Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-02
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.

I'LL! january.
FOR TIE ENQ UIRER.
A CARD.
Thisis to inform The members of the General Assem-
by of Virginia, that have, with The consent of the
Speakers of their respective Houses. engaged the serv
of the Dookcrpers of their respective Chambers,
deliver to each Of em in their seats, copy Of EQuAL
TVS Pamphlet the subject OF Tie Exercise Of III
Right IF Instruction by the People, All | ask is, that
the view have taken OF this interesting subject, may
pass through the ordeal OF an intelligent investigation
If my view is erroneous, let bc eecied and II is
correct let it be enforced by legal enactment If the
course am pursuing shall be productive Of no other be-
ncticial result it vii not fail to awaken all IN
quiry the part Of the peoples representatives; and II
these will act cEectuay, it will not fail, sooner OF
later to arouse the sumbering jealousy of sovereign
r With YOUR permission, Messrs Editors, will brief
y advert, in your columns, to few OF the topics en-
b,aced in the aforementioned publication.
1t must be known to every consdcrate man, acquant
ed with the events of the last twelvc-monh, that the
Right Of Instruction. in the present state OF the laws
cannot be exercised by the people, unless very large
majority Of the voters Of given county or dstric is in
favor of the instruction proposed TO he given The re-
preventative claims the benefit of tile doctrine that ma
orty of all qualified is necessary to instruct him. Ie
impracticabily of the exercise OF the right may I've
clearly dscerncd in every Supposahlc case II matters not
what the mode adopted ascertain the public will. For
the purpose Of showing the truth OF that declaration let
us take county, the number OF voters IN which Is HOu
Let three months notice be given, that on day named
meeting of tie voters will he held at the Court
of the county, situated in the centre ct the county, The
territorial extent Of which is very limited. Every body
acquainted with the habits Of the voters knows: that lUO
would be unusually full meeting. a resolution OF m
strucon is introduced and discussed the vote taken
count had and the result aSccTtancd TO be That OF
the 400 voters in attendance 30 have voted III favor OF
the resolution The fact is made known to the repre-
sentative, by committee appointed tor the purpose
What would be his answer: At once II would be tins
"a majority Of all qualified 10 instruct, is necessary to
instruct me- and do not regard the expression OF The
opinion Of that portion Of my constituents TO which my
attention is invited, as carrying with It any obligatory
import
How then is the rcprescn 10 be instructed? AT
ter notice has been given. in the county, during
three monhS poll is opened Ct tie Court ousc on i
day named and kept open for three days all the voters
who attend are registered By the polkecpcrs Ur or
nrainst the instruction. When The poll Is closed 1t IS
aSceaincd that 400 have attended, aud 2O have voted
for the instruction. The facts certified to the repre-
sentative; and what would be his answer: he same
inst stated and for The reason; To wt: that ma
ory of all qualified to instruct: i'll the present state OF
the laws be claimed being necessary To instruct
How, them is the representative 10 be ilSlructed; In
the same county, Letter setting forth the instruction
is adopted by public meeting, signed by the voters IN
attendance and presented forthwith. by committee APP
pointed for the purpcSe to the voters who dld not a
the meeting: that they mays' IT, Their ce'Loc'".
judgments approve. So all the voters who are
accessible have been waited on it turning out that 2U
have signed the Letter, the facts arc made known to The
representative, by committee appointed Tor the Pr-
which would be given under the circumstances OF The
other cases.
Is there anv one who believes The action Of larger
number than 400, by either OF these MODES, or ny any
mode That night be practsed to collect tho pubic OPT
Mon could br secured in ordinary tmrS I'D county IN
which the number Of the vulcrs is 500; If there be any
one entertaining such belief let hun rccur to the past ex
ercises Of the right osurage al the periodical electors
in which there scarcely ever so full display Of the
elective power, and if he he of candor, alter cain
rel. aspect. he will confess himself III error.
Now, let extraordinary state OF things be nsanced
the estimated number Of the voters JGG Tie most tavo
1aLc mode of asccrlaing The Of the entire consli
tuc body is rracscd, and the greatest cXcrtons ART
made to effect that purpose; the result IS found to be
that Of the 800 voters 4jO hav" expressed their opnof-
2IG for and pa agdHS the structuns; the facts ART
certified 10 the Representative, and he answers: Il vii
not Weld obedience the instruction which you CLAIM
TO have given because OILY 2i6 my constituents have
concurcd TO give that instruction, and claim Tie rIgi
to DECLARE that less than 2l can give an INSTRUCTION
commanding my obedience" Thus the fullest cahIbi
tons Of the people power in attempting construct thc
representatives may be set at defiance !
The conclusion surely cannot escape The dulesi cGm
prehensiun that the exercise by the people. OF Their al
mtcd rioh to instruct the representatives, they elect Is
impaccablc in the present state Of the laws: and in the
present state Of public opinion III which the representa-
tive may claim as he has claimed that majority OF III
the is inspcnsaby necessary to give an insruc
ton that has the power to control nm.
Suppose the General Assembly undertake to Ins'ruc
Senator in the Congress Of the United States: reso
luton Of instruction Is introduced ana uiScusu' wig
the vote taken in the House of Delegates G3 vote to
it, and CT against it, 10 members being absent; and whe'
the vote taken in the Senate, - vote l"r the resolution
and 10 against it, members being absent this state
Of facts would it be competent for the Senate! IN Con
press 10 Sc, aside the Instruction. upon the ground ina
not less than majority Of all the members, IN caci
branch of tic Legislature, give instruction to con
troll him Surely a Senator taking such stand woul'
expose hnlsrlfto lidicnle Yet such stand would b.
exactly compatible with the notIon that majority oil al
thr qualified vcers is necessary give instruction
to bind representative whoa they have elected :"
But have said enough, The only cftcnal corrective
law declaring that majority oil the qualified voters wh
act in the two epochs Of election and instruction. con
curing TO instruct the representative shall be suIcen
~ command his acouiesccnce EQUALITY.
FOX THE ENC UIRER.
TO r. w. GILMER ESQ.
"Woh makes the mun, and want oil it the fellow
You sir would never have been suspected u dslInc
ton for any thing above quibbing, medium County
h.,, hnt IN.