Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-06
= Y I%t"O
The R. Wing is requested TO copy.
For The Enquirer.
TO THE VOTERS OF TAZEWELL.


| Fellow-cilizens: AS you will be called on
again, in short time, to choose a representative
in tile Legislature, il seems 10 be my duty 10 give
you a short statement of my acts during The ale
session, in order that you may consider whether
you will continue me in The appointment Tor
which am again candidate, or Will transfer
| your confidence - another.
In the statement which propose 10 make, you
can expect nothing bu, plain description OF those
| important acts on which | was called 10 vote
! As new member was content 10 listen, and 10
Judge from the besl information within my reach,
| the effect which measures would have upon your
interests that was my only guide, and II | nave
erred. il will be set down rather 10 my own inca
pacily. Than 10 want OF faithful attention to the
interest of my constituents have learned,
with some surprise, that my vote on the South
Western Road has been complained OF; and this
is the more remarkable, since il is well known,
that before my election, and throughout the can
yass declared myself in favor OF the road; and
when lett for this place. announced my intention
10 support it, No objections were made, and no
instructions given me TO do otherwise, hence, !
was fully authorized 10 believe that my course
was in accordance with your wishes. Under
such circumstances, | submit TO my tellow-cili-
zens Of Tazewell whether they will tolerate an
objection thus gotten up by designing men,
d
course lie could from the lights before him
ard this, 100, after every representative from
The county for the last nine years, when his
subject had been before the Legislature, (with
the exception oil MI immediate predecessor, who
did NO; vo:e against i'd had voted in the same
way, and on two occasions for railroads at least
six times as expensive, without complaint. In
addition 10 which, every member from The South
west voted with me. w hy is il, then, that am
the first 10 be attacked Sirs, The reason is TO be
found ia that irordnac thirst that gentlemen IN
Inc county have Tor preiermen; but The vote was
right, as think for the following reasons: IN TIE
first place the Stale has, al great expense: con-
structed the James River Canal, and, so iar, Ii
has proved very Improbable; the general opinion,
however seems 10 b., that il The canal were ex-
tende, farther and il roads were opened 10 enable
distant sections Of the connify 10 bring Their pro-
dnce TO the canal il would be worth something 10
The State In The second place, lhousnt mai Inc
people cr Tazswell were interested IN The con.
struction OF Ibis Road, because II would afoId
them a convenient means OF se,tlnS 10 clalhel;
and that, whilst The Road was Under constructor,
The public money expended upon u woulo 10
some extent, afford them marker lor lheir s'ocK
and provisions as however, his ROAD can only
be completed by annual appropriations, thought
,ha, if YOU did moi approve my vote, II would be
only necessary that you should express your dis
appreciation. and your Representative would vote
against the tulnre appropriations. You VIII re-
member, that the appropriation 10 Inc South~es.-
ern Road tras already IN the IreasuTy-and u
seemed 10 me, that as il would be expended |
Dpe,cllere, :. would be more TO your advantage |
and 10 ha u hl Sta:e generally, that il should be
applied 10 make This Roadthan 10 any other WORK |
before The Legislature.
In that view voted against proposition To APP |
N n 10 tbo m mr.
Roanoke river. because we did not have the mo.
ney in the Treasury, and we should have been |
compelled TO borrow money, or raise The taxes
both OF which would have been injudiciou.
The subject Of Convention has excited much |
interest in The Legislature. The report OF The |
committee on the subject, proposed the organiza-
lion OF Convention on the present plan OF The |
House Of Delegates; 10 which report Substitute
was offered, proposing 10 submit The question 10
The people, whether we should have Conven-
lion, and il SO, on what basis TO be organized.
Satisfied that Convention, as proposed oy Inc
committee would give the East preponderance
that would enable The East 10 fix upon US Con.
slilulon fully as Objectionable as the presents ahh
regarding any other basis Of representation than
white numbers as unjust and improper did mol
hesitate to oppose it and vote for The substitute,
which was lost. thought then, as now do, ihattbe
substitute was right and ought 10 have been adopt
cd-lhal it would have afforded the people an op-
poltunity OF deciding whether they wished Con-
vention, and the principles on which il should be
organized; but The East voted us down. and lear
that their opposition is seriously to retard Inc
prosperity and happiness Of The West Con-
vention We must have, and that on Inc Waite "a
sis. am, however, opposed TO all unnecessary
excitement on The subject. The good sense of the
peop!e will Ultimate, cali IL il, with voice that
The East mus, ard wll heed believe hat all
men were born equally free and independent, and
entitled TO equal rights; and SO believing, can
never consent to the principle on which we are
al present represented But ! am Tor Conren-
ton 10 enlarge the right of suffrage, which IS al
present unjust and anti-Repnbcan. think eve
nv man, with certain residence, &c, over twenty
one years of age should be entitled 10 vote
There are various other changes that would re
beneficial. think the Legislature ought mol 10
meet otener Than every other year, which,
think, would be sufficient, and an immense saw
ing 10 the State.
The Legislature has devoted much attention
10 the subject Of Education, and has left to each
county the choice Of adopting new system OF
common schools or OF continuing The present.
! 10 not think that We are al present in condl-
lion 10 adop, a system of free schools, because
will require considera BILE additional taxation a nd
more population than we possess; besides, in
county so mountainous and broken as TaZewell,
il must be very unequal in its operation; and
doubt whether Il is not better 10 leave The subject
to the people, that they may provide for The edu-
cation OF their children 10 suit themselves
From my own knowledge Of the people, feel
that they are doing all they can 10 secure 10 their
children the best education in their reach and
fear an unpopular system, 10 be supported BY
taxation, would be more apt TO injure than 10 pro-
mole the education OF the people
The late session OF The Legislature is said 10
have been one of The most laborious ever known.
The Committees have been in daily session; and
there has been, in comparison, very little speak
ing. The subjec. Of party politics has been
scarcely mentioned; and 10 see The manner IN
which members associate together, you would
think that Wing and Democrat were laboring to-
geher lcr the good OF The Stale.
Il was no; my intention 10 trouble you with
long address. | mus; leave many other sub
jectr, until | have an opportunity oil meeting with
you, when viii give an explanation Of any vote
you may require.
In the meantime, can only hope that you will
rot Withdraw from me the confidence yon have
heretofore shown, unless 10 bestow il upon some
one more capsbe than myself Of doing justice 10
your Interests.
came before you on The Democratic principle,
that any citizen has a rish; 10 be candidate.
was brought out ~ no caucus nor was elected
BY any wealthy or influential connection. The
people OF farewell bestowed upon me The appoin:-
ment which I now hold, and none bu; the people
can deprive me Of it; and lhop. that after review
ing The course | have pursued as their represen.
tatve, that they will not consider their conf
dence has been misplaced. ! believe 100 strong
" in The justice OF the people, to fear that their
confdt nee, if deserved, will be Withdrawn with
out The fault OF the individual upon whom il has
been bestowed. SAM. LAIRD.
| RICHMOND, March 6, 1916.
SOMETHING CuRlors-The Picayune Of this