Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-04-24
To ruE EprroRs OF THE wu,o.

A UNVElLED-Jas. Do,o,H. ESQ
or Roekbrdge.
On Friday last, the first day of our Superior
Court, a political rencountef came off nj I, yineton
In the presence OF a large number Of citizens, De
tween JAS. Mcdowell and A. II. III. Stuar, Fso,,.
the opposing candidates for Congress in this District
IL IS due TO both gentlemen TO say, that thew acouit-
ted themselves well, though the palm of victory wa,
awarded by the Wings TO Mr.. Stuart: whiIs Mr..
McDo"elPs friends, 50 far as | could learn, did not
even pretend that he had gained any laurels in the
conflict The prominent subjects of debate were a
National Bank It's constltulonalIty and expedien-
cy, and the Distribution questionable. Stuart adj
vocating both these measures, ard MIR. Mcdowell
as enormously opposing them. i do not write,
however, 10 give you a sketch of the debate. hut In
apprse you Of u monstrous Jacobinical doctrine
before unheard OF in Virginia, which was boldly
promuIged and advocated by MIR. McDowelL-
Conscious that he had not advanced his cause A sim
gle hairs breadth by the discussion, Mr.. McDow-
ell, towards the close Of the debate, avowed himself
the advocate Of the doctrine Of Instruction in it,
most unlimited extent, and, hoping TO corner Mr..
Stuart, remarked that he would give wav IN his
competitor 10 explain his sentiments upon that sub
JeGt Mr. D Immediately sprans from his seat, and
told the people, that having no conceaImen,s 10
make, he would declare his sentiments with plea-
sure, upon that and every other topic. He then re-
marked that, while the wishes Of his constituent.
would always receive The most respectful considera-
ton nj his hands, and while their will would he M.
rule of action IN matters Of mere erpedieney. he held
the Constitution, which he would swear TO sunport
# elected their representative, TO be of ,mouni
obligation, and that he would neither violate I, No,
commit an act OF moral turpTtude, though instructed
TO do so by every man, woman and child in the dis
trict rather than do such a deed, he would sever
his right arm from his body, or die in his seat
This manly ayowal by Mr.. s., which wa. made
with great energy, produced a profound impression
upon the crowd, and extorted a warm burst of an
plause. Mr.. Med, torely chngrined az his discom-
future, on resuming his remarks, commenced 4 seysr.
criticism upon MIR. StuRTts exposition OF his views
In which he took occasion 10 say that he would obev
any instructions which his constituents might send
him that the People were the sovereigns of this
country, and their representative but their agent :
and that when he swore 10 support the Consttu.
lion, he swoIe TO support Il, according 10 his view
Of the theory of our Government, IN toha,v,r s,n,,
a majority Of his constituents might al anu future
time put upon az As soon rs he made this avowal,
Mr.. Stuart again sprang 10 his feet, and asked MIR.
Mcdowell, with a view OF testing the principle.
whether he would vote for a bill for nm estabisbed
religion, or abollshIng slavery In Virgin a, or for re-
pealing the tariff, aud supporting the Government,
by a direct tax upon the Van Buren, men Of the
district, Il, in tho event Of his election, he should be
instructed 70 that effect 10y a majority Of his consti.
tuentsi This was q poser: MIR. Mcdowell Tel: il.
and was mum! Answer that question. Mellow
ell - shouted a drunken Locofoco, in The crowd: "I
know you can answer IT," But Mr.. Mcdowell was
still mum, and, instead Of answering the question,
went OF into some transcendental political meta
phi ysict, TO prove that when he svyore 10 SUPPORT the
Constitution, he swore to support IL, not according
To his OwndcNbotaic conviction Of It's meaning, but
os a mere majority Of his c InstItuents might here
after interpret IL, and expressly scouting The idea
that he would ever resign, declaring that resigna.
ton was often the worst mode Of defeating the will
Of the dear people, or II deprived them OF a repre-
sentative when his vote was most needed.
Now, what say you, Messrs. Editors, TO this ncs
theory, utterly at war with common senst-th
theory Of the Constitution, the structure Of our go
%vornment, the very nature Of a solemn oath, end o
The representative t~rust-whic virtually rep nli
the Constitution, destroys all The safeguards which
our fathers had provided against rash ~ltgisla'ior
and the oppression OF the minority by fdctious ma
Jouties-w hich shocks the moral stntimtns O
every unbiased mind, and converts the Government
from a limited, Con s]tiiui0nat Republic, into an un
limited, Eifeitus Dtspottsm, winch. Mr.. Jefferson
tells us, - not The sort Of Government we Tough
tort Connect This monstrous notion with Mr.. Ne
DOwelPs advocacy Of Dallas Charter Breaking, an,
Of the Maryland RtVolutionists, and you have be
fore you a Jacobin mtsisd, striking, with impiou
hand, OF the fundamental principles Of rational L.
berty and Of free Constitutional government itself
II IS due TO the Locofocos Of this county 10 snv
that almost 10 a man, they reject, with scon on,
adherence, this monstrous doctrine. They saw IN
true Republican rule is, not to violate your oath 4
support the Constitution, but 10 obey or resign
What says old Father Richie TO this move doc
trine7 What soy the Republicans Of Eastern VII
ginia1 Can any man aVow such horrible no,ivns
the Old Dominion, without cutting his political ia
gular from ear 10 earl What say you1- Stuart
election is certain. A SPECTATOR.