Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-22

latures, OF three OF the states of this I'm
ion' approving, in the most unequivocal
terms, the course of the executive which
has been here the subject of condemnation,
1t also states the fact, truly, that four sem
lators from theSe states-voted for the resolu-
, uon, and that had their votes been cast
lagainsti 1t, Z would not have been adopted.
but the president, in thus referring to these
resolutions and instructions, expressly dis
: claims and repudiates, all authority or de-
sign to interfere with the responsibility due
from members of the senate to their own
conscIences, their constituents, and their
country. Yet, gentlemen charge him, not
outstanding this emphatic disclaimer, with
the very design he repudiates. Where a
pure and justifable motive can be assign
ed Tor any particular transaction, it is the
part and course of innocence and Justice
to assign it, rather than a corrupt one.
This is more especially necessary to
avoid the suspicion that we reason from
our otrn infirmities to those of others. Is
1t at all strange that the executive, attack
ed In all the various ways which an ingen-
Ious and talented opposition could devise,
and who had been condemned, too, by
vote of a coordinate branch of the gov
eminent, should, in the progress of a de-
fence against his accusers and their accu-
satons, avail himself of all the respecta-
bic authorities within his reach, to sustain
the soundness of bis principles, and the
correctness of his conduct? And what au-
thoriiy, in this country, is more to be reli-
ed on, in the construction of the constitu.
ton, than that of the states of the Union,
who alone have the power to alter and
amend 1t? The president says, that the
facts belong to the history of the proceed
lngs, and are important to the Just devel-
opement Of the principles and interests in
Volved in them, as well as to the proper
vlndication of the executive department.
No other motive could have existed than
the one stated. All the facts were known
to the world, had been avowed by the SEN
ators on this floor, and they justified their
continued disobedience to the instructions
of their several legislatures. The object
of the president was, to present to the
country his defence in connected form,
and in mode, too, which would perpetus
ate it through all time to come.
Mr.. president, it has been anticipated by
one gentleman, that proposition is to
come from some quarter to SO alter the con-
stItuiion as to give the several states the
power to recall their senators. Upon that
subject have this to say: That whenever
| am convinced, that by the election of
senators, the states part irrevocably, for
the term of six years, with the right of be-
ing truly represented on this floor, shall
advocate such an amendment of the con-
sttution as will correct so fatal an evil. If
there is any branch of this government
which represents, more exclusively than
any other, the sovereignty of the states,
that branch is the senate of the senate of
the United States. And whenever dis
cover that the sovereign power in a state
cannot instruct their representatives here,
or, when instructed, that there is no cores
ponding duty of obedience on the part of
the representatives; | shall use my humble
efforts to produce an amendment of the
constitution, to embrace both of these in-
dispensable requisites of free governs
ment. | will not now, sir, enter into the
question, whether for the purposes of ms
structions the legislature, or the people of
a state, constitute the sovereign power.
But beg leave to reld to the senate few
paragraphs from report Of the Virginia
Legislature, adopted some years ago, upon
this very subject. This report expresses
the views l entertain upon this points
beautifully, and in my Judgment, unan-
swerably written. After tracing the doc
trine of instruction down through English
history, and showing that the Wings of
England acknowledged the right (whatever
our new-light Wings lately sprung in
amongst us may think oft and after show
ing in the clearest manner that the right
of the constituent to instruct the repre-
sentative is an essential principle Of the
representative system, the report proceeds
to say: 'But although the position be ad-
mitted, which indeed it seems impossible
to deny, that the people have a right to in
struct our immediate representatives, or
that the people composing each state in
their sovereign capacity, may instruct their
senators in congress, it may still be denied
that the state legislatures have any such
right of instruction"
SIT is obvious to remark, in the first
place, that those who allow to the people
Iof each state the exercise of this act of
sovereignty, the instruction of their sena-
tors, and deny the same power to the state
legislatures, give us the empty theory and
DENY us the beneficial practice of such in
structions, otherwise than through their
n state legislatures"
j s.The several state constitutions. saving