Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-14
MsE5s CEg IA, 1873.

willing to deny its exercise even to minority of the
con sttucncy
The gentleman from Rockbridqe had made an elabo.
rate and beautiful vndcaton of the right of the people
To instruct their representatives any time and any
mode they might IN their good pleasure select But had
any one issalcd The prncple which spirltCdly
defended Ii would seem, that the gentleman
tertaning the House with mimic war. in which lie
erected fortress for his enemy placed him. of course
IN the most vulnerable position, and them opening his
batteries with all imaginable io!t proceeded show
with what skill and grace he could demolish the lrown-
ing bailemcnt How unfortunate for the pertinacy of
ms really splendid argument, that had not put
Iof' the heresy lac so stouty combacd. Ofall things
on earth there nothing partizan loved much
rashness IN AN opponent. lie had compliments for
ly disown some Fundamental truth, and he deaf
ehing III las pauds OF the open, fearless, and chi
various avowal. Let the morality of the dccaluguc
De denied, and, with warmest commentator of the
iankness of the impeachment, he would undertake,
win the utmost compiacency, To demonstrate the SIM
iness OF committing murder In short, let his adver-
sarY only lift the scales of his enough TO allow the
poisoned arrow To enter and he would engage that the
deathscng should be and glorious from the lips of
the victor. Such however, the perversness of the
friends OF Mr.. Leigh, that they had refused to occupy
lhe position so kindly marked out for them He had
heard no member of that body deny the right of in
sIuction IL was true, much had been said about the
circumstances under which it had been recently excrcs
ed and OF the abuses which, in many places had attend
ed It, 1t was not regarded by spontaneous
movement on the part Of the people, but the ingenious
device of disappointed leaders for caoling them into
reversal OF their judgment at the polls The most
order TO dissuade them from adopting, party wea-
pom OF habitual use, this mode of carrying favorte
point But he had yet to find the individual who, adj
ttng the right OF instruction al all, did not acknow
ledge that II after all the addressed To their dis
cretion. the people should insist pursuing this mode
the representative, when satisfied of the fact that ma
jority had concured, bound submit the
cree Even If the contrary doctrine had been held the
ultimate security of the right would have been i'm
paired for reason most iUrchy expressed by the gem
teman from Rockbridge, and directly point although
not so intended lie had said that the argument was
with the Rcpresentativcthe power with the People
That was perfectly true, and it dlspellcd by a word
all the phantoms of his teemino imaeinatio-for no
right was ever yet in danger Of being wrestcd from
it, possessors where they had the power and the virtue
defend It, Agents. temporarily invested with authority
might draw rehned distinctions try conclusions and ad
just the balance according TO their views OF pro-
pretty bHt after all, the people, Hrennuske, would
throw the sword of their power into the scale and
tabsh their prcpondcrauce lie believed that the
right of instruction, which he acknowledged in its ut
most latitude, of the most important privileges
OF the CITIZEN and, the time that it held by
the most certain and safe of m tcnurcs. 1t inherent
IN the very principle of representation and long the
elective franchise existed ii could be Invested
OF TINS incident than the human body could be stripped OF
It's nerves.
Let gentlemen, therefore, lay aside their apprcben
sions and discharge the duty their constituents had de-
viewed on them The Constitution called for the cleo
ton OF Senator-the usual period of making it had
arrived and lie doubted the people would demand
bette treason than had yet been assigned from those who
shouts persist in creating VaGacy this interesting
conunciurc IN the public councils. 1t certainly no
pleasant task they had TO perform, ar for his own part
ii would be painful for him to rive as he shouid n
vote that would be unpalatable a large and respcc-
table portion of his constituents. But he could not
believe that proongation of the controversy would
ther vary the result reconcile tie objections of the
minority; and still less was it to be expected whilst
there any thing like equality of parties that de-
feat would he admitted by either the rendered
more certain. Would not gentlemen feel that they
had incurred fearful responsibility it, contrary to
all precedent example within the Commonwealth for
the doubtful chances OF party triumph, they should
MIN fla .,lrr mt.
mcnt as had lately prevailed Could they reconcile il
TO themselves, wantonly and unnccessariy as he must
needs think it, To stir up the dying embcrs the conAa
gracn, and light anew the torch of discord among the
people From the deep impression the question had
made the popular feeling, it was one on which
to .. make or mar the fortunes of politicians and the
boidest amongst them might we'll regret that he was call!
ed upon TO settle it, But ifsacrices be made
if bosoms must blccdshoud they not rather bare their
own to the stroke than give back the dagger the pco
PIE and force them to continue the DISCRIMINATING
Hict! IL tlmc he said. ult the peace of society
too long and too rudey should be rcstoYed and
could only be done by the decision of that election
lac trusted it would not be further delayed and that If,
deciding IT, every member should according to what
he conscienously believed to be Tic viii Of his consti-
tucn;s
Mr. b. said with the Indulgence of the Housc. he
would now proceed to assign his for voting for
MIR. Leigh.-Hc had always regarded him as belon1inq
to The republican party; and the efforts which had been
made of late 10 prove the contrary, had by no means
changed his opinions In the carly part of Mr. Jeficr
sons Administration, he n spirited and patriotic
member OF the democratic family attestcd by va
nous resolutions and speeches in the popular meetings
OF the day. Disappearing of tie Embargo and other
restrictive of that and tho succeeding Admin
istration, hc attached himself to what was called the
Randolph party, a scion from the republican stem
and SO continued until the declaration Of war in 1872
which having opposed, in the first instance premature
he afterwards supported by his personal services in the
field. At later period, he found heartily CO.
operating with the republican party the support of Mr.
Crawford for the Presidency Failing in the effort TO
elevate that individual, il wei known, that Viz
GINA, somewhat suddenly and Unexpectedly. resolved
on supporting General Jackson against MIR. Adams
not from original preference. but avowedly as a
choice Of evils Mr.. Leigh did not follow the State
but remained, in great measure, neutral in The
contest, from considerations which it mi9ht not be
he was more deeply committed against the fitness
Of General Jackson than any in lli Commonwealth
by his letters published several years before. under
The signature Of "Algcrnon sydney the sentiments Of
tanned by public opinion Ii would be scen Therefore,
That Mr. Leigh had occasions differed from the
republican party in regard sometimes in regard
10 pcasurcs,and that he presumed the "head and
'front.' oil his oienccsbut where the evidence that
he had differed the ground Of principle -
Mr.. Brown said, hc shoD,d refer to other evidences
of Mr. iciphs opinions tpu in the possession Of
Tie public and 1T they not more numerous or
explicit il owing 90 the fact Chat hc had long kept
aoor from politics and devoted himself chiefly to the
30 satisfy al who open conviction I'm his cele.
bratcd Report the right of tie Assembly to instruct
their Senators in Congress, adopted the Session
Of lSlll2. he reviewed the Resolutions Of l7fS and
quoted, with appreciation their most important princ
pcs-amongst other things broadly asserting the sovo
rcgniy Of thc States In hs Mcckcnburg Correspond
Of 1888 he declared himself LOYAL to all our in
stitutous, State and Federal that the suresl why 10
preserve the Federal Government n IFS strength and PVT
riiy, was, to counc It's action within the limits both
as ftn