Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-17

sentation Of The state lad been divided, and the
member who found himself in the minority, felt
himself inpellcd by n sense of duty, to invoke
the interpOsition of hls constituents, il would
seem that both in Justice to them, and in candour
to his colleague, some notice of such inten, ion
Should be given TO him, that no too might be-
prepared 10 exhibit his views of the subject upon
which the differences of opinion had taken place;
or at least that the resort should be had at such
| a period of time as would leave II within the
reach Of possibility for his representations to be
received by their common constituents, before
they would be compelled To decide on The merits
of the case.
The fairness AMI propriety of this course of
proceeding must be obvious that il is difficult
to conceive the propriety of any other. Yet
| il presents another Inconvenience which must
necessarily result from this practice of appellate
| Legislation. When one of the senators from a
state proclaims to his constituents that a particu-
lar measure, or system Of measures which has
received the vote and support of his colleague,
are psrnicious and destructive to those interests
which bot, are bound by the most sacred of ties,
with zeal and fidelity to promote the dcnuucia-
ton of the measures amounts to little less than
Il Remuneration of the man. The advocate of a
policy thus reprobated must feel himself summon
cd by every motive of self defence TO vndicate his
conduct: andi his general sense Of his official d-
tics would bind him to- the industrious devotion
4
| session, the hours which he might be forced to
employ for his own Justification, would ofcourse
| be deducted from the discharge Of his more re
guar and appropriate functions. Should these
occasions frequently rccur, they could not fail
to- interfere with the due performance of the
public business. Nor can forbear 10 remark
the tendency of such antagonizing appeals to
distract the councils of the state in its own e-
gislature, to destroy its influence, and expose it
10 derision, in the presence of its sister states
and TO produce between the colleagues them
| selves mutual asperitics and rancors, until the
great concerns of the nation wouli degenerate
into the puny controversies of personal uitcica-
ton.
1t is therefore with extreme reluctance that
enter upon this discussion In developing my
own views. and the principles which have go.
vcrned my conduct in relation to our foreign af-
fairs, and particularly to the embargo, some,
very material differences iu point of fact well
;r, of opnon will ne found between my state
| mcnts, and those of the letter, which alone
apologize for this. They will moi, | trust, be
deemed in any degree disrcspecliui 10 the yri-
tor Far more pleasing would i. have been TO
me, could that honest and anxious pursuit of
| the policy best calculated TO promote the honor
and welfare of our country, which. l trust, is
felt with equal ardor by Us both, have resnitcd
in the same opinions, ana have given them the
vigor of united eXeriion. There is candor and
libcraIity of conduct and of sentiment due from
associates in the same public charge, towards
each other, necessary to their individual reput;i-
ton, to their con,RGn influence, ana 10 their
public usefulness. In our republican govern
tncnt, where the power Of the nation consists
alone in the synpathics of opinion, this rccipro-
| cal Difference, this open hearted iinputaton OF
honest intentions, is the only admnant at once
attractive and impcnetrable, that can bear, IN
shattered, all the thunder of foreign hostility.
1 l. D. y =
national councils, have extended it 10 every
department of the government. However dill
fcring in my conclusions, upon questions of tie
highest moment, from any other man, of wbate.
yer party, have never; upon suspicion, nnpu-
ted his conduct to corruption. If this confidence
argues ignorance of public men and public af
fairs, 10 that ignorance must plead guilty.
know, indeed, enough of human nature, to be
sensible that vieiant observation is at all times
and that suspicion may occasionally become ne
cessary, upon the conduct Of men in power
But know as well that confidence is the only
ccmcut OF an elective government. Election
IS the very test of confiicnce-and its periodical
return is the constitutional check upon its abuse
OF which the electors must ct course be tie sole
Judges. For tic exercise of power, where man
is free, confidence is .inlispeneable-and when II
oce totally fails-when the men to whom the
people have committed the application of thei,
force, for their benefit, are to be presumed the
viiest of mankind, the very foundation of the So
Cial compact must be dissolved. Towards tho
gentleman whose official station results from the
confidence OF lie same Legislature, by whose ap
puintincnt have the honor of holding siiriis,
trust, have thought this confidence peculiarly
iuc from me, should / notice his letter not
wthstanding the Interpretation il so obviously
implies, at the course which have pursued in
relation 10 the subjects OF which it treats iii ii
l,ot appear TO me calculated to produce u;on
1.-THE n'rhiic In,nd, impressions unfavorabie to Che
| rights aud interests Of the nation.
! Having understood that motion In the SCI,
ate of Massachusetts was matt by YOU, re-
lqucsting the governor to transmit MIR. Picker
ing's ietcr 10 the legislature together with stcI
communications, relating to public affairs, a
he might have receives rom me, avail myself
ofti'at circumstance ans, of the friendship which
has so long suDsi,' ed between US 10 take HE IL
berry of addressing its letter. intended for pub
LEGATION, TO you Very few OF The flcts which |
snail state viii rest apon information peculiar c
myself. Most Oh them will stand u.on the basi,
otoiiicial documents, or OF public AID undisputed
| iotoriciy. For ms opinions, though full, per
suaded, that even where differing from your own
they "a meet 'tt,i fair and LIBERAL Judge in
You, yet OF Tie public | ask neither iavor nor in
diligence Pretending TO no extraordinary
credit from the authority o.. the writer, am sen
Sib'c ti'ey mast fall by their own weakness, or
stand by their owl. strength
The first remark which INJURIES itself upon
the mind on the pCrCsaI %! Mr.. Pickeripe's les-
ter Is, that III cnumeraiug all the pyetenccs flor
&c THINKS there are c2uscs) for the embargo.
anil 4 WARMTH &. b. nc has totally omitted fi,e
british orders Of council of Nov. H. 1906 those