Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-24

House OF Delegates concerned because they raut
pass through the hands of the people in Apr-but to
ties. the consistency Of gentlemen this floor would
respectfully but emphaacally ask, whether those who
think the election OF Senator ought be postponed
the purpose indicated, ,c pledge honScrcS cdrryou
that purpose by reSigRg their seats, and aordiRg TO the
people, ~ prd merit, opportunity Of re-ecetiag
jeeting them as mey may De found truly falsely 10
fleet The icW Of their constituencies Sir, should like
have categorical answer to this question. But think
can anticipate it, While there who are will
ing to give the pledge, am confident there others
who will shrink from the standard of their erection.
They will tell you they will be governed by the politics
of the majority of the Delegates elected iom their dis
tricts next spring.
To show you, Mr. Speaker, how utterly unavailing
and nugatory is this test OF public opinion beg leave
read to the Senate tabular statement made in haste
but which, believe, is strictly correct From the Sc
material District of Northumberland there elected
In April last, Opposition, and Administration Dele
gates-trom the District of Buckingham, the same
from Berkeley District, the samefrom Fauquicr. . OPP
position and Administration--ffom Caroline = Oppo
sition and Adninistration-from Tyler, Opposition
and Admnistraon-and from the Pttsylvania Dis
trict, Opposition, and Administration Dele
gae-naking together in these Districts t,ccnty
OPpoSton and nine administration Delegates; aud yet
every one OF these Senators will vote for the Admins
tration candidate
trust, sir, shall not be understood as charging
upon the Senator's TO whose Districts have taken the
liberty to aude that they incorporating their
stnents l know too little of the circumstances at
tending their Spring elections, to enable to form,
much less to warrant me in expressing opinion
so delicate question. | bound by my respect
for the gentlemen, individually, to presume that they
speak, or at least Jocre they sneak the sentiments Of
those who sent them here But may, without offence
be permitted to remark, in passing upon the very sin
gular fact that of the party that is raising such
mendous cutlery about vioated instructions and eds
regard OF the popular will seven members this floor,
which, in April last elected 20 Opposition, and Adj
minstrnton Delegates, should sustain the Jackson
candidate-whie three Senators opposed TO the Adj
mlns,raton, 1.-TWO of them from Districts the majority of
whose delegation in favor of the Administrations and
whose delegation cguaLy dred hare yiclded their
oil
'eH rotc against Mr.. Leighcaving single Senator
only voting for him whose deegaiion--te majority,
meanwill vote otherwise! Sir these are facts that can
not DC dened and commend them the calm consdera-
ton OF the good people of this Commonwealth.
Mt Speaker have referred h. the political sentiments
OF the delegation from these dstrics-Iiot as
have before dscaimed for the purpose of arragnng the
worthy Senators who represent them either here else
where, but to show to the world the dSregdrd IN
'ottch this test Of public opinion IS he'd by those oho are
';rging MS To appeal TO a.!
! Now, sir, should like to know why and how it is
that the election of Delegates in the Spring of 1885
to afford sSfer and uncrrng criterion of public
opinion ON the Senatorial election than did that of "a
None will deny that this question directly before the
people last Springnone will deny that the partzans of
the Administration have excrted their energies TO
accomplish the removal of Mr.. Leigh, from the day
he first took his seat in the SenateROnc will deny that
from that day TO this, they have assaed hin every
point in which they hoped he might be vulnerable and
heaped upon him the most unmcasured abuse Sir this
question made by the appeal taken the people at
the polls by MIR. Leghs predecessor the rcyY point on
which the elections in April turned and therefore
1
But shall be told sir, that the people acted under
the influence of panc'-that they deluded and
deceived and that they will recover their senses by
AprH heNt-that at the last spring elections they could
nothing listen 10 nothing but the awful predictions
OF ruin and desolaon that follow upon the re-
moval OF the Deposes Sir those who insist that the
people, at the polls acted under the influence of this
feeling alone, greatly underrate their good sense and
intelligence. There were among them those who
thought they in the OF the Federal Execn-
1--we, principles involved infinitely important than
any calculation OF pecuniary loss or ganprincples,
which some believe fcarred out iii practice would sap
the foundation of the Government under which we live
But Mr. Speaker, surprising these rood frieads the
people, who contend that they could hear nothing last
spring but the cry of 'panic h0ring their earS her
stetscdiLy Seafed TO The cia0r Of Bunk no Bunk
right IN their conjecture, would ask what assurance
nave we should we agree to postpone this election that
the same party will not tell winter that the peo
pie have again been deceived by the RenaaciakOs of
the corruption and roteaosS of the Post Office Depart
ment?
Sir 'oten will the Administration party admit that the
people Of Tr0,Rd k1Otc their opinions and icSheS
or that the Representatives truly reflect their will
shrewdy suspect necer until those Representatives Join
| in hoznnnas TO the ''Greatest and Best"
| MIR. Speaker, have endeavored shcw, Ist That
we nave no right to postpone the cccon2d. That if
we had the right tie consequences that flow from
It's exercise would be mischevous-and 3dy. That the
means proposed would not attain the contemplated end
II have succeeded iii establishing either of these posi-
tons, have furnished sufficient vindcuon of myself
from the charge of unwngness back the peo
pie upon all fit occasions
One remark more, sir, and have done.-Tlat | am
not Influenced in my opposition to the resolution your
table, by any calculation the effect it might have in
securing defeating the election of the individual of nv
choice, IS T0ccR by the fact that denounced this
ponemcnt in as decided terms the commencement of
the session. 1ee the opposite purity pOSreig
tnS tha they carried, acOud carry sufficient num-
Ter Of the counties gice them 1aaOriky as do now
and by the further fact that voted to g We them all rea
sonable time for making the experimental hone sir
the resolution will be rejected.