Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-23

nf fil1f
rod Mr. Giles defence, too oflnsclf before the Ices-
laturc, might not be unmpo sana as also thc p5oeedis
winch took place on it. In justice Mr.. Giles will
take occasion here TO remark that he never denied the
right CT The people to instruct their immediate
tttives, either in the General or State Governments
lie questioned only the right of one set of representa-
Ives chosen for certain purposes, give mandatory in
sructons to another set chosen other purposes That
portion of his speech, in tue Senate, in l-il upon his
public
These political rctrospects cannot fail think to be
usr,u at the present moment Should you determine To
publish them, beg leave to send you additional
thorty nj support of this right Of the people which YOU
my append If you please, to Mr.. Leigh Resolutions
~ Is taken from an address TO the British House of Com
mons, IN late years upon the right of the constituent
instruct and the duty of the representative obey
written by am able and distinguished patriot who labor
ed long and zcaousy the other side of the wacr i'm
favor OF popular rights and the principles of free Govern
nmnt 1t holds this language -
iiavns thus proscd profound aspect atiuebcr,
70 your legislative institutions trust that these sentiments viii
" ns o. any subsequent that result fom peculiar
"a" n;,intcs of,c With these prcninaries
presume sun 70 enter on snbee, Of such Importance have
,ioe senator. aud Which, @nd beau
cd ON the bfoadesi basis Of justice and civil liberty If lhe
er t,e e' which depa, iiy ,uc has been so
won examining analogy and with sis eo
so%S no even to oppose The very principle itself al
boy OF Jour laws histories and records subject"
& truly to be Regretted that historians the rcigu
s & l. Were c,,hof ehuIchmen brons themselves
those who were baros or in
., 'hIa s,sh station we have, ,hereoc
soa"oas e,scd adcnc obscure aud 10 be attained
sed The injuries o,~c the hence has
s they 60, no Assembly they rprsseS,a-
Jns Of asoe yt isS s. ~ aa"d and arc aage
.s dene tsny rcry pss Of
ana preaee Perhaps important enquiry
from is neral tendency a '1 e I.Se
was nd@da,a Or @a no e "a @ So, @
member. a" s s en as sonended for By Of
in the %d an TssSrS which il principle
cont n out ON I'm. Ps1gS OF history the record
ton Tor m being generally and uairersy that
such proofs arc , only criterion by which disputed right bo
and histories which implies eadeae either primarily or
o body our "% records ,S ssI h OF
ssG an being ,ae, therefore legally
right %s s % %s@ na rS, q" the g1S sa from
y q 'rge osr rfIresenpei and as there evidence
II mus, DC onyo1, to common that when the Commons
snso on Their constituent and individually representa-
Of history DO oss S S ss ss
"se Without ii ns of
own acts, we arc not therefore to imagine that the
honorable House sa. by which to
was either of thom ofs demanded
n,o by Ss but IL wa"
~ T 10, The rede.. Of throughout ia
OF the h'st writ Of Parliament record In
r%asn % @ rcd Of all aq@ ss"
seSe to s%s dc Farien I1 hs e d Iron on
immediate a sS s o %9 the same kns considered the
'med by other wts record which specify wages
sa sis wI .a S l road or Do,e s that K
asge. se ss e" ree se'o"'e' should be ded
SO much for the Right of Instruction, as a matter of
Prl,netPie Now word or two, to the manner in
which may be doneWe hear it, for the first time as
serted or the benefit OF those, doubt who do in
tend TO obey that though the people have the right 10
instruct their representatives they (thc people poor sim
PIE souls have not the right select their own mode
and manner of doing So The whole subject resolves IL
sell INTO this simple enquiry If the people have the
unqualified right of giving their instructions, have they
not the right of choosing the tme and manner of doing
1t, most agreeable to themselves? With whom docs the
power rest OF controlling supervising in any way the
exercise OF this right by the people If the Constitution
and Laws silent this subject and prescribe no mr.
ucuar mode in which it is to be DONE is it for those
who the agents and servants of the people 10
direct the particular manner in which alone
shall be done? Shall the people be told, and that too by
their (accordng TO the doctrine of these
selfstyled Whigs) you must with suppant knee to
US, your masters, and respectfully say Pray Sir 1cat
manner or mode, ayce, your humble constents sayo
40 ms Htngy is such pretence to be tolerated,
borne, at tins day, by the reemen of this old and
nowncd Commonwealth? Once permit the right in a |
representatives. to disregard the expressed wishes and
sentiments OF those he represents mo matter in what
form or manner 1t may be done) the ground that the
mode selected IS an his opinion improper one and who
does not that all attempts exercise this vital right
must forever prove abortive Nor would the evil stop
here. What, Messrs. Editors, would become Of that
most important right secured by the Constitution To tho
Gus doctrine, for the first time advanced for ambi-
uous and party purposes be tolerated
why not urge against the right of petition and re-
monstrance, the objections that hear against the
recent instructions in Virginia. to vote against Mr..
Leigh? Why not, when petitions presented do we
not near the same objections urged against their recep
ton and authority Why charge their sinners not
only with drunkenness and imbecility but with having
been corHered Scduced and miSlcd, by designing and
ambitious demagogues and therefore unworthy of
dcraton? Does any unpreudiced of any party be-
heye, that the numerous memorials and petitions which
were gotten up and presented to Congress its last
SION, were not as obnoxious to most of the objections
made as these solemn and deliberate fresidc acts by
the people of Virginia. support of OF their rights
freemen' Were these panic memorials them entitled
to more favor than letters of instruction Were
they confined To those who had the right of voting
Tor representatives? On the contrary, many
OF them signed by hundreds who not entitled to
the right of suffrage and whose names were pro- |
cured alone for the purpose Of swelling the number of
signers' Was this not the with the Richmond
memorial, of which much said and vaunted last
winter Were not copies Of it taken and placed i'm the
hands OF committees appointed to get subscriptions and
widely circulated and was itnot signed by all descriptions
OF persons, without regard to their being
You, Messrs Editors presume, know the facts, and
can speak with certainty the subject put it home
them to every man breast whether the mode adopt
ed by Virginia to instruct her Representatives. not
more RATIONAL just and respectful than that of assem-
bling the people in public meetings. and urging them
action under those excitcments and feelings which too
generally prevail III large and prouiscuous popular
semblies?-l say nothing Of the insuperale difficulty
which must always arise of asceranng either the quail
hcations number Of those who supposed speak
and especially in States where the right of suffrage
here, is limited and restricted Does Mr. Leigh himself
believe it, Is it pretended by his friends? Let him am
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