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

of the Richmond Enquirer, aud Wing. the I.ynchbnrg
democrat, and Vrgnian be respectfully requested to
publish them in their respective papers.
Resored, That this meeting do now adjourn sine die
:, VIM. COOK, Chairman.
~ We have also received the animated Proceed ncs
of u large Van Buren Meeting in Marshall cyuniv2
They have appointed Major w II. Wiley of Monongaa
and Jacob DE Camps Esq, of Brooke county as their
Delegates TO the Republican State Convention of the
18th January.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
CARD.
This IS to inform the members of the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia. that I have with the consent of the
Speakers of their respective Houses engaged the sery
ces of the Doorkeepers of their respective Chambers
deliver TO each OF them in their copy of EoUAL
rvs Pamphlet, the subject of The Erercise of HE
Right IF Instruction by The People" All ask is that
the view have taken of this interesting subject may
pass through the ordeal of stgationE
If my view is erroneous let il be reiected and if il is
correct let IT be enforced by legal enactment If the
course am pursuing shall be productive of other be-
nehcal result an it will not fail to awaken an in
curry on the part of the peoples representatives; and if
these will act effectuay it will not fail sooner or
later, TO arouse the sumbcring jealousy of sovereign
people:
With your permission, Messrs. Editors will brief
ly advert In your columns, few of the topics en-
bIaced in the aforementioned publication.
III must be known TO every consideIate man. acuuant
ed with the events of the last twelve month that the
Right OF instruction, in the present of the laws
cannot be exercised by the people, unless a very large
majority OF the voters of given county district is in
favor OF the instruction proposed TO be given The re.
preventative claims the benefit of the doctrine that ma
jory of all qualified, is necessary instruct him. The
impracticabiiy of the exercise of the right NAV lie
clearly dscerned in every supposabe matters not
what the mode adopted ascertain the public will For
the purpose OF showing the truth of that declarations let
us take county the number of voters in which is 500
Let three months notice be given, that a day named
meeting Of the voters will be held at the Court House
OF the county, situated in the centre of the county
territorial extent of which is very limited Every BODY
acquainted with the habits of the voters knows that 100
would be unusually full meeting resolution of in.
strucon introduced and discussed the vote is taken
n To he of
the 400 voters in attendance 2l0 have voted i'm favor of
the resolution The fact is made known to the repre-.
sentative, by committee appointed for the purpose.
What would be his answer? At once it would be this
"a majority OF all qualified instruct is necessary TO
instruct me- and do not regard the expression of the
opinion of that portion my constituents, TO which my
attention is invited, us carrying with it any obligatory
import"
How, then, is the representative TO be instructed, Az
ter notice has been gwen in the county, during
three months, poll is opened at the Court house. on
day named and kept open for three days. all the voters
who attend, registered by the poll keepers for or
against the instruction When the poll is closed il is
asceaincd that 400 have tended and 2l0 voted
for the instruction. The facts certified TO the repre-
sentative; and what would be his answer? The same
just stated, and for the reason TO wit: that ma
Jy oil all quaihed to instruct, in the present of
the laws, may be claimed being necessary instruct
How, then, is the representative be instructed In
the same county, Letter setting forth the instruction.
Is adopted by public meeting signed by the voters i'm
attendance and presented forthwith by committee APP
pointed Tor the purpose the who did attend
me meeting that they may sign it, if their deliberate
accessible have been waited on turning out that 2lO
have signed the Letter. the facts known TO the
representative, by committee appointed for the pur-
pose And what would be his answer; Precisely that
which would be given under the circumstances the
other cases.
is there any who believes the action Of larger
number than AGO. by either of these modes or by any
mode that might he practised collect the public Cpl
Mon, could be secured in ordinary times in a county in
which the number of the is 500? If there be any
one entertaining such belief let him the past
ercIses OF the right osuragc at the periodical elections
IN which there is scarcely full display of the
elective power, and if he be candor after calm
retrospect, he will confess himself in error
Now let an extraordinary state of things be insanced
the estimated number of the voters is $50; the favo
rabe mode of scertaining the of the entire cons
tuen body is pTactised and the greatest cxertons are
made to effect that purpose the result is found TO be
that OF the 300 voters $50 have expressed their opinion
246 for and 2l1 against the instructions; the are
certified to the Representative, and he answers 81 will
not yield obedience to the instruction which YOU claim
to have given because only 246 of constituents have
concurred to give that instruction. and claim the right
to declare, that not less than 25 give instruction
commanding my obedience Thus The fullest c1hibi-
tons OF the people spower in attempting their
representatives. may be set at defiance
The conclusion, surely cannot escape the dulesi Gem
prehension that the exercise by the people Of their
United right 10 instruct the representatives they elect
imPraccable in the present state of the laws the
u in Xyhic