Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-05

most respectable representatives, of the people, the terms
of" The three wise of the East, and many STINT
lar cpithcs of dirson. Surely this is not consistent
with the respect due to honorable men, is
pcctful to the people who elected them the represen
tat'vcs oftleir opinions and wishes.
Will not take upon me- to say, that the ISTrSTioS
OF this proceeding is 10 prejudice these gentlemen be-
fore their consucnts-but the effect of IT, is surely
calculated 10 be such whether 50 intended or not
Without positively making the charge, it yet does
seem 10 be regarded as party dcsidcratnm TO under
rate these gentlemen before the people, whose con!-
dence they have enjoyed; and point has been
tany made and zealously aboured before the country,
int n0n hc three mprdcticdbicS OughttO rest aRd dOS
rest the responsibility Of barring dceated election IF
ScnGt0r.
| All considerations Of political principle entirely
aside, IT difficult TO reconcile with Justice the harsh
anninadversons and grave responsibility cast upon the
lmpractlcabes The injustice done them results doubt
less IN great degree from the of viewing their
position Gpdrt from The circumstances conncctcd ,eHh
Hat position. II these gentlemen had been free
upon their views unbound by any express pledge
Obligation the had been entirely different: they
might then have entered into considerations from which,
as 1t was they preclUdcd. But there arcre cir
cumstanccs attending their position which Justify their
course and consequently shcw TO be entirely unmert
cd all the structures and unkind reflections pass
ed upon them. Let US what those circumstances
were, in the of each of these gentlemen
First, rs to Gen Bayly Al the Time of his election
last Spring, his constituents were much opposed
hir. ltlEeS as zen ID. himself lNey were almost
nimousy lmpracticabcs, 'sof the sraitcst sect On
this point the proof is undoubtcd First the two De-
lcgates from Accomac the previous session, had been
lmpractcablcs. Gen. Bayly had himself made
able speech against Mr. Rives, in which the political
sins of Mr. II. placed in such bold relief, doubt,
less have increased the rcpurancc Of the people Of
Accomac towards Mr.. Rivcs. Under these circum.
stances, Gen Bayly and Mr. Chopper appeared before
their constituents for reclcctionpubcIy proclaiminS
their course the past session. and making the very is
re-eectcd-whout opposition even and have been
informed the best authority, that appeals made
to the people of Accomnc tolerate opposition
Delegates who had proved true the principles their
constituents prof.sScd. Among those who stepped for
ward 10 cheer and approve was the Hon. II A. Wise,
known to possess the Eastern shore popularity
almost unbounded have heard it SAID that Nj.
Wise addressed the people in vindcatom of the
course of General Bayy and Mr.. Cropper-ior this
do not vouch, but certain il is, that Mr. Henry
A. Wise himself sharply rrbukcd by the Rich
mond Wing for his active lmpractcability from
which infer that he, too had taken decided and putt
lie stand against Mr.. Rvcs. The reelection of Gen.
b. and Mr.. C. under circumstances like these, is en-
tircy conclusive show the decided, welconsidercd
opposition of the people of Accomac to Mr.. Rvcs.-
Who then that advocates the igh of Instruction can
properly condemn Gen Bayly for his continued oppo
sition 10 Mr. Rivcs Or, the great fundamental prin
cpc Of instruction ITSELF to be sacrificed At the altar OF
party expedency, and the representative who acknow
guide of his public conduct to bow in submission to the
commands Of party leaders, Surely, those who hold
the doctrine Of Representative responsibility csroP
ped from finding fault with Gen. Bayy.
But secondly, Gen. B. raS ACTUALLY PLEDGED IN
der no circumstances to vote for Mr. Rives And let
il be rccocced, that the pledge given under the
circumstances already mentioned of great excitement
against Mr.. Rves: of public canvass and public con
demnattOn Of his political course and CT the approba-
ton Of Gen. b. past against him. Indeed, the
IF ha been go thOrOu~llV
their principles, that they could not tolerate, and dd
most unequivocally rcpudatc Mr. X. As one who had
committed objectionable political transgrcsslons and
their feeling this subject was well known TO Gen.
B. Continued opposition to Mr.. Rives was therefore
a matter clearly understood and stipulated between
Gen Bayly and his constituents and if men are mo-
rally bound to redeem their pledges, it is difficult To be
seen how Cen B. could have voted for MIR Rves, with
out dslonor TO himself and fragrant outrage upon his
constituents He, indeed, who could under these cir
cumstanccs ask Gen. b. to vote for Mr. r.. would but
ask him to do an act of moral turpitudeto violate
Tenn pedae-to break through those moral obligations
which the foundation Of personal character and the
cement of all social and political institutions. Suppose,
for example, Mr. Southal had solemn pledged himself
10 the people of Abemarl to vote dgaHSt particular
bill or Individual and after taking his seat, should have
been asked to cast his vote for that bill individual,
would he not regard the request as personal lnsulta
the compliance as personal dishonor: Yet, has Gen.
Bayly, for complying with solemn pledge, Tor Keep
fasehood, been moderated and vlIted, rldculed IN
terms surely not the most refined and even carcaurcd
before the country in style neither indicative OF good
taste good feeling nor consistent with the facts OF
his case If the design of all this be to drive General
Ba Wv into retirement surely will not be responded to
by liberal and patriotic He Is very properly re-
rardcd as among the rising young men Of rgnla who
promise TO do her honor He bids fair to become a
most useful Legislator. His public efforts, par'cu.
larly his mastery examination Of Mr.. Rress political
character during the last session, and his able Report
on the slave question the present session, establish
his claim to talents of high order. To sacrifice such
an individual BY series of party attacks, does not con-
ss with public ends; but il is to be hoped his constitu-
cnts will not permit the sacrifice but rebukc the lnlua-
tice done of her favore sons-and resent the UNI
deserved dctraction visited on him.
Secondly, as TO Mr. Smith Of Gloucester. This
gentleman stood in precisely the relation to his
constituents that Gen Bayly did to his He, too, was
pledged to vote against Mr.. Rives, under all cIrcum-
stances, except of actual instruction. Had nc pursued
any other than he did, he would have deceived
his constituents and incurred both personal and repre-
sentative disgrace.
Thirdly, as to Mr. Craiford. He pledged, also,
to vote against Mr. Rves: and many votes were gwen
him on tins pledge and this pledge only. He was re-
quired to make the assurance to The people Of Eliza
beth CITY county at least, and made IT, Had he viola-
ted it, he must have forfeited the respect OF all honor
able men Whether he has truly represented his con
stuents, will abundanty appear at the coming cleo
ton.
But it is said that things changed since the
pledge was given, and it was, therefore, not binding
The reply is obvious pledge, solemnly and publicly
made is a very grave and serious thing man hay
ing proper regard for his reputation, would exercise
the utnos, partculary as to violating it. He would
bv no means break it, unless relieved Of the obligation
to observe it BY the party having the power to granthc
dispensation Was any such dspensatlon granted IN
this case By no means The constituents Of ahese
gentlemen appraised, in common with all others, OF
the progress Of events They knew, that the contest
would be between Judge Mason and Mr.. Rives 1t
known generally that Mr.. Rives had deserted the
Administration party, and yet the lmPractcabies re-
ceivcd no ntmaton from their constituents that Tn.
sufficient penance for his political SINS and entitled
him to admission into the confidence Of the Wings:
They duly warned, that the opinions OF tnGi'
representatives were unchanged IN regard 10 WI
Rves-thcy had the ampcst opportunities Of instruct
ing their Deegates-yet they did It not The conclu
sion is that the pledge was regarded as stu IN t".co
between the parties: To iustrae-lh ne people OF az
oo,,,o, ,,a,, Con Rovlv's the same