Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-03-24
LETTER FROM THE HON. JoHNTYLER.
To the Speakers and Members of the
General Assembly Of Virginia.

| tors IN the congress oil the United Statei
to introduce and vote for resolution e
expunge the journal Of previous Senat,
in the particulars therein mentioned, anC
pointing out the precise manner in which
The act shall be performed. has been made
known to me. After the most deliberate
examination which am capable Of betsow-
! ing upon them. and with sincere desire
TO conform my conduct to the wishes oil
the General Assembly, End it impossi
bic to reconcile The prescribed task. with
| the obligations Of the solemn oath | have
taken to support the Constitution Of the
United States. With what prompitude
should comply with the instructions of the
Legislature, if compliance was permitted
me, may be readily inferred from my past
course of conduct; and beg your indul-
gence, gentlemen, whilst advert to the
most prominent incidents in my life, in
connection with the great right Of instruc-
tion. | Twas very young when first took
my seat in the House Of Delegates, to
which had been elected few days after
had attained the age Of 81. The then
Senators from Virginia, fMessrs. Giles &
BRENT stood obnoxious TO the charge OF
having disregarded the instructions Of the
Legislature, which had been adopted on
motion of gentleman then distinguish
ed member, Gov. Barbour) to vote against
re chartering the Bank Of the U. States.
The first, while he voted against the Bank
denied the right Of the legislature TO in.
struct him--the last, disregarded the in
structions altogether, and voted for the
Bank. Impeled by no other motive than
to uphold the legislature in its right to in
struct its deputed organs,l introduced a
resolution disappearing the course which
bad been pursued by the Senators, My
motive for doing SO, was single and un.
mixed. l ,oas too young to seek profit by
their overthrow, The resolution thus in !.
,roduced by me, passed into other. hands.
and was substituted by other resolves,
which were finally adopted by the two
houses of the Assembly and passed by o.
overwhelming majorities. AT the age OF
twenty five took my seat in the House OF
Representatives OF the United States
The repeal of the compensation law soon
came under discussion. ] came in TO sup
ply a vacancy, and brought with me the
wishes OF my constituents in regard to
that measure. made them known; and
claimed a repeal of that law, as due to
The we'll ascertained wishes Of the people.
This brought into discussion the obliga.
ton Of instructions, and contended for the
tight, under the same restrictions and linn
itations as had been laid down in the res
lutions before alluded TO. now re affirm
Al Ill fol
sed by me, that instructions are manda.
tory. provided they do not require viola
ton of the constitution, or the commission
of an act of moral turpitude. When act
ing under an oath, the public agent, whe
Their Senator or juror, is bound by OBJ
legations Of higher and more controlling
character than can proceed from any
earthly source. The Constitution Of the
United States is the original and primary
letter of instructions, supreme over all,
and binding upon all. For the agent who
i. sworn to support it to violate It know
ingly and Intentionally, would be an act OF
the grossest immortality and most unmiti-
gated debasement. Such is the condition
in which, in my view Of the subject, ODE
dience to your instructions would place
me.
II is known to you, gentlemen. that on
my entering the Senate, the only oath
which took was to support the Constitu'
ton Of the United States. To support il
in all and each of its provisions. To yield
il neither 10 force, persuasion. or cxpedi.
ency. No matter what the object. should
lis attainment confer upon me the greatest
personal advantage, still to remain unse-
duced-not to touch that forbidden fruit
| entered into covenant with my Crea-
tor, to break which would not fail to place
in nv bosom a Promethean vulture, to
tear and devour me. The obligation then
TO obey an instruction which calls on me
to break that covenant, cannot possibly
exist. should be unworthy the CONF
dence of all honorable men, if could be
induced, under any circumstances. to com.
NIT an act Of deliberate perjury. Instead
of a seat in the Senate, should deserve
to be put in the pillory and to lose both
NV ears as an indeliable mark oil my
baseness-and such would be the sentence
which the laws Of Virginia would pro.
nounce against me. You have admitted
INC tEutu VI tIto pucthVh ih sfS
presented in your second resolution, be
tween those alternatives | cannot hesitate
| to choose. II is not for every difference Of
opinion between the representative and
| constituent, that the constituent would ne
cessarily require the resignation. oil the re-
presentatiye. In the course oil some
what long political life, it must have &C
Cured that my opinions have been var,
ant from the opinions Of those represent
but in presenting TO me the alternative o
| resignation in this instance, you give me
to be distinctly informed that the accom-
plishment Of your object IS regarded as Q
such primary importance. that my res'g
nation is desired, if compliance cannot o.
yielded. am bound to consider you, a
in this. fairly representing the VIII OF gu
common constituents, the people OF VIZ
ginia, to whom you alone are amenaoie
you have mistaken their wishes: nay Pc
siton in regard to this whole subject IS
| n chaeacter In prpclude me from gong IN