Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-03-10
FOR rliE ENQUIRER.
To The H.jraetory Instructed Dcieoates
in THE ASSEMBLY OF NIRf.INlA

h.lrdCt0Yy Instructed Dcieoufcs
IN THE ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
In inc reelection of Dir. Leigh the Senate of the
United States in dsobcdience the instructions of
constituents, you, doubt, believed that YOU wcr,
merely combating what you considered 20 be NOTHING
more than the untounded and unjust preiudccs of
ton of the people.
instruction All you meant, from the beginning was
SIMPLY to exercise the right 10 dis 'Lcy And ia this
particular instance. it was 10 the time the manner and
the occasion. that you objected.
As you must have felt confident, from the situation
you occupied HAT you were much better qualified to
judge of the capacity and inclinnon of Mr. cipl 10
serve uicni than they could possibly be- t.elns, yes:
ana ns you looked upon Ill the stir and movements
amongst the People the idle clamor of an no
rant aud iactious multitude, was qne natural at
WIN tese sentiments, you should feel less scrupe in
scrihcing what YOU regarded, nj best but very mpcr-
expression OF their WILL to your personal pcd-
iections. And you were more strongly fortified in this
concuson by arccurrence to those llustrous examples
winch had been previously laid down for your imitation
IN the Senate OF the United States 1t afforded you too
glorious opportunity of proving your devotion 10 that
novel and rcto"nd dogma lacl Introduced into the po-
ntcs o tins country Mat as bcRcaM the dignity Of
Rerese"tatirc.c the People. 10 oid his arms and pro-
eG'm 10 lie 'rord that he IS PaiSied by Me ,cM Of his
II is true that the opinion has been. hitherto. very
generally entertained in Virginia that if there was any
one principle in Government sacred than another
WAS, That the Representative morally bound so
lar az IL was KNOWN to speak the voice and execute the
VIII oil ms constituents. There may. therefore, some
reason to apprciend should MIR. Leigh prove be the
devoted patriot, and minded intelligent statesman
you nave represented him TO be- that he may not en-
trely and exactly approve of the sacrifice YOU have
made IN his BEHALF feel very grateful for so
deplorable an evidence of your attachment
Indeed there arc not wanting many, already. who do
not hesitate to accuse you of having done all your
power To explode tins sacred principle i'm practice But
Is believed they will generally be found cxamina
ton to belong to class for whose opinions you enter
tam no very great vencration respect.
But whatever may b. their sentiments or those of
mankind IN general TO the proprey of The course YOU
,hought proper to adopt, 1t must be conceded on all
hands, that it entirely devoid of merit For
Ut certainly must have required small share of moral
hrmness cooy and deliberately essay the destruction
OF every thing like representative RESPONSIBILITIES
and contemn the sovereign authority of the peope To
cndcavOr TO uproot the foundations of our social system
and TO march reckless triumph over the scattered fag
ments and PROSTATE principles of all Free representative
government But TO men of your bold and chiyalrous
spirit the more arduous the undertaking. the greater
would be the stimulus to attempt its ACHE vcment
WIN all Your %nnt bearing, you appear, too, evincc
degree oil mcdesy that is quite praiseworthy. For
while you were tearing the ilimsy veil from off that
haggard phantom OF representative responsibility. and
exposing IT. IN all It's naked deiormty the WONDERING
eyes OF your astonshcd countrymen; while YOU were
making every effort to awaken them TO a lust sense
of their forlorn and hapless condition: and ex
crting every TO eradicate from their infatuated
minds those absurd noons-tha sovereignty resides
In the People, and not IN Me Government; and that
their representatives their servants, and not their
masters you seemed TO be perfectly unconscious
OF the great degree of consideration to which such
acts would necessarily raise you in their cstma-
ton, the difficulty they would be laid under in select
ing such suitable honors and rewards TO bestow upon
you as would do adequate justice your high deserts
1t cannot, TO be sure, be denied that there are some
who, for harng disoLoyod The instructions Of gour con-
s"etS have not scruplcd TO dcnounce you as having
committed an act calculated to wound the honor insui
the dignity, and suly the fair fame of the Old Dominion
Ito place her before the world slorn of much of her an
Gent glory and rcnown and str.pt Of many of those
SHINING ornaments of political virtue with which her
sons were won't IN former times, to adorn her. and
which were allowed by all to be becoming and to sit
gracefully upon hcr-that it is calculated Ia inn
pede the march of reform in the Governments of the
Old World, and delay the period when weeping and
suffering humanity shall again be restored to It's long
lnSt rIrh. and lsrft Fiat
the tate deccOpcnenfS in the Senate of the o. States il
rs calculated TO weaken the of die TiGhf Of ANN
and stagger the faith of its advocates in popular nst
u"ns That 1T is calculated to humble the pride nortify
the feelings and mar the hopes OF the patriots and sages
nl The world over who are looking up America for
Inc Imminent OF their hopes and practical dcmonstra
ton OF the truth of tat important and interesting
Proposition tat man IS cdPaGfo Of Segorernmeat But
charges and Recommendations like lhes. will mot I an, 49,
attr much OF your notice, share very largely i'm the
fayf of your counenacc, nbrc especially wien Won
reflect that return for such injurious mnita ,ions @
may safely rely upon the lasting gratitude and yill;ng
homage of the Federasts, Wings, other ad vocats
Tor power and splendid government in this and every
other country -
1t would seem to be but simple act of Justice co
signal display OF dsnerestedness and dc votion TO their
~eiaIe were your constituents to consent to relieve YOU
from te future tolls ana atgues of their service and
allow you to retire from public life and spend the ba
lance OF your days in the peaceful enjoyment of quiet
and undsturbed repOse
But Whatever may be their ultimate decision !, .;u
be source OF no small satisfaction to know that the
lusirc with which you have already surrounded YOUR
your countrynen, and TO be handed down from genera
ton TO generation, to the latest poserity as beacon
guide for future legislators Indeed, il would not he
dong you too much honor, to have them inscribed i'm
letters OF gold, and posted up at all public places with
few lines commemorative of the great event-An
event, that will form and important era in tho his
tory OF our government and viii serve some day TO
enrich ats future pages Even the bosoms OF vour chill
drcn All swell with conscious pride, the thoughts of
having descended from srch lofty race of sres
You will have right to expect on your return TO
your constituents to meet with the warmcst reception,
and to have your brows encrclcd with bays or at least
to DC decreed the honor of crown of thorns
JUNIUS.
TJJy, DA-CTytD,.y