Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-03

thought however, that, although il was novel propo
suon and apparently uncalledor by the circumstances
OF this case, 1t was impossible that there should be
one member the floor who unpreparcd to dispose
of Il promptly. ] call the members of the House
sa'u r - 10 90 heir DUTY to themselves and to the
good people of this COMMONWEALTH call on them for
action Let US waste no time in debate--lct us
act, and tlnt speedily.
Mr.. MopRu,S rose and said: Mr. Speaker. the pream
bic 70 III" resolution just offered by the gentleman from
Buckingham correctly points out the existing state of
affairs IN this Houir and in The Commonwealth, aud
contains summary OF reasons, which, i'm my opinion
should induce Us To postpone the Senatorial election
But, sr. beg The indulgence of The House while add
few words in further explanation of my motives for de-
siring the adoption Of this resolution.
know, Mr.. Speaker, that movement, like this in the
existing state of politics here likely be viewed rs
party effort but motive, Sir that others may think
proper to ascrbe to me- TO the party with which ac.
shall deter me from that which my own sense of
duty may Indicate Sir, should feel my self unworthy
disregard any inputaton of this kind when in the pur.
suit OF great duty, which to my immediate con-
s,i;uents, and TO my country.
Sir, have calmly and dispassionatcy reflected upon
the existing state of parties in this Legislature and il,
the Common wealth, and upon the influence likely to be
exered upon each of these parties by going into the
Senatorial election under existing circ9mst5nces and
not the shadow of doubt remains upon my mind and
frankly express it, that the party with which act has
lar more to gain than 10 lose ufimafety party by
gong into the election now, If that would be the means
OF inducing disobedcnce to instructions by the cen
uemen upon this floor, who believed to be instruct
eu, lot, mc temporary triumph which would thus be
gained our opponents, would believe, be their ulti-
mate undoing But, sir however eager l. or the Marty
with which am associated may be for poca victory.
however desirable might be for that party to acquire
an asccndancy in public opinion, or in the public coun-
CHS 1t could not desire, sure 10 acquire such as
cendancy by the sacrifice of n great and fundamental
principle of government
MI. Speaker, ii know myself my support of this re-
solution Is the offspring of far exalted and patriotic
feelings, than those that usually iningc the bitter tur
mol OF party strife. Sir, support the resolution be-
cause its object is to vindcatc carefully shield grea,
political principle principle, sir which lies at the very
IRcDublican instif a.,
evil Mr. Speaker likely result from the violent s,r,g
gle for political ascendancy, which has pcrvaded this
commonwealth, for tn last twelve months and which is
now so manifest in this House is the systematic nttemus
that have been made here and elsewhere 10 weaken and
discredit the fundamental right of the people instruct
ucr public servants While, sir this right has been adj
united IN the abstract its operative force has to all avail
able purposcs been denied and its exercise in that par
tcuar manner, which the poop have preferred has becn
increasingly assailed by the potent and effective engine
oil rdcuc and every opprobrious epithet which the in
genuity OF the cynic the wit could devise Sir this
state oil things greatly to be depiored the untamcd
strife OF party may and will for time give it currency
and efect but the action rcaction if you please Of
PUBIC OPINION wiii we have every reason to hope ul-
tnaely Tebukc and set it right
Sir, dscaTdng all special pleading as TO the oJc IF
getting up Instructions should be greatly gratifed TO
gentlemen forward this ,lay and ri We ms
teal illustration of their spirit and conform their m
tons to their very correct theory of the value of the
right OF instruction, by refusing 90 into the Senatorial
election, under circumstances involving so much doubt
and uncertainty as to the public will Mr. Sneaker
SAID Mr. NJ, the time will come, may God prant that we
soon sha see IT. when party turmoil shall have so far
passed away as to permit to take calm and dispas
sionate review of the with which we arc now
surrounded, when history shall mark them upon her
page, and they shall be left TO exert their unbos -;
huencc upon the judgments of men. few years al
most, sir, and the especial objects at which parties
are now driving with much zeal and excite
neht, VIII nave ceased TO command that absorbing
interest and attention which they now command
IA time, trust, sir, when we may pause and
carefully survey tie ground which we have ira
reied How consolng, sir, it, in such review we shall
ind nothing with which TO rcproach ourselves, How
gratifying To us, as men and patriots if in the forny of
G present excitement the great principles which
fathers ccrished and which all of profess to revere
shall remain unframed. uncontaminacdi
Sir tho doctrine of the supremacy of the pcoDle of
their right to be consulted and obcycd i'm all matters of
legislation, IS the good old republican doctrine by which
our political fathers stood; it is the rood old yrnio doc
trne, sir, to which her sons have ever clcavcd and
winch has constituted distinctive feature in what il
emphatcaily termed Southern Politics 1t is doctrine
sir, that necessarily results from the very nature ~
our institutions and CONVEYS an OBLIGATION tnt ncve
has, that never ought, and trust never will be snrren
dered by the people II is sacred political free
dom sacred Sir, said Mr. NJ this doctrine has ever
held the representative bound obey the will of those
ne represents no matter hoo or in tchat know
ledge OF that will may be ascertaincd Mr. NJ submit
yea 10 gentlemen to say, If the practical operation of
is uocu.ne VIII not be endangered if 90 into the
Senatorial election now and if So whether il should be-
Jcopardzed by the peculiar attitude and excitement of
parties which created that danger Whether II s NO,
doctrine too valuabetoo vital 10 the preservation oc
our great political system be weakened bv that dis
trust OF It's soundness which the present attitude of af
|9S' upon H. TOT one, SIR. humble Gs am,
SAD Nr NJ, will contribute any thing and every thing
within my power to preserve it unvioated unharmed
10 preserve ITS orthodoxy, as Cesar would have his wife
unsupported. '
do not, MIR. Speaker, said Mr. NJ, positively assert
what cannot positively know, that the great principle
Oh hstrucuon w be sacrificed by any gentleman if we
now proceed To the Senatorial election but this sir
DO uncsitatingy asserthat the practical force of the
operation of that principle viii be seriously called into
question; by which, alone, it would be weakened Sir
thS cannot be avoided under the circumstances in which
are placed $3.50
SIT, SAID Mr. Moorman, if the result of casting doubt
OF IN any manner invaidating the right of instruction
woud as soon pass away the interest taken i'm the
individuals TO be put IN nomination, it would be mat
ter, comparatively, o! nuJi less consequence
paratlvely say, SIR for, under any circumstances
should regard 1T serious evil for tn known will
OF the people to be disrcgarded. But SIR doea moi
cefy gentleman see. that the influence of Tho co,,rsc
mat may be pursued here, ii we 90 into .IIis clee
uOn, is not 10 be temporary only? is il not obvious
that the example here, if unfortunately it should go
70 rePudiate instructions, will be held up as prcce-
dent hereafter aud plead in Justification of greater aud
greater encroaclinents upon this invaluable rpbt Sir
the violence OF political excitement and elsewhere
and the efforts OF each party sustain itself apains the
other upon this moocd question of instruction will ,
nave every reason to believe gradually or more rapdlv
incorporate settled method of regarding instructons
INTO The political tenets of the day as he W. s as IL will
be fatal TO our republican character
Dir; 1T not my province determine for the instruct
ed gentlemen upon this floor what influence their instrc
tios shall nave upon him; that question immediately
Dctwcen tbOse gentlemen and their constituents and
there leave IT. But while ! would carefully abstain
from any interference between those gentlemen and their
constituents cannot be unmindfu that the cpct of The
course these gentlemen my think proper TO pursue here
reach and affect my constituents in common with their
own; ana hence, SIR my great socitudc upon this sub
lcet mrst be excused; and hence sir I cannot aid i'm
Ilinghs on his important election under circumstances
Ia ~ nov A.