Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-29

ten T"r1, asked il the last remark of the gentleman
" Ga,chiani applied to hi!r.
-. ~ ATKINS said, il certainly did not
w. n,l;aa Of Mr. W,rk!xs, the House then adjourn
Cd Nedussdag, February l0h.
,,,or, OF the Select Committee on the subject q!
:. ,,,r -rsuunn from the journal ut the !s"na!r
i,d safes and upon the Right Of Instruction,
was tahrn ur, anu ''' ~ s " 0FS "
''' rr,r said he about To propose amendment
a. ,rsolu;iun which would, If adopted, enable him
,,. ir il, He would move to amend by adding at
va .,,S, wuriS--.' unless the instructions require
hI! Ia c':i'''.. ' "
n'sy,y suggested that the motion Of the gen.
~ rom Favetc aud Nicholas was similar To
" ,,r,.ucnt proposed by the gentleman from Rich
al I., cvruinr and rs that gentleman not ut this
H'. , ~ his seat, he requested the gentleman from
., and Nicholas 10 suspend his motion Tor short
"' p,,cr acquieSccd in this suggestion.
~ p,,kfx ,uavc,! to amend tile resolution by srik-
M, III after the word 'obsy." MIR. Parker said it
~ rc,.lec,ed that he had attempted last night
, =, ,a,e his To the House upon the Rg ht Of
t-i,i:on ii, as he had rndeavored to shcw the ubr
~ q III. Representative lay at the root OF that right,
I ,,u was necessary III asserting 1t. The un-
~ rj; on the part Of the constituent to command
t,,.s o. he representative, Involved the right
~ -, ,L,uauL implicit obedience. Indeed it lnuw
s." c,nsponrncc. And unless you qualify it, the
Il
- y, H.. s,p,.s.L that inc was an cXiravagant To-
M .It. in.uplr from the implicit obedience, which
w. e i,s rrft required ~ their behcsls. But he
II r,Y;,.ss ,nai his feelings upon this subject, al
,,,5 =; onu pcr!cd of hS life they were ardent and de-
,I ,yrr u:!ncf lNc uilucncc OF recent Experience,
,,i, Inn, Ard when lie went home 10 his people,
- ,o,-i il rsvs,aJc that he should tell them SO; and
,,.v ,ArL lin Why lis nPnon$ in regard to that right
ri,,oscd he should l.; Il them wherefore. lie wish
! H.. ,,rs and noes on this question
L : l,t ,,t,rsf,, fla.
800 .,r Nor,ha,npon 10 say, that Senator in Congress
s ,,,u,4 10 obey instructions whether constitutional
mol q, $3.50,
rau and answcr h's question by asking HIM another
/ ,.k Inc Gentleman from B"trourt, ii lie thinks So;
N- WI,sox o. g. No, do not. think II they
l., n al Unconstitutional act, they are bound IL
ri,n. Bu. II The motion of tie gentleman from North
,nor WAS adopted, asa the gentleman from Fayetle
..i Nicholas !n,ws it up with hlS amendment, it will
i,, H.. discretion u cbcying or not, in Tie Senators
t!ra.Sr.rcS.
Mr., GlvrE said that, according 10 the theory Of
O.. royc.ncni. the people. OK the constituent body pos
s...fi Ike rI II instruct their representatives,; and 1t
IN, G.,y oi the representative, when instructed
,,by But The representative has his rights also, which
,. ll be- iylCrG: ana his oath 10 aud defend
ir Constitution parai@ual 10 all other obligations in
-. aul.L il. he instructed to violate that oath, he
has. perfect rig 1T IL resign Go hot DENY, sad MIR
g. !, the people the right 10 demand obedience They
axe sovereign: ana be ubcycd; and ii represent
iss res!s under the belief that he is required 10 VIC.
late ms oai they cleo, another who vii carry their
!a,t;ac;UlS nlu execution II the people instruct ne
3D., wt.al think would violate my oath, | will not
cyc tu. will res ign my seat and allow 1t /" be filled
hr another Individual who may not have similar scrupeS
Il.s seems 10 me TO be the true doctrine.
Mf. PARKER. Does the gentleman from Botetourt
s,c tn, p;rdc2urcnt in which! he stands: Does he be-
,9c ,ic night OF Instruction implies obedience
liz seems 10 hesitate. ] put that question TO him.
M:. WusoH OF Is. Yes, | do think But if the
representative is instructed lu act agains his oath, or to
breach IN the Constitution, he is not bound n
ryrY lie has tie sht to resign usk the gentleman
vL Northumberland, il he holds tie opinion that tie
representative is bound 10 violate the Constitution, II in
sC-Cs0 u 10 50: say he has no right to decide we-
IL; aci oil moral turpitudc is demanded not; but
i; he caaEv obey, lie is bound 10 resign his seat
Mr. Parker sild he held the opinion that the Senator
"s bound 10 obey instructions constitutional qucs.
ms The Consequences Of 4 contrary doctrine mig it
easily h pointed out. Suppose, on great question: dur
Ia WAL lur instance. an Imminent mrcrs$ity should cx-
Isl lie adoption Of certain measure. The Scn:-
instructed by the Stale vote for that mcasure
, obedience might be!ndispe disastrous
b@ might De struck before their could be
ecced Well, sir, the instructions sent to the
Senator'S while this important question is pending; and
sta that critical moment, when your nanGale reaches
a!n llcy refuse Obey and resign their sea,s.-Ihe
consequence that yCur 10 be heard on the great
g!rsion upcn which perhaps the fate of the Country
might depend, is irusrated-and how BY The reslgna-
Inconvenience which would arise from The establishment
ri Sach principle: Il would completely atrogate the
ght OF Instruction. say that the Senators should vote.
my people should instruct to vote against the Con-
S'ulon would rise III place and give the vote, ac-
cumany:ng It with The Grclaratiun that it the vote
+" my constituents, and nnl my own. Aud hope that
IL: great Being who INTO the hearts oi ali his crea.
lures would akc the distinction between act done IN
DrG!erce to The sovereignty OF the people and an act ui
"'ul moral urpltudc; and would not doom for that
ence, that place ui punishment sci apart ior the
d ".cSet.
Twas true that when the people corrupt, this
"tr rlght be exercised improperly. But this did no,
'a!a9c The pnnc pie | mantain that the constituent
~ and not the. Senator, 10 be the Judges whe-
~ 'tF Instructions are constitutional! or no. because
s; J scn that THIS necessary in order to render
"s !!sh "i INSTRUCTION complete for II the power vi
"&j denied The CONSTITUENT, body, the grand object
representative Government to have the views o! The
pc REPRESENTED III every deliberalIyc assembly,
"ac tc defeated Ii there any qualification Of this
"Cs!c stated IN lie rule O.! lSi2 am not aware Ut
b A'a say, that any who denies the injunction
0'v! drn!'S the light OF Instruction; because, obe-
.'r !"io~S from the power ~ command You cannot
'y Cbrcnce, except by qualifying the light to COM
-"a' We have mad an example Of Senator rendering
'"Eg"ao:, no. because OF lis constitutional scru-
~ "I Ni"; grounds OF policy. We all recoect. that
IN " VIZ Hives resi- gntd his seat in the Senate he de-
IA a 'at liz could ot vote according To The Instructions
Ell We Lr5sllGic, because he had made speech de-
n "'g directly contrary opinion. This was one Of Se-
III >' N'rs 'easons Tor rcs'gnng his scat; and if this
r'~ admitted as precedent, by and by our Senators
sHe Us reason Tor resignIng their seats, tia,
81 !'"'e'ah Certain political opinions lie did rot
w." lha' the Senate would ever be married TO :he
"s1'''' as had been formerly prediclsd; but the
al "A'y come, when Executive influence and pol!tl-
n " f"''.'!rS viii furnish reasons for the resignation
81 'G Se"aloFS. They may then tell you, wicm they
"s"''rd and YOU hold The balance Of power in the
q va" against the Executive, that their political OPT
y ,'O' '''; having made speeches, forbid their obey
49,. w. instructions, and urce them to resign their
a"D '"Is your rights may BE- frustrated, and &c.
rpm" subject vitality Important be made Ill favor
''I't power. These the inevitable conse-
s " lite alternative declared in this resolutivn.-
"t"0" Inc choice between obedience und lgna
u NJ obstructive u; the right Of instruction.
g," 't,oS OF Is. said that instead Of being in diff
IL Ii. uE