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


my place in opposition to their fixed, declared and
settled will | should aid no cause--advance no
great Purpose-be poSerless to do good, and pro-
woke only TO HARM Reposing only on my feeble
strength, should yamly flattcr myself that could
wllh my single arm sustain the Constitution, and
keep back what might consider the tide of err.
ror, when IN very truth should but excite the
popular preludlces more strongly and mminently
endang,r the Constitution by my very efforts to
sustain il.
In resigning then, gentlemen, into your hands,
my place IN the Senate of The United States to
which wac called by your predecessors, trust
shall be INDUCED in brief exposition Of The rea
sons which have led me 10 the conclusion that TO
obey your instructions would be to violate the
Constitution of the United States. | shall DO so
boldly and fcarlessy, but with all becoming re-
spect, and with all the breylty in my power. The
Senate is ordered BY the Constitution 10 Keep a
journal Of its proceedings and TO publish II from
time IL fime. THIS injunction is thus soemnly I'M
posed upon the aggregate body, aud Oh each Indl-
yidua Senator. Whatever shall be done, shall be
faithfully recorded BY the Secretary and shall be
faithfully Lopt-not for an hour, and then be de-
iaced-not Tor day, and then be erased-nor for
d year, and then to be CKpungcd-but forever, as
perpetual witness, faithful history, by which the
CUCHtl, lUt iiDtiNtSs llit uCtlDls VI ult SlIu OC
Judged not by those OF the present day only, but
throughout all time. 1t WAS a wise custom among
the Chinese, which required the biography OF each
Emperor to be written before the close OF his life,
aud placed Dc .Urc uu, 50 rs to give HIM i0reknow
ledgc Of what the world would think OF hun after
his death. 1t was designed to restrain his evil
passions-to curb the exercise Of dcspotc sway.
II addressed itself to his ambition, and excited
within him longing for an immortality in the
gratitude and admiration OF succeeding agCs, But
this provision IN our Constitution Is stll wiser
Each Senator writes daily his own biography liels
required 10 record his own acts aud taxes an oath
10 keep that record and to publish It from time TO
ime, The applause or ccnsure OF his fellow men
IS not postponed until he has descended TO the tomb
1t Is DAILY uttered hy the llvlug gene rdupn. How
powerful are the Inducements thds addressed 10
each member TO be ialthtu to the trust cUnhded to
hin! How much 10 be admired the wisdom OF
our ancestors IN framing the Constitution. II this
was its only feature, their Title 10 Immortality
would be established.
This simple provision is one Of the great securi-
ties OF American liberty, Ii takes nothing upon
trust Ii Tia, S.l4te kept no Jonuai, II would be
secret concaye, where deeds The most revolving
might be performed in sccresy and darkness The
tram might there be isd, the mine prepared, and
the FIST know cage o the treason might be the cA
posion and consequent overthrow oil tree govern
ment Liberty could net co-eNlst with such state
, Of lhnas. lnero Is 10 liberty where there IS no
! responsibility, and there can he no responsibility
, where nothing Is known. To have Secretary
seated at the table Of the Senate 10 write down lis
proceedings, and TO claim tor itself the night to
cancel, oh,ltcrate, or oXpungc, what he tad writ
ten. Is equivalent 10 having no journal at ala
cookery and a fraud. The journal OF the morn
ing may be cancelled IN the evgnIng-that OF to-
DAY may be cSpuElod on to-morFo" -cancel 1t IN
any way, whether by black Of red marks, whether
with circles or stro ut lines, II ceases to tie Jour
nal and that when was, is not. The journal is 10
be published, but there Is 10 journal ILeTe was
one Yesterday, but ere it reach The press 1t Is
cancelled marked out, OF eXpungcd. These are
the necessary results of obedience t. your ustfnc
tons. Ii that Journal contain d transaction dis,
credItaGle to the Senate, should preserve It as
perpetual monument OF lis disgrace. Il 10 par
ty leader, | will give HIM and his friends who may
Temporarily have lie ascendancy, no warrant TO
erase or blur tie pa e on which such an act OF mis-
cpujucl is recorded. | should he afraid, after per-
forming such a deed, II Viz ina Is what she once
was-1nd do not doubt Ito return within her
limits. The excavations OF her people would be
Numbered in nv ears. The soil when had been
irod by her heroes and statesmen would furnish
me no restng-pace. | should feel myself guilty,
most guilty and however might succeed IN con-
cealmu ntyslu IRON The sight OF men, could not,
IN nv view of the subject, save myself from the
upbratdlngs OF my own pcVured conscience. How
could return TO mix among her people TO snare
their hospitality and kindness, with the decIara-
ton on my hp- d" have violated my oath OF office,
and sooner tnan surrender my place IN the Senate,