Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-20
pYYKRRED PROCEEDINGS.

SATURDAY, Oct IL, 1867.
Mr. wYNDHAH ROBERTSON, of the city Of Rich
mend said he rose not without. natural emotion,
10 exerc &C. for the last tue his privilege Is member
of this body.
The House il, perhaps, aware that meeting re-
Gently held in this city which passed resolutions in
structDg the city representatives TO support the bill TO
regulate prices, or, il they could not 10 resign Their
seats The meeting ia said 10 have been large one !;
but belivng il TO be very certain that it not
ority of the voters of the city, (Which alone can
horitatvey speak the voice Of the city, nor probably
more than small proportion of them, 1 should have
felt difficulty in declining 70 obey the Instructions If
majority their alternative. inviting to resg
The views, however, which understand u be held by
nv co rep esentativcs and the course hsy deegn t.
pursue, will constran to adopt q dfferent course
which could otherwise have taken. j understand my
tao colleagues TO concur in believing that a ma
ody Of constitu ncy ID Ia favor OF the bill TO
regulate prices and will for H. aud Senator to
hold the instructions referred To bndirg unless hsre lie
some action taken by Il citizens to show the contrary
week has now elapsed without any such action hav
ing been taken. 1t is apparent them that if tue vote
were now taken that should be placed seemingly, aud
perhaps really, in tie alb ence of any c0unterincca
ton OF opinion 10 the position OF misepresentiug my
cons,itueu on measure Of vital portance, by
ting against bill which the three other representatives
of The city would by their y0es declare be 10 their
opinion violation Of the will OF the city oppose.
This ia posilion prefer not W be placed 10. recog
Mise fully cir under system OF Government the duty
of the representative 10 obey the constituent will,
resign. OBEY that will when it would require me to vote
FLOR The bill in question, Though II were the will Of clear
majority, or OF the whole constituent body, /
would not ! view it as Pandoras Dor, full to the
brm Of evils aud suffering 10 the whole community
but most vi al Of calamity aud distress unsp .4kabe TO
this city, will noe con,ri1nts TO life its fatal lid. Ny
reasons it would NOT be proper or beco nog hese aud
nov to enter into conclude, therefore, TO resign ny
seat.
part from you at a moment OF great ihtefest-when
the two great sntsgonstic systems Of Force aGd Of
Moderaton stand face 10 face aud about rushing
together in fearful coLh Ct 10 my vev the spirit of
Drsco seems to inspire the onelhe mixer genius Of
Scion or Of Burke to preside the other. The one
seem. iouade1 ON the idea thai mans tendency is 5,
slroag TO rebel ugains. the performance Of bis publ
aud private obi ga ions. that force and coercion mu
be perpelu.y appealed 10 10 enforce them the oher,
that his is essentially good, aud demands only
Just tres ment TO from him the general per'orG
Of his daes, as we'll TO the public ~ 10 indisj-
uals Your impressnent bills, your msximums, your
bills for excessive and unnsuaI punishment for violently
forcing trade are OF the former class designed TO
place the mdsr SYSTEM which is that of our present
laws | will not deny thh our changed circumstances
may call for exceptional notifications OF the system Of
peace but that the strong coercive system proposed
will irodnce increased disorder, violence dissppont
meu and final failure, entertain doubt Il would
have been my mission endeavor 10 restrain quail
y TO me derae as far as could this system Of force
confident as am, that the people will never fail
government tina. POUNDS its lass on the presumption
that they are in the main, just honest and patriotic
But the hour the increasing want aud unaccustomed
prvat ons, make men now impatient ard 100 ready,
pernsps TO grasp at anything that may 10 held out
them remedy; and the tide OF pas ion, fear,
threatens 10 prove strong for tie cotnses of mod
GRAFTON, Of wisdtm-perbsps even Of justice
EMr. Speaker--I now close my public life. Some ten
years OF il have been devoted the duties OF this hall
OF Legislature of my native ate. have served here,
cir in hacyon days of peace and prosperity when
ripple disturbed the surface Of that pacific
ocean which the bark of Safe rlnoothly ghded;
or when at most the mock tempcsts Of party aloe
dashed US into Fictitious and transory excitsment-
here, too, during that delusive calm-"th the tor
rents smoohness Il dashed beIow"wbich WAS fo:-
lowed by being suddenly precpisted into thai gulf
OF whrng trials aud troubles with which have been
since struggling. have been here through ell the
real and errt tornado 10 the very heart and centre
Of which still whirling and sufging amid angry
aud raging billows Through all these various Seasons
-of sunshine Of storm, Of peace or Of war--i have
found the Legislature Of Virginia equal to every
occasion and every trial. Il stool ever well up % the
honor and rights Of the State prepared and strength.
ened itself for the coming and inevitable conos which
it yet wisely, though vainly sirove to avert When t
came, II threw tsef into the contest With spbib
manhood, anu uucaculating devotion which lett notn
ing for its friends to DESIRE anything wanlrg % us
fame and which carried and death TO the rank
and CONSERVATION and dismay 70 the hearts Of our s'
miles, Such has been the Legislature OF Virginia re
rolls il l. now playing conc the highest and grand
est and most trying Il has ysthad 70 perform. % IL