The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-03-25

of Montpelier, Mr.. Mndison, and ask him wheth-
er, IN framing the Constitution, he designed that
the Senate should be a mere motlonless stock, or
veilant sentinel to give notice Of the approach OF
danger 10 that very Constitution which II is sworn
10 support--wheiher the Representatives Of the
sovereign States are such mere automata as TO
move only when they are hidden, and to SIT IN
their places like statues, 10 record such edlcts as
NAV come to them? 1.-THE President recommends
a measure which the Senate believes Impohtio,
shall II not say 50 So, il he adopt course which
he may believe to be correct, but which the Sem
ate thinks uncnnstltutloDal-may At not say SO
And does It's so declaring tend TO subrert OF TO sup
port "the fundamental principles of free govern
meni ?" You surely can be at no loss To decide.
The Senate, IN the instance OF the late Postmas-
tcr-General Mr.. Barry who had contracted loans
in his Official character for the use OF his Depart.
ment without authority, declared, by On unanimous
uois, that ms proceedings IN this respect were IN
violation OF the Consiituton-and vet no complaint
has ever been uttered against that resolution OF the
Senate. How comes II about, that anathemas have
not been thandered IN the ears OF the Senate be-
cause OF that vote Why is At not that ordered to
be e1punged Why is not that also declared TO
be subversive OF the rights OF the House OF Rep
resentarlyes, and of the fundamental principles Of
free government 2n Is not the error as vital
when it affects William I. Barry, as when it at
fects Andrew Jackson? Ii so, every motive Of
generosity prompted an interference IN behalf of
the first He was powerless, and is now IN his
grave. | had personal regard for Mr.. Barry.
lie was talented and his fault lay IN being too
conhdlng Honest himself, he did not suspect
other, and they deceived him. This was the rock
on which BIZ split. In voting for that resolution
did not design to impute to him moral guilt: |
aid not believe It'll designed nothing more than
TO vindicate the Constitution. | thought that IN
dong so, | gave support to "the fundamental
principles Of free government" and never once
dreamed that had done an act in the remotest
degree subversye Of the rights OF the House OF
Representatives.
Bot say that IN ali this was wrong. In voting
for the resolution Of the Senate, against which
you are now so indignant, ! did no more than
carry out the declared views OF the Legislature,
expressed IN their resolutions of that day, and
which were passed By overwhelming malorties OF
more than two TO one in both houses. The terms
employed By the Legislature were strong and de-
cided. The conduct OF the President was repre-.
scented as dangerous and alarming was told
tina, il could not be too strongly condemned-that
he had manifested disposition greatly 10 extend
MS OlCldi 4QHQeuCb-rlNu OtIdust, Win lltst uS-
e.4rations before me- voted for a resolution which
declares thai the President IN the late Executive
proceedings, has assumed upon himself authority
and power not conferred ~ the Constitution and
Laws, but in derogaton of both" am nov ostra-
cise1 by your fat, which requires obedience or re-
signaton Compare the resolutions Of the Gene
raj Assembly OF that day with the above resolution,
and its mildness will be entirely obvious. sub
Ill u 4str -, hat -
70 b. the CONDITION Of Senator IN future if, for
WELDING obedience to the wishes OF one Leglsla
lure, be is 10 De called upon to resign By another,
Ii ht dsoteys the first, he Is contemned-lt he O.
beys the last, be violates his oath, and becomes an
object Of scorn and contempt. respectfully ask,
If this be the mode by which the great right Of In.
s,raclon Is 70 be sustained, may il not degenerate
into an engine Of taclen-an instrument TO be
smployed by the outs to get In Instead ot beng
directed 10 noble plrposes--to the advancement OF
the cause OF civil hbery-inay It not be coHverted
into political guilloine, devoted 10 the worst OF
purposes Nor are thea- aut.cIpatoas al all wea-
kene6 by the fact as i exists IN the case now uu-
der consideration, that several OF those who con.
stItr'e the present majority 10 the General Assem-
bis, and who now call upon me b eIpunge the
IQuraal 10 resign my seat actually voted for the
very resolutions Of previous session TO which
have referred.
have thus. gentlemen, with frankness, but with
ct designing offence, expressed to you my opl-
mons. With the question, whether the Resolution
ot the Senate which you direct TO be expunged, be
true or false, have nothing IN this place TO do
II false to rescind or repeal It, 10 annihllate
rs force as effectually as to cancel 1t. You have
preferred to adopt different course. | dare not
foqch the Journal Of the Senate. The Constltu-
tan iorblds it. In the midst Of all the agltations
Of party have heretofore stood by that sacred in.
strumenL 1t is the only post Of honor and safety.
Parties are continually changing The men OF
today give place to the men Of to-tnorrow and
the idols which one set worship, the next destroy.
The only object Of my political worship shall be
the Constitution Of my country. | will not be the
instrument to overthrow 1t. 4 seat in the Senate
Is sufficiently elevated 10 I'll the measure Of any
mans ambition and as an evidence Of the since
Ely Of ms convictions that your resolution cannot
BE- executed without violating my oath, surren-
der into your hands three uneXpifed years Of my
term. | shall carry with me into retirement, the
principles which brought with me into public life
and BY the surrender of the high station to which
was called by the voice Of the People of Virginia,
snail sci an example TO my children, which shall
teach them TO regard place and Office as nothing,
when either 10 be attained or held at the sacrifice
Of honor.
am, gentlemen, your fellow-citizen,
JOHN TYLER.
From the National Intelligencer.