Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-26
FROM THE COUNTRY.
E1traet Of a letter TO Member of tie LegiS
L,.I-,,,-,, T~tL IGoE

EatrGe Of letter 10 Member Of the LEGISLATURE dated
February I7h, 1885.
" The sentiments have before taken occasion to ex
press, concerning Mr.. Leigh, sincerely believe to be
correct and now repeat that he is saddled upon Viz
GINA for six years No contingency resulting from the
popular wish, from his sense of political right
arise which shall relieve the State from the burden
Mr.. Leigh has no just sense of political right. would
not be uncharitable-I would not dip my pen in GALL
would not utter sentiment tncured with party mnlg
nitybut close attention to the of this man. from
the time OF his first debut into public life the Con-
vention of Virginia. to the present day. drives ire
sstby to the conclusion-and few months will confirm
the asserton-that Mr. Leigh has no Just sense of po
cal right His friend of the " Wing for once uttered
truism, when he stated that Mr. Leigh was a century
behind the age in political science. The classical and
virtuous pen of Mr. Jefferson whose mind, if by in
tuition grasped the science of free government with
much case ordinary does his ordinary business
has failed to mpar TO him just sentiments of public right
and OF public liberty. The splendid of our own
Virginia, who in spite of Aristocratic Constitution
has heretofore stood in bold relief in the ranks of
Democracy, has failed to open his eyes to the powerful in
uence ofpublic opinion The history ofthe Republic for
than fifty years has failed TO convince him that man
is capable OF tgovcrnnent Else, whence his common
daon OF English liberty? Whence his degrading, dspa-
raging insulting comparison OF our free citizens of the
West, with the slave population the East9 Whence his
rank and cxutng ayowal that he is Federast in these
days when Federalism ITSELF like the hunted ostrich
the sand has hid its head in the msy covering ofmodern
Whiggism can arrive at no other conclusion, than
that nc has no lust Of political rir but like Acx
ander Hamilton, his great model he is Nonarcbst at
heart and prefers the corrupt moudcTing system
of Great Britain TO the sound healthy and vigorous ac
ton Of our own.
. Virginia them cannot be relieved from her incun
brance upon this contingency; and little need be ex-
pccted from an expression OF the public will, however
decisive and unqualified. For besides her known for
bearance (Which indeed is Characteristic Of the Demo-
crazy of this country) Mr. Leigh has been indicted in
20 Office according to the forms Of the Constitutions and
like the instructed Senators of other States in the pre
sent Congress, nc carry into effect if not the wishes
Of his Constituents, at least what 1 his opinion ought
to be their wishes or like Mr. Moore he reject lie.
eisatiye instruction by decctu protesiatons Of re-
gard for the sovereign people, and Of obedience to
their w-or, If that should be expressed in manner
not altogether pleasing and not TO be misunderstood be
wait for further devclopcmenls-cspc as some
Of the members of your body have alleged (mirable
dctu) that change Is still going in this Ancient
Commonwealth favorable to the Wig cause Like
produce like effects the world over The same
principle, which in the election Of Mr. Ieioh prosracd
the rights Of the constituency will in the person of Mr.
Leigh set at naught the instructions of the LEGISLATURE
and the will Of the people in whatever way expressed
"But the day, the fearful day offcbuton will come
Public opinion in this land Of frecdon stronger than
the divine right Of Kings or the swords of Dcspots
and more whitening in its influence than is the dead
" Bohon Upas TO natural life will arraqn the guilty
yolators Of public highland public exccraton will
be the award Of judgment passed upon them. No
matter bow noble and high.minded-ro matter how
amiable in private life no matter how talented the
culprtsthe sovereignty Of the people the only natural
sovereignty, the righu sovereignty has been offended
and nanght but political DEATH final and complete can
or will lie received IN expation This Irresistible ball
already in moonths avcngcr Of blccdoo public roht
Is already the wngnO escape for the bctraycr of his
tust-no city Of refuge for the instructions slayer Not
the sympathetic aid of the Wings; no-not the glitter.
ing nd Of an a5oinsblc Bunk not ;hs horns Of The altar