Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-03-17

historical evidence Of the fact il instructs
me 10 do this---or resign. II ins,ructs me
50 TO expnnge, as not to expunge the reso.
iotinn u requires OF me, in word, a lie.
suitieai tqalyocsti0n with my oath and
conscience; and Considering the know
ledge Z, must have OF the opinions | enter
tala) u commands me 10 incur dishonor.
shame, and gullt-or resign. II requires
me, 10 effect, TO give my recorded sane
1 lion TO the prerogatives claimed by tho
/ President, in his memorable protesta.
gainst the proceedings Of the Senate, and
I TO the limitations he thinks proper TO set
/ upon the rights, powers, and privileges OF
this body well knowing the opinions
have avowed on the questions of constitn.
tional right, and hope, not doubling their
sincerity. the General Assembly commands
me TO inllict this lin my sense Of things)
vital blow upon the constitution Of mr.
country --or resign cannot shut my
eyes against the truth--plain and claring
upon the very face of the transaction
that such instructions were not given me,
with any expectation, or view, or perhaps
even wish. that should yield obedience
10 them. There is, IN truth, no choice
between the alternatives proposed 10 me
and believe. most undoubtedly, that il
was not designed TO leave me any cboce
tia, the real and the only purpose Of the
instructions, was TO compel ma TO resign
-. 10 instruct me out of my seat" In
deed. it seems TO me, that this design is
almost avowed in the preamble and reso-
lutions you have transmitted 10 me Fer
the preamble recites. as motive for the
proceeding. that " ne Assembly deem il
their solemn dutyagan 10 reassert the duty
OF the representative 20 obey or resign :"
and then, after giving me an instruction
which the Assembly knew that could not
obey without crime and foul disgrace, 1t
resolves. -" that il is the duty OF tho re.
preventative to obey The instructions of his
constituents, or 10 resign the trust with
which they have clothed him, in order that
il may be transferred ,uto the bands of
those who will carry into execution the
wishes and instructions OF the constituent
body
Ii was impossible that should have re.
manned ignorant of. and il is equally i'm.
possible for me 10 forget, the political OPP.
erations IN Virginia during the past year.
know that the design OF "instrncting me
out of my seat"-or I'm coufily pbrase)
giving me walking ticket" was early
and openly avowed and recommended
| that i was an advantage not n little vaun-
ted which The v,ctors promised themselves
from the success they achieved at the last
annual elections; that The scheme Of the
Instructions was proposed aud discussed,
and tbs very method If typical expunciion
which the General Assembly has adopted
! .laI In
and sure means of driving me to a resig
nation. in the pnblIc prints. which are
sometimes the organs. and sometimes tho
diciators, Of party plans. know, more
over, that The proc sedlng was aimed atnie
particularly at me; and that, TO insure
I it's success, no effort has been spared 10
cxsggerate my faults, such as they are; to
| lalsily the history Of my life, simple and
obscure AS hitherto it had been, and bar
rem OF incident: 10 misrepresent all my
motives. sentiments, and actions /; and 10
raise such storm Of public Indignation
against me as should make me bend like
.he willow in the fable, and preserve y
worthless existence. Ivy yielding. rather
than he torn up by the roots like the s,ur-
dy oak, and laid forever PROSTATE on The
earth. | shall fulfil my destiny with firm
ness aud composnre. Let me thank my
enemies for having given me coDse
quence which my own merits would never
have achieved, tina, enables me 10 act
conspicuous and useful part in the defence
of The " free Institutions" of my country.
ought 10 he grateful 10 the General AS
semby for placing me, a. il were. At the
head Of a forlorn hope in the contest Dow
| ia fi,a fit he
tuition aud the laws; aud though an as
sensible Of the d nger, as am OF The no.
nor, Of the post assigned me. hope. with
the blessing OF God, 10 approve myself not
a!ioget her unworthy oil 1t.
If the General Assembly bad any object
al heart, pursued directly for its own val
ne, and not as a means OF accomplishing,
| by ndireciion, other objects plainly IN
| Just and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS should give
me an instruction 10 use my endtavoTs. IN
my official station, 10 pionote lis views
an instruction which il believed could
conscientlonsly otey--an instruction FRAN
ed with no design 10 force me TO resgns-
| lion /; and il. in such a case. should think
the end aimed al Unconstitutional. and
should be, therefore, unwilling TO be an
active agent in accomplishing 1t; the case
would be very strong one. indeed, and
attended with very peculiar circumstances
! 10 which would retain my seat, and sisnn
as an obstruction 10 the Accomplishment
Of the measure desired. But regarding
! the present instruction - r'ainly directed
TO the purpose OF forcing me : 10 resign
the trust with which" the General Assem-
/ bly has clothed me, in order that It may
be transferred into the hands OF those who
will carry into execution the wishes and
! instructions Of the constituent body
which wishes aud Instructions | think
plainly contrary to the letter and spirit OF
The constitution and deeply convinced.
as am. that my resignation would more
vitality affect The integrity Of the cons'''u-
ton. than even an implicit obedience 70
the instruction Il have, therefore, come %
resolution, that cannot, ought not, anu