Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-12

but complicated moehne Of government invoke from tou
that redress OF violated rights, which the safety and
freedom OF our common country call for. We denounce
to you great ere wicked ia its purpose mortal in
its consequences, unless prevented committed by citizens
Of this Commonwealth against the body OF their country
Viewing the subject in this light, commit to The
perior wisdom OF this House to devise parsue such
proceedings they shall think besA we as in duty
bound, shall ever pray, &c., sc.
This subject called forth much excitement in the
Legislature. Several prgsts by way of substitute,
were offered by gentlemen Of the Federal Party; but
finally, the following resolutions were adopted by Il
vote of92 TO SO. The House determined by IA vote
of ~ TO AZ not send them the Senate for their
concurrence-and hence these resolutions do not
appear ut the end of the sessions for that year
BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The Committee ~ the tol0ie House, TO whom re-
ierred the petition from the counties Of Amherst Abe
mare Ffuvanna and Goochand complaining ola Present.
ment OF Grand jury received by Federal Court held
at Richmond the 22d day Of May 1877 which a>se
that communicate between Samuel Jordan Cabell and
several other members of Congress and their constituents
by letter. is real evil have taken the consider
alton andbeing Of opinion that the House of Delegates
OF the Commonwealth of Virginia, ought TO viIidcae the
cause OF representative governn-i their right
OF withstadiug every violation thereof discharge
their chief duty of maintaining those principles Whereby
the branches OF government immediately elective arc ALI
anced to the people:
Resolved, That is the undonbted right of the House
OF Delegates To oppose political error, TO cas 10 ac
count political crininaity by expressing opinion or
prefering am impeachmenl:-Thai, being the grand
inquest Of their Comnonwea il is their duty so 10 do
whenever principles advanced
which endanger the safety of the State or tend 10 ai-
nish those rights OF the people, particularly deposited by
the CONSTITUTIONS under the guardianship OF the House OF
Delegates.
That he sah presennent tends 10 endangcr the saet
OF the State, and 10 diminish the rights OF the people }y
suhjectng TO censure expense or punish,
mcht, for communicating with their consiituents-By "a
ering ccnsoria vndiciive power, TO be exercised
an Executive judiciary uUctionaty, appointed by an
officer dependent upon Executive pleasure convened
before ridges capable OF receiving lucrative offices HON
Executive favorBy endeaySTng substitute Tor the pub
lie voice tone moulled at the pleasure of au Executive
oiice-Amd by contracting 10th the political ri lat of free
correspondence hy speaking and writing between the con-
siiuent and representative and the same natural right
between citizen aud citizen within the sphere u tho pre-
JUDGES, the views aud opinions Of Grand Jury thus Sc.
lecie6, and thus uluenccd:
That, the fruit Of precedent, rooted i'm such principles
would belgnorance in constituents the
aud conduct OF OF raspon-
siblity from constituents to iues-Depeh:onceo of Legs-
ative upon Executive and Jucaive branches Govern
mcnAnd, abolition Of free Intercourse between cit-
zen and citizen And that il be therefore solemuly
declared by the House Of Delegates that the said pre-
sentiment is violation Of the fundamental principles OF
representation, incompatible with the Independence be
tween the ordinate branches OF government lnelated
both 10y the General and State Constituons-an usurpa
ton OF power conhded branch over another by
any rule, legal constitutional; and subsection OF a
natural right OF speaking and writing freely the CEN
sure aud control OF Executive power.