Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-27

gu,arly put down by a eompeet an unbroken
part VOTE and the ball passed to its ensrossnen,
tceeiyins the entire vote Of the party. No oae OF
he majority eondsseeaded to defend the ball as a
u hole; on the eon,raTv, many OF the mljonty have
admitted lis unjust, odous and abom'nabe ehsToe
/ ter. The member from Ryehland was batter y or
posed TO the bill. lie said upon the floor that "he
considered the bill, in the shape IN which he was
ecquired TO vote, perfectly ridiculous, injsi. nsi
bic. and a,roeious; but that he vote or !, un
DEE instructions from his constituents" Whit con
/ Stituentsl The dietators Of the Tin Tan. The
| lespousm o. PARTY caucuses prevailed; he dared
nos break the lock step of party; he voted Tor the
| bill. What nm iEon-handed despotsm must that be
which can force men thus 10 vote against the con-
victions Of their own Judgments.
Here, then, was bill monsiTous In its eharae
ter as to be declared indsicns,ble 10y those who
voted for il: bill which d,sTanehised large por-
ton oil the peopc Of the State; bill by which us
authors proposed TO give II tho Wings, embracing
a large majority Of the electors of this State, as Is
demonstrated by tie returns 4 the two las; elce
tion' members OF Consrcss, and secure 70 lie
party now in the aSeendsnt in tho Legislature, 10y
ft'ui, foutteen-,he majority OF the people were
10 he represented by seven, the minority 6y four b
teen This bill, conceived in SIN and brou. hit iir
IN niquity, was about to DC fastened upon the pea
pie OF Ohio IN utter disregard ~ their rights, or
wishes, feelings, by reckless party leaders, under
the Internal agency Of the Tin Pan. What were
the Wing members TO dol Sit tamcly by, nnd
permit this bill TO become a law-this fraud TO be
consummatedl This very majority now possess
their power 10 do mischief by the pcrPerNt'on OF
smilir fraud. The Ubiquitous apporionment Ot
1889 40 was passed by The same party, and TO
secure the same eni-a party majority IN the lie
gislaiure. Thus fraud was TO be heaped upon
fraud, Ia order to obtain a party majority IN Con
sress, as well as in the General Assembly-a party
majority which should misrepresent the wishes and
interests OF great majority OF the electors oil hs
State majority which would 20 against taTii
to rroec, our own laborsrs from foreign eompe'i1n,
and for the c-cStabhshmeSt OF the odlous SUD
Treasury. This, too, was not an ordinary &C; OF
legislation. Il was designed TO remain m force for
ten years, and for that length OF time to prepsiuaie
the political power OF this reckless faction. Had
1t been an ordinary net Of legslai OF, might have
left its condemnation TO the silent iniluencc OF the
ballot box; but this bill disarmed the people them
selves; 1t broke down the power OF the ballot box,
by enab inc the few 10 rule and ruin the many
To retain our seats would render us accessory 10
tie passage Of the bill. Two>thlrds OF each House
are necessary TO constitute quorum to 10 business
the Wing members, therefore, retained their seas
THIS accidental majority OF two could pass this ball
ct denominations; II the Wing members should re-
sign, the two Houses would be left without quo.
rum, and the majority without power 10 pass the
bill To retain our seats, then, ~es to pass the
iil. In thS state OF the case, there was but one
question for as TO determine. We had received
oar present stations from the hands OF n generous
people, and for their benefit. We could no longer
sscure 'ha, object; but on the contrary, longer 10
exercise the poBcr committed TO us was 10 irhie,
gross injustice upon our constituents, and to enable
reckless party to trample under foot their rights.
ID bill was nos passed no injury would accrue 10
the interests of the poop'c or the State.
Under these circumstances, we thought that our
duty representatives, required OF 10 return TO
the people again that power which We could no
longer exercise for their benefit, but TO he used
by others TO their lasting injury. We awaited our
selves Fl the only constitutional mode lei to Of
serving YOU 10y preventing the passage oithis mon
strous measure. We have thrown back the trust
into your hands, and IS now for you TO say who
ther such proposition shall ever become law. We
have appealed from the iron despojsm Of the Tn,
Pan directly TO you, IN whose hands rests all ssi
teal power. ond by whose breah alone we, as
legislators, permitted 10 1--we. In taking this step,
we haze enNously sought Tor the light of truth TO
guide US IA the path Of duty, and we have acted n
full view OF the responsibility resting upon us. The
decision Is now IN your hands.