Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-07

house Of representatives, and the latter only 10
the senator's Of the U. States. But | do not
rely exclusively on this recognized distiction 1
dispute at once the right of the legislature 10
issue a mandatory instruction to the represen.
tatives Of the people. Such a right has no foun.
dation in the constitution, in the reason or ns.
ture of things, nor in the usage ofthe Kentuc.
ky legislature. Its exercise would be q man.
fest usurpation. The general assembly has the
ncon,rcvertible right to express its opinion and
to proclaim its wishes on any political subject
whatever; and to such an expression great de.
ference and respect are due; but it is not OBJ.
ligstory. The people. when, in August 1924.
they elected members to the general assembly,
did not invest them with any power 10 regu-
late OF control the exercise Of the discretion of
the Kentucky delegation in the congress Of the
Z. States. | put it to the csndor of every e.
lecfor present, if intended to part with bis
own right, or anticipated the ~exertion Of any
such power by the legislature, when he gave
his vote in August 1894?
The only instruction which | received from a
legitimate source, emansted from a respectable
portion Of my imme date constituents; and that
directed me to exercise m own discretion, re-
gardless of the will of The legislature. You SUBJ
seguently ratified my vote by unequiyocal de.
monstrations repeatedly given OF your afIec.
tienate attachment and your unshsken conf.
dence. You ratified ii tao years ago By the
election of my personal and political friend
(Julge Clarke to succeed me in the III Of r..
who bad himself subscribed the only legitimate
instruction which I received. You ratify it BY
the presence and The appreciation of this yasa
and respectable sssemblage.
! rejoice again and again that The conte st has
at last assumed its present practical form.
Heretofore malignant whispers and dark sur.
misses have been clandestinely circulated. or
| openly and unblushingly uttered by ire spons,.
bic agents. They were borne upon the winds.
and like them were invisible and intangible.
No responsible man stood forward to sustain
them with his acknowledged authority. They
have at last a local habitation and a name. Gens
Jackson has now thrown off the mask, and
| comes confessedly forth, from behind his con.
cealed batteries, publickiy to accuse and con-
vict me. We stand confronted before he A.
rnerican people. Pronouncing the charges, as
again do, destitute of all foundation,-and
gross aspersIons, whether clandestlnely or o.
penly issued from the halls of the capitol. the
saloons OF the Hermitage, or by press, by pen.
or by tongue,-and safely resting upon nv
conscious integrity. | demand the witnes 50. and
wait the event with fearless confidence.
The issue is fairly joined. The imputed of.
fence does not comprehend a single friend, but
the collective body of my friends in congress.
and 1t accuses them of offering and me with
ssnctIoning corrupt proposfions, derogation
from honor, and in violation of the most sacred
of duties. The charge has been made after
two years deliberation Gen. Jackson has vol.
unfairly taken his position. and without provo.
cation. In voting against him as president of
the United States, I gave him no just cause of
offence. iexercised no more than my iDdispu.
table privilege. as, on a subsequent occasion.
| ut which | have never romuloinaI ha eyars.
ed his in voting against me as secretary of state.
HadI voted tor him, | must have gone coun,er
to every liked principle of my public life.
believed him incompetent, and his election
fraught with danger. At this early period Of
the republic, keeping steadily in view the dan.
gers which had overturned every other free
state, believed it tobe essential to the lasting
preservation of our liberties, that a man, devoid
OF civil talents, and offering no recon menda-
ton but one founded on military service, should
not be selected to administer the government.
believe so yet; and | shall consider the days of
the commonwealth numbered. when an oppo.
site principle is established. l believed, and
still believe, that now, when our Institutions
are IN comparative infancy. is the time to estab-
llsh the great principle, that military qualihcs-
ton alone IS not a sufficient title to the presi.
dency. five start right, we may run a long
race OF liberty, happiness and glory II wa
stumble, in setting out, We shall fall as others
have fallen before us, and fall without even q
claim to the regrets or sympathies of mankind.
have never done Gen. Jackson. Knowingly,
any injustice. ! have taken pleasure, on every
proper occasion, to bestow on HIM merited
praise for the glorious issue OF the battle of
New Orleans. No American citizen enjoyed
higher satisfaction than | did with the event.
] heard it for the first time on the Boulevards
OF Paris; and | eagerly perused the details Of
the actions, with the anxious hope that I
should find that the gallant militia of my own
state bad avenged, on the banks of the Mis-.
sissippi, the blood which they had split on the
disastrous field of Raisin. Thai hope was nos
then g~rathedi and although / had the NORTH.
cation to read the official statement, that they
mad vigorously fed, I was nevertheless thank
iuiior the success of the arms of my country,
and felt grateful TO him who lad most contribu.
ted 70 the ever memorable victory. This con-
cesslon is not now made for the purpose OF
concilisting the favor or mitigating the wrath
OF Ten. Jackson. He has erected an impossible
bsrrier between US, and | would scorn to &C.
cept any favor at his hands. thank my God
mat He has endowed me with a soul incspa-
bic of apprehension from the anger OF any be.
ing but himself
have, as your Representative, freely ex.
amined, and in my delibt rate judge ent. Just
~ condemned the conduct OF Gen. Jackson in
some OF our Indian wars. l believed, and yet
oeheve him to have trampled upon the Con-
S,'uuon OF his country, and to have violated
lhe principles Of humanity Entertaining these
opinions, did not and could not vote Tor him.
owe you, friends and fellow citizens many
apologies tor this long interruption Of the fes-
uVHies OF the dav | hope that nv desire to-