Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-25
CON Ores SION Al.
MR.. RIvEs' RESIGNATION.


presented resolutions OF the Legislature oi Tue
State of Virginia, instructing the Senators and
reo,lesting the Representatives In Congress TO
exert themselves to effect the restoration OF the
nubic deposites to the Bank of the United States.
After few remarks by Mr.. TYLER, the
resolutions were read.
MIR. RIVES rose and said:
AR Presidents The Senate viii indulge me, |
hone. standing in the position do, with lew
remarks on the subject OF the resolutions just
read 1t is very far from my intention TO at
temnt TO impugn in any manner, the force OF
those resolutions, or to derogate, in the slightest
decree. from the high respect to which they are
entitled here and elsewhere. On the contrary.
recognise them as the legitimate expression OF
the opinion of my State, conveyed through the
only authentic organ known to her Constltutlon
and Laws. -
reading of the resolutions, that 1t is my msfor-
time TO entertain, and to have expressed on the
Grave questions now occupying the pubic mnd
Sninions very different from those asserted by
the resolutions Notwithstanding this difference
of opinion, | should feel it my duty, as one OF
the representatives of Virginia on this foor to
conform to the views expressed by her Leglsla-
ture. if i'm the circumstances IN wnlcn am
nIaced 7 could do so without diShonor hold
II sir. to be vital principle OF our poltcal sys-
tenn. one indispensable to the preservation OF
orr institutions that the Representative, Wne-
ther a member of this or the other House, is
hound to conform to the opinions and wishes or
his constituents automatically expressed; or II
he he unable to do so, from Oyer-rullng ana I'M
nervous considerations operating upon ms con-
Science or honor, to surrender MS trust INTO the
hands Of those from whom ne derived III, that
they may select an agent VINO Can pettei o"iiy
their views into effect.
III cin1c
diency only, it is, conceive, the bounden duty
of the representative to conform implicitly 70
the instructions of the constituent body, where
those instructions are to De carried into eXecu-
ton by Legislative act, which, as mandate
of the public will prescribes and directs what
s5oH he done for the public good. But where
the instructions contemplate declaration OF
Drinciples or opinionS, which are contrary to the
sincere and honest convictions OF the Repre-
sentative as there is no means OF forcing the
assent of the understanding 10 aDsEract propo-
stions the only course left to him is oy the sur
rander of his commission, to put 1T IN the power
of his constituents to confer IT on announcer whose
opinions correspond with their own.
To apply these principles to my own case,
do not hesitate to say that if the instructions or
the Legislature of my State had required me
specifically to vote for law or other leglsia'
tive act, providing for the restoration OF the
public deposites to the Bank of the United
States, however highly inexpedient deem
such a measure to be, should nevertheless have
felt it my duty to give the vote required. Such
il will be recolIected was the precise demand OF
the memorial of the citizens OF Richmond pre-
scented few days ago by my honorable COL
LEAGUE and which concluded by asking, that
CONGRESS +" would provide By lalD for the imme-
date restoration of the public moneys to the
RANK Of the United States" But, sir, this is not
the shape in which the question is presented to
me, by the resolutions ofthe General Assembly
of nv State or by the proceedings pending IN
this body. Those resolutions instructive Sena-
tors of Virginia in general terms, 10 use their
hest ea.erfioas to procure the adoption by Con-
0ress of proper measures for restoring the public
moneys to the Bank of the United States y
Now. sir am bound to inquire what are those
proper measures in the contemplation OF the
Legislature OF Virginia.
We all know that the only measures proposed,
or contemplated in this body, are the two decla-
ratory resolutions offered by the Senator from
Kentucky; the first affirming that the conduct OF
the President with reference to the removal or
the public deposites was dangerous and I'M
constitutional assumption ofpoWer; the second,
declaring the reasons assigned oy the secretary
of the Treasury for that removal, TO DE unSatlS-
factory and insufficient. When the latter OF
these resolutions, together with the report OF the
Secretary of the Treasury, was referred some
days ago to the Committee of Finance, that
committee did not report bill, or joint resolu-
simply recommendation, that the Senate
adopt the decaratory resolution of the Senator
from kentucky. In short, it is now avowed
and understood on all hands, that all that is
deemed necessary, or will be proposed here, to
effect a restoration of the public moneys to the
Bank ofthe United States, is a mere declaration
by Congress, of the insufficiency the reasons
assigned for their removal.
The only measures, then, on which shall be
called To carry into effect the instructions ottht
Legislature of my State are, the dectaratOryr res
olniions moved by the Senator from Kentucky
and now depending before the Senate Tia
these resolutions are IN tne es.lnauom oi ~
that the opinions and principles declared o.
them. are believed by the General Assembly t.
be correct and well founded-lt would De uhpal
donable blindness to the language ana tenor
their instructions not to see. Al the same tliii'
it is we'll known to the Senate that on each
the propositions declared in these resolutions,
had (and will take leave TO add, after the mos
careful and anxious investigation,) come to or
posite conclusions, which L had earnestly as
nd nta ~ 49, I thars