Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-29


the expunging resolutions, at the present session. Be
Sides the Voice OF the American people has doomed that
the resolution Of the Senate conforming President Jack
shall DO cxpunged and whether the actual process
shall be performed der NJ the present the next year,
rs not matter of any great Importance
Again, ! proud 10 say, that have acquired some
little character with the democracy of the other twenty
thee States Of this Union. However small this may
vet il is still dear TO me- and wish to preserve it,
They not iauiarly acquainted, are, with the
l. cal politics Of Pennsylvania They have already |
that House of Representatives have passed the
the instructions by vote Of "a to 25and they will pro-
badly pass the Senate by large majority Ii shall
neither yield obedience to these ucions resign,
will be placed the list, in their estimation,
with those Senator'S who have fet il 20 be their duty 10
disregard instructions altogether IL will be said of me,
that have ttoiess,d the duty of obedience resigna-
ton, when II affected political opponents but have
shrunk from its application to myself
shall consider the present ques-
ton of mere cxpedcncy; but, it were, should
hestangly declare Ia be my conviction that the party
TO which am proud TO belong, would lose much
moreby my of one of its essential princ
pies, than they could gain by my in favor of the
pungng resolutions, by all the votes should be able
to give, during the residue of my in the Senate
Every friend with whom have couveIsed upon the
subject, IN this city, and these include OF the
distinguished Republicans throughout the UDion all
clearly and decidedly of opinion that ought either
obey or To resign Either alternative will bring the ques
ton distinctly before the people of the State their
next general election, whether what believe 10 be the
unconstitutional aud unjust resolution of condemnation,
against the President, for of the
acts OF his long and useful life, shall shall be ex-
plunged from the Journals of the Senate.
Should adopt the former course shall declare. at the
time give my vote that 1 do merely as am agent
IN obedcnce To Legislative Instructions and against my
| own opinion.
II consult my own feelings, shall resign. A public
but unsupported should be hav il even sus-
pected by any citizen of my native State that cap
pabe oil clingng To Office, however high and honora-
Bile, for moment longer than could retain it, without
the sacrifice oil any principle Which of the two al
,ernau'es shall finally adopt have not yet fully de-
lermined When the proper time arrives shall be pre-
pared to act promptly and decidedly.
herewith transmit TO you an extract from my letter
10 The Democratic members of our Legislature dated
the Sd day of December 1884 containing that part oft
which relates to the subject of Instructions
Sincerely hoping that The sentiments which have OK
un!cignedly, that shall place high value upon il,
reniain, very respectfully
Your obedicnt servant,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Extract of a letter addressed by Mr. Buchanan TO Jo
cob Kern Esq, aud others, democratic members of
The Legislature oiPcnnsylvana, on the 22d December
1884.
Although you have not asked for any pledge or pro-
mise relating to my course in the Senate yet SEN
siblc that many of you desire should express my op
mon publicly in regard to the right of legislative instuc
ton.
shall do with the utmost frankness On this cues
non have not and have had any serious difficult
ties The right results from the very nature of our in
sti'utons The will of the people, when fully and fair
ly expressed, ought be obcyed by all their nocoi
agents. This is the very nature and essence of
sentative democracy.
Without entering into argument upon The general
question, which would be altogether misplaced upon the
Present OCCASION it may not be improper observe thai
The principle applies with redoublcd force to Senators i'm
Congress They represent the sovereign States who
are the parties To the constitutional compact which call
ed the Federal Union INTO existence. la the Senate
these states are represented distinct communities
eacn enlisted TO the same number of votes without
gard TO their population In that body they arc all EQUALS
as they were before the adoption of the Federal Consti.
luton. Here, emphalicaliy, If any where, the voice of
The States ought TO he heard, and ought 10 be obeyed
Shall IL then be said that Senator possesses the const
tutiona right TO violate the express Instructions of the
| Ia .lpn
or and the vote which have been conferred upon him for
the benefit Of his constituents in manner which tbe,
have soennly declared be their interests
or dangerous 10 their liberties. The bare statement Of
The proposition carries conviction my mind. All or
nearly all The State Legislatures have long been in .
practice oil nsrueting their Senator'S and this affords
the strongest evidence of the OF the puc
! pie upon which this custom rests.
IL has been objected, that the right of instruction
might destroy the tenure of the Senatorial Office and
render subject to all the political fluctuations in the
several States But the Senator is only bound obey
he 10 not called upon TO resign And although there
may he circumstances in which of honor n,isI.
rather tba give of his State against his own
convictions YET these cases must from their nature be
of occurrence.
Besides, this objection implies entire want of con
hdence IN HE state Legislatures Ii supposes that they
may become the instruments OF faction for the purpose
OF harrassng Senators and compelling them to RESIGN
In fact 1T results in the principle that the people are In
caPle of managing their concerns and are there
fore under the necessity of comforting an irresponsible
Pohueel power upon one OF their own number to save
them from themselves From the nature of our insti-
utonsi we must reposc such degree of confidence i'm
the State Legislatures as TO presume that iley will not
abuse the power with which they have been entrusted
If it should clearly appear, in any case thai tlc
immediate representatives of the people have not obrv
ed their will in voting Instructions this might plesei,,
an exception To the general rule. Such an Occurrence
however, though possible, is highly improbable II ~
not to be presumed That State Legislatures will exercise
hLs important power unless upon grave aud solemn c
easons, after mature dcliberation and thorouph know
ledge OF the public viii.
have thus expressed my opinion freely upon this inn
portant question, though well aware it differs from
that OF some Of The abes and best OF our country
THE CURRENCY.
Tins Is q subject which concerns the pubc so ,n,cI
that every individual be he of what political party he
may, must wish TO have correct information of villa, il
done, or intended u be done attempted in Compress
towards Tcdecmlng the promises which the friends ~
the Administration have made in favor of pold and
against small paper currency Acting under This i'm,
preston, we collect into article ali chat our -,
gresslonal proceedings afford aud will note from fine 90
time the progress OF such measures yet in embryo
i. The amendment of Mr.. Benton to the Pension
bhi-Ihs has been agreed 10 by the House Of Reprc.
sentntiVcs, aad may be considered IA law IL, provi
SONS are three-iOd That bank shall be offered
by The Federal Government or the Post Office depart
inent, OF less denomination than ten dollars from and f.
ter the passing of the g. That no note shall be So
offered alter ue 30 day Of March next Of less denomina
ton than twenty dollars 3d. That no note of the unpro
hbited dc DOMINATION shall be offered unless il
able and paid on demand IN gold and silver at the place
where issned and equyae specie at e pace vvhc,c
offered, and convertible into gold silver upon the snot
at the VIII OF The holder, and without loss or DELAY m
Nun rms ane ndmcnt is general and permanent law
ana Passcd the two houses with great unanimtv fle
gentlemen OF the Opposition voting for with no other
I'm pl uiff.tui r.