Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-01-10
spEECHOF A STUART JR.

In HE House Of DeiegdteS on HE contested etec
hon from Patrick county. M support Of me
motion Of M. RiUes of Prince George, TO a.
sue a neie tgrtt Of election.
Mr. Sitt1ri addressed the House IS folows
Mr.. Speaker: As II IS man,lc,t tom the
tenor OF both the original report aud tue pro
posrd substitute. that am likely TO be but or
short time, upou tbs Stage Of action, hope
the House will indulge me IN ii l,st speech aud
dying declaration. | trust shall be eAonera-
ted from the charge OF indelicAcy. when | de-
clare 10 the House, that 80 iar as the report OF
the Committee depfiyos me OF my seat II meets
my entire appreciation. For fear, how ever,
that II may DO suspected, thai in the Iemai Ks
which had the honor TO submit u the House
on the day which | took my seat acted
the part OF the fox IN the tabls, nni called the
grapes soT which could not reach, or IN o.
Their words, that dIsclaImed wishing 10 hold n
seat, which knew could not hold, vii
state some iacfs when are nol sci forth IN Tie
report oil the CommiIlee, and which WI sbp~
thu. Oh two gfounds could have ietainrd my
seat, had | becb so dispose /. In tine frat
place the nntlce winch received thai my u
lection wonld lie conte,ted, was given suhse-
quen,lJ TO the November t.rm Of The county
court Of Patrick, when the law requires mat
such notice should have been gwen withio five
dats after The closI"g oil the polls Aud IA
tue second plAce-the only ev,deuce " hIch
The contestiHg Candidate offered 10 the Com
nIitee To show that he had received the grrater
number OF votes, was n statement Of the pol 5
AT the court house and the precinct elections
s'ened by the Sheriff II is obvious, that had
awaited myself oil either of the irfegularItie. |
| have mentioned, Oh mad even renamed silent,
the Sher,h's return would have scared mo my
seat MOI being Disposed Ia hold any seat un-
der EXISTING circumstances, nckn ~ lodged
| regal 0otIce, and agreed thai the statement OF
the polls vas correct, AMI might be received
AS legal evidence. claim no credit, Mr..
Speaker, for those concessons-l did not mak e
them 10 the contesting caudIdate-l made the III
t., the people OF my county, Ofi.red up my
individual claims MS sacrifice upon the altar
OF the peoples rights knew that the tontes-
ting candidate had received majority OF Ibe
votes, Il could not think OF availug myself Oi
any legal advantage 10 hold my seat. knc. thai
Whether the elect III wasi legally or Il egaly con
Quoted. WAS not elected. The same devotion
TO the rights OF the people winch induced me
10 give up ny claim 10 "A seat, inprls me now
10 advocate the Substitute which has been pro
posed 10 the report of the Committee. Alter tue
decision on lbe Contested rlrtu5n lTom tht
county OF Orange, made almost without n dis
senling voice. | con,cieniously believed, and
ST IL beIeyr, (with all Difference to the enight-
ened COMMITTEE oil Pr .yiieges and Election. }
| to The county OF Patrick. | am sure thatu is
tue disposition Of TIN, House 10 preserve rs tan
as possible, uniformity aud consistency IA IT'S
decisions aud 10 deal out - every county IA the
! State, The same measure Of Juslce.
| shall not therefore. attempt 10 show tina
the decision ~ tue case from Orange wHs II
correct decision. | shall ouly endeayor IL
prove that II The people OF Ordng" we're emit
tied to a writ OF election, the people oil Patrick
are clearly so entitled.
Let us then enquire upon what principle the
House decided that writ OF election should
be issued to the Coualy oil Orange. canno,
believe ihat the election was SEM back mere '
TOT crafty the sitting member and tde contest.
ing candidate, by afIordIng them an opporiu.
nifty to have winters campaign at the Illus
inss. take il for granted lha, there wa,
some thing in the case as It was presen ed TO the
House, VIII ich was deemed sufiicien TO sitaie
the election, without reference TO The wishes o
the parties Interested. What then were the ir
reguarities IN thu Orange Election, which ren
dsred il necessary taa, IL should be set aside