Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-06
virgisaia legislature.

men 81 nc Senate, ring lie tnc for the election Of u.
5. Sskat0r.
Mr. MCoMAs said, that he addressed the Senate with
reluctance, ON the question pending before ii; that
ne always clt reluctance To address this body any
s'oect but tat this reluctance greatly increased
by the Enoyvege, that he minority and that it
was not necessary to do thing TO cheer that minority
Iecausc he knew they determined do their duty
ana tiat ne had no hope of changing single of the
majority He said he induced to tcspass for sim
ge moment on the patience of the Senate because he
knew tiat The object of the delay intended parcu-
larry icr has bcncft and that his constituents in ,iarcu-
lar were intended to be operated on he knew that certain
gentlemen now IN this city. wished time TO instruct the
people TO instruct him. IN what he shonld per-
TORN s representative duties You have been told said
Mr. Nj Conas, that The election of Senator should be
Delayed TO the latest possible period because the pco
pie are moving on the subject is this true? said he;
are the people moving? have the great body of the
people taken this subject into consideration since
the Spring Elections deny that the great BODY Of
the people since that time have moved or ere now
moving III this matter 1t is true, that some no
htcai asplrans have been trying to the people to
reverse their last spring decision il true that some
an buren agents have been endeavorin to cause the
people to worship the Idol which the kiag has set MP
cannot he denied, that Office -hunters-ien in yom
t people have heretofore refused to conde using
every means in their power destroy confidence Of
the people IN the only true friends which they ever had
OF ever can nave the supporters of the Law and of the
Constitution. These dcmagogues knowing the attach
nent OF the people to the President take advantage of
~ hey represent every person who cannot agree with
ihdrew Jackson IN all things, not only enemy
the Administration, but enemy TO the people TO
the laws, and 20 the Constitution Sir is il not evident
demagogues intend to office
man VINO has understanding sufficient land honesty
enough to that the Administration is not infbey
Ana Is 1T to sustain movements like these-is it 10 aid
men IN such an unholy crusade against the liberties
OF their country, that time is asked Every friend
OF Mr. Rives who has said any thing i'm favor of the
great delay which is contemplated in the election of
senator, and which has been sanctioned by vote of
TINS body has spoken much OF the right of instruction
the sacred right OF instruction One gentleman has told
you that is the only method by which the people can
exercise their sovereignty Why all this cry about the
light OF the people to instruct their Representatives p
Has any person denied it? No not Yet is the
burthen OF every gentleman song. Do they intend To
make the people believe that the opponents of Martin
Van Buren, are opposed 10 the right of Instruction. Il is
right winch have always nlaintuined-whch | ever
expect TO defend. Yet go tho length OF some gen
tlenien This right is bounded by the Constitution
The people have right instruct their
70 vi1,a!c te constitution Suppose my constituents
should instruct me TO vote for law chang a. the basis
OF representation. Though might desic it. | dare
not vote Tor 1t. Would not my duty and my oath
both forbid 1t: The constituent has no right to ask that
which the Representative has no power TO Do The Con-
stituhon Is a compact by which the people as well as
the government are bound.-The few observations
winch intend making, will be applicable this body
only By the Constitution, the members of the Senate
are elected Tor four ycars-and for what purpose The
OBJECT Oh The trainers OF the Constitution was, my
OPINION 10 place this body in situation 20 be carried
away by every popular impulse. The people them
selves were well aware that there times when
majority Of the whole community would he led asrlv NV
communicate itself the other branch Of the q sotre
me Senate was, therefore created check the sudden
disturb the harmony of every popular Government !:
or, in other words, it was intended that this body
sha represent tie reason and not the passions of the
community Will ask the gentleman from Botetoart
now he would act, his constituents in n mo-
mentary deluson, as he verify believed to instruct
nun to do that which would be source of regret 10
them, upon the return of sober reaction Suppose
member OF this body knew that his constituents had
Tor time, forgotten their ancient principles in their
devotion to single man; suppose that he had bebeId
Will regret that their imag;nations had been so azzcJ
oy hat halo OF glory which always surrounds the mill
ary that they had forgotten their own and their conn
Try Liberties; but he believed it was only momentary
deiuson-tllat it would pass away-that reason had al
ready commenced its slow, but certain operatonthat tn
give 1t time, little time and all would Lc riohtfbat IL
would place his constituents that proud emncncc
where alteration paid to principle and not TO men If
at The moment when hc anticipating this happy result
some aspiring oiice-secker, whose only hope of Office
was IN the magic oil popular name shoad get up in
strucons requiring him TO stop in lis Droocss
now should he act! viii ask the gentleman from 30.
etouft now he would act? do not wish be Inisun-
derstood upon this subject when the public mind is set
Yea ON any question: this well the other branch of
the Legislature, is bound to obey it,
Yet, do not think with the gentleman from Bunking
man, that the right of instruction. or instruction itself
Is the only mode the people have ofenforcng their sove
reign autiiorty by instruction they may make known
Their VIII butt is at the polls only, that they can en-
force obedience; and ii not for the power of the
people at the polls the right OF instruction would be of
e consequence IL Is there they select their a0cnts
IL Is there they award appreciation to the faithful and
DISMISS from their service such of their public scrvant
as ihey consider have been drecct in their duty Ii is
maintain their autority-thcre is other mode known
to the Constitution, by which they enforce their So
veriegnty Why is it, that every gentleman, on that
sde mas thought proper 20 discuss the right of nstruc
tons? Has this body any thing TO do with il? Must
not every member Judge for himself what is the viii
OF ms constituents: Must he not determine the
weight he viii give TO any communication he may re-
cciye from :lem' Who is it, that desires so long DELAY
-adelay beyond the period when should Ice AZ home
II we do Justice to those who sent here? Is if that
portion OF this body who wish to receive information
from their own constituents 70 enable them vote I'M
deTstandngy! Oh, nol-thcy want information: the
delay is intended for the benefit OF their neio,bors
will ask the gentleman from Boteourt if lie desires anv
instructions from home which will enable him TO chance
the vote which lac now intends TO give? Does nc OK
pect any such? And why should he suppose other.
ignorant of the will Of their Constituents than hc
Or, why should he suppose them inclined than he
TO violate the trust rcposcd IN them? IL seems TO me
would be modest say the least Of il for gcnfe.
To attend TO the opinions and feelings Of their own
constituents rather than 10 take upon themselves the
guardianship OF Tie whole Commonwealth While /
nave the honor OF representing district it, viii cannot
be made known 70 this body through any other o.par
If l ineFcprescnt that viii, 10 my constituents and To
them alone, am answcfablc No member of this BODY
ought, no member Of this body SHALL interfere between
them aud me.
Sir, the Of getting up instrucGons-the secret
manner M which instructions have been gotten up has
been defended That The people have night to resort
tothS mode is not denied but that they have selected
and made choice Of IT, Is not believed aud trust in God
that IL never will become in this good old Com.
monwealth. Every thinking who loves his cotu.
try, whose judgment is biased by tie fury Of party
have rcsorted to such to influence the popular
viii. The mode resoried to is at war with our c1Is
toms tac character Of our people, and the spirit Of
our Constitution. The people Of Vir0inia have hcen
admired ~ al the world for their open and manly
character To preserve ths noble trait in our cha.
racter the people Themselves have declared in their
Consntgti3n, That They viii give vote, That their
agents shall give no vote, which may relate the ro-
vcrniaent Of thp country or The administration Of Ifs Lao,