Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-08-26
From lhc Pe,ersburg Cons,pIa


[Frcm the Petersburg ConsteIationl
Tho Right Of Instruction is an essential feature Of the
republican form OF Government. I,is inesimable To The
voteries 0i consiitu ionsI freedom, aud formidable only 10 at
rogant sris'ocrsts II is the most valuable Of all The re.
served rights OF the people. tits the curb aud The spur
ot the constituency. II Is their subsis,ing Car.
thage. They can resort 10 il for refuge, when the storm
threatens or whca Il has come upon them. When the
Right OF Petition fails 10 Influence, they can inter
Je'c by The Right OF instruction. When they csnioi
keep in awe, they cen strike. When hey cannot per.
suade. they can command. In fine, the ialismanic, in
nuence oil his tight, ever present, impresses the minds
OF al the delegated agents aud all The great men in the
state, with so lasting q jealousy and so deep a reverence
OF its potency, as to necesaiate them, even in the exer.
else OF heir ~nn'iispuied authority, within proper bounds,
to CONTINUE TO court aud deserve the support and the afec-
ton OF the rest OF the people. But This right is a mere
theoretical boast, aud is OF 10 practical utility. n thcse de-
legateh agents, and great men, are todetermiue and di-
rect, uhen and in schot manner, il il TO be rsso ted TO and
app led. Those who would thus render ibis right ineGec-
tnal, are iDsidicus enemies OF repre- sentative government
They viii hnd that il is as difficult 10 invalidaie this right
oy ar'hce, as II wooldbe dangerous 10 attack n by force.
Aug. IL. EQUALITY.
More Than one OF the Delegates elect 10 the mex Ge-
neral Asse n.by OF Virginia, have resorted 10 insiiicus X
pedients, 10 illustrate The practical utility of the Right Of In.
suuction. A thirst Tor power and ' et airsii TO aitsck o,sn.
iy this Palladium OF the Peoples sovereignty. ,bev havs
clandestinely attempted 10 invsndale /, by aftiuI devices
Ashamed themselves TO carry these artiul he vices Into one.
ration, with ingenious eumiiy against tlds conservative
prin<ple Of the republican form OF government, and with
a hostile industry, that would have established Tor them a
good report, il it had been directed 90 the demolition of
the Banks d nlrion, they have adroiliy stimulated their
underhngs 10 perform the despicable service. But tie
shsrp-sighied and tar seeing intelligence OF the people. has
detected some OF these scful devices, sud their Inventors
are sn'iiten by The swelling tide OF popular indignation.
The favoritc device is the threat, propagate by The I'M
derlings, that the Del, gate eject, If instructed, i'll resivn.
Tins IS really an imprudeat selt.su{iciency. Do these
modest gentlemen think heir counties can furnish none
others equal to themselves! Eyre gious vsnitSi Such
conduct plainly poihts out TO us tn slate of imperfect ma
'uri'y, 81 Which the graceful Ieviiy OF yonth is lost, and
The soitdity OF experience is not vel acquired. IL was not
expected from ripened manhood and reputed WISDOM
There are exceptions, however. ard such will have an on
por,uniiy to resign. The people have sense to ieel, aud
spirit TO resist.
Aug. Id EQUALITY.
Continual
In one adjacent county, the insidious slraiagem, sha-
doved forth IN tho runner, that the Delegate elecf, il in.
sirucied, would resign, has been propagnIed by the under
rio'ters, without the consent or knowledge OF the princi.
pal party concerned. In all the counties in which This
sTatsgem has been artiully employed the personal popu.
iaIiiy OF the gentl. men dele gated, has been relied on TO
%overpower aud TO silence tho constituency. This IS a das.
taidly blow at tue practical utility OF Ne right of insiruc-
ton. 1T is a detesiable intimation that the people will tor
sake principles, ard stick" stick 10 men IN some in
stances, the poisoned shaft has been, and, In others, il will
he, ayerfeJ.
In several counties, the delegates themselves have pros-
utGted their personal influence TO the propagation of This
vile device. They 90 not regard or consider the drlcacv
OF their situations. Impatient of restraint and spheiul Of
superiority, they do not repress the iretiul exhibitions of
iiDPoieni and indetf rminaie resentment. Such individu.
ala will certainly be instructed now. in despite OF their
affected attachment 10 The form OF this great pooular ,iph,
w'l'ie they eon'enn Us substance; and, in all ihne 10 come,
abreast ohti theIr hearts are changed, they ought TO be
permitted TO stay at home, AMI "blu,h unseen" II is not
to be inferred from these declSra ions, that the opinion is
entertained, or Intended TO be ndire city advanced, thai these
delegates ought not 10 resign, il Instructed. They can
select heir own course. That fhey haze a petfect 'rioht
to resign is freely admitted. The only pa of their con-
duct which il OH cted 10, is that they fkseaten, in adj.
vance, a Withdrawal of their super-emrineni and immacu.
late selves from the service OF the people, in order TO pre-
vent Instructions, and TO ~supplani the popular will by their
own-a concurrence with which, they have failed to court
with a success equal 10 their ~assiin.ty.
How different has been the conduct OF The Deieea.e
elect OF tie Town OF Petersburg He is eoiifing, and de-
sires 10 De Instructed; not to Uofe against Mr. Leigh,
6ut to DE instructed hoto to OOte. He desires the will of
his constituents to be distinctly asceriained as il toouid be
PAINFUL fohinp to giue the U0te upon a misfnken estimate
0 the opinions aud scishes Of The majority of Them. I
SPEAK thus. not by authority, 6uf adcsediy; and am bsp.
ny 10 affirm that, IN my judgment, this is crediiablc TO MIR.
Brown. Such conduct is honorable, and furnishes an ex.
ample for iwiistion. Thus he preserves the atdtude Of
dignity, while others become state inongers and election
eeiing gladiaiors. Thus he observes a digni6ed neuira-
lily, while others Indelicaiely Iningie in the stiff, by PROXY
or IN person, aud attempt TO overawe by command and in
piIalanx. while they %presumPtnonsIy attempt 10 instruct
me Doufrtng tpufitude,' aud dare 10 offer a direct in-
sui TO their understanding, lie modesrly disirusts bis oun
judgment, and relies on the Intelligence and capacity of
the people.
Aug 10. EQUALITY.