Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-20
TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 20, 1863.
The resignation of . representative like MIR

~
Robertson-a man of great usefulness and e1
p~erience, q mar reelected by a large vote Of
the whole people, both in and out of the army,
and reelected for his high qualifications fol
important SERVICES at any time to be deeply
regretted; but when the present condition 0
public affairs is considered, when it is remem.
bere6 that Mr.. Robertson has been forced tc
resign by the action Of q small part of the
people. it becomes q serious matter, which ad
dresses.itscls to the whole people, and demands
a remedy and correction at their hands.
When q representative shows a disposition
to violate q well established measure Of party
policy, or to disregard some great constitu-
tionai principle, it has been customary,
and is very proper that the whole party
or people should express their wishes in
the form of instructions, and the repre-.
sentativeis bound, upon every principle
Of representative government, to obey or
resign. But We presume that upon a
measure of mere cxpediency, q question of
temporary application, upon a subject invo'v-
ing not only the interest and happiness, but
the safety AMI organization Of society, that
nothing short Of a well ascer;ained majority
Of the people, nationally and intclligibly ex-
pressing their opinions, should influence a
representative either to obey or resign. The
mere fact that when n portion of the people
speak their sentiments, that the rest are 81
lent, dee, not imply tia, ali not attending are
to be considered as concurring. Because
half q dozen grasshoppers under q fence make
the field ring with their importunate noise,
while thousands Of great cattle are chewing
the cud in silence, pray do net suppose that
the little insects arc the only occupants Of the
field, or that they ere other than the noisy
and importunate creatures ofthe hour
For this question of maximum Mr.. Robert
son very properly will no; be instructed to vote
eren by the whole people, for the voice of
every man woman and child should not COM
pei q patriotic citizen to do an act tanta.
mount to social incendiarism TO perpetrate
gu act of legalized, but still immoral robbery;
to tear down the barriers OF property to
confound the distinction Of mean tuum, and
70 hand over to three Intelligent and most
patriotic gentlemen. tho property of the whole
State, to be regulated in price by no laws, no
circumstances, but at their nero whim and
pleasure. This maximum law, rcvolutionizins
in the midst Of revolution, will increase the
difficulties aud dangers already upon the
State BY compromising its authorities in do
mestic troubles it will paralyze efforts that
should and would be directed against the en-
envy By depriving citizens Of every just and
proper incentive to ~e1ertion it takes from
the producer the motives that urge him to
labor checks production at the time when the
the largest amount is demanded by public ne.
c~essiss.es, and prudsces scarcity in the midst Of
plenty.
It's adoption by the Legislature of V;r-
ginia will strike down by one blow all the
reputation for sound sense ard discretion OBJ
tanned by our authorities throughout Europe,
When once the great State Of Virginia de-
scends to the. exploded remedy, the temporary
expedient Of the. Jacobin clubs Of Paris, all
her reputation for moderation in government,
for wisdom in council, for patient endurance
of suffering will be gone; the rule of the mob
recognized in it's favor;te measure Of taking ct
its own price the property Of others will be
accepted and received rs the last resort Of o
ruined people. Europe will receive it as d
confession Of ?rostration; cur enemies, rejoic-
ing over the calamity, will point TO it as the
sure indication Of our speedy overthrow and
the glorious victories in Georgia and Virginia
will be received as the spasmodic c5ertions off
dying cause: the flicker Of the lamp ere it goes
out in darkness; the last CLEAN Of the sun ere
the night Of desolaticr and ruin closes around
US.
The misrepresentation Of our physical con.
dition implied by the passage Of this law
of maximum is Of itself as great an
evil as could hefall US at this time
1t strikes down all the glory and all the moral
advantages of the great victories just won.-
OF what use are victories and victorious
to q starving people? And this law Of
maximum falsely implies that we are starving.
Will England be likely to permit the IRON
nigh. have made of them will be denied us
by this confession of want, implied, but false
" implied, in the adoption Of a remedy rccoe-
nized as the last ezpedient Of a people in emil
nent difficulties Of subsistence? Will France
be likely soon to recognize US when her wise
and astute Emperor shall learn that the great
State of Virginia has advanced backwards
from 1863 to 1893, abandoning every principle
recognized as wise and expedient at the pres
ent day for the ~cast-off trumpery Of Jacobin
folly? Will Maximilian hasten to take up
his residence with only the barrier of a people
confessing themselves to be starving, between
his new dominions and his implacable foes in
the United States And lastly, viii the
United States, though its armies IRE coopcd
I'D in Washington and Chattanooga. be likely
N abate their efforts or become discouraged
when they learn that under the mandate of a
few hundred of the people Of Richmond, the
Legislature Of Virginia has passed a law fix
ing the price Of peas and rotstoes2 Will it
not excite the commisscration of our friends
and the contempt Of our enemies:
Will the people Of Richmond, now that the
city occupies the most prominent position of
any city in the world, attracting tho atten-
ton, exciting the sympathy and eliciting here
tofore the admiration of oil civilized people,
hermit her fair fame for intelligence, wisdom,
moderation, discretion, all, to be compromised
by this resignation of Mr.. Robertson under
#. ~,n5ote of this public MEETING. which we