Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-06-26
MR.. LEIGH.

with the question of Instructions or no Instructions since
positively decided against him by the election ola trium.
plant majority of friends TO the Administration would
still appear, that lac is resolved to cling TO the Office. in
which he has been thus virtually superseded, by the Poo
pie themselves to oppose AN Administration which is
muntaiied by the citizens of the State, and the inine.
date Representatives of their choice-and To- sacrifice
their wishes to those of the WHY party. Such seems
to be- the suggestion of the Richmond Whiy-and such
; now generally believed, to be the determination of the
Senator himself.
But mark the course, which the Whiy LAYS down for
hin. We shall take up this subject in a few days-but
IN tie mean time we beg leave to substitute the follow
ing structures from the last Baltimore Republican:
" A NEW Twisr.-The editor of the Richmond Wb;c
alleges, that it will be impossible for the friends of the
Administration in the Legislature of Virginia to give to
oi virginia which he will not willingly aud readily
obey-that opon the subject of the Bank he is as mncb
opposed TO 1T as any other individual; and as it regards
Internal improvements and the tariff he has always main.
tanned the doctrines of Virginia. Consequently il is al.
legged that he cannot be instructed out of his seat in the
Senate upon either of those subjects, and it is commended
that the majority of the Legislature will not dare TO give
him any instructions which can have the effect of induc.
ing nm to abandon his placc.-if Mr.. Leigh really en-
tertaIns the opinions which are attributed 10 hin by the
wing, he has chosen a singular way of showing il, by
Joining the men who are opposed TO the Virginia doe
trines upon all those subjects, i'm opposition to an ADM.
histraiion winch has done more for their support than any
preceding administrations; and the probability is. that the
pleasure which the editor of the Baltimore Patriot dis.
pays u the supposed prospect that MIR. Leigh will retain
ms seat IN the Senate results, from the fact. that the pro.
icssions and practices are Numerically opposed TO each
other; and that as actions speak louder than words he
will in case he remains in the Senate, be likely TO opnosc
inc virginia doctrines while he p~rofesses to approve of
them.
"1he Wing contends, however. that The u,;or;,v or
the Legislature may instruct Mr.. Leigh to vote for ex.
punging the resolutions from the Journal of the senate
IA winch The President was condemned contrary to the
Constitution andlaws, of having violated both; anu that
IN that case he will not obey the instructions. Bu, il 10
alleged, that he will not be bound to resign his scat. in
consequence OF 1t. On the contrary, it is contended
That the Legislature would have no ripht to rive such
Instructions, and consequently that MIR. Leigh would not
DC bound, according to the Virginia doctrines, either to
obey or rCSIpn. On tho ontrnr % o.I -.
he should resist, as it would be degrading to his cLarac.
ter; and be an impeachment of his frmness to Weld to
administrations, or to give up his seat on countofthem
The sum oitie matter therefore, is that the Legislature are
not to be the Judges respecting the nature of the instruc.
ions they have a right to give; but that Mr.. l.. and those
who agree with him in opinion, are to be the JUDGES of ali
such matters; and if the Legislature should rive such
instructions as suit the views of Mr.. Leigh and his friends.
he will obey them but if they should differ from him i,
opinion, and give instructions which may be disaoreeoble
TO INN, or contrary TO his understanding and inierpreta.
tion oil Virginia doctrines, he will, as a matter of duty,
disregard the instructions, and resist the dcsipn 10 induce
him to act IN accordance with the will and wishes of his
constituents. This, it must be confessed. is a very con.
venlent mode by which to avoid a difficulty, and to ena.
PIE d ma 10 retain ms station as n representative i'm op-
position TO the desire of his constituents; but W. very
Virginia"
Doubt No man can doubt the wishes of yiroin;,
She goes Tor the absolute, unqualified right of fnstruc.
ton' She VIII not permit it to be FILTERED away, by
any OF her servants. She will ask none of them hoIos she
may instruct-She will Judge for herself of her own
rght-wlthout stint or qualifcation.-If MIR l.. be in
'HeSN W JIG iI TtSCtHukHD the Resolution. IL ia said
he will obey it-aDd, unlike MIR. Rives, he will retain the
nitice-and yield his own convictions of the conduct Of
the rresIdcnt-But ifhe be instructed 10 expungc. whv |
he Will take some nice distraction between rescindi1g
and expunging-and hold on to his Office, while he re-.
;ases 20 obey his nstructions.-We shall see whether the
People of Virginia will consent TO these Distinctions or
not. But, let the Wing advise-let MIR. Lcigh ACT
We are satisfied, that the Legislature will maintain all
thelr rights, without equivocation, reserve, or diminu-
uon. lhey Will carry out the whole Right of Instruc-
ton. They will be ,rne TO their own princ7nl and H.,
VIII not suffer their agents TO prescribe to them the ex,.nt
OF their rights or their duties. MIR. Leigh willhave fore.
seen, IN me indignant structures which hare been passed
upon MI. Mlangum, what ccnsures he will provoke-what
denuncIations he will incur, by initiating his example,.
fosrscRipT.-Since writing the above, we have seen
the n. wing oil yesterday morning. Mr.. Leigh and its
friends, 1T seems, are no longer keeping dGyk. Tho
is dispensing. We confess the astonish.
ment we feel, at discovering that Mr.. Leigh is determin-
cd to hold on to his scat;-and to obey the Instructions
oil the Legislature, according as he thinks them consti.
tutional or not.
We cannot now hesitate TO believe. that the Whio has
been all along either one Of Mr.. Lcigh's Cabinet coun.
sellers, or one of his organs-that it has been prepariny
~ way TOT the course which circumstances might
the wishes of Virginia, and to retain the
seat INTO which he has been foisted by the men who abus-
en their power, and misrepresen'ed the State. Inside for
the Wing TO tell US, that he was "chosen bv the consti.
tuency designated in the Constitution" For tho Whio
Knows ana MI; Leigh knows, that this constituency
wished indecenuy to p%rccipitate the Election, before they
could receive the instructions of their onstiturnts-tho
they did violate their instructions-that the issue was
made at the Polls, whether they had or had not dis,beved
that his friends were cast in The issue-nn5 tIo, y,Es
present imlned a'e represent Itives of the People of Vir-
gina, would be the last TO elect MIR. Leigh to the station
which he now tenaciously holds.
Ics-he will hold %it-for, the Whip of YESTERDAY uses
the following unequiyocal, and no doubt authoritative
language
% MIR. Leigh will d~isappoint the gentlemen and tbeir
calculations. 1t IS now understood that he will not he
pulled or brow beaten out of the station to which h. was
called by the General Assembly of Virginia but will re-.
pair To II, prepared to sustain the principles, honor and
interest OF Virginia in all things, and TO execute the in.
OF those whom he acknowledges TO have the
IlvUL 10 govern his HOtp4 Intg 800 -. q
comes TO as as authentic fumOr, we believe will pive
pleasure to all Independent mon, and to MANY of the
friends OF Gen. Jackson, more anxious to maintain the
OF the Constitution, than to ACCOMPLISH The
intrigues of Martin Van Buren," ~
How far he is prepared TO 'execute the instruet;ons
oil those whom he acknowledges to have the right I,
govern hts votes '-(Wha does all this circumlocution
ineahf why not say the Legislature at once Twill
appear from the following remarks in the same article Of
ibe Wing
" Dentons resoiUtfo9T for rxpunging the Journal of the
VIII be secuted by any Virginia Legislature. wen
4 van Buren, one. As to instructions. we hazard littIe
N saying, That MIR. Leigh will promptly and flithfulIv
obey all given him; for we are persuaded a Virpinia L..
gislature Will give none that exceed The measure of their
power; or, in other words, that violate the Constitution;
ind any others, Mr.. Leigh and every man in VIRGINIA.
1t the duty OF the Senator to obey.
"fefhaPs the Patriot may have OWNED truly the shane
mat tue attempt against Mr.. Leigh is to assume: vet
u can hardly be so neither; for Richie and his coajiu.
tors know well, that MIR. Leigh would vote unhesitali1g.
y. being so instructed. to ''rescind aud make null and
Void the resolution OIL the Journals of the SENATE. con.
'u,lng the PRESIDENT for his assumption Of power
10 "rescInd would only be TO repeal. and mo. to ~.
pungc, mutilate, and destroy the Journal. anr dnr;ng
his whole life, MIR. Leigh has been the cl,amniou q ft,s
Right of Instruction"