Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-10
VIRGINIA AEasISEATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Thursday, March 3.


MIR. RIvEs having been nominated by MIR. Garland, Of
Mecklcuburg.
MIR. GnEGonY asked the gentleman who nominated
Mr.. Rves: if he had any information whether if Mr. r.
elected, lie would obey the instructions to expunge
the SEM les resolution.
Mr.. GARLAND of NJ. said, that in placing MIR. Rves
in nomination, he had reference to any particular
measure which that gentleman was supposed willing 10
support; he had nominated him individual of high
character, of long experience in public life, and OF emf
nent ability. lfhe accepted the Office he would do
with the instructions of the Legislature before him.
Mr.. GREGORY had another question to ask. lie once
voted for Mr. Rvrs and he did so with pleasure because
he then thought him Of sound political principles
but he asked whether Mr.. X. affirmed denied the
right Of instruction. MIR. G. wished to know the fact
the records of this House Showed that Mr. Rves de-
MED that rg ht.
Mr. GARLAND said he would not multiply words upon
this subject 1t sufficient reply TO The question Of
the gentleman from James City, to refer him to The pub
lie course OF Mr. Rivcs. He had given tie very best
proof Of his regard TO the right of instruction. lie
instructed two years by the Legislature to pursue
in the United States Senate which he could not
consccntiousy pursue, and he carried out the principle
by resi- gnng his seat and allow another 10 be elected
in his place. From Mr.. G. S knowledge OF the gentle
mans political course, he ventured to say that if MIR. R.
accepted The Office, he would carry out the instructions
Of the Legislature. go.
MIR. GnEeonr said that the gentleman from Mecklcn
burg and Mr. Rves were at Issue. He says, that Mr.
Rvcs was instructed 10 perform against his
science, and therefore he gncd. But Mr. Rives said
in his letter OF gna:inn that il the Legislature had in
srncted him to do specific thing, although opposed 10
his opinions lie would have obeyed but that they
did not instruct him, he had alternative but to
sign.
Mr. WATKINS said he was absent in The Senate cham.
Der Tor few moments and understood upon his return
that in his absence had put him in nomination
for the United States Senate. He look this oppotun-
ty 10 say, that he did not DESIRE would he ever &C.
cept any public Office beyond .aL which his consu-
ens required hlm 10 ILL., His ambition went no further
than to serve the county Of Go0chland, and he never
would Gcsert it while there Wing in it, while its
citizens required his services. So much upon that
subjcct.-He understood from the gentleman from
James City, that he under the impression that
Mr. Rives had on this floor given vote against
the right of Instruction. He presumed that the
gentleman referred the proceedings in $780, upon the
Missouri question A motion made by MIR. Car
rington, for which Mr.. r. voted and a msquoalion
from his remarks that occasion had been widely
circulated; by which ii was made 10 appear that lie had
opposed the right Of instruction. But his cunslu.
eps called upon him to explain those proceedings in
1922 and he did so 10 their entire satisfaction. 1t APP
pcared that he had objected to the praseclogy Of The
solution inslructng the Senator'S because he believed
that it involved absolute and unconditional dcclar
ton that they must obey whereas he believed in the al
Tentative and modified principle that they either
obey resign. AS 10 his opinion upon that right,
now understood and praclised upon he had sewn his
accordance with The Republican principles by his act in
rrsigniug his scat when instructions given him
which he could not obey.
Mr. PRICE said that as the gcntr from Gooch.
land had returned To the House-as his supposition
the gcntlcmans anticipation of being nominated, had
not proved correct; and the gentleman now says
lie will not accept the Office Of Senator, he would
withdraw the nomination. MIR. P thought that the gen.
tcnaa from GOochland would have been very proper
candidate as there doubt That he would have
obeyrd the instructions of the Legislature, and expunged
the Senacs resolution with the utmost good will As
10 the pert remark Of the gentleman from Scott, he would
merely say that would suppose that he (Mr. ~
SbpIfp lp n nj IOt trc I,
Ills opinions did not suit the times.
Mr. MCMuLIES said it had always been his practice
10 Icpe force by force, and on that principle he had no.
minated the gentleman from Fay cite and Nchous, but
that gentleman had withdrawn the of the gen.
uenan from (oochland, MIR. McMullen would also with
draw his nomination.
" MIR. WlrcHEH asked the gentleman from Goochand
whether il not recorded in The Journal Of lS2U that
Mr. Rivrs voted in small minority against the right OF
instruction.
Mr. WATKINS said he had not seen the Journal since
about that period, therefore he could not reply.
Mr WircHEE. Docs he not know that although MI
R:cs has said and again that he is in favor
Of The right instructions, he did vote upon that &C.
caSinn /:
MI WATKINS. will tell the gentleman what did
see When MIR. Kivcs candidate for Congress in
le22 and came 10 the county of Goochland, which
then in his District put the question to him in relation
10 his vote Ill this House, and he then planned to my
satisfaction II appeared that lie considered the word
instruction to convey an unconditional comnand taking
He TIE senator lhe alternative gHt 10 OBEY or resign
We have enough during The present Session Of the
Inicrences 10 be drawn from journals 10 know that they
do not always represent fairly and if the gentle
man would look al MIR. Rvess speech published in the
Enquirer he would find that Mr. Rives objected TO The
resolution; because he called upon to vote for in
sfnctlons which left the Senator without discretion.
MI WITcHER said that his recollection Of the pro-
cecdngs very different from thai Of the gentleman
from Goochland. He believed that MIR. Rives was
against the resolution 10 instruct the Senator'S because
II contained command and in that he could not
vote Tor it. Mr.. W. believed that the gentleman from
Goochand was the first individual who ever introduced
INTO resolution the declaration that Senators, when III
s'ucted shall obey or resign Does the gentleman IN
tend To assert that Mr. Rvcs is such quibber that liz
excused himself for his in this House, The ground
that the instruction Of Senators did not give them the
alternative of resgning? Did any one ever deny the
light OF Senator TO resign his seat at any moment:
The gentleman from Meckenburg has been asked, whe
Their, If Mr. Rves should be elected, he would carry
the expungng resuutions' File says that he does
know. And doubt, said MIR. w., whether could Oh
tain direct to that question from ANY member
in this House Whether this matter finally settled
by The two visits last Fall, of Mr.. Van Buren, to Mr.
RlyeS and of Mr.. Riyps This civ MIR " did