Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-08


SENSE OF duty, ADD very gladly should dsembarrass my
sell OF the alternative OF obedience or resistance by
resignation In truth, resignation is prictege not
duty-a privilege allowed the Senator, by which he may
wholly avoid the alternative of obedience or resistance
az expounded in the preamble aud resolutions OF Februa
ry, lsl2.
He,e the General Assembly has instructed me 20 do
that which in my judgment conscience would be
cr'"e aud OF course IN act Of mora tnrpitude
cannot obey without crime; and, in my opinion form
ed upon long and anxious deliberations resignation
would nilict vital blow the constitutions be-
cause IT would be allowed by far more serious and mis-
chevous consequences 10 both the federal and
government, than hteral obedience 10 the instruction
Inc alternative Is, then, forced upon me- of obedience
or Resistance an alternative which would be painful
enough IN ITSELF and is rendered douby me- by con-
sideratons which shall mention in the sequel.
lie that would Judge my conduct fairly, should sup
pose binse IN my situation and bring home TO his own
bosom The opinions entertain and the motives by which
am actaaed If the views have unfoldcd as TO the
nature of the instruction that has been given 10 me- the
real object at which IL aimed the lmrpitue and cr
minainy, which, entertaining the sentiments do |
should incur by yielding obedience 10 it, and the impos
sioy OF resigning without giving my aid To a danger
Gus Innovation on the Constitulon,-be not wholly
groundess then, apprehend there is no man who can
tnk, that "the nature of the injustice and the extcnt
OF the mischief does not Justify and cali ar
have understood it has been supposed that all the mo-
raj responsibility rests on the constituent body and the
senator Is relieved from any portion OF H. that it is the
province OF the constituent Judge and command and
ms TO believe and obey Can be really thou that
'nc onGia oah OF Senator to support the Constitution
tue % 10 SUBJECT 10 an exception which exemps him
from the duty OF supporting it against inirngncnts at.
tempted by the State Legislature that has eeced him >?
lhat the Senator may and ought TO take The onh vitb
mental reservations that he will support the CONSTITUTIONS
unless he shall be by the nj body No.
violate 1t! Surely, The General Assembly is not going
10 give It's high sanction TO doctrines of this kind which
would sap Tie foundations OF all public virtue The tru,
s that, IN all contests between those who exercise au
thority, and those whom is exercised ms 10 The
rghtui exercise OF such authorityas 10 the duty of
ooedence, or the right of resistance both parties must
IN the nature OF things, Judge for themselves and the
only difference between them is that the party resist
lug power resss at his peril which alone suiiices in
general, determine him against resistance ercen, H.,
extreme cases. say that those who hold power have
ie sole right TO exercise Judgment, and that those over
whom power IS exercised, have no rirht to udye for
themselves whether they oppressed or not were 10
aiirm the very doctrine of passive obedience and nom
iesisahce, maintained by the University OF Oxford in
the reign oil James H. The comnands of the onst,,u
ent Legislature cannot justify, the Sena
Tor, III paipable violation OF the Constitution or in an
act oil moral turpude The servant nav even The slave
Us not bound To obey, and more excusable for
ing, the unlawful commands OF his master
Then, as to the prudence OF resistance in this case
All questions OF resistance TO authority present COM
pound consideration of right and xpeency However
Just and right resistance may be in ITSELF yet on g ne
yer 10 be resorted to- unless there be reasonabe hone
oil correcting the mischief and securing some GOOD end
nor ought any man, however strong his OF wrong
aud injustice, TO involve Others with himself in n hone
ess useless, dangerous effort of resistance This las.
objection TO the resolved to pursue have
taken the most efiectua care to obviate have asked
he advice OF no man, much desired the advice of
my friends, and willingly as should have sought it. if
could have done SO, without danger ofcomnittDr them
nucu.eu my purpose TO very few, and 10 them in the
striccst confidence: have held no correspondence with
any member OF the General Assembly on this subject
since the commencement of its present session and
In tact, have written only one short note on a diff
erent topic, to one of them lest correspondence com
menced ON other subjects might lead 10 corresnond
ence on this. This line of conduct had lis mean
yeniences, to which not insensble but could
mol depart from it, without abandoning the system of
acton had prescribed for myself and involving others
an my difficulties No man, for aupht that have don.
stands committed to share my ate for aught thai have
aone 10 draw others 10 my support, stand alone sus
"heu ohy ny the conscious virtue OF my motives and
purposes and confidence in my own frInness To meet
and abide the result. trust am aciuated by no false
PRIDE and no vain glorious opinion of nv nv uornnce
Qor am the fault is not owing to the want of most
careful selicxamnation and scruny) i'm thinking and
declaring my belief aud humble hope that the sacrifice
am making of myself of all OF polilicol bonr
and distinction in future, and even of the aieconaie
regards OF many whose esteem and confidence have
terto enjoyed, may have slight effect i'm saving
The Constitution of my country from violation; saving
the Senate from subyersion and with saving the State
soVereignes from utter prostration and placing
me right OF instruction ITSELF npon the only stable
grounds which it can be rested by so guarding il from
abuse and misapplcaton, that it may appear all mems
minds agent of good worthy TO be respected and pre-
served not an evil principle, be eschewcd and rooted
out.
see from the vote of the two Houses of the General
Assembly on the second of the Resolutions transmitted
TO me- that most of my friends approved the prin-
ciPe therein dcclaedthat il is the duty of the Senator
10 OBEY, implicitly obey the instructions Of the State
gsature, or resign All these will of COURSE disapprove
the resolution have taken. This is ominous probably
decisive, oil the destiny that me- In all likelihood
before the meats that now iname the public mind shall
be exiting shall attain to an ae which viii rem
der me unit for any active public service. have the
clearest perception of all these conseque noes But
nope shall be pardoned for saying that cannot and
wiii mol, do what think wrong in principle and mis-
cheyous fatal IN It's effects comply with the wishes of
my friends, ana to retain their APPRECIATION and support
any more than TO avert escape from the race of nv
encnles co not intend TO be nsensible to pUpnlarity
especially TO the favor of my native State but il know
myself, my love OF popularity has its rather IN
% oula thu t,oI
desire OF any rewards they can bestoy and Womb moi
oetray what think the interest of Virginia 10 gain her
favor, dear as 1T is TO 1 care for no fame but that
wmch nave little prospect of obaining-lhe renown of
good and useful Deeds which survives the author of
them. -
IT IS proper that should tell the General Assembly
and The public, that when | returned home after The
termination oil the session of Congress of 1870 had
come TO the resolution leave the Senae-tlat yyonld
Keep it in my power take my seat under nv last cleo
ton 70 his body, ia session OF Congress-
should be called by tile President; but that wond re.
sign the oiice, or (Which tue same thnp) decline
The acceptance of it, the CONNIE OF the then
next session OF the General Assembly This resolution
Dictated by of the duty owed nv family was so
openly announced, that suppose il must have been oc
heIaiy known, at least in the city of Richmond IL was
iot unt inc scheme OF instructing out Of my seat
was agitated, aer the result of spring elections was
aseerained, that saw that if should decline 10 take
my seat under my new appointment, il would have pre-
cisey the same peinicious consequences which would
result from forced resignation, under instructions
's , couiu n0t tn conscience obey-hat changed
the resolution had previously formed aud determined
70 accept ihe appointment and abide the consequences
slaIi hold my scat only long enough 10 sgnazc my
resistance to what honestly believe to be uneonstitG
io.ul 'rucuon' say now, that SHALL in all events
the General Assembly
beg leave also 10 plain the reason that inJuced me
. " uVuige Tue course intended TO pursue until tie