Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-12-15
MR.. IEIEII

"c SPEAKER presented communication
from The Acting Governor, enclosing let
yer 'tO'n benjamin Watkins Leigh, Esq. re-
| signing his office as Senator Of the United
STATES, which was read, US follows:
RICHMOND, December 5ih. 1896
Hir-tn the letter addressed TO the Sueal :
ets VI The two Houses of the General Assem-
"'y' under date Ct the 2nd March last. an.
n"uhced my purpose 10 resign my office of
senator OF The u. States al the commence
ment ni The present session and row here
| ny fesign Tie Office.
should have confined this letter 70 the
single purpose Of making this resignation IL
me o''iigaiIons OF truth and candor, the care
1 owe 10 my own reputation, and, in my sense
% .hinss' my duty 10 my country and its in
S'''u'iohs, uid not impose upon me the nccas.
shy OF correcting some misapprebensions
winch have discovered 10 exist. as 10 nv
motives for resigning.
SNAIL therefore, avail myself Of this OPS
Po''ohl'y 10 deciIre, in The most explicit an d
S"ielnii manner, what ] thought | had init
maze" very distinctly in my letter Of the 81
fharch, above referred TO, that my sole re,s
On e' ana motive Tor resigning my seat in the
SENATE, consist IN the mperi1us necessity I
a''i uhGef OF giving my whole attention 10 nv
!'N"'e Affairs, or FATHER ia my sanse Of the
"u'S winch owe To my family, and 10 all
Il
hOi feiaIn my seat in tIe Senate III would
and must ask leave 10 say further Thai 81
i"r from being in The slightest ti-erce inhu.
G G 10 resign lay the Instructions " ich The
General assembly gave me al lis last session
ana the resolution ii thought proper TO adou,,
'ha' was bound 10 obey these Instructions
VI reS'Sh-s" far, loo, from being moved by
any apprehension OF The censure OF the Geo,
gFhi Assembly, or even of any public odium
might incur by retaining my Office / placed
my WE"Ic hope OF the lasting approbsiicn Of
VI country upon my resistance To The prin
1'I'es ana doctrines asserted in the resoiu>
''?"s Oh The last session principles aud docs
1ihes as novel, in my opinion. as thev arc
erroneous and dan gcrous. tendin,, IN an ert;ro
subYersion Of the Constitution Of The Ssna,a
lo an alteration of The whole frame of the
e"eIai Government, and To The destruction
w all me balances wisely prov ided by the
Constitution, as well in respcct 10 the rel,,
'iohs "i line several departments Of the Gov,
ernmenl towards each other, as the relations
OF The Whole towards The Stale Governments
request you TO communicate this letter 10
lhe General Assembly
nave The honor To he, Sir, will, all respect
your obedeDt servant,
~ -, -. W. LEIGH.
l" INC HON. WYEDIIAM RoBERrsoN.
Lieut. Governor OF Yirginis.
MT w atkins moved 10 Law the co-nmuni>
Cation on The table, with view TO lis refer,
e"ce 10 select committee
Mr.. W remarked, that he might not have
correctly understood Mr.. Ieig6-but II he
dd' he thought The letter ought TO UNDERGO
lhc scrutiny Of the House, maxine. as Rn
thought II did, an attack upon the vital prin,
c'P'es oi this government. II so, il mightbe |
necessary to review those principles' and |
again assert them. NopubIic servant should |
De permitted TO disregard them, without !
Tenuke from The General Assembly. MIR
w apprehensiOns as TO the ASSUMPTIONS of
the letter, might not he just but. thew were |
u was due 10 The right Of instruction 10 shew
mat no public servant could defy il. without |
peIng taught that be would I've withered and |
must cover before the voice Of the people.
Mr.. hoore had hoped that one session Al !
east, would have been devoted TO the bust,
ness Of the people, without the introduction
~ exciting debates m Federal relations
re hoped The motion of The gentlemen would
'"i lie adopted, as j, would lead tounnecessa.
ma tedious discussion, in which petbaps
many members might feel themselves i'm.
YELLED to engage. lie for one should do so
'nd sustain the grounds assumed bv Mr.