Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-06
Richmond, Tuesday, Jan. q.


called prepared to shake the Right OF Instructie
RESOLUTIONS have been introduced into the Legislature of
oho to rcscind those the last upon this ground
as well as others, that "his General Assembly believes
that the Right of Instruction belongs properly to the
feopc-tiat 1t is abuse of that right whenever tl,c
Legislature instruct contrary the popular will .yc
&c Col Webb the N. Y. Courier and Enumirer con,
tends that Mr. Mangum is bound to obey the recent
resolutions of the Legislature of ~ CT that the senator
does not swear to give his support the Constitution m
Legislature OF his State may happen understand that
instrument; that instructions snot oblgat
that thc State after appointing Senator has done with
him for years. or for the term of his appointment &c
The Charleston Mercury publishes piece, which quotes
with applause the language OF Edmund Burke address
ed to the Electors of Bristol against their right to in
sruct him--and recommends Burkc's doctrine t,, tho
attention Of those wiscacrcs, who with suJscyreeu
unworthy of that american spirit, which should at ali
times characterzc the Intelligent and hghmindcd pa
triot, sickle for the right of Instruction Thcse In
decd are so many ominous signs, that the Wings arc
about to engrait on their creed certain degree Of dis
OF Instruction. Is this indeed be doctrine of the
Wing School? Is it thus they expect secure the CON
arc already so justly entertained against their previous
course? We have disposition at this time To- rcneot
the arguments which overthrow all the pcrncious posi-
tons which we have quoted above. They are album
dainty refutcd in the Report which was pcnncd bv Mr.
Leigh HIMSELF and adopted by Virginia in 1912 Audit
| is remarkable fact that this very quotation from H.
Burke is there cited, reiutcd and rcprobated.
But there is another class of politicians who without
objecting the right contest the manner in which il has
been really exercised in Virginia They declare that
instructions thus got up, not binding upon dele
gates Tie letters signed by the electors themselves are
called, by way ofridiculc, bush Instructions - and they
represented abnsc and trick which no faithful
will pay sort Of respect One delegate
openly declares upon the floor of the House. that this is n
new practice bulael introduced the banks ofthe JAS
River. The gentleman reminded that il was prac-
Used IN the days OF our last Convention in the of
ten Taylor, NC Senator in his place also calls it a
Van Buren, trick, sample of the Van Buren, tactics and
introduced by Van Buren, agenisand he says, that it
hrs made ITS appearance in Virginia, during the Con-
vention when Mr. Van Buren, first touched her soil
The allegation almost too ridiculous to be noticed Ii
has been exposed in speech of Mr. Anderson of Bote
| todd hc olit have
ierrcd to period anterior 10 the Convention, DIR.
Flood did, to letters got by Mr. Leigh and
ed to the fire side deliberation of the electors.
But go farther back.-We have no doubt the Gus
tom of directing their Delegates, by signed letters of In
of the Republic Had leisure to consult the
Documents in the Rolls Office have no question but
we should meet with them different periods of the
Commonwealth But we have two MSS. before
us which demonstrate its antiquity, and the respect
in which THIS tor'n Of Instructions has been hold in the
Old Dominion. These papers endorsed in Mr.
Jeersons hand -wrtng. eListyctions of e Freehold
ers Of 9aiIemaric, October, l776"-Mark '76-thosc
good old days Of free and lofty principles
The first paper headed, The Instructions of the In
habitans and Freemcn of Alberaerle County to their
Representatives in General Assemble" il com
mences in the following strain
I" You desired to signify TO the House of Repre-
sentaves our appreciation and thanks for their prudent
noble, and spirited conduct, from the of their APP
ponmen to that of our happy deiveraEce from the in
s'dI9Ss, tyranncal government of the British King
'Ihey have, during the above mentioned period con-
Quoted our affairs well as it could be expected in
unsettled stuaton they have exposed TO great
er danger than the ether members of the community,
Ills notorious that had enemies carried their point
they have fallen sacrifice their barbarous resent
ment We set full value upon all that esteem them
we respect them; we are determined to stand by them
and dcfcndhcn TO the last drop of blood We scorn
the tiaering hypocrcal, perfdous hints of cur enc
mics who affect most favorable opinon
of the people large endeayor to nsnuae that Voc
have been misledby directors God forbid we should
be succumben would, rather than accept any con-
dItions from our inveterate inhuman enemies, initiate
the most noble Sagunnes, who preferred throwing their
property and themselves into the flames TO the wretch
cd ani,,, q. Al.
tous comprehensive pay too much re card to the
zeal of the worthy Representatives Who to the honor of
hs state went foremost in the glorious declaration of
| independence
But, in order that good and so necessary an I'M
deitakinS, amongst all the members of this now FREQ
community, may be mantlincd and transmitted to our
posterity think the duty of every body to deliver
their sentiments regard the new Constitutions or
form of government, and the new code of lnws which
arc the most noble, most important and most difcult
works that occupy at present the attention of Re-
| Then follows long Letter of instructions upon d;c
crent points in the CODsttutionand IL is Sign6d by II
namesand of these have the mark only of The sSner
misunderstanding what wide sweep was then given
to the sovereign right of Instruction. in this very form
Inc handwriting OF the Letter of Instructions beau
tifnl; but it not MIR. Jeilerson's.
The other paper has the head "9hc Instructions
Nc, and begins by saying that awe sorry that we
did not think Of the following Instructions sooner SO
that they might have been joined with the Instructions
drawn up in another paper'evidently abiding TO tho
preceding paper II proceeds to give further lnstruc-
tons upon the Constitution This paper is in dferent
handwriting, and has &c signatures different from tho
others.
And yet, with these ancient relics before us we are
to be told that this form of Instructions has Just been in
oduced ON the banks of the James Rvcrthat they nrc
all Fan Buren, trick and part of the ~ York tactics
and that such instructions not entitled any obga
ton or respect But what will the People themselves say
to it Good forbid, that they should be succulnbent'
TO any such doctrines.
The Mais.-We have been suffering under an cxtraor-
binary cold spell of weather, for several days Yester-
day was the coolest day have experienced dur
ing the winter The Mail has been thrown into much
| irregularity here, and we may add elsc,chcre The
New York Times Of the Both December states that
"Ihc Southern Mail had not reached Philadelphia on
Monday morning, when the railroad line came Off and