Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-03-06

\ State, or by the proceedings pending in TIN,
body. Those revolutions instruct the Sena-
tors OF Virginia, In general terms, Ito use
their best sTsrfi0ns To procure tho adoption by
Congress of proper measures for restoring the
public moneys 10 the Bank Of tho United
States" Now, sir, ] am bound 10 inquire,
what are those proper measures In the con-
temptation Of the Legislature Of Virginia.
We all know, that the only measures pro-
4 posed or contemplated in this body, are the
two declaratory resolutions offered by the
Senator Of Kentucky; tie first affirming that
the conduct OF the President, with reference
TO the removal Of the public deposites, wasa
dangerous and unconstitutional assum ?tion Of
power; the second declaring the reasons as
signed by the Secretary Of the Treasury, for
| that removal, To be unsatisfactory and INSULT
Gient. When the latter Of these resolutions,
together with the report Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury, was referred some dssss ago 10
! the Committee OF Finance, that Committee
did not report a bill or joint resolution for
tho restoration Of the deposIies, but simply
a recommendation, that the Senate adopt The
declaratory resolution of the senator from
Kentucky. Ia short, il is now aSowed and un-
dcrstood, Oh all hands, that all that Is deemed
necessary, or will be proposed here, to effect
the restoration of the public moneys TO the
Bank OF the U. States, Is mfrs dseia' alton, by
Congress, OF the insuficiency Of the reasons
assigned for their removal.
The only measures, then, on which shall
be called 10 carry into effect the Instructions
OF the Legislature Of my State are, the dseiaY-
aiOry resolutions moved by the Senator from
Kentucky, and now pending before the Sen
ate. That these resolutions are, in the es-
timation OF the General Assembly ofVirgiuia.
proper msasures-that the opinions and priuci-
pies declared by them are believed by the
General Assembly TO be correct and we'll
founded-it would be objectionable blind.
ness TO the language and tenor Of their
Instructions not TO see. Al the same time, Il
| Is well known TO the Senate, that, on each OF
the propositions declared in these resolutions,
had land will take leave 10 add after the
most careful and an xious Investigation, come
to opposite conclusions, which ! had earnestly
asserted and maintained on this floor. am,
therefore, placed, by the Legislature of my
State, in this d'letnma-either TO vote for the
dcclaratory resolutions of the Senator from
Kentucky, aud thereby express opinions which
l not only 90 not entertain, but the reverse of
/ which have sincerely and earnestly main
tanned on this floor or, by voting against
them, 10 oppose the only messurts which arc
likely to come before this body, having in
view the restoration OF the public deposites to
the Bank OF the United States, and thus APP
pearin the attitude of disregarding and thwart-
ing the declared wishes OF the General As
sembly Of Virginia. am sure but respond
To the honorable feelings OF all who hear me,
! IN saying that the first branch Of the alter
nstiVe Is impossible while the latter is no less
forbidden by my principles, and a proper
sense Of duty TO the constituted authorities
of my State. The only course lett To me,
then, Is one which the Senate can be at no
less TO anticipate.
Before close the few remarks with which
has E.NN III ~
Senate, ! beg leave 90 say, that, while I re-
cognizc implicitly the resolutions just read,
aS the legitimate and constitutional express
sion OF the opinion of my State, I wish not
10 be understood as saying that they express
the real public opinion Of the Statc-that OF
the People. On the contrary, my firm and
clear conviction Is, that the sentiments Of the
People IN the present instance, arc not ia UNI
son with the proceedings of tho legislative
authorisy- The manifestations Of popular
sentiment already commencing i'm various
quarters OF the State-the principles and
opinions heretofore steadily cherished by Yir-
gina multiplied communications received
from the most respectable sources-and nv
own knowledge, I may be permitted to add OF a
people with whom have been connected, in
the relations OF public service. for now near
twenty years-assur~ the that they are not !;
and the revolution 81: few months will 4
to all the world. Hut, m Ihe regulation Of
my cGieisl conduct here, . am hot permitted
to look beyond the constitutional expression
\ OF the opinion Of the State, by IL, regular
aud proper organ. lf a senator were allow
ed To set up against the public opinion of his
State, a. officially aud solonnly declared bY
her Legislature, hgyofhtiieSI public opinion,
which may or may not be that OF the people
OF :be State, IL Is obvious that door would
he u.I T. 49,
tive responsibility of this body 10 public opin-
ion. u j. OF the Legislatures Of the States
that the Constitution has dcvolved the choice
OF members Of this body, and the same I.e-
grlatures must be the interpreters Of the
Publ'~ opinion &c their respective States 10
TIE Senators chosen by Them, whenever an
occasion shall arise which NAV call for a So
lemn manifestation Of that opinion.
This Is indeed the only yrsciienbis mode %
bringing the opinion Of the sovereign commu-
nty. represented IN this body. 10 act. with au-
thoT'taiiSe influence, on it, proceedings and
" hen Il Is considered that tho senate is b,
the greater permanently of its Official tenure,
iarihcr removed from the salutary control.
OF the representative system than any other
branch II the Government, eli will see the
necessity ofkeepins open clear and designa-
ted channel by Which public opinion may
promptly reach u, IN On authoritative form
and be made cAectual on IS deiibera-
Hons. " - thus essential 10 tie practical
supremacy Of the popular will itself, that the
state Legislatures should be recognized ~ the
su'hen'io and constitutional opponents Of the
popular opinion of the respective States. In
81 relations with his body n, in any 10
stance. the Legislatures &c TIE States shall
mistake Gle opinions 81 tbo People. II is. 81
CONCEIVE, Cor tie People themselves, and not
r Tor ne, 10 correct
These Mr. President, are. very briefly. the
opinions entertain 90 the delicate questions
presented Tor ny consideration by the IN
siruction- q the u gi.isture o. ny state lust
read and tho only alternative they leave n,e
~ Tho circumstance in which ! an placed. 3
o. surrender tie trust siih shich have been
.honored. as a mea,ber q ibis body. INTO the
hands ol those from ahom Z received o. (
know well, Mg. President and I feel how
niaoh 90 honos ard e s8iislacit0n give az
20 Abandoning my sest on Co., 1sor Shan.