Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-23

in which nothing designed to be nnknd or was nn
kind in relation to professions of regard for the people
the "dear people My friend was pleased to add "ll
said we all protested attachment to the dear people he
knew no persons who much iattcred and
ed as the dear people," He then went OH 10 draw
picture which he supposed would exhibit in the Spring
when returned to Accomac. And such was my attach
men to the people, that he did doubt thar the
returned home, my greatest wish would be to
large crowd of them, greeting with smiles of appro
baton, which, he said deserved" In my reply,
told my friend that he assumed what remained 10 be
prored-thc very point in debate-that Evans was
titled to the seat. Let the gentleman prove what he
assumes and no would GO farther than would To
defend him in it. Let the fact, that he was rightfny
entitled to the seat be established, and would not sim
ply vote to keep him it, but he should never be oustcd
from it till was Frustrated. assured my friend that
no ono dcspiscd more than did, those whining profess
sons of love for the people, and that no one not
| himself, INDUCED in them less than dd-thcy were
the poor resort Of the miserable demagosuc and were
insults 10 the people whom they were addressed
! invited my friend to pay visit next Spring
he would be at leisure as he had expressed his de-
termination to retire from public life, and no one
regretted that determination more than did, !
told him | should not probably De ut leisure; that
might have opposition; and that II the wishes OF
some persons here consulted, certainly should
have opposition. went on to say that influences here
had never heretofore operated IN Accomack, and did
not believe that they would now The people of that
county in the habit OF thinking tor themselves;
and my friend would come to the Eastern Shore, he
would see me Sat nv work; and undertook TO pre-
diet that hereafter he would say that he had never, in
any canvass-no, not even IN Aloemnrle-seen less
dip scrvice-lesS whining svcophancy. | said that
preferred that the people should rather Judge of my
friendship for them front my vgilan attention to their
busness-by my acts than by my professions. had
found that extravagant professions of friendship
were necessary for in the county in part
presented--I had never made them, and have been
| II l,l
votes in Accomack than any other gentleman had
in county canvasses there, when there opposition
Mr. Speaker, did not lug this subject into the de-
bate did not do it in Boosting manner made
no .foursheS about my eats upon the hustings in Ac
comack | did not defy opposition in my county
DEFY my constituents | owe them nothing bnt graft
tndc for the repeated acts of kindness they have shown
me Bu Sir, though did not defy opposition from
my constituents, TO whom alone am responsible, and
10 whom alone owe allegiance did DEFY or if did
mot do po,c defy all opposition coming from any
other quarter. Sir, mean to discharge my duty here
in such | may think right, utterly disre-
gardng every thing else alike the frowns and caresses
of party but my duty to that people who here
and to whom alone do acknowledge any responsible
y So much, Sir, for the taste of my display.
As to the second part OF the paragraph, have but
little TO say. The writer says that owe my elections
TO the fact that, the people thought me thorough
Wing. 1.-THE people thought so, they must have DIS
believed every thing which has been said of me in the
arain and again assured the county that Uhig;
and those most frequently given upon
the eve of my election last Spring Nevertheless, |
was elected in the teeth of them, 0ad 'ciom opposition,
Notwithstanding efforts were made TO bring out OPPOSE
ton to me. And let me add Mr.. Speaker, (what is
thcr singular circumstance, doubt the Wing
will Think il was the first time | without
very Jealous opposition, though have been elected
four successive times TO this House As long the
Wing praised me- and cared little for its praises then
In,,t lon ~
me, was strongly opposed, and by Hhi"s too: soon
that paper began to cast suspicion upon me- all OPP
position ceased and for the first time! So think |
have nothing to fear from attacks from that quarter
The Wing has darkly limited once or twice Of late,
that in the contested elections which have had I'M
der consideration have been operated upon by impro-
per political basscs-l have been accused of leaning
towards the Administration party. 1t Will be rccol-
ected that there is Wing and Conservative majority
of twelve votes in this House, nevertheless, il Is
fact, that it has almost invariably sustained me in
every proposition which have supported recollect
but one case where was found in minority with the
Administration party; and then it only minority
Of one, the vote being 56-53 On another occasion,
was in very small minority; II was upon motion
of the representative of this city, (Mr. Robcrtson,)
whose orthodoxy the Wing Will not question. So, Mr.
$ if have had an improper leaning towards the, Ad-
mniscaon side has this Opposition House, for 1t
has sustained The charge, therefore, of acting
from an improper bias is applicable to the majority
'''~"'N'N'
bias as viii ever do in OF contested elections;
and hence il is, that am denounced By unprlncplcd
partzans
One word more, Sir, and | have done. | have
departed from rule which have prescribed to my
self, in noticing the paragraph in the Wing. That pa
per has for the last twelve months systematically and
habituay misrcpresencd me; and IT has attempted, IN
the most nsidous manner, to throw dstrust upon my
political integrity; with what Justice, knows
better than YOU, Sir, and my friend behind me (Alr
Ill A also hnvp thpv m tlp
oned shafts But they have fallen harmless at your
feet, as they have fallen at mine. That ! have been
treated with injustice, is not my opinion alone Many
many friends have remarked upon II TO me But, SIR
il gave me no Ii was what expected before
the Senatorial election came on last winter. Nothing
however, which that paper can say, will influence ne III
the slightest degree in the discharge Of my duty much
less affect my political position.
shall report these remarks myself, and request, or
rather require, think have right to do, the Wing
to publish them 1t is almost the only paper circulated
in my county; and should suppose that 1t would not
be guilty of misrepresenng me, and refuse topubish
my reutation Though confess should not be sur
prised if it were refuse to do this act OF justice
Last winter on one occasion particularly, made COM
ments upon some remarks which had submitted to
this House. in which grossly msreprcsented, and
vet declined to publish the remarks the msclves,
though they were reported by their reporter, as know
from the fact that he submitted TO his notes, which
corrected Perhaps ought not to have departed from
the rule for nv own conduct TO which have adrertcd
even in this case; and have done it, not because fear
that any thing the Wing say will impair my consu
ents confidence in me, but because do not choose to
permit 10 represent me saying any thing which may
seem like defiance Of them to whom an under the
highest debt of gratitude. Whenever they shave ceased
to have confidence in me, they will discard me from
their service without the prompting oil the Wing But
repeat of one thing am well assured: the nsrepre-
sentations of the Wing will never destroy that conf
dence which now enjoy, and of which am so Justly
proud never again shall notice the source of this
attack, except under the strongest necessity put IN
conclusion, | my constituents, once, tor ALL
against crcdtng any structures upon my conduct by
the Wing ltrcviews all of my acts through the dis,
orng lens of prejudice and will never do me justice
Mr. Scorr of F. said, this subject is now presented
in tanribIe form-t is now Invested Of all collateral!
and mnaeral matters.
He should address himself TO the question PROFOUND
ed to the serious judgment Of the House. question
resting upon fact which every gentleman couiu uceae
by bestowing a small attention TO the evidence.
He was aware OF the difficulties under which he la