Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-24
Richmond, Thursday, March 2.
RE.uLNlSCENCES.-Right Of Instruetion.

Richmond, Thursday, March "a.
"REMINISCENCES Right of distraction
In the early part of 1871 MIR Brent disobeyed the In
suctions Of the Legislature; and Mr. Giles though c
voted against the Bank of the IT, States
the right OF the Legislature to give him mandatory In
structions This conduct of the two Virginia Senators
forthwith produced great excitement and threw the
State into flame The public press took the subject
The first person, who struck the ball in this paper was
.pfgaias now distinguished JuIist--and in his po-
litics, Wing. Hear him frst!
had always understood that, althou OH the Delegate
at liberty to vote according 10 his best Judgment when
unnstrneted yet that the people right to express
their opinions, whenever they shall choose parti-
cuar occasion TODD and such case the delegate
tuay 6oand 10 express not his but his constituents
pinions had supposed that this position had become
Maxim, and that If it in the case of In
strucuons from county district, il would hold good
toTtiort, in the Of instructions from Legislative
body to its immediate Representatives The order which
prevails IN our State Legislatures, the discussion which
prevails whenever constitutional and important ques-
uon is brought before them, ought to give to Legsa-
tive Instructions more weight than Popular Instructions
can readily suppose that where the constituent body
directs its representative give vote which he consci
entously believes will violate the Constitution of his
country scrupuous and upright ,couid rather re-
sign has Office than sacrlegiousy infict wound the
sacred charter - He (Nlr. BrenO and his consttu-
ents are therefore now completely at ISSUE The Legis
iature says, you must vote against this law. Mr..
Brent says, You Virginia Legislators know nothing
about banking. You incapable of forming correct
opinion constitutional point will listen TO your
Instructions | will act as if received 'lhem not
what VIII the Legislature say to conduct of this kind
when they next meet VII they tell Mr. Brent that
he has lost their confidence; that he is their Rcpresen
tatire; that he has irepresented their feelings their osd
es, and their opinions? The Legislature hare taken
ground from ohich they cannot recede z1M hoa0r They
must tell Mr. Brent that although they canno, remove
him for four years. he is the proper organ of their
sentiments. II they do IN this soay tGe must re-
InqutSh their right Of gioing distractions or ,coutd
DC FOOLISH AND FUTILE THE EXTREME to say (mark
the emphasis shat proper instruct, aad ueL that
ne Rfprescntattre may depart at pleasure from Mess in
Structioas.
About the time the Editor of the ENQUIRER took
up the subject-and attempted show, "the very
scope and origin of Government give this doctrine
loi the obligation OF tStructioRs) additional strength
1t is not only republic but coedeTated onein other
words, not consolidated representative system but
federal representative system This doctrine sprnos al
most strongly from the confederated feature as from
the representative one-To the objection that the Se
nator was bound by his OATH Ito preserve the Constu
ton this reply is made: Well he has his resource
We do not wish him to- do that which his conscience dis
approves-he may RESIGN"
The state of public opinion may be gathered from the
toasts which were given by the Republican Party, soon
after these events For instance the following were two
of the standing Toasts drank dinner the 3Ist of
may, gwen IN this City, by the Officers of the 10Th Regi-
ment, TO Col George VIM Smith, his resianing the
command of the Regiment:
iasfr1.SHs to Reposonaes-oy as tho Ark of the Cove
lie that violates sacred night of!ho People deserves
offended leads consultations II oOis,OOI II depSt-
Senators COngrOsAre Creatures paramount, to their
Creators! But there is time for all things.
ToAsTs drank the 4 JULY 1911 at the Eagle by ths
Friends Of Tie Revolution.
Our Senators III Consess-Tboy to have forgotten
suit eompac, ne States are parties and NOT from
shoul
%arded with ae but the unIaiihfu planted upon Morns9
y Charles r. afalory-rho Right of vital
People O1sioHs shades If etna rer@e fa Sas
pas,e sgerts, sso da, disregard '"' 70 '''''
By r. soaoye tregsent Elections to tho Senate OF the u
States and less frequent Re. sixtiOns."
By the Washington and jefferson .3rtiliery Commanded
ty Cdpts. Price and Wrsn
Sse o act sSs sss,ay rh h"
an at oooestand Right of Instruction.
Starry People of the u Nav ,hoy
abandon the and a, ali
CfeaSoc cheo creator and will DO
- AT the next session of the General Assembly Mr.
yer submitted ms Resolutions, the Preamble which
declares 1t to be its duty whenever the Senators shall
disregard ITS instructions by voting in direct opposition
thereto, or IN any attempting reason a.oay or
to destroy The obligation Mereo cypress its dislike of
conduct SO incompatible 'ciM the principles Of RepuJii-
can tsoDcTnEaent."
These Resolutions were referred TO Select Com
mttee which reported the Substitute so well known az
MIR Leghs Report of 1872 Ii out with procaiming
that Least OF all can he General Assembly, ever be
devoid of selfrespec as to enter into alteration with
Its own servants. But under present circumstances
when right OF vital Importance, the prostraton of
%hch might ultimately affect the existence of the State
Governments the balance of the Constitution and the
integrity OF the Union, openly questioned denied
TINS Assembly were TO pass the subject in silence
might perhaps properly be inferred, that it reaced
from It's claim ofrgh in humble submission or abandon.
ed as an IDLE, or yielded il as unjust, pretenson
IL Us remarkable circumstance that Mr. Leigh should
have been the first man in Virginia, since the date of
his Report who has resisted the instructions of the egis
ature iremains TO be whether they will at the ne xt
session mete out the same TO him, which he
meed out TO Messrs Brent and Giles-Mr Watkins has
lara upon the table resolutions of and has
pledged HIMSELF il be the will of the good People of
Goochland to return him to the Assembly, that ne
WIZ do all IN his power, to take them up and carry them
through What say we, People of Vrgnia--wl ye too
stand by the Principles of the Republicans of 1872 and
yndIcate by your votes the great Right of instruction
Or VIII ye now strike your flag your contumacious
Sercant? Have ye degenerated since 1912? What saw
yeLegh oy,"0 LeighP Instructions or no Instructions
You cannot halt between the Alternatives Extremes
cannot compromise middle ground. Oil and water
cannot mix. You must your principles or
ABANDON them To THE PoLLs THEE To THE POLLS
Mr. Randoiphs opinion Of die SeHatc.-La tic H. Of r.
Compensation HH-JGn. 1916
MIR H. said he relied the Senate for corrective Of
such groveling disposition, though considering the
Senate always the ogarchica brdnch of The Gooern.
enf viewing it constantly oh dread and always there.
iore supporting the authority of this House opposi-
lion thereto still he looked IT, in this affair as correc.
i've OF any low and grovelng attempt which might be
made TO reduce the compensation"
FREE NEGRO YOTE
The Wings appear TO be laying particular stress on
Mr. Ian BaTen's opinions and rate on free negyo sDE
fryg G.rot .c ...I =. 81