The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-03-25
Mr.. Tyiers Letter,
10 the Speakers and Members

vote for Resolution to expunge the Journal OF a
previous Senate IN the particulars therein men.
toned, and pointing out the precise manner in
which the act shall be performed have been made
know n to me. After the most deliberate eSamna.
ton which am capable of bestowlng upon them
and with sincere desire TO conform my Conduct
TO the wishes OF the General Assembly, mud II
impossible 10 reconcile The performance Of the pre-
scrIbcd task, with the obligations Of the solemn
oath which have taken to support the Constltu.
ton OF the United States With v bat prompttude
| should comply with the Instructions OF the lie.
gislature, if compliance were permitted me- may
readily be inferred from my past course Of con-
duet; and ! beg your indulgence, gentlemen,
whilst advert to the most prominent incidents OF
my life, in connexion with the great question OF
instruction. was very young when | first took
my seat in the House Of Delegates, to which | had
been elected within few DAYS after had attain.
ed the age of2l. The then Senators from Virginia,
Mess. Giles and Brent stood obnoxious to the
charge Of having dsregardcd the instructions Of
the Legislature which had been adopted on the
motion Of gentleman, then distinguished mem-
Der Gov. Barbour 10 vote against re.chartcrlng
the Bank OF The [. :. The first, while be voted
against the Bank, denied the night Of the LoglSla.
tufe to instruct hln--thc last dsregarded the IN
struclous altogether, atd voted for Bans, lu-
PEELED bv no other motives than 10 uphold the Lo-
gslaturc in the right to instruct lis deputed or
CANS | introduced a resolution disappearing OF the
course which had been pursued By the Senators.
Nv motive IN dong so, was single and unml&cd.
traS too young 10 seek Prqht by metr or.rtao,r--
The resolution thus introduced by ne, passed into
other hands, and substituted by other resolves,
winch were finally adopted by the two houses OF
Assembly BY large and overwhelming maJoritles.
At the aye Of twenty-five | took my seat IN 'he
House OF Representatives OF the Jnlled States
The repeal of the compensation law soon came
under discussion. / came in 10 supply vacancy,
and brought with me- The wishes OF my consuLu-
enls IN regard to that measure. J made them
known, aud Calulcd the repeal o. the law, as due
to tie y cN asCcrlned wishes d the people Iias
bfDarht into discussion the obligation OF lnstTuc-
tons and uoailudodi1r the right, under thc same
restrictions and limitations as had teen lana down
in the resolutions before alluded TO. ! now re-at-
rtm the option, at all times heretofore expressed
rs me, that instructions are manGa l0fy, provided
they 90 not require 4 violation of tie Constitution
Dr the ca.u,n sson Of an act Of moral turpI,udc
When acting under an oath, the public agent
whether a senator or Juror, Is bound by obhga
tons of higher and more controlling character
than can proceed from any earthly source. The
Constitution OF tie United States /, the origlna
and primary letter Of instructions, spqTcmc uvc
all and binding upon All, Iur the agent who i'
sworn 10 support II, 10 violate 81 Know lu1ly ana IN
ter'saua.y, would be an act o. the grosSeSt IN
moral y and NEST unmlu-alCd abasentnh Suct
S the condition in Which, IN my view Of the sub
pct obedience to your instructions would place
mc. Il t. known TO you, gentlemen, that on my
entering The Senate, tie only oath which lonk
was an oath 10 support the Constitution OF the
United States; Ia support It IN all and each q lis
provisions 70 Weld il neither 10 force, persuasion
nor cxprdrucy. Ne matter what the object
should lis attainment confer upOn ne the greatest
pcrSanal advantage, still TO remain unstdGced-
not TO touch that iofblnden fruit / entered into
A covenant with nv Creators break which,
would not fall 10 place in my bosom a Promcthean
vulture, 10 tear and dtvour me. The obligation,
then, to obey an instruction which calls upon mc
10 break that covenant, cannot possibly exist /
should be unworthy the confidence OF all honorable
men, If conid be induced, unacr any cIrcumstan-
cts,, 10 commit an act OF deliberate perjury, In
stead OF seat in the Senate, | should richly de-
serve TO be Put in the piIlory and 10 lose both my
ears, as an ludchbe mark of my bascntss-and
such would be the sentence which the laws OF VIZ
gina would pronounce against me. You nave
admitted the truth of this position IN the aIttrna-
tlrps presented in your second resolution, BE-
tween these alternatives cannothe hesitate to choose
1t is not for every difference OF opinion between
the representative and constituent, that the con-
stltuent would necessarily require the resignation
of the REPRESENTATIVE. In the course OF some
I,t4s uafaItTF lfltf Il
nv opinions have been variant from the opinions
of those | represent; but in presenting to me the
alternative OF resignation in this instance, you give
me to be distinctly informed that the accomplish
ment of your object is regarded as OF such primal!
Importance, that my EcsIg natlon Is desired II COM
pliaucc cannot be yielded. | am bound 10 con-
slider YOU as in this, fairly representing me SEN
iments of our common constituents, the leope o.
Virginia to whom alone you are amena0Ie II you
have mistaken their WISHES. My position IN re-
card TO this hole subject is o character 70 pre-
clude me from going into distractions 90 NOT
hesitate ON the contrary, to declare thaI II you
had as the accredited organs OF the people, auuFess
cd me a request TO vacatc my scat III the senate
your request would have had with me lhe !orcc OF
iaw-not day or an hour could desire 10 remain
in the Senate beyond that hour wherein came
TO be informed that 1t was the setled WiSh.ol 'no
people of Virginia that should retire from their
service. That people have houored me with the
HIGHEST offices within their gift, If the talents
which | have brought into their service De num-
bic shall have at least brought hdelIiy 10 Their
interests. No where else have looked Tor reward
but to their APPRECIATION | have served unner
G,r ADMINISTRATIONS, and might doubtesSly, by a
course of subscrvency and sycophahcy' nave 90,
tanned what is called, by Some, preiefiheh'' Dul
what could have compensated Tor uie oaSeneSS Vi
my prostitution, and the betrayal Oh ,oe cornu'pc'
reposed in me by a generous people i"e r'A-
ao,,,so flcs furnish no record of my name as All
o,nlicant for anv of the crumbs which have fallen
/ r,nn, ,bc Executive table. repeat, that have
iooked exclusively to the people of Virginia, and
,,,bon thry have extended to me their confidence
for twcniy-odd years-when | am indebted 10
! Il, 49,. ,,h,tsoryer of credit and standing pos