Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-24

the Springs that he wished opportunity ofaddrcssng
them upon the subject thus undertaking in effect say
that be wished first to instruct the people to instruct
him His request was, ofcoursc, regarded and free
never will regard request presunptuous and
assuming At October Court lac did address the people;
and began by making attack upon the plan of ns;ruc
tons which the people hrd adopted and partly executed
in which he INDUCED freely in abusing and insulting
those whohld engaged in it, Taking cnpy of the Pre-
ambic, which had been adopted by the public mcctns
aud reading Certain paragraphs thereof hc pronounced
that the writer of the Preamble had made false and
slandcrous charges lie pro,ssd To acknowledge, with
great sac-cdness the right OF instruction; but condemn
ed the only certain plan which there the least
probability that they could be given-Wastherc
thing like equvocaton in this He proesscd to acknpw
LEDGE with great sacredness the right ofinstructon but
insisted that the Spring elections the proper
Did any body hear of the peoples calling meeting
circulating letters for the purpose of nsructiny
before he elected If not, when do they
they exercise the right of instruction, cS-
ccpt il be after the election: Is il not obvious
then, that to claim the election the proper test.
in contradistncton IL the cercsc of the right of in
struction after the election, is substantially denying the
right itself! Then, was there nothing like cquivocaon
and shutting in this sle stated in his speech, that if
he was fairly instructed he would resign. thought this
was at least evidence of determination to scue, If
not to shuttle the people, out of the benefit of instruc
tons; could constitutional principle involved
inyotng in obedience tc the instructions OF constituents
against Mr. Ih aud in favor of end OF the Admin
isaton and consequently, few days after his speech.
took occasion to say to him. that he had expressed de-
termination the of the instructions being carried
by majority of his constituents, resign and we
i'll Prince Edward, requiring expecting him
resign that had said nothn like in our instruc-
tons and asked him il there any constitutional ques
tom involved in his voting against MIR. Leigh, To
which question he replied-"No, but your instructions
20 TO say instructed to against Mr. Leigh and
Tor some friend oftle Administration, which consider
cquivaento requiring to support this Administration,
which cannot and will not do 1t will show that
Jorty my constituents expect and require to sup
port this Administrations; and if So cannot represent
hem and never will consent to stand in the place of
Representative of the people when cannot represent
them then replied, there is much force in that view
subject that if he could represent the district
because the majority could be found the side of the
Administration, well might he resign there unques
tionaby majority that side. So, then, let it be
well remembered that MIR Watkins of his own accord
chose not only to extend his promise TO resign, the
condition. that if he fairly instructed he would but
that # he found majority of his constituents in IA
Vor OF the Administration he would resign. And when
the people of Prince Edward had furnished him with 400
names ofgood voters signed by themselves letters of
instruction. when he had himself admitted, LEARNED
from good authority that he thought the member from
Nooway was instructed when he had himself admitted
that Charlotte had right to count majority of III in ia
vor oil Instructions he then processes to believe himself
not instructed, and undertakes sustain this belief
saying that Lunenburg had not instructed and that she
more than sufficient ovcrbalancc the other three
counties! Having put his resignation upon the ground
OF Administration maorites, in the district how could
he when hard pushed claim Lunenburg for relief -
How stands the Administration question in Lunenburg
In April there two candidates only in that county.
both Administrations, openly and avowedly The
present representative says, as | learn from
doubted authority, that he believes three ouhs of the
county are in favor of the Administration Then is
there nothing like equivocation and shutting in Mr. Wat
kins flying to most decided Administration county for
relief, in his last resort Tie says he did claim the
right to count the whole of Luncnburg ON his side What
part then, did he claim Who to tell him how
NY belonged to him Did he only the
An-Jackson part for himself? presume he will not
say this. Gould he, according to his own ground and
professions, count any in Lunenburg, unless there
majority there against the Administration? Win he
say that there is or that he thinks there is? If So who
let me ask, has told him when and how can he
show any evidence of an anti-Adminstraon majority
in Lunenbug, much less such one be requir-
ed to ovcrbalance the maortes in the three other
ties?
Mr.. Watkins denies that he requested the Clerk and
the Commissioner of the attend the Clerks
Office on his BEHALF to aid in comparing and scanning the
names the letters of instruction, and charges a
talsehood, that had stated that they had aepded sby
his request.
Let examine into this matter, and see how much
he can gain on this se6re.The Clerk says that before
thatmeeting the 1fce Mr. Watkins requested him TO
make out accurate list of all the in the county,
and authorized and directed him to associate with him
for that purpose the Commissioner of the revenue
und thcy together did perform that service for him,
and gave him the result. The Committee were inform
ed before they met that those gentlemen would attend
on behalf of Mr. Watkins at his request but he says
ct his request BE it But they did attend and both
aided in the investigation, when appeared be
sary. The Commissioner aided diligently, throughout
the day, and frequently stated TO the comatec, during
the day. that he bound to be particular because he
was acting on behalf OF Mr.. Watkins at his request
or other language OF the amount and II is certain
that most, not all of the members of the committee full
y believed, during the whole examination, that those
gentlemen acted the request of Mr. Watkins And
well might they think Did he not set them both to
work before this nceting sagents in the very work
of scrutinizing the vocs And did they not attend
rest? And no other fact was intended to be established
by the statement made in relation to tie attendance Of
these gentlemen than that his interest protected by
friends of his choosing. So that the facts stated in
relation 10 their ndance substantially and
ny necessary purpose, true and il is better than
lawyers bubble, special pleading, deny the truth of
the history which gave Of the attendance of his own
selected friends With what propriety them lac
charge falschood in this case
Mr.. Watkins makes the following quotation from
"Fair Play ale draws off list of all the 81 names
from the original letters which had been furnished him.
and Forwarded it of the old and knowing slerfs
10 if he could not pick flaws in some of the
names, which his two first agents, the clerk aud the
commissioner, had been unable to detect - And says
Ths is not true have not forwarded such list any
sheriff. for the purpose stated for any purpose what
and then says Fair Play dare not say with his
proper affixed, that this is true" Indeed think
he can safely very tso near, that but
first rate qubber, very hard pressed would undertake.
as he has done TO split hairs about it, The old and know
ing sheriff. gentleman of the highest responsibility and
unquesonabe veracty, showed the list himself and
stated to that MIR. Watkins Il to him, for the pur-
pose of examining the upon it, and although this
gentleman mi ht have laborcd under mistake,
its being sent, forwarded directly by MIR. Watkins
could not know that entertain doubt but
IT had been sent, because he only of the
first responsibility, but Mr.. Watkins political friend
that forwarded by MIR Watkins The original let
ters Of instruction handed to Mr. Watknss and no
copy of them, list of the upon them was in
the possession of any upon the face of the earth but
Mr.. Watkins. So that could have forwarded
them to the Sheriff. bit Mr.. Watkins or his agent. on
agents He drew off list from the letters himself or
had it done, and left the list himself with his friend i'm