Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-12-21
The following il thc letter 0: Alr Mcm!clus, PLAN
ny 10 his constituents Tie for tile course lie has
TO TIE ELECTORS

The following il the letter o. Mr. Mcmtclius, pam
Ing 10 his constituents The reasons Tor tie course he Ids
TO TIE ELECTORS
OF tie District CONFUSED OF he counties Of lnOn Junld'a
and UiB!R
FEiLo,: CiTIzESs IL have been in deplorGb'e STU
utiOn for eli ut days past. was eeced your re-
preventative; such am bound faithfully TO dscha'se
my duty to you to myself 10 God, and my county
You already informed that there were two Speakers
elected the 4th instant the House of Representa-
iives. With the information had, and the advice o lie
t,ien,.s in whom conlded was induced 10 act hcic
xh the party vino profess the same principles with nose
* my constituents who nominated and elected me bnt
ill information cool and deliberate reflection and The
warnings Of my conscience, have convinced me tat my
pay friends here have mistaken their course ana lat Us
faithful representative and an Honest man. was o"uhd
TO retracc my steps do what concienousy believed 10
be right, aud trust 10 the mparalty Of your judgment
upon full nnd fair examination of all the facts fInGnB
my polcalend had done wrong, according tony Ju'g
men withdrew from them Immediately aud nave "acu
for several DAYS TO give them lime TO rerace their steps,
and TO allow all concerned to arrange, peacefully ana Just
ly the unhappy differences that had arisen; but finding
this has not been accomplished, have nothing eil ioF
but to Go that which believe 10 be right, and leavg
those who would destroy our beloved State the con5e
quences of their rashness DO not think have AGED
rashly The step | have taken was taken deliberately
and cOoy. md in obt dence 10 my understanding y Tie
Constitution and Laws OF Gea! country. an Tor
peace. ES lrird riGcr ssLic iaHge rGkncn bdy &c
men die den fricdcn h1ssen" And hope The course
have taken may help 10 save cur beloved pennsylvania
from boCGShcd aud The horrors Of civil war The great
question is, whether The majority shall rule, and Upon
this question know you all think with me. Now, an
have done has been done with honest desire to carry
on, this great principle in our free Government, that
the minority must yield to the majority. And am Ger
tain rot one Of you however strong party man lie may
be- will blame lie for maintaining this principle. Ny
Constituents, particularly in Union cou"iy, all know me,
and beg of them all, before they condemn me, fully
and coul!y 10 examine all the facts, have not in this
instance, acted party man, but have acted honest
~, and according 10 my conscience
In joining with my party friends in organizing the
House Ct Representatives with the eight Philadelphia
county members Of the hg party, thought these mad
been elected by lorty Of the votrs OF the county,
and had been returned by majority ol The judges, but
soon found that this not ifue and that the eight
members Of The Opposition party in the county OF PHI
iade!pha bad been elected BY majority Of shnn I've
hundred votes in the whole counly and had been re-
turned elected by majority Of the judges.
sorry TO say, that the Secretary Of the State kept
back these returns which think wrong Under
these circumstances, could continue To act with
who had right to their seats, no more than my
opponent had 10 mine You would not, honest me n.
ask 10 sanction bad principle and 1t is that
know your honesty, that have joined those who have
been fairly elected by the moi orIy My party opinions
and principles have not changed, and my future course
will show that | TO those principles. On your
calm judgment rely. What | have done, has been
done or what believe to be Your interest, and Is ap
proved by my conscience
remain your friend,
JOHN MoNTELlUS
n.