Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-05

tstves there 7cc0 votes given the pcls last
Spring--snce then upwards OF 5000 have signed the
papers OF instruction. Now, ask gentlemen 10 take
review ofths whole the
under which the elections were conductedthc effort
which has been made by the people to exercise
fundamental and unalicnablc rghtthe difficulties which
have attended the first ciortthc uncertainty as to the
result, which has only been made known within few
days past without giving the people opportunity to
correct errors and supply deficiencies that no
prudent representative under due consideration oftesc
facts, ought desire TO hasten an election INVOLVING
such important political considerations, and connected
with SO many ncstimabc rights of the people But sir
we are told that we have right postpone this cleo
iohat any attempt Of the kind will be Unprecedented
and unconstitutional. Convince me- sir. that this pro-
position 10 unconstitutional or nexpcdicnt il shall
longer receive my support Great and important occa
SONS require bold and decisive ncasures-and for one
shall always be ready 10 adopt them, when satisfied that
cy are necessary and proper and notnconsistcn with
the principles OF our political institutions. But the
measure now proposed is neither unusual nconsst
ent with the provisions OF the Constitution
Numerous examples are found in other States where
senatorial election has been postponed for various eau
ses; and an attempt made in this State some years
since an unsuccessful effort TO be sure but objections
We're urged against the measure the grounds of
sltutionalty OF eapediency. But the gentleman from
Northampton Ir Parkc) tells you that if we fail to
make am election, the vacancy cannot be supplied by
the Executive during the of this Legislature He
tells you, that the Senate of the United States has de-
cded that a vacancy which during the scs.
SION OF the Legislature, cannot afterwards be supplied
by the Governor Now, sir, what possible difficulty
can arise from that circumstance: Should this House
adjourn before the 4th of March, the vacancy can in
that case, be supplied by the Executive Should this
House adjourn after that period when the present term
expires, the vacancy cannot be- supplied But the
cessy OF supplying the vacancy Will depend altogether
on the probabilty-whch is very remotc-that a ses-
SION OF the Senate will he called during the recess of
Xohgress bu should call be made upon the Senate,
the Legislature can assemble here in few weeks and
supply the vacancy occasioncd by the expiration of the
present term Let me examine this subject in any point
OF view can be presented and objection to
the proposition for postponcmcnt of the elcction-I
go heartily for tho resolution.
Mr.. SHELL said, he disposed to protract this
W hp' Of
gentleman from Richmond, that the time had come for ac.
ton, and not words But, from the wide range which the
discussion oil this question had taken, and the numerous
illusions that had been made to gentlemen in whose
counties instructions had been attempted he being one
of those individuals could not well foear from MAKING
lew remarks IN regard to the proceedings in his own
county on that subject His peculiar attitude before the
house-every gentleman, he presumed, considered his
attitude peculiarmust be his excuse for referring 10 the
| affairs OF the county of Brunswick
AT the election in April last, said Mr.. S. the very
question in relation to which these instructions been
gotten up was fully examined in that county In all my
speeches, during the canvass--and made four in dill.
ieren parts OF the county, declared that should vote
| Tor Mr. Leigh as United States Senator More than
that, told my constituents, that if they wished me
to vote for another individual (lIr Rivcs0 | should
make them the worst representative they ever had that
conid not under any circumstances for that gen.
temannot from any personal hostility himbut from
my strong opposition to his political views and conduct
WIN THESE avowals, was elected. And when the ex
element of the past, when the storm had
blown over, fondly hoped that | might pursue the
even tenor of way and take my seat in this House
in peace and tranquility But these hopes were not OF
long duration Those persons who had bee most active
~ engaged in opposition to me during the election and
who had failed in accomplishing their purposes tbrou OH
the agency of the elective fanchiseagan BROUGHT the
subject before the people with the view of gaining by
an appeal to the right OF instruction, what they had fail
ed to obtain at the polls. So | remarked this
course OF proceeding peceving the delicate situation
IN which might be placed, and anxious that the
county should be truly represented, determined no,
to hold my seat against the will of the people,
proposed before large assemblage of my con.
suens, the means of ascerainno the nnbl;c
Gle
seats In order that another decision might be had upo
the question This proposition refused and nv op-
Ponents continued their operations When at last lii,
instruction papers presented me- few DAYS only
before left home for this place. being DESTROYS that fh
questions resulting from them should be impartiay and
correctly decided requested certain gentlemen OF both
parties, and of high responsibility examine the subject
ana TO inform me how many persons were entitled TO
Vote IN brunswick, and how many of the number had
instructed me. When these individuals mot to inyesti
gate the subject the gentlemen of the Administration
party dad norsttend, finding it convenient To do So
The result of the examination was-that of those who
voted at the Spring elections there was majority of
~ against the instructions; Of The rcsidcnrvo
Jorty of 3D. and of all who entitled to VOC M tbc
county majority of l22. OF the whole number who
refused to instruct, myself said Mr. S. know but four
who are IN favor OF the object of the instruction party
and two of them are members of this Legislature saw
this morning said Mr. 81 i'll the very of the stronq
conclusive facts heretofore submitted the public and
not denied, an attempt to prove, by array of figures
that have been instructed 1t is the first time with
IN my experience, that figures have been used in opposi
ton to facts had the pleasure of KNOWING n ron
arithmetic IN the spring, he failed come TO the
conclusion that four five cribs would be necessary
to contain the extraordinary crop of corn which, on
ry view OF &c subject Inc must inevitably make And
nc would sometimes even far commence skim
king the poles or you know Mr. Speaker that we build
our CRIBS with PoiesD to prepare for the uncommony
large crop forctod by his unerrng calculations But on
looking into his cribs i'll August could never perceive
any appearances of lie made the LARGEST crops
Imaginable paper but unfortunately the truth of his
calculations could never be sustained by examination
OF his cribs And will these gentlemen be doomed 10
disappointment who rely figures in opposition TO in.
dlsputable and recorded facts
The gentleman from Mecklenburg who seems to be
deeply interested in other besides his own and
DESTROYS of mparting the ardor of his own bosom in "a
vor OF the right Of instruction to the dsobedien mem
bcrs of the House has referred history 10 slew when
the exercise Of this right first commenced i'm Viroinia
~" tolls us; had It's origin the great central county
IN Aineiare, IN the year l775, under the parental car
OF MT. JEFFERSON For my part, said MIR s. consi.
uetlhg IL nseparably connected with republican gov.
crnen had thought that il always existed i'm Virg5ni.
AS the gentleman however has traced il to it's source
snail be pleased, If he will tell me- whether this 0bt
as Taught ny Mr. Jefferson, in the great central conf,
OF AlDcmarlc, was right which BELONGED TO the tnao
w OF the minority! Or will The gentleman be pleased
todnorI me- whether in his historical researches he has
discovered from the commencement of this government
single instance where individual elected on Ger
tam principle, instructed to reverse his declared
opinions
Some gentleman has remarked in the course of this
debate that whatsoever obtains the of those VIII,
have signed the instruction papers in the counties from
winch they have cmanatcd will surely be elected Jbot
may be very true, Mr. Speaker provided those who have
refused to sign those papers should ubscnt Themselves
from the polls But, far the county of Brunsick
IS concerned give me the votes of the latter class of vo