Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-03
Mink CEd e, 1875.


from formal denial less secure he thought from
virtual and practical one and he had therefore, resist
cd and sought to expose the plausible differences and
ccptons by which such result might be produced
mr.. SHELL said, the gentleman from Rockbridgc has
made allnson, in the of the explanatory obscrva
tons winch have just fallen from him. remarks
of mine, submitted On yesterday which. he intmates
rather tended to rdicule subject of nstruc
tons The gentleman totally msapprchcnded the bearing
and object OF my remarks | said not word fairly
susceptible OF such construction either in relation the
right ITSELF or as 10 the mode which has been rcsored
Tor It's exercise 1t is that the ucton party
IN my county have been active and enthusiastic, and
have resorted TO extraordinary cxcron carry qucs
ton which they deemed of vital Importance but it is
not because OF the mode To which resort has been had
but ON account of the signal failure which has attended
e efforts oil that party, that felt authorized to record
my vote in accordance with my declared opinions
VIII tell the gentleman from Rockbridge, that
addressed a letter weeks ago to a Committee
OF the Administration party in Brunswick Complaints
had been made through the papers, that had returned
no answer 10 their letter OF instruction II my friend
will call and pay visit, will show him copy. The
language not half beautiful that with which the
gentleman favored us tins morning, when he undertook
at very great length TO discuss the general subject of
Instructions. There not single position assumed
by hn in which do not fully and entirely agree He
did not utter word which not my appreciation In
the letter. however, TO which have already referred
think have expressed in three lines the substance of
ms elaborate and eloquent speech the subject of the
right of Instructions for there say, ''Fhs right in
struct is which belongs the people. Ii is TO be
exercised by the constituent body under such circum-
stances as to 1t may wise and eXpedent The
miitee have not done the honor to publish views
thus succincty cxpresseda neglect arising dare say
from no motive of disrcspect-morc probably from the
circumstance that, being satisfied with my exposition
they deemed 1t unnecessary trouble the public farther
on the subject will repeat what said on yesterday:
he right TO instruct belongs TO majority and not TO
minority as some seem to suppose. The mode al
ways depend upon the wisdom and taste of the communi-
ty which proposes to exercise IT,
Mr. WILSON of b., said. hc wished to reply TO some
remarks of the gentleman from Kanawha on the subject
OF Observation-Disclosures the evident impaticnce of the
House induced him to refrain.
of s hc s,on ,,;. h;s,
and in accordance with the wishes of his people Mr.
Leigh, said Nh j., think much of 1t is true he has
made some unfortunate remarks in of his speech
es-but think more has been made of them than they
deserve. We have heard great deal too much about
them Tor such men as Mr. Leigh, or Mr.. Van Buren,
may IN speech, drop ont something which had better
not be said, without destroying their characters or
dcrng them dcservedly odious Such things often han
pen. believe Mr. Leigh is Il man of DISTINGUISHED ab
ty, OF good moral department. talented and chvalrous
lie has studied Dcmosthencs and Horace we'll and
every other work which could make him learned
man 1t is said he is against the West. Well, Sir
| can forgive him for tat--if he is in error He
says, too, that the laborng class give opinions
on political subjects. All SIR but he is mistaken be-
cause he never associated with that class that the
cret admit that nc is great man But, although he
possesses great literary atainmcnts vote for
hiln--and why can'tf? Because we differ i'm politics
MIR Speaker. And though love him, and would not
pepriyed of my good feeling towards him for -.
Is of Golconda; yet, can't vote Tor +ruanz1z1lI
~ politics anknnv On from old Shenandoah
- tenth legion of Democracy and my people have al
ways held their political principles undeiiled They
doctrine ia
the correct one that the laboring people the bone
and muscle of the nation. Mr. Leigh thinks different
~ But were TO receive from my constituents little
Letter of instructions vote for Mr. Leigh should
not hesitate to obey it, / do not know of any Gen.
tlean here who denies the right of Instructions or re-
fuses to obey them have moi heard them say But
they object to their validity and that the
why thought II was best to let them have opportu-
ny OF going back TO the people to ascertain whether the
instructions were genuine. shall vote for Mr. Rives
He seems to be lghminded, honorable man, and a
true repubcan-and the people Of Shenandoah prefer
him.
Mr. BALL had not intended TO sny one word in This do
bate, and he should not have altered his design but for
tie remarks of the gentleman who had Just sat down
That gentleman and myself said Mr. B. draw our blood
nc Is much more deeply imbued with Van Burenism than
had imaened-and tell him now, that the devotion
he has shewn that savish party renders me- if posi-
bic, more thoroughly hostile TO it.
MIR. BROOKE said, in substanco-Mr. Speaker | wish
to say but one wordas very humble and at all times
as lar as my duty will permit, silent member of this
! liouse, claim ITS indulgence for few moments.
am one OF those individuals $50 often advertcd to in
this dcbae) who have opposed this mode of inslruc
ton recently introduced into the mode as il
mas Dcel very appropriately denomlnated of lush in
strucuons am free to declare, that have whenever
the occasion presented, openly and unhestatinrly
expressed my Indignation the introduction of system
so liable to become fertile of corruption and
misrepresentation among the people, dangerous as
believe, to the purity and integrity Of Institutions
AS citizen OF this Commonwealth bound by the most
sacred ties TO exert the humble faculties may nos
sess TO the utmost, to defend it against every innoya
ton whose tendencies are, and must be- the nature
oil things, inimical 10 the free deliberate and vrtu
Gus cxcfton of popular action, shall ever feel thi,
Indignation, and openly express my Interpretation
oil tins system As member OF this House whose para
mount duty it is to guard the morals and the liberties
OF tins people, will resist itso console ntiouslv
do believe, that nothing has occurred in the history OF
tins county since the formation Of its present Govern
ment, SO dangerous to those morals and liberties and
which viii ultimately prove, if persisted in dcsiruc
i've OF tile free Institutions of the country hone sir
am sure that the people will tun their faces against it
nave made these remarks, lecausc desire that there
may be no misunderstanding of what my sentiments arc
upon this subject. shall never hesitate express then
rom my place here, from the hustngs, or else where
freely and candidy. But, sir, while will ever continue
TO raise my feeble voice against this and dangerous
mode ofexcrng the popular viii amidst the bitter excite
mens OF party conflicts and the unavoidable deusons
resisting the implication (Which been obviously aimed
at this dcbaie) that therefore and those who concur
win me IN these sentiments opposed the Of IN
siructoa Permit me SAY, that whenever my judgment Il
satisfied as 70 the wishes of my constituents by what
ever channel they may reach me- there will be no on,
more ready and willing than +, to give them their full
/ and undimnishcd weight here. The people, in thci
deliberate wisdom and unimpcachable osercipny have
declared, time after time Chat the right Of instruction
sacred and lies at The foundation ofall Republican Go
veinnents ], sir, abide by that decision with pleasure
VIII mover do auglt TO impair that right II il because
wish TO prcscye II pure and nyolac, that object TO
system calculated above every other measure 20 bring
| into disreputc and contempt
Whilst upon this subject beg leave to say that an
not responsible 20 any individual Of this House or 10 thi
body for the vote may give here Representing in part
portion Of The people Of this Commonwealth they an,
public conduct Those who undertake to interfere be
tween the delegate and Tits constituents and by threats
TO bias control the judgment Of the former attempt
~ eject, To violate the most sacred political rgl