Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-10
Virginia LegisHaturc.
IN SENATE,


Substance Of Mr.. FoNrAINEs Remarks in the Seatc ia
reply 10 Mr.. .McCoD,aS.
| am aware that it is unwise in n young man. and n
young member of any deberative body to occupy much
of its time in debate and in discharsing what feel TO be
duty, sense of which, has been trust il
ever will be with me- paramount to all other consdera-
tons shall not follow the example of some gentlemen
IN making speech on matters and things in general
nor that of my friend from CuIpeper by DELIVERING in
my political creed q performed that duty before INV
constituents on the Hastings during the pendency of the
elections last SPRING. but will briefly advert of
the remarks of the gentleman from Wythe and offer my
reasons for voting against the amendment of the House
shall not undertake to expose the anti Republican
sentiments advanced this floor, (other gentlemen
having rendered That unnecessary virtual denying
conceive, that fundamental principle of representa-
tive government the right of the people 10 instruct
their Representative by obectng to the mode they have
chosen for communicating their wishes and debating
another, which can never be practised with aay hope
success The gentleman from Wytle and many others
IN attacking the form of instructions, now
tice, for the purpose of weakening OBLIGATION ON
inc present occasion the agents engaged in of
erhg Of instruction for signatures, with the
ossest frauds; he says they have made of means
"dtShonOrdbe and diSgydcefM" Mr.. Speaker it is q
source Disqualification to me, that have not friend to-
wards whom these charges may be applied. The dis
rict have the honor To represent has occasion
sort to instructions; and, indeed, / do not know
personally single gentleman, who has been engaged
in offering the letters of instruction be signed by the
people. do not therefore feel called doeRd them
from these harsh charges cannot suppose they are pe
erred for the purpose of affecting the characters of gentle
men, but for the purpose Of counteractng the object
they have in view. Now, Mr.. Speaker, at the same
statement the gentleman will make on his authori-
ty hope and believe hc is misaken-that he is isin
formed In the first place. it reasonable sup
pose th1t these muchabused papers, which likely to
embarrass gentlemen much put into the hands
of the most intelligent influential and respectable citi-
zens, who belonged 10 their party. who i'm charity we
might think would he incapable of practising such gross
frauds their neighbors especially when remember
that these vigant guardians IF be Constitution and pro-
teetoTs Of the liberties Of The people, near at
hand to detect and expose them What has become
OF their ,eo"aert4I'y patriotic zeal, which 50
prominently displayed for enghtenng the minds
of the people during the last Spring elections? Were
they satisfied with the petty temporary friu1nph of
cectfng smut nnqjoryin the other branch of The LogS-
iGt"Te that they should remain perfectly Inactive whilst
the fruits Of their victories about to be wrestcd from
them' Sir, it is altogether improbable Why did not
these friends Of Mr.. Leigh hold up the truth before
them, and expose the ylany Of these base impostar.
as gentlemen would have believe they ares But saw
gentlemen twas all done secretly, corners" behind
hedges &c. &c. Now, Dir. speaker il is little re-
maIkGbie, s strange unaccountably strange that if
this was all secret, how gentlemen repeat with
accuracy, arguments misreprescntaons-yea positive
Iaschoods winch they say were resoTcd TO to deceive the
people; and what is still strange that those poor
deuded, cheated people, when undcceived fthey dscos
cd these secrets, have not Indignantly demanded that
their names should be erased from these papers this
may serve to man-up gentlemen the present occasion
disobcy the instructions of their constituents. bf twill
not appease offended insuled people The genenan
from Wyhe says that nc is at all times ready and willing
to represent tie md understanding Of his cons
tuents, ba nothter passions ami pruccs t0t Senator's
1ccyo byo Constitution intended TO be remorcd bcyond e
Influence Of SUddcn obuiitiOns Of pOpuiar fc6a0 that
tIey should resist and oppose the angry Of
ced popular movements that iagtrcOns like the pre-
sent direcied 10 Senator's conflict nh Mo sDir II not
the letter Of the CostifUiOni Sir this strange doc
trnc indeed that he Senate desqned 10 inieBose be-
fccen The soUeroig VeOpio and ho crccuo1 of eir otn
a0Wi IL known any thing Of the Constitution of nv
native Ssac-any thing Of the design for which the
Senate was createdit not for the purpose Of in
tercrng with the people in the expression Of any wishes
or feelings however sudden Or opinions yer SO hastily
formed may be permanently but Mr. Speaker calm the
pillows Of excited feeling that arise ia the other
branch Of The LegisatuTeto the evils ofhas
", preclpatc egslaon--to do exactly what hone we
shall do on this occasionland here must tender 10 the
gentleman from Wythe, my thanks for having fur
nishcd me with this argument Let ms for a mo
ment examine The history Of this resolution: The
House Of Delegates passed resolution. fixing this
day Friday the l2h) for clecting Senator whose
term OF service will not commence Gil the 4th day Of
March next II came before this body aud was fully and
deliberately discussed, and think may safely say that
was the unanimous opinion Of the senate that the pro-
posed action Of the House Of Delegates was premature
and prcepitaie-that the opinion think Of every
gentleman on this floor whether friendly or unrendy to
Mr.. Leigh q am other opinion was ayowedl--
and The 10th cay Of January the earliest day pro-
posed by any member q this body After tedious dis
custom the Senate amended The resolution Of the Ilouee
hxing the 18th February and now without any addition
81 facts being addUccd, without one sinOle additional
ray Of light being thrown the subject (for If I NAV
be allowed to say IT, all present and heard he
discussion in the other House and listened patiently and
attcntiyey0 say, sir, called 70 consent 10 20