The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-03-11
Virginia ENpunsins Re.
solutions.

have Just received paper containing
the Preamble and Resolutions adopted by
the General Assembly on the subject OF ex.
pungiug from the journal of the Senate OF
the United States resolution of that body.
BY the last of the resolutions contained
in this paper, am requested TO perform
two several acts. | am desired TO transmit
those resolutions 10 each of the Senators
IRON Ni's'u.a, IN the Congress OF the I'm.
ted States, ana also to accompany this com.
munlcation with rt9nest 10 the Senators,
on my part, that they Would lay the same
before the body Of which they are men,'.ers.
Neither Of the acts am thus requested
TO perform, is embraced within the sphere
of any duty assigned TO the Governor OF thus
Commonwealth, either by lis Constitution
or laws but as neither Is thereby prohlbl.
ted 10 him, | should not have heslisted TO
comply with the requests ct the General
Assembly, It, III dong so, was not obliged
10 add my appreciation 10 their resolves, aud
10 unite my solicitation 10 their commands.
Such conclusion, however, rs inevitable,
Tor the terms employed IN the resolutions, as
well as the very nature OF one OF the acts
am thereby requested TO perform, announce
plainly, that both these acts are considered
b, the General Assembly as merely ,olun.
iafy on my part, 10 the performance oi"hch
acts am not compelled by the obligations
OF my legal duties. Therefore II would be
impossible for me to AVOID the conclusions J
have stated, should | comply with these re.
quests. Even an addition 10 the comlnunl.
cation am requested to make, OF such
disclaimer as might suffice to aequIt me Of
this lmpulatlon, would be IN direct conflict
with the expressed wishes OF the General
Assembly, and therefore would not compori,
a, ,hlak, with that respectful consideration
which Is due to that body, especially By eS.
cry other department OF this government.
Placed thus, 10 situation where niy 70.
lunlary compliance With the wishes OF the
General Assembly mus, expose me TO au
lmputatlon that, N justice 10 ny self, ought
TO dsclaim aud should | do So, beng con.
strained to depart from The course Which
my respect tor them would induce me 10
adopt no alternative is lett but tor mc -
q, cline compliance with their request
THIS bcg leave 10 90 N the mos, respect.
iul manner aud hasten to communicate
To them lhls my determination, TO the end
that, Il the General Assembly think Il pro
per, the tasks which have been requested
10 perform, may be promptly assigned to
some other agent, whose situation or oplu.
zoos, III tins respect, may be different from
nine.
No ordinary circumstances would lUsti.
is he, even to ny sell, IN declining 10 coop.
crate with the General Assembly, by the
performance Of any act on my part, that
they might think useful 10 give etfi-t, io
thelr WISHES and n that mode winch 10
them -ht seem most proper But | should
be Jusly regarded by all, as unworthy Of
the hlgh trust couiidcd TO me, II | acre ca
pablo OF permitting any consideration y bat.
ever, even my sincere ash TO comply with
the requests Of the General Assembly, to
. FAUST INT w aA@lt -dih NY llbNt noIltb ou'
/ legations. And, as | cannot consider the
resolutions am requested 10 transmit other.
wise than as requiring palpabIe violation
oil the Constitution OF the United States, |
should incur guilt, from which not even the
approving voice ct the present General As.
scmbly would suffice 10 absolye ne, were
to lend my aid knowingly IN any way to
I'VE effect to such purpose. Greatly 10.
deed would thls guilt he aggravated, ii while
entertaining these opinions, should dare
10 request others to lncuI such cIlmnaiily
on their part.
! may be mistaken in these opinions, but
lbey are approved by nay most deliberate
Judgment; and while 20 approved, It is my
duty TO act IN conformity with them. Should
| not do so, | should offend agalns, ms own
conscience aud as by this should Jasr,
merit the scou and contempt Of my fellow
citizens, | presume | should also incur that
Of the General Assembly itself.
The courtesy and respect due to a co.or.
dlnate department Of the Government, re.
strains me from stating, here, the various
considerations which have induced me to
entertain the opinion | have expressed, that
the resolutions | am requested 10 transmit,
require a paIpapIe violation OF tho consll;u
ton Of the United States: The same mo-
tyes induce me to abstain from character.
Izlng the act ain requested 10 perform, IN
soliciting honorable and high minded func.
tlonares Of Virginia to do that which, IT 1t
IS their duty to do, they will certainly per.
form without any oficlous request from me ;
and, If contrary TO their duty, none ought
to desire oithem perform 1t, especially one