Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-08

~ aud exercise OF i, on the one part aud Submission
1t on the other, pray the General Assembly to con-
for moment, the probable workings of the prnci-
in practice Whenever the President shall feel the
eck of senatorial oppositionf the Senators in cppo-
ion shall have the r,nness 10 continue refractory TO
will, unmoved and unawcd by his power--especialiy,
there should be nearly balance Of parties the body
that few changes may reverse the majoriy-the
esident will be- placed under the strongest
have To the State Legislatures, in order
sembarrass himself of the opposition. Suitable nay
yen plausible, prrtexts will be- wanting TO Justify
their Interference There will be NJ. d.icu ~
any time, much more in tunes Of violent party excite
rent, to select some prominent measure, involving
neston OF constitutional right, and 10 frame in.
lructon upon it to the refractory Senator which
is known he cannot conscienliously obey and
ie<eiore will not obey; and TO require him,
leless, to obey resign And obtain the insruc-
on, we may surely expect TO see all the mighty nu-
nee OF Presidential power and patronage, brought
ear upon the State Legislatures and upon the
them-to delude and denoralzc the people to tam
per with, corrupt and seduce, the State Assemblies
whose Senators in Congress it may be deemed most i'm.
ortant, most feasible, remove. Fat insrunc n,s
nd agents for the work will always abound and voun
Ger in the ice,-he venal panders OF power,
whole tribe OF parasites and sycophants jealous
iliae favor,the vain aspirants after political import
nee, honor and notoretya all will crowd into the Pre-.
dents train, and vie with each other in doing his bid
ngs. am speaking Of the probable, natural inevita
die effects of political causes put into action. do no,
believe, and therefore am mot nsnuatng, that the &c
neral Assembly intends to open the field for these abo-
ninaons. speak with freedom; but not without
sincere respect Il is the firm conviction of my mind
That there never was, and cannot be, n process in
vented, better calculated than that which | an,
how called upon 10 take active part in cstab-
shng to place the Federal Execu,iyc und,r Nh, s,,,,,
s temptation 10 employ its influence, power and pat
onage in the purchase of subservient Senator's; and 10
lace The State Assemblies under temptation TO provide
The commodity for market TO destroy the purity OF the
people, upon which all depends last to destroy the
purity of the State Assemblies and TO PROSTATE their
gnity authority, and influence in the dust AS the
Senate that will soon be- to all purposes of service
which it intended 10 answer in the system of the
Federal Government, absolutely annihilated And if
this doctrine shall, in practices be confined to Virginia
as perhaps may be; and judging present appear
ances, probably will be- then these abomnaons viii b
confined her alone: her people alone will be IN
the process OF demoralzaon her Assembly the arts of
corruption and seducton; her ancient dignity and
pristine glory will only be remembered TO point Tie taunt
ngs OF scorn at her fallen condition
Many there are, know many good and thinking men
Especially in Virginia, who differ on this sub
rct who approve The doctrine have hecn conrovert-
ing IN principle, and hope the most beneficial results
from IL, in practice; who firm in tho conviction
that 1t is necessary TO the maintenance of State soye
regnties as am IN the belief that its probable and in.
deed unavoidable effect will be, impar degrade and
PROSTATE them; and whose minds are therefore preJs
posed to condemn my opinions, and my conduct on
.'s OCCASION DO not presume to them and
must patiently abide the they will pronounce
on me- III, with the sentiments entertain concerning
ths doctrine, aud the pernicous quences that are
likely TO How from il, should become an ac.
i've instrument in establishing it, 10y setting an example
OF conforming with il, could not ask the forgiveness
Heaven. ''0''
lsee with no e surprizc, that it is declared in the
preamble TO the resolutions Of the General Assembly
which you have transmitted me- that the Assembly
deem it their duty again reasserf in behalf of them,
selves and the people of Virginia. the right of the con-
suent TO INSTRUCT aud the DUTY of the
u otey or resign from which infer that The General
Assembly supposes, that this has been as.
serted more than once before. only saw that if
-this peculiar doctrine asserted before do NOT
know when, where, what occasion IL was assert.
eu' IL certainly is not asserted, nor it intended
be assorted in the preamble and resolutions adopted Inv
the General Assembly in February 1872 ON The subject
oil te right OF instruction That paper the work Of
my own hands, without assistance from any other person
whatever, and drawn up, Gas bat well remember
with haste which, in my apprehension nj The lime
materially impaired its value vet upon recent aud c,r
iul review OF it, do not find myself inclined TO retract
or 10 monty IN any essential point the propositions there
asserted and maintained; and therefore / am willing
shall be tested by them. was then young statesman
but not very young man; and it had been fixed my
mind, by refiecton and by the lessons of history as
rudiment in ethics and in politics, that proposition
can be stated in either however Just and true hen pro.
pefy understood and applied, that may not if abused
lnsappied, or pushed To extremes result in vice
Sensible that the right of instruction. and the
duty OF obedience, might be abused the purpose of
commanding violations of the Constitution and even
acts of moral urpitudeso abused under the influence
of excitement and passion, which the constituent boz
dy, as well as the representative, like all other mel
might sometimes be subject took the utmost pains to
guard the docfne against such abuses Let us see how
accomplished the object The very claim which un
dcstand the General Assembly To assert to power
IN ITSELF and to obedience from meabsou,e power on
the hand and blind obedience on the otheris stated
as an objection to the reasoning of the preamble and
"But II has been said, that State Government NAV
instruct its Senators To violate the Constitution of the II
Satesthat State, in actual iDsurrection against the
Nehera government, may instruct its Senators pro-
mote the cause of rebellion: and is asked ,chefey HE
Senator acoutd be bound w instruction. to coe The
Constitution nc had VresrUe and overthrow The
Government he had sworn to defend liz may be an
swered, ia The FIRST place, that the particular in.
suucuon, which forms the subject of present con-
SHERATON, could by no possibility, involve a breach
OF the Constitution Of the United States IL night
and IN the opinion of this Assembly would have
been unconstitutional To charter the Bank of the United
states anew; but surely, could not possibly be
deemed unconstitutional not TO charter it, AS 10 the rest
Without determining the point which has been taken for
granted, that State open rebellion the General
Government, would still be entitled To- its representation
III the senate, which, TO the least
iul-it 10 admitted without difficulty that If Stte in
Suct us senator TO goe c0tc potuty unconstitutional
not bound to obey such instruction. Ecery casc such
'ds M1t Supposed must stand upon its o,cn pecufar
circumstances IT supposcs all bounds of rpht tran
cd, az legitimate rule prossated and ne Droyrieg of
opposition must be determined Gy Tie nature of he mus
ice, TIE clteat ri Tie mischief the Drudeuee of .s;
But IL is argumen Mt against ihe exercise NJ
aWlui power, That II be made the pretcxt for the
assumption OF an unlawful power. The ruht Of in.
sruction rightully exercised with 10 evil intention To
no perncious object be affected by the admis-
tion tnat II state Government, the General Co
Vernent become corrupt and ambitious and usurp tv
Iannca power, tmoy of right and ought be resisted
Inc admission IS cheeTfully made TIE General Assam.
Oy ~ Ivginid IS incapable ofa6irig he ezDioded doc.
trt"c O HSitrestStance And upon this reasoning in
ihe preamble The two resolutions Of general nature with
winch that paper concludes, That il is the in
dubitabe right of the State to instruct their
senators IN Congress, all points, either constitutional
or Poic, whenever tie magnitude of the occasion shall
require SUCH interference aud that by consequence
the Douhden duty OF the Senators To obey such nsruc.
tons; PT0pdcd Tho instructions to be Qeca and Obeyed re-
rim oF