Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-10
vIR GINA LEGISLATURE.
SPEECH Uf MIR. BAYLY,
ed in the House of Deieoatcs, on tie 81


In addition TO all this came here and so did the
other two lmpractcablcs, pledged, as have sa'd I'M
der peculiar circumstances, not 10 vote Tor Mr. Rvcs
in any contingency. say under peculiar circum-
stances, and so was rs short recital Will shew III
the Spring Of 1898 predicted before the people OF ac-
conac that, at the next session of the General Assem-
bly,, Mr. Rivps would BE the Wing candidate for the
Senate. told them al the onset that could not I'M
der any circumstances, be brought to his support In
der this declaration elected with uncommon una-
nmity in despite of opposition came here last WI
ter, and the then pursued is familiar To llis
House and the country. For my refusal to vote for
Mr.. Rvcs, was put under the ban of the party with
which had 50 long acted. In ~ord, was denohnc-
ed hs, Inthe face of this denuncation went home,
and not only found opposition To me- but found no
disposition existing to get up opposition Even those
relentless enemies Of minc, who have pursued me with
fcndish malrnity ever since entered public lie,
for while smotiered their hate, only Tor time, as
knew 10 break out again the first favorable occasion
when there should be any chance of its gratItlcatIon
But saw the progress of events. knew MIR. RIvcs
would be lie favorlte of The Wing party this winter.
also knew, that if did not surrender my opposition
tn him, every effort would be made TO destroy me-
Knowing ali this determined not to return here, as
the representative of the county of Accomac, without
the most distinct understanding between my consttu
cnts and myself that was to pcrsevere in the course
pursued last session therefore, IT April court
which was m,nth before the election, addressed my
constituents. Informed them of all these things
told them every ,hng which had done here, their
representative, in the election of Senator. told
them if | was reelected, | should pursue the same
course again. and that IN possible crCRt, could vote
for Mr. Riyrs | requested them, If they did not wish
TO pursue this course, 10 bring out opposition to
and lei the question be tried before the county. No
opposition was brought cut, and was elected. Since
that time, nothing has occurred 10 induce to believe
That any change has taken plac" in public sentiment in
my county. On the contrary, declare, that up to the
time left home, did not 4 single man who wish
ed me To vote for MIR. Rvcs. Under these clrcuns'an
COS put il TO any candid man, whether | could
have voted for Mr.. VIM. c. Rvrs, and preserved my
personal honor: Sir, maintaiu, that the representa-
tive duty OF rejecting til" vii; of constituents, IS an
idle boast, if delegate, elected rndcr solemn pledges
may, upon conjcctural change Of public sentiment
without instructions or any pHtence OF instructions,
either specific or constructive, violate those pledges
My constituents knew my devotion TO the Right
of Instruction, and if any charge in the aspect OF
public affairs had modified their opposition 10 Mr.
Rivcs they knew perfectly well how they could control
me. Bat they did not attempt 10 do 1t: and did mol
choose ~ trDcyimsat upon Their wishes | knee" that
they were opposed Mr. Rves last spring; and, If they
have Chan 5ed III this respect mol informed Of IT,
Nay, do not believe they have cliangrd-ior nothing
has occurred 70 authorize such change. That some
of the busy politicians have changed do not doubt;
but that tho PEOPLE have, deny
Coming here pied red under these circumstances,
have felt that could not vote for Mr. Rvcs without IN
curing personal dtshunor. Gentlemen tel me iat
ought not TO have gwen these pledges. They express
Their establishment that ! did 50. Well, Sir, II may
have been indscreet have made them; but did II,
and was elected under them. Yes, Sir, did give
these pledges; and, what have doCbt will surprise
some gentlemen very much, not only gave these
pledges hn haEs rea is G thfn have Rak yqfa
stand not because have prejudice against alr H.
PERSONAL---VERY., | act from higher motives FOR mn
personally have feelings but OF respect or,
a., IL n dad lr
racter gentleman, at time when some OF those
who are caInorous in praising him. did little else
than heap upon him the most vulgar defamation My
opposition 10 Mr.. Rivcs is public man-as p"l''I-
tcian
Finding !, impossible to cooperate with the Wings
in clcctinr Mr.. RVCs, what cours" have we TAKEN
Holding, from the position of parties the election III
orr hands what has been conduct: Have We al
tempted to dictate candidate 10 either Of The t"o
rrcat parties between which We stand 30, SIR; Dnt
on the contrary, have declined TO propose candi-
dat. at all We have felt that it would be indicate
in ms to attempt Ia force candidate upon party I'M
willing to give him Their support. We have f't, not
ONLY that it would be ndcicae to attempt to force upon
either party a candidate who might be dstasicui to
them but we have thought that II would Gc unjust To
such candidate himself 10 compel party 10 yIc!d 10
linn a reluctant support. | confident, SIR, that
there is no one whom | would have taken any IN.
terest in promoting, who would have consented
To such drrradaton: For with my views of the
subject degradation should esteem it. ! hold,
that no man should consent to serve IN public
cmpovmcnts who docs not possess the confidence OF
the party clcya.ing HIM and in whose support it docs
NOT take an interest. ~ under other circnnstan-
re- cru hr useful. Every energy OF his mind would
he ,ra,nn,clrd he would pursue his course will! :he
uncertain tread and atcring step Of one groping ms
way IN the dark. 4 para'yzIRg fear and caution would
ever hcstt him. and render hn second 10 inferior men,
cmboldcucd b. The confidence of synpaihlsing con-
slitucncv We have not proposed candidate our
sclvcs-wc have not occupied the nEcnvabc condition
of being anGerson upon the fortunes OF any man.
we hay. not drawn ourselves III moody sernncsS ana
told the house this shall you elect, or no body
M SIR. no: very different from this has been "rr
course We have dealt openly and frankly with the
Wb; marty from the beginning. We have had no re-
serve. We have not attempted bluff or bully We
have told them firmly, but calmly, Z" We cannot vote
for Mr. Rves-we are pledged to our constituents not
To do it, But select any body esC-we care not who ne
;s-we impose but one condition and that Is that he
should be man of good character and of similar po
tics 10 our constituents, and we Will vote TOR h;n =
This has been our course What has been the course
Of The Wing party They have said TO us we care
nothing for your foolish scTuples-we 40 NOT resalu
vour plcdgcs-we do not sympaihisc with you IN your
difficulty on this subject is grand stroke OF policy
Expedency must determine these matters Parties
must not be too rigid in their virtuc-and above all,
they must not oppose dry and abstract principles, as
unTofabe as Falstas honor, 10 the prospect OF OBJ
Won, solemn plcdrcs-you must sacrifice your own self
respect, or you shall be- hunted down by the blood
hounds of party Rather than submit TO such tyranny,
we have calmly resolved to incur the risk oil potcai
mmoation Firm in this purpose, we have kept the
party at bay up TO this time.
After exhaustng every appliance of persuasion ana
threat with the view of forcing from our stand, The
House was adjourned last night, to aford an opporu
nifty Of eficcting compromise caucus OF inc " h,e
members was called was urged TO attend IL. Al
first declined, saying that there was no occasion iof
NV doing so that | did not care whom the wings
should select, would vote for him, unless he was
obnoxious to the same nsuperabe objection But
Welded TO urgent solicitation, and did attend as
spectator was there spectator, because did not
choose to 90 into meeting composed OF gentlemen'
who had shown Indifference, 10 use no stronger
term, TO my feelings and principles. had another
motive-I had not been in Wing caucus for
some time past, tina. whatever disorder might pre-
vail was not attributed to You know, SIR what
sort of harmony prevailed last night. Fortunately
was not of the mceting-for, had been, upon my poor
head all the blame would have been cast rclo'ce,
now, that did attend. How were we treated there:
One of the first movements made was this: Here Mr'