Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-02-12
23d Congress-2d Session.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY JAN. %, 1885.
a ADA IL DEOnI Ir.nIA arc,

-AohDh Wa lltDNS.
MT KING presented the preamble and Joint re-
solutions of the Legislature of the State Of Alaba.
ma, insruc.ng their Senators in Congress to use
their untring efforts to to te expunged from
the Journals OF the Senate the resolutions Of the last
session, relative TO the removal of The public demo-
sites from the Bank of the United States
The resolutions having bee read.
Mr. CLAY said, before any order was taken for
laying these resolutions on the table, resolutions
which appeared TO be addressed to the Senators
from Alabama, and in the nature of instructions to
them what they were required by the Legislature
10 do, he should be glad to know from the honora.
bic gentleman who had presented them, whether il
was his intention now, any future occa ion to
summit proposition to the Senate to expunge from
the journal ofthe Senate the resolution to which
those resolutions referred F?
Mr.. BENTON rose, and recalled to the Senate
the time when the reso'utionto which the Alabama
resolutions referred, adopted by the Senate
lie had then, in his place, gwen immediate notice
that fc should commence a series of motions for the
purpose of expung irg the resolution from the Jour-
nails he had then made use of the word expunge
III contradiction 10 the word repeal or to the word
reverse, because II WINS his opinion then and that
opinion had been confirmed by all his subsequent
reflection that repeal or reversal of the resolution
would not DO adequate justice. To do that would
require a complete expurgation of tho journals 1t
would require that process which is dcnomina a, cd
expunging by which, to the present and to all fu-
ture times It would be indicated that that had been
placed upon the journals which should never have
gone there. lie had given that notice, afcr serious
reflection, that it might be seen that the Senate was
trampling the Constitution OF the United States
under foot, and not only thar, bu, also the very
FORMS to say nothing of the substance, of all crm-
nal justice
Tie had gwen this notice in obedience to the d c.
'ates of his bosom, which were afterwards sustain
cd by the decision Of his head, without consulting
with any other person, at after conference only
with himself and his God. To a single human
being he had said that he should do it, but he had
not consulted with any one. In the ordinary rou-
tine OF business, no one was more ready to consult
with his friends, and 10 defer TO their opinions than
he was but there were some occasions in which
he held council with no man, but took his own
course without regard to consequences On this
occasion, he had counsellcd with no being on Garth
for he had made no calculation as to consequences
1t would have been a matter of entire Indifference
with him had the whole Senate risen as one man.
and declared determination to give unanimous
vote against HIM. 1t would have mattereJ MOI hing
lie would not have deferred to any human being
Actuaied by these fe elngs he had given notice OF
his Infection in the month of May, and in obedi.
ence to that determination, he had, on the last day
of he session, laid his resolution on the table, in
order TO keep the matter alive
This brought him 10 the answer to tho ques, ion
proposed The presentation of the resolution os the
Legislature of bama afforded fit and proper
occasion To give that public notice which he had al.
ready informally and privately given to many
members Of the Senate. lie had said that he
should bring forward his resolution at the earliest
convenient time. And yesterday evening, when
he saw the attempt which was made to give to
proceeding emanatlng from the Post Office Com
mittee, and 10 which, by the unanimous consent of
that Committee, a leg slativc direction had been
signcd new form by the two Senators from
South Carolina, SO as to make it proceeding a.
ganst persons, in conradstInction to the public
matters embodied in the report; when he heard
these persons assailed by one of he Senators from
South Carolina, in such manner as TO prevent a.
ny possibility OF doubt concerning them; and when
he discovered that the object Of these gentlemen
wac impeachment in substance, if rot in form, he
did at once form the determination TO give notice
this morning Of his intention TO move his resolution
ut the earliest convenient period
This was his answer 10 the question which had
been proposed.
MIR KING, Of Alabama, said he was surprised
to hear the question of the honorable Senator rom
Kentucky, as he did not expect such an inquiry
for he had supposed it was well understood by
every member Of the Senate what his sentiments
were in regard to the right OF instruction. The
Legislature Of Alabama had instructed him TO pur-
sue particular course, and ie should obey their in
s,ructons. With regard to the resolution TO which
the Legislature alluded he could msrsly say that he
voted ugains, il at The time it was adopted by the
senate His opinion as to it was then, as well as
row, perfectly understood. If the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Bentop) declined bringing the sub
jcc, forward relative the propr'e,y of expunglng
the resolution in question from the journal OF the
Senate, he himself should, a. some proper timc DO
so, and also say something on the great and impor-
tant question as TO the right Of instruction. Now,
that might be admitted in it's fullest extent he held
his pare there, subject to the control Of the Legs
la,ure Of Aabema, and whenever their instructions
reached him he should bs governed by them. He
made this statement without, entering into the con-
Of the Improperly of Senator'S exercising