Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-12-03
10 RAD r5i.s;,s as IIssil4


Ps.tss-crnss.,-1As ,isssssl Assss.aa5 ~, lie s.,s
Il tiods seassasd ia July lest psss.d spssisi act p.s
sssibsg the uns. psos aud manner Of s!sotng Repre-
ssnAsvs In Coassss. by tho second section of said act
o. snsetsd .,hst tho rvturgs Of said election shall be
made the Secretary Of State Who shall count On. .su.
the expiration Of thirty days aer tho election and GER
y tho resu the Governor Of this State who shall COM
msion he person receiving the greatest number II yo,s
The Yale Congressional election having occurred ON tho
sx day Of October b~eame the duty OF t. Soer,,,r,
Of STATE. To canvass the madeo him. ON tho sixth
OF November On the evening Vt the eleventh. had the
homer to receive from the Secretary, commission from
His EIe-ieney the Governor, TO be the Representative Of
the State Of Florida In tho twenty ninth Congress VI the
United States.
Undsnisndins. hossvs that full returns from ,everal
portions Of the Stats had received NJ the S<ete
ays Office and that doubts entertained whether
maj er u the entire pots ct the State for M or
Tor the able and distinguished gentleman, who my com.
peor for your favour the late election have DELAYED
an acceptance Of the commission rendered by Co
vernon. hoping that full aud eompsts would BY this
time Ice rcreivod.
Cons'eS, convene. on the frat day Of Dscsmser aud
the ne has arrived when Ia necessary your Repre-
sentative to set out Tor Washington to be poet the
opening oi the session learn from the Secretary Of STATE
that the returns received, since the 9th Instant would
computed Affect the result, and that the msoriiy still
In my favour Under iheso circumstances, deem IL my
duty To notify the Governor Of acceptance the COM
mission.
attribute nadver,anee or ininforrn.tion In.
positive assertion. contained in the last number Of the
leading organ Of the Democratic party, that official re-
urns. enough give Mr. Brockenbroug msjority have
been seceved by the Secretary since the cer6caie was
Issued" 10 myself Such is the fact have ina.
joriy and my information from different etons of
the State 10 sucl as TO satisfy me that shall have ina.
o1y when returns shall have been nadc and
from every precinct in each county ia the State.
Since doubt has been expressed by any portion Of nv
fellow citizens to my right Congress would
unhesitatngy, were consult feelings, r,sien
ell claim the distinguished honor Of being your Repre-
sentative twoud anrd me the highest personal eraif.
cation To submit the matter again To the people. But be-
erng, ns scernnly do, that elected IN law and in
ac feel that IL would DO offering indRnity to nv
fellow citizens, 10 refuse TO accept honor which hsvo
just asked at their hands.
That am legally eaiiilsd 10 seat in IN. men, c,,,,o.
oil the u 81 seems TO there be no doubt Accord
ing to my understanding OF the law and frm what deem
proper appfcc alton OF Saie.righs and State indepen
dence and sovereignty is competent for Congress TO
disregard the Broad Seal OF the State Of Fods and an
express enactment OF her State Legislature For good aud
sueent reasons our Legislature, ut the last session Of the
General Assembly, thought proper pass law declaring
that the returns Of the late Congressional election should
be made to the Secretary of State whose duty il wa. IN
canvass the same At the expiration Of thirty days And
was made the duty OF the Governor Of the State to com
mission the having the greatest number of yot.s
In compliance with this law the Secretary aud Governor
pho are "a. political tiends Of opponent Mr.. Brock
enoToush, have done their duty. I received from the
Secretary commission from the Governor which was
not demanded" by me, but SENT because, by The law
was entitled To IL
IL IS now eontsnded that the time, prescribed by the
law too short to give the inspectors from some Of Ia.
precincts OF the State an opportunity OF forwarding the
returns 10 tallahassee vi this the members OF the Lee
gisaure are the best judges and IL may not be
to observe that pspc aud letters Of date rs late as the
sishfsn OF October received by regular mail from
hey West. prior ID The expiration Of the go dsy."
VIII sgee that rome fims should be fixed within which the
returns should be made-ese the door will bs tbroxn
open tor the perpeaon OF frsuds and could no, be de-
ermned who has "the greatest number of vote. and
who is elected The Legislature has prescribed this Tins
and limited il thirty days II 10 too short and ineon,
venience result from the law it is fault and or
nothing to do
As have already said, feel equally convinced that an
impartial investigation OF the polls will show that have
decided majority Of oil the legal votes cast q. the late
ton.
Under these circumstances have no right to suffer mr.
sc 10 De influenced by desire TO be relieved an en-
barJssng position aud thus subject you trouble and
he STATE 10 the expense OF new election. The official
returns up TO this date show msjory my favor and
have no night 10 deprive you OF the services OF Repr.
sentative IN Congress because is rumored ihst will
some lime or other. be discovered that not the Peo
pies choice, especially when have reliable Indignation
which induce, m, to believe that the result caanot be ysr
ed. $3.50
So long as continue your Representative shall faith
fully and diligently attended the duties Of my oee-dc
Young my time and energies exclusively your interests
and the sdvaneemont prosperity Of our yonne
State beg that may not be considered by any a. rho
Representative Of parry but Of the whole people Nv
fellow citizens throughout tho of the State sLaey
or nlsy be their political differences opinion are nv com
su,nens and os such may Of right claim my
the law Is bad one State Legislature should re-
peal 70. II evil and result from IL tbay
should DO remedied BY State Authorities and not by
any department OF the Federal Government. What frend
or advocate Of the doctrine OF State Rights can brook the
idea Of The Congress OF the United States undertaking 10
declare the election laws OF State of hi,
Union, unwise, impO.uc announcement! If Coneres,
has The night to do this, IN may in another
IL II declare and determine what 4. prooer an, s.ne
dient IN regard Ia returns may declare that vote,
after the expiration Ut the Iime within which the election
was directed 10 be held by State laws shall be
eonhied-that voters who apply after polls shall have
been closed at The time prescribed by State law shal
be allowed 10 record their The argument that
The wiil o. The people may be defeated" applies with
- much orcr 10 this that of returns received
after the Tune which the directs them to be
Zach House OF Congress has right Judge of the ec
uon returns and qualifications OF its own membets bu,
the rule OF deeisoH should be that prescribed by the Sc
Veral States So in regard the Representatives in Con.
gres, Stale may, by law or constitutional provision add
TO The qualifications prescribed in the constitution OF the
oned States aud Congress respect the State aw or
the STATE constitution different doctrine rule of con-
suuenon' would, IN INV esmson be palpable violation
81 the first principles OF SIai.5 Rights.
cannot close TIN. short address without an expressiop
OF my most heartfelt acknowl, for the Kind Do
Likeness which received from my fellow citizens in every
portion of the State during la:e canvass From PEN
sacola 10 ST Augustine experienced from all parties un
bounded tokens oi that generous Hospitality which the
Southern people are desrrvedy distinguished To the
most OF you WAS stranger, yei, wherever had tie
pleasure o! going, Whigs aud Democrats seemed to vi.
with zach other In extending every courtesy ciyilI
~ and Luc.leared kindness For this cannon be To-,
grateful and can only hope repay yon by rendering 90
you aud country every service m nv power a.
public man or private citizen.
Very respectfully,
Your obi ry't