Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-02
TO THE EDITORS or TIE ENQUIRER.

The klGtl We lNS lRUS ".
Although the Report of 1872, by Mr.. Leigh, the
Right of instruction: does not expressly declare the in
slruccd Representative 10 be bound 10 resign unless he
can give the required vote yet it the Obvious import
of the arguments OF the Report il is its spirit. its
time nt that the representative shall give the vote,
srcH and there is not single expression in the whole
Report that impairs that sentiment.
1t has hccn thought the I'd Resolution, appended to the
Report is expressed in such language to allow the in
structvd Senator escape the force If the instruction
oyep by the Legislature the Senator shall think
The given instructions violate The constitution. care
full examination Of the terms of the resolution, will
vince those who have cherished the opinion that the Sc
nalor may escape that they have misnterpretcd those
Terms The resolution is in these words:
Rcsolrrd That the induh,abe right the S,utc Legislature.
to nsuc, Senators Congress- all points, either
REQUIRE such n,crcnce by consequence
duty OF the Senators obey such instructions prOd:d si"
trrctpns 0bryod the
violation RI The Constitution or d" a Of moral urp,uds"
AS to the point in dispute, eheher the Senator uness
he grcs the roe is bound under The terms of the resou
ton TO rcSign it depends entirely the Specification of
the phrasr ut the houn1cn duty IF The Senator to
such Instructions ION all points, either constitutional
polite Now, what is meant by the word obey as it
is coocatcd in The structure of that resolution? Clearly
my apprehension TO the rotc pointed cut
by the instruction; and such is The definition of the
word obey, when it is used in common parancc with re-
ference the instruction of the constituent body the
appointing power. When say the representative has
obeYcd Instructions that he has gtren the cote
preventative in acquescencc 10 the expressed
will of The elective body, should say he has oteyrd
the instructions, audience, not knowing whether he
had given the vote given his trust would take it for
granted that the representative (nslructcd had actually
given the vote. retaining the trust.
With this obvious, legitimate, ncontrovcrtble dc6n
ton of the word obey, let see, in view of te rdub
table right of The State Legislature /" instruct its Srna
Tor in Congress-, what is his duty, under the terms Of
this 2nd Resolution, when the instruction is acually
given" 1t matters not, whether the instruction is in
reference point of policy of constitutional Flaw;
the Resolution declares it 10 be 'te bounden duly Of
the Senator 10 Obey" c., TO GIVE con-
to such instructions-prorided, the instruc-
tons be given and obeyed require the Senator
commit rioiation of the Constitution or an Of moral
turpitude' Thus the vote must be given by the Sena-
tor in obedience the Instructions if by giving the
vote he will not incur the guilt of "a violation of the
Constitution, the odum :! tan act Of moral tuTpi
tude Then, suppose tte Senator By giving the vote,
in his estimation wiz incur the guilt the odium of "a
violation of tbs Constitution of an act Of moral
turpiludc, what in such case is his duty The senti:
MEET which throughout the Report OF lal2 shall
give the answer, in Mr. Leighs emphatic and cear
y ineligible language 10 ,eit: 1t cannot be pretended
that representative is 10 be the organ Of his own will
alone for then he would be far despolic He must be
the organ Of Others Of whom Not Of the nation-for