Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-03-28
COMMUNICATED.
ADDRESS

Senators Ui this STATE. lie Sriair 81 the \ ) tx.
pred The i'h day OF tbs month la contemplation Of
ibis event The duly dsyDvrd upon IEe present General
Assembly, Under the Constitution. ~ csC ms
WIN. & Raves was the incumbent end was pu' II; nom
namn for rrrircti": aud the nGdrIsLned adhered 10
his support With consistency and gal Struggle
anpld ~ The sIn:y a: VTg for us duration, and
the p~rtnacy wish which the advocates at The several
candidates adhered 10 them, continued until II vas be-
hev'd impossible 10 make m GIrci0n; and, alter con.
sumng seven days in the efur The order was postponed
Indefinitely.
As ii is determined BY all parties that this subject shall
not te disturbed during the present session the duty OF
supplying the "ncancy will devovr on the next General
Assembly, and thus, especial manner. 1t Is neces
sariy aud directly referred 10 The People Under these
circumstances 1t US, that propr:r;y dictates
fol! and candid exposition Of the motives and feel
inGs which have influenced US, during the late ex
citing contest, and which will govern future
cnnrse. Nhis we did not desire TO AVOID that share
al the responsibility Of making the election. which
res'Pd us as constituent portion OF the LegS.a
tire upon which that duty GevUIYEs, at tie same
wish 10 be distinctly unde rsoud. the least
deprecatImg that appeal 10 the sovere authority OF
the popular vi" which has been produced BY the extra
ordinary state Of parties and opinions in the Legislature.
Indeed The only source OF regret That ac"re, Is that
this appeal cannot be made more absolute and complete
The House Of Delegates where the election Of Mr.
Rves was repeatedly sustained BY decided plurality,
is subjected 10 The ordeal OF the popular suffrage every
wear Whereas the Senate is only renewed ever four
years and three ourlhs Of that body By its organization
removed for the present from responsibility tor any
disregard OF the popular will! which they may have
mtrd IN the Senatorial election That thUSc COnSerra
lsyps whn were members Of the Senate had DISPOSE
ton 10 abuse that Immunity, Is sufficiently eyDced by
the fact that when IL was proposed III an eary stage OF
the contest 10 postpone the election Indefinitely an
endment moved and voted for y them anmexrg
condition tina, each Senator should resign at the end
Of The session, and thus put II in the power ut the people
IL elect legislature which should fully effect their
wishes had this obtained, there would that event
have been danger That the Of the Representa-
lives "i:ssh from the people, would be check mated
by body removed measurab!y tton their control ard
who might safely bid defiance TO their wishes This
proplsItion however voted down and even by
OF those who most srenuouSy urged the proprty and
duty Of waiting for lights from the people, before
venturing 10 perform the high and Responsible duty OF
cectnr 4 Senator.
We do TO indulge any complaint that the
election has been postponed Some OF US at least voted
for II, from conviction that had been demonstrated,
that the Legislature was constituted as 10 render It
impossible for majority 10 agree upon any individual.
Claiming, for ourselves, 10 have acted according 10
honest and conscientious CONVICTIONS OF Guy IN refusing
to bs accessory, directly indirectly, defeat Of
NJ! R,ves, we have no disposition, even if We had the
right, 10 question, and Do rot To censGre the con-
duct of any who refused Cooperate with us sup
porting him. Recognizing freely and fully
sP7nsbIty 10 constituents and To pubc opinion,
refer Others to the same great tribunals and leave them
20 Justify themselves as they may
Oar main oh rc in this address, is, to present 10
constituents and 10 the country cur own reasons for the
have !e ii to be ou. duty take, aud shall
await their lDfgWent with the calm serenity Of conscious
Iec,lude We no desire 10 abate ot title
OF lie full weight Of responsibility which have
sumed II was repeatedly in power during the cleo
uon by abandoning Mr.. Rlvss, and by throwing
upon John \. Mason Chapman Johnson, t. have
elected either of lhem We could not however,
reconcile it Of duty 10 do so, and whatever
Of credit or blame attaches 10 U.s. willing aud rca
dy to enjoy to suffer 1t all II is. however unqnrs-
tonabiy true. and we beg It will be borne in mind that
The friends Of the other nominees stand in precisely the
predIcuDcnt The friends OF Mr. Mason could, at
any moment have decided the contest in favor Of Mr.
RvcS Mr. Johnson the friends of the latter could,
any .me have decided IT by voting for ir. RveS Or
Judge Mason
We acted in this matter with due deberalion, taking
every step calmly and dspass!onaIely, aud now plead
Justification and put ourselves the country
Seeing that The large body OF the Admn!satIo party,
with which had heretofore acted determined 10
Withdraw their confidence from MIR R;ves, and wiling
and DESTROYS TO cooperate with them, TAR as We
could without Abandonment of principle and duty
anx0usly sought 10 know upon what grounds those
PROCESSING the principles Of the Republican party and
determined 10 sustain the character OF this "Gnlerrihed
Common wealth. could aid IN surreuderIng up orr dis
tIngniSI.ed Senator WIN &. Rives as a victim TO be
sacrificed what called IN debate the altar Ol Inc
bloody i"och Of party. But appealed il vain-n
ACC could be nsanced which forfeited his claims TO Re-
publican orthodoxy. We very became convinc-
tina, Just existed !or the fury aud ancnur
with which he assalst by the sink or SWIM ora
ces IF the Administration party on the one hand, or by
the nlUleranl leaders 0 the lmpracca5le squad That
attacked him from the opposite quarter.
Il l be rccU.eced, that scarcely three years have
elapsed since Mr. RIves recalled 10 the senate "i
Tie Il 5 by that party the Legislature and ont Of 1t,
who now indus,rIousy plotting his downfall -
We would respectfully ask them, what Just expectation
has he not fulfilled: What principle that he ever profess
ed has he deserted; What pledge, expressed or implied
has lie violated: Not onc-no not one. lie has not
failed represent the opinions I" Virginia IN single
particular. and no III the Senate of tae u ) has
been dIgcHt rromgt. energetic able ani intrepid
in defending the principles maintaining the interests
and asserting the rights OF the people .! Virginia. II
is indeed SGpsrt"d that 10 his zeal Tor the county he mas
no, been sufficiently mindful of the interests OF his par
" IL is thought. that resisting The behess OF the
Executive he has been devoted 10 the duty he owes
his constituents. the people o: Virginia. than to pro-
noting the triumph and adding 10 The power aud impor
Of the President. 'Thc head aud front Of his Of
Tending hath this extent-no more Many OF those
who with Pnarasaical humility, claimed 10 b. the espe
cra representatives. Of the Republican party IN the lc
GisCtnre declared that they did not oppose The re cleo
ton Of Mr. R'ves III consequence Of his difference Of
opinion with them and the President the leading
measure OF the Administration, the Sab Treasury expe
dent Indeed ii has been announced eE caedrd by the
organ Of the ''snk or SWIM party IN Virginia. that MI
Rives would have received the united support of that
party, notwithstanding his hostility 10 the course OF the
Administration The subject OF the finances, provided
they could hnve been satisfied he would have supported
the Administration in all other things
Whether such pledge, under any circumstances,
would lave been consistent with the character OF
Virginia Senator and proper 10 be required by the IT,
gslaiure. or any part Of il, the condition OF their
support, will refer 10 the Judgment Of The public
We confident that no man, properly Imbued with
the spirit Of freedom, duly impressed with the sacred
duties and solemn responsibilities Of representative
of the sovereign State Of Virginia in the Senate Of The
United States would ever require such pledge justify
any man aspiring TO that station in making H. We trust
that the Senate OF the United States will never be hum
bed into The condition Of political unlo to regis
The edlcs Of the President; and instead Of being
II designed by It's organization, the guardian OF the
rights of the States their sovereign capacity, dcgTad
ed into prvy council OF the Executive, acqui-
esciDg in his demands with the humble submission Of
Eastern dvan TO the orders of Asiatc despot-
We satisfied that many of those who raised The OBJ
lection We now considering, would revolt at the inn
pua,ion that they wished demanded any such hum