Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-08

INC State legislatures to instruct their Senators tic
Congress 81 me United States.
Preamble and Resolutions asserting the Right Of the
State Legislatures 10 instruct their Senators in the
Congress Of the United States, and Disappearing the
conduct of the Senators from this State in Congress,
IN relation TO the Instructions given them the las
session, on The subject OF tie Bank of the United
States.
[Agrecd TO by both Houses Feb 20, 1921
The General Assembly of Virginia having, the last
session, after mature dcbeation on the subject and
der solemn conviction that the institution OF the Bank of
the United States unconstitutional instructed the
Senators of this State in Congress- oppose the renewal
of the charter of that Bank, il has SEEN with
gled and dspleasure the authority of its
on denied Ivy one Senator and disobeyed by the other
No man. however exalted by station character could
assembly, resentment unworthy It's own dignity, and
III manner honorable its object IL will descend
to inhct personal injury ornsult ans individual il is
withheld at once by its Justice, its benigny and It's pride
from INDUCING in ITSELF exciting in others, the spirit
of persecution and revenge least OF all be
void of sclrespect as to enter into an with
its servants. But under prcsent circumstances
when right OF vital Importance, the prostration of
which might ultimately affect the existence of the State
Governments tie balance Of the Constitution and the
integrity OF the Union is openly questioned and denied
II this assembly to pass the subject silence,
1T might perhaps properly be inferred, that it rceaed
from its claim of right in humble submission, aban
donrd IL idle yielded ii unjust preension
Whether the Gene raj Assembly has been guilty of an
act OF nsnrpaton or It's Senators of cupable dsobedi
ence, let the world Judge THIS Assembly will
disdain 10 give the reasons of it's conduct
There can be doubt, that the scheme Of n repre-
sentative republic was derived forcfahers from
Constitution o. the En- glsh House Of Commons and that
that branch of the English Government, whatever ii he
now in practice was, in lis origin and in theory always
has been, purely republican. 1t is certain, that the
statesmen America in assuming that as the model of
institutions, designed adopt it here in its purcst
FORM and with its s,ricest republican and princi-
pies 1t becomes, therefore, an inquiry of yet greater
utility than curiosity TO ascertain the sound of
the Constitution of the English House of Commons i'm
regard to this right of the constituent instruct the re-
preventative For the position may safely be assumed
that The wise and virtnous men, who framed Const
tuons, thoroughly verScd, they undoubtedly were in
the English doctrines OF representation designed that in
the United States the constituent should have atleast as
much If not great deal more, influence the repre-
sentative, than was known to have existed time
rnoria in England. Let then, nerrogate the his
tory of the British nation. Let consult the opinions
OF their wise
Instances abound in parliamentary history of formal
instructions from the constituent to the Representatives
ofwhch though doubtess stricer search would disclose
many more, the following may suffice. In 1910, the
mons, that they tai IN charge from their constituents
seven articles of grievances, which they accordingly
laid before the House, received aud acted on
In the SD year of Charles H., the citizens of London
instructed the members 10 insist the bill for ex-
Guiding the Ddke of York afterwards King James I'D
from the succession to the thrones and their represen
ative said 'that hi duty to his electors, Obligated
him to for the bill" AT subsequent election in
1851 in many places formal instructions given
the members returned TO insist the exclusion
bill We know from history how uniformly and faith
fully those were 0eycd Insrcions re su
exian the subject of the relations between England
and France in 7OI. The peace Of Utrecht rave coca
sion in I74 TO humorous from various pars
OF England; those Of London particularly in the
most authoritative tone. In l74i, the citizens of Lon
don instructed their members against standing
armies, excise laws, the sepennal b and long train
OF ev measures already iet or anticipated; and ex
pressly affirm their right of instruction. 1--WE think it
(say they) Duty it is mndouLd right 10 ac
quaint you with VIVA. desire and expect from sou IN
discharge Of he gred trust TepOSe yOu and what
we take to be your duty representative, &c. In
the year. instructions of similar character were
sent from all parts OF England In l742 the cities of
London, Bristol Edinburgh, York, and many others in
structed their members Parliament to seek redress
cd
and deserted the cause Of the people; and in 1862 the
city of London instructed its members TO guard with
waicliu diligence the trial by jury the hGbeas corpus
act, and various other points. 1t will be remarked
that some of the instances above quoted, relate points
oil constitutional law, and some OF those Of policy aud
that most of them occurred about since the revolution
OF 1855 at which time, and by which event. the English
politicians tell their constitution settled the
rights OF the People asceraned and the of every
branch Of their Government Limited and defined
Instances also record OF the deliberate formal
Acknowledgements of the right of instruction by the
House of Commons itself especially in old times Thus
The Commons hestaled 20 grant supplies King Henry
III. till Mcy hGd the consent If their constituents and de-.
sired that Parliament might be summoned which
might Ge prepared oiM authority from their constituents
Passing by other ancient prccedcnts one more instance
shall be added, occurring in modern times ia tie purest
era of the English Constitutions (he reign of William
llir) Of an acknowledgment by the English Commons
I'm substance at least # not ii. terns) Of their absolute
Dependence their constituents IL will be found i'm the
proposed rcmonsiTancc OF the Commons on the occa-
sion 0f the King refusing his The bill Tor free
ana impartial proceedings IN Parliament. Moreover,
! we Informed by authentic history that f,rnctl "
" when the Commons gave theiT answer touching the
subsidy demanded for the they desired leave 10 re-
turn into the country, 20 confer lOiM their neiRhb0rs
and again that the Commons often refused 10 agree "a
propositions from te Court, for this ycnson only fhat
they cond not M Meg tcent hume and consud te tier
! cC5fSfiinepGs.'
"hStrnchoRs (says a member Of the House of Com
mons ought To bc toioteed impjciy after the member
has respectfully gwen his constituents his opinion Of
them. Fur bc n f5OH 10 OpgOSe mn judment 10 5000
/ ~ Wyte0tc eatsfHS 'Ilc practice (slys unoher) Of
consulting constituents, was goDd--I wish II, YVES
continued u Gun dtsch0feo oar dgty teffer MaR in
tyHoc,ig Tia diT1cfiOt tiOso rhO huher mat
e PeOyic chOOse - rtkf becaHsC then ctOOsc it," IL were
an cntless aJour 10 collect catalogue Of lnsirous
statesmen the wiscst and bcst England ever saw who
have from line to time publicly subscribed 10 these OBJ.
niuns hui n mVosshie not 10 single out tie name
OF Russell who is particularly recorded To have aeecded
/ TO the sentiment last quoted.
Without tcitrring to the minor political authors with.
ont number, they without fame who have main.
tanned these positions Quoted from of them
the people have right 10 INSTRUCT their Representatives
that ought 50 be chOse that will receive in
strucOns dat the people Understand enough Of the in
forests oi the country % gw general Instructions
It tho custom formerly instruct all the members
and tie nature 81 ibr drpuaiou shows that the cnston,
great constitutional awye Coke though he nonrshtd IN
The days of Queen EizsOcth (~h0se Attorney General
be was when prrroEatye was stretched 10 lis ucrinost
bounds aud Sydacy tne uariyr OF freedom and Bepnb.
caDisu, concur On this head Coke says, ~" the eUs.
f0m 81 PgrtAgmcRt, wdcn any device is moved Tor on
the Kings behalf " his aid and the Ike that the Com.
may answer, keY daro not 0gree 10 irifopf roy
mits that Gle sltucnts cannot call the Rpprcsenta.
tyes TO account Otherwise than by fe-eiectno them
f they disapproee their couduct) maintains fa r,cr
bcrs derive ttir ppwcr from those that choose them