Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-04


furnish me the name OF member Of Congress, who
was capable Of advising his acceptance oi oaso
and corrupt proposition. ouph, 10 have resor'eo W
his infamous and discrediiee witness,
Ii has been thorsand times asserted and re-
peaed, that I violated instructions which I
ought 10 have obey ed. I deny the charge; and
l am happy 10 have this opportunity OF denying
n in the presence Of my assembled Constituents.
The General Assembly requested the Kentucky
delegation, to vote IN particular way. ma
jorrty Of that delegation, in ;luding myself. voc
ted IN opposition to hat request. The legisl
ture did not intend TO give an ipperotire instruc-
tion. The distinction between q request and
an instruction was familiar in tho legisla-
ture; and their rolls attest that the former is
always addressed TO the members Of the House
of Representatives, and the latter only TO the
Senators of the United State
But do not rely exclusively on this recog-
nised distinction. dispute at once the right of
the legislature 10 issue a mandatory instruction
to the Representatives Of the people. Such
ght has no foundation in the Constitution, in
the reason nature of things, nor ia the usage
Of the Kentucky Legislature. Its exercise
would be manifest ursurpation. The General
Assembly, has the incontrovertible right TO ex-
press its opinion and to proclaim its wishes on
any poticul subject whatever; and to such an
expression great Difference and respect are
due; but II not obligatory, The people,
when in August 1924, they elected members to
the General Assembly, did not invest them with
any power TO regulate or control the exercise OF
the discretion of the Kentucky delegation in tho
Congress OF the United States. I put il to the
can !or of every elec'or present, if he Intended
| to part with his own right, or anticipated the
exertion Of any such power by the legislature,
when he gave his vote in August 1924?
The only instruction which | received from q
! legitimate source, emanated from a respecta-
bic portion of my immediate constituents; and
| that directed me 10 exercise my own discretion,
regardless of the will of the legislature. You
subsequently ratified my vote by unequvocal
demonstrations repeatedly given of your afec-
tionate attachment and your mistaken conf
dence. You ratified il two years ago BY the
election of my personal and political friend
! Judge Clarke) to succeed me in the House os
Representatives, who had himself subscribed
the only legitimate instruction which received.
You rn'iiy it by the presence and the approba-
ton Of this vast and respec CT able assemblage.
rejoice again and again, that the contest has
AT last assumed its present practical form. Here
tofore, malignant whispers and dark surmises
have been clandes'inelv circulated, or openly
or unblushIngly uttered BY irresponsible agents.
They were borne upon the winds, and like them
were invisible and intangible. No responsible
man stood for yard TO sustain them, with his
knowle edged authority. They have at last a
has now thrown of The mask, and comes con-
fessedy forth from behind his concealed Bate
RES, publicly 10 accuse and convict me. We
stand conrOnled b,tOe the American people,
PronOuncing he charges, as | again do, dcsti-
tntc Of all lonnda,IOn, and gross aspersions,
whe her clandestinely or openly issued from the
halls of the Capitol, the saloons Of the Hermi-
tage, or bN press, by pen, or by tongue; and
safely rest ing on my conscious integrity, I de-
| al Oh and th. N,
fearless confidence.
The issnc is fairly joined. The imputed of.
fence DOCS no: comprehend single friend, but
the rolisG. hrdy my friends IN Congress
and IL accuses them Of offering, and me with
sarc'ioning corrupt propositions, derogating
ON honor. and n violation OF he mosi sa red
of duties. Ine chatge mas been made after two
years del,bera'ion. General Jackson has volun-
tarily taken his position, and without provoca-
ton. In voiing against HIM President ofthe
United States. ] gave HIM no Just cause Of OF
fence. exercised no more 'han my indisputa-
bic privilege, as a subsequent occasion, Of
winch haze never complained, he exercised
his in voting against me for Secretary Of State.
Had vo ed for him, | must have gone counter
to every fixed principle Of my public life, be-
lie cd him incompetent, and his election fraught
with danger. A, this early period of the Re-
pa 'llc, keeping steadily in view the dangers
winch had overturned every other free State, I
believed ii TO be essential TO the lasting preser.
ya!on of our liberties, that man devoid Of civ
i talents, and offering no recommended ions but
one founded on military service, should not be
selected 10 adm stcr The Government. | believe
; so vet and 1 shall consider the days of the
Commonwealth numbered, when an opposite
principle is nbshed believed, and still be-
, lieve, that now, when our institutions are in
comparative infancy, IS the time to establish the
grea principle, that military qualifications alone
IS no, sufficient title to the Presidency. If we
start .ight, we may run long race ofliberty,
happiness, and glory. five stumble in setting
out, we shall fall as others have fallen before
us, all without even a claim to the regrets or
, sympa,hies Of mankind
have never done Gen. Jackson, knowingly,
any injustice. have taken pleasure, on every
proper occasion, to besow on him merited
praie for the glorious issue Of the battle of
Now-Oreans. No American citizen enjoyed
, higher satisfaction than did with the event.
heard it for the first time on the Bouevards of
Paris; and eagerly perused the details Of the
= actions, with the ANXIOUS hope that | should find
that the gallant militia Of my own State had
|, avenged, on the banks of the Mississippi, the
blood which they had so freely split Oh the dis
, as'rous field Of Rasin. hat hope was no.
then gratifed; and although had the morif-
cation 10 read the Official statement, that they
had nolorousl, led, | was nevertheless thank
fu for the success of The arms Of my country,
: and fell grateful to him who had most contri-
buted to 'he ever memorable victory. This
. con &c sson is not now made for the purpose of
concilia,ing the favor mitigating the wrath
, of Gen Jackson. He has erected an mpas-