Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-17


and sedace The State .4ssetes schose S.natoys -; Co.
g,ess " ayCe deemed most important most feasible 10
Nlr. Leigh has, il is true, seen Legislatures mud Go.
ha'es corrupted he has seen Virginia Legislature re-
turned by the people, with seeming majority ayoweJ
iy friendly the Presidents nd,nipis,y,,;nn. 10 ~
seen Senate of the United States elected bv n,or;
OF the States supporting the President and returnpg
such men as nangum, Moore and Black socmny pledge
ca 10 support jim-he has u Senate of Pennsvlv5
ma, wnefc such men as Burden Pcnrosc Dickev were
sent 10 nan',n his principles which are those of their
consu,uents-and Mr. Leigh has seen power change
hands in these bodies fall off from the President of 6c
people, and lily To the President of the Bank But can
Ar Legn point to an instance, where the Presi-
eent power and patronage have been brought Ia
Dear upon Suie Legislature and turned the sc,Ie
OF tnc naJoriiy as elected by the people from being
against MN, to prcpond.rate in his favor? No such
case has occurred. But Mr. Leigh has seen lie in.
hnence OF the Banks money, operating upon the mem
JsfS III h Iong.ess "a both branches, prompting them
ely me known Will OF their constituents He has seen
ist OF the Banks accommodated, turned from fidelity
10 III, .nir constituents, by sums varying fom $4,000
o"n 10 Siooo lie has smell the incense of Bank boun.
~, appealing 10 vanity and ambition of members rnoSnt
ing IN The fumes of sealingwax arising from PACKAGES
vi speeches In the bycroons of the Capitol published
=. 'e pahR expense lie has ranked and SC mt TO
otners TO be ranked thousands Of his own speeches.
Printed oy air. Biddes order, to extend the panic and
sPe"o inc senator fame among the people of Virginia
and secure his reelection He has seen ma;or;iv ~
eight or nine in the Pennsylvania Legislature exactly
inverted by means OF the Bank and charter secnreI
which would have been voted down by an INNER se n
Jority OF the betrayed constituency. But when did
nir leigh see Legislature composed of members
ADVERSE 10 democracy, or Democratic Chief Ma
g'straie brought by influence and PATRONAGE Ia
cnee an instance in The annals of any State or of the
cohiederatcd Government? Not one Men i'm power
10y " brought 10 bei"y the people, but be in
uuced TO betray their high principles of eif
Tor The sake of the people. In the DAYS
VI ue eurr Adams, the Senate the side of "Pre
sdential influence, and favored the Alien Luz tho
sure pronounced icSe ind conSttufional by Mr. Leigh
because IL was an abrdgment of popular rigbts-
and so IL will always be found that the oligsrcb;c
Senate will most easily be brought 10 support Great
Executive great moneyed mower w,n;nr S. So
a. he
exclusive privileges in bodies corporate or potic are
natural allies against those from whom they are derived
and Withdrawn. 1t is from the operann Of his n,;,,
cpie III the bosom of Mr. Leigh, that in sgmatizing
the present Virginia Legislature by whdh he Stands in
stiueted he carries his malice beyond it, and imnn,es
OF the People" themselves and charges
II also to Iresdcn'iaL influence and patyonaoc Viii
r Leigh say by what bait OF patrona &c the peope of
virginia have become demoraiizedP Will he tell Iben
now Senato who is capable of appropriang his share
oi the BANK speech money venture to assume The
high part OF standing the people from Them
seives-to deliver them from the 'sprocess which, bv in
structons e IS called upon take an actioc pay IN es
tsS' ana Us he says is calculated to place the Fede-
RAJ Executive under the strongest teptaton TO emnlov ito
influence power, aud patronage the purchase Of s,b
serVienl SENATOR'S and to place the State Assemblies un
der temptation 10 provide the commodity for markr, IN
at last; 10 destroy the purity OF the State Assemblies
anu 10 prostate their dignity, authority, and influence
10 MAINTAIN the purity of the people, and the State
assemblies, and 'He dignity, authority and influence
OF the latter especially lie has resolved TO set their most
solemn al defiance. '
We add, by way Of contrast to this DETERMINATION &c
b g .he elier oil Mr. buchanan 10 the Legislature
~ winch ne was elected, aud which called forth bv
the Issue which certain modern Whip senators bad
made with their constituents upon this subject Mr.
buchanan views were not caed out until he had been
elected and he then gave his creed as that uoon which
alone he would accept the trust conferred The
ehhsyivania senator course VIII, have 10 doubt
FORM Us strong contrast III practice does i'm prnci
pie, with thai of MIR. Leigh
without entering into an argument upon the gene
raj question, which would be altogether nisoaceS nm
on the present OCCASION it may be mproper IN oh
serve that the principle applies with redoubed force
80 S:,, III congress They represent the sove-
compact which called the Federal Union INTO er;st
ence. In the Senate, these Suites are represented
is Distinct cohmunities, each entitled TO The same
number OF voice, without regard TO their population
In That body they ali equal, as t ey were beCo,o
. SuTPloi ol lhe Federal Constitution Here en-
phacay, If amy where the voice of the states ongb,
To DC heard, and ought To be obeyed Shall il then he
SAID that Senator possesses the constitutional riobt 10
violate the express instructions of the SOVEREIGN state
winch he represents, and weld the power aud the vote
which have been conferred upon him for The bene6, f
his constituents, u manner which thev have .nIa
" declared to Oe ruinous TO their dearest interests or
dangerous to their liberties! The bare statement of tho
proposition cafes conviction TO my mind All or nenr
y all the State Legislatures, have long been in the nrac
ice oil nsirucung Their Senators, and this affords the
strongest evidence OF the principles upon which the Gus
" II has been objected that the R;aL, 81 I,..
might destroy the tenure OF the Senatorial Office and
render Il subject 10 all the political fluctuations in the
several States But The Senator is only bonod 90 -.
lie is not called upon To resign. And altbouaL 49,
may be ciTcu stances which man of homer nj,
feel himself constrained TO retire from The pubc cg
faher than give the of his State against his own
consActons, yet these must from teir nature bo
OF rare occurrence "
Besides, this objection implies an entire von, or
confidence IN Tic State Legislatures. IL supposea that
hey may become The instruments of faction Tor the mr.
pose o' barasshg senators and compelling them to re-
s'gn In ac II results in the principle lIla the people
are incapable OF managing their concerns and are
therefore under the necessity Of comforting an resoon
siDe political power upon Of their own number 10
save them from themselves From the nature of onr
institutions, we must repose such degree Of conf
utnce ~ the State Legislatures to presume that they
WIZ not abouse the power with which they have been
euirDste1.
mmedate representatives O the people have not obeved
their will IN voting Instructions, this might present an
exception to the general rule Such an occurrence
however, though possible, is highly improbable n is
not to be presumed that State Legislatures will exercise
TINS important power, unless upon grave and solemn
cccasiOns after mature celebration aud a thoro,,gI
knowledge 81 the public will"
AWeaty-1Oursll COmgrcss--lstS ess.
fridog, Maych If 1886