Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-03-24

be informed that il was the settled wish o
the people of Virginia that should retire
from their service. That people have hon
oTed me with the highest Office within thei
gift. Ii the talents which have brought
into their service he humble, shall have
at least brought fidelity TO their interests
No where else have looked for reward
but TO their approbation--I have served
under four administrations, and nigh,
doubtlessly, BY course Of snbserviency
and sycophancy, have obtained what !:
called by some. preferment. But what
could have compensated for the baseness
of my prostitution, and the betrayal Of the
confidence reposed in me by generou,
people? The executive files furnish nc
record Of my name as an applicant for a
4 nv Of the crumbs which have fallen from
the executive table. repeat, that have
looked exclusively TO the people Of Virgi.
mia and when they have extended to me
their confidence for twenty odd years.
When am indebted to them for whatso-
ever of credit and standing | possess in
the world, | cannot and will not permi.
myself 10 remain in the Senate for mo-
ment beyond the time that their accredi.
dited organs shall instruct me that my ser.
vices are no longer acceptable. If graft
tude for the past did not, my own con-
scious weakness would control my course.
What would it profit the country or my
self, for me to remain in the Senate against
their wishes? By retaining my place in
opposition to their fixed, declared and set
tied, will, should aid no cause-sdvance
no great purpose-be powerless for good,
and provoke only to harn-reposins on
my feeble strength. should vainly flatter
myself that could with my single arm
sustain the constitution, and keep back
what | might consider the tide of error,
when in very truth should but excite the
popular prejudces more strongly, and inn
minently endanger the constitution by my
very efforts to sustain II.
In resigning then, gentlemen, into your
hands my place in the Senate Of the Uni.
ted States, to which was called by your
predecessors. | trust | shall be INDUCED in
brief exposition Of the reasons which
have led me to the conclusion that to obey
your instructions would be to violate the
constitution ofthe United States. shall
do SO boldly and fearlessly. but with all
becoming respect. and with all the brevity
in my power. The Senate is ordered by
the Constitution. to keep journal Of its
proceedings, and TO publish il from time
to time. This Injunction is thus solemnly
imposed on the aggregate body, and on
each individual Senator. Whatever shall
be done, shall be faithfully recorded by
the Secretary, and shall be faithfully kept.
mot for an hour, and then TO be defaced
no, for day, and then TO be erased
nor for year, and then 10 be expunged-
but forever, as perpetual witness, a
faithful history, by which the conduct, the
motives, the actions Of men, shall be judg-
ged, not by those of the present day only,
but through all coming time. II was a
wise custom among the Chinese, which re
quired the biography Of each Emperor to
be written before the close Of his life. and
placed before him. so as to give him a
foreknowledge Of what the world would
think Of him after his death. Ii was de-
signed to restrain his evil passions-to
curb the exercise Of despotic sway. II ad.
dressed itself to his ambition, and excited
within him a longing for an Immortality
in the gratitude and admiration OF succeed
ing ages. But this provision in our Con
stilution is still wiser, Each Senator
writes daily his own biography. lie isrs
CURED to record his own acts, and takes
an oath to keep that record and to pub
lsh it from time to time, The applause
or censure of his fellow men is not post
poned until he has descended to the tomb.
IL is daily uttered by the living generation
How powerful are the inducements thus
addressed to each member to be faithful to
the trust coniided to him! How much to
be admired the wisdom Of our ancestors in
framing the Constitution !! lf this was its
only feature, their title TO immor tally
would be established
This simple provision is one of the
great securities Of American liberty. l,
takes nothing upon trust. II the Senate
kent no journal, it would be a secret con.
claye, where deeds the most revolving
might be performed in secresy and dark
ness. The train might there be laid. the
mine prepared, and the first knowledge OF
the treason might be the explosion, and the
consequent overthrow Of our Tree govern
ment Liberty could not coexlss with such
a state of things, There is no liberty where
there is no responsibility, and there can be
no responsibility where nothing 10 known
! To have a Secr'y seated atthe table Of the
Senate to write down its proceedings and
TO claim for itself the right to cancel to OBJ
literate, or expunge what he had written
is equivalent TO having no journal at all
mockery and fraud. The journal Of
the morning may be cancelled in the eve
niog-that Of to day may be expunged on
ornorrow-cancel il in any way, wne'nsr
by black or red marks, whether with cir
cIes or by straight lines. it ceases to be
journal, and that which was, is not. The
journal is to be published. and there IS nc
Journal. There was one yesterday out
ere il can reach the press, il is cancelled
marked out, or expunged. These are ths
necessary results Of obedience to your IN
structions. Ii THAT journal contalna trso'
action discreditabIe to the Senate, wouie
--...-o II n q n xooputnent nj its uIegrdCe