Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-03-17
Dtapossa 10 ss,atish--namely. tina. the

- sH~sh nVudtttF Ah 1VHkhCSss
believe they cannot obey without consci |
Gus dishonor and crime, and therefore will |
not obey. in order to force them 10 the al |
tentative Of resignation.
The unavoidable effect will be, TO change |
the tenure Of the senatorial office, from |
term Of six years. which the constitution |
has ordained, TO tenure during the plea
sure Of The respective State Legislatures
that elect them; TO make the Senate,
which was plainly designed, and that for
the most obvious purposes, 10 be tho most
permanent body ia the government, in ef.
feet and IN practice, the most fluctua,ine.
transient, and unstable.
Inc senate, constructed on the fedora.
i've prlneiple, TO represent the sovereign
ties OF the States, which, from the nature
oil sovereignty, are co equal, is so essen.
iiai 10 their existtnce and preservation,
that 1.-THE Senate were abolished from the
system,--the other branches of the Gov
eminent, both OF which are national in
Their character, remaining in full force
II Is hard TO imagine how the State Gov
ernments, or any thing more than the
iorms OF them. could long endure. And
whatever tends 10 diminish the weight Of
the Senate in the system, must tend to
impair. in exactly the same proportion,
the State soyereigntes themselves, and to
q general consolidation Of them all into
one empire. The federatiYe Senate, 10
presenting the States, was designed asf
the balance Of the system--as a check on
the popular branch Of the Legislature, and
on the Executive, both Of which are ri.
most entirely national in their constitution
and, IN matters of important and per-
manent interest. il is check that can We
ry rarely operate for longer time, than
may suffice 10 mature the judgment of The
people on sober dispassionate reflection
The Senate cannot, If it would, counter
act tue permanent will, the deliberate set,
tied judgment of the nation. The House
Of Representatives. elected for two years,
representing the people Immediately, and
therefore, more exactly representing their
opinions and wishes for the time being,
and more apt also TO represent their pas
SONS, IS, 10 that way. endued with a pow
er and iotluence, which the shortness OF
ITS term OF Office hardly suilices to coun
terval. The President, elected for four
years. clothed with all the powers neces
sary lor The Executive Of a Government
charged with the foreign relations Of the
nauon, with his veto on tie acts of the
Legislature, and tho whole patronage of
Government IN his hands, i; far more than
the equal IN power OF either branch of the
Legislature. and, in the opinion of many
more powerful than both combined. His
very unity is principle Of strength. The
only means OF making the Senate co. ordi
nate with the other departments. was dat
Which has been resorted to-namely. 20
make II more permanent: and hence il
was, that the senatorial term of office was
made three times as long as that of the
representatives, and half as long again as
that OF the President Ii the Senatorial
term oil office be reduced, the power ofits
check on the national branches of the Co.
Vefnment VIII be prop0riiona!iy impaired :;
II IL be made TO depend on the pleasure CT
the State Legislatures, The check will be
almost annlh'lated: and the State sove
feigntles must share its fate, and be i'm
paired or annihlated with it. 10 me,
therefore, II seems, that the State Govern
ments would commit an impGudent act, if
they should consent TO shorten the term
OF The senatorial office; and a suicidal one
u they should establish the principle, in
theory or IN practice, that their Senators
ehaiI held their Offices only during plea.
sure.
but whether these views are wise or
not, all will agree, that the tenure Of the
senatorial oiilce. being for term of six
years iAed by The constitution, is not now
ana was not designed TO be, dependen. on
'he pleasure OF the State Legislatures, and
can be nowlse aulhorilively made 50, bu,
ny an amendment OF the constitution OF
Tue Uaied States. perf,ct according TO
inc provisions OF the 9th article and that
such an amendment would work a vital
chabge IN the whole constitution Of the
feueral Government, and in the relations
between that and the State Governments
~ The doctrine, which the General Assem-
Oily now asserts, and which il calls upon
NE to give my aid TO establish, by setting
The example Of conforming with it, shall
become generally prevalent in the other
states OF lhe Union as well as in Virginia
'heh VIII mat vital change be wrought il.
our institutions, as oifectualIy as il could
be by an amendment of the constitution.
dT.h
The most contrary that can well be con.
celved. to The cautious spirit of the PROV.
sion tor future amendments.
The doctrine is, that Senator in Con.
sress is bound TO yield implicit obedience
70 any instruction. which the State Legs
nature that elected him may give him, or
ieslSn--no matter how plainly uuconsti
'uuohal, no matter how base and crimi
nal The act which he is enjoined 10 per
form may be, IN his otcn judgment-that
ne mas no right TO exercise his own iudg-
iheht az all, or consult his own conscience
he IS not, IN this case moral agent
ne mas no alternative but to obey or resign
IL this doctrine shall become generally
adopted and established Throughout, The
United States, Ivy the assertion and exer
else OF II on the one part, and submission
10 1t on The other, play the general As.
semb'y TO consider for a moment, the pro
babe workings Of the principle IN mac