If I understand his ARGUMENT
ne concludes, that my opponent has in his me-
Moral complained only of my irregular return. he
WI look at nothing else But is it not a universal
'ue OF proceeding every whore, as well here as in
our courts, that plaintiff shall not be at Lbertv 70
play The game exclusively he wishes A bripos
sun against me on bond-I admit the execution of
.ne onnd-bnt am barred from saying have paid
III rms is stronger case; if the facts had been set
iorth IN this report it would have appeared that Da
Wis had gwen me notice, that he commended for The
seat on two grounds majority of the qualified vo
lots ano iurther, on the return joined issue with
nun on oo,h Pon's-he replied with counter notice.
challenging some 40 votes on nv poll and hecouso
me COMMITTEE have decided one stragrnr branch of
l'e contest u IS commended he is to have Judgment
against me, although the tribunal which alone as vet
c,gnISant of the facts declares. the whole election
VOID, and that 1t should be RENTED TO the people
court IN the progress ola cause decides one unin
portan' point in favor ofthe plaintiff but in ADVANCING
Iu!ther' hnds the proceedings so vicious as to set
ASIDE rue WIN DE What would be bought of process
10 put the piaInt'n possession of the whole matter
OF sontroversys-and yet the proposition to mi nv
opponent in nv place, is ~ indeiensibe-if we are
10 be governed by the resolution
The gentleman asks, if Court were to decide the
pam question: would they afterwards Weld to cub
ble2 Pray, sir, what is the main nues,;on sr VIZ, h
Ioo'e the retuvn, or the majority of sound voters
rus devotion to the great principles of repubIicansm
WI no' permit hn to state that bubble, which
Involves the sacred right Of the ory to control the
mInori,y-which ajority contend I have. The re.
turn without the majority TO support it, is but as blank
pper, ana ~ had not supposed had that m iority
the return. ' VI
FINALLY 1 beg lie LIa...a L. -