Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-20

when first elected and that personal or party cons
derallon has ever made me forget for moment my
obligations to the country, 10 the interests of my cons
iuenls and the rights Of the people, II has never been
10 me matter OF the least concern with which political
party happened on any occasion to vote Of the sim
cery and truth OF this decaralon the Journal of every
session OF Congress, since have been here will furnish
ample proof Upon these principles have ever acted
and proessed 10 act.
tits perhaps due to you, who have so generously sus.
tanned me, as well as just 10 myself that give brief
review OF my course of political action now that am
about TO leave the political arena probably never again
| TO enter upon it.
| came into public life as your representative, soon
alter Inc election OF Gen Jackson the first Of his
PRESIDENCY had been advocate Of his election not
because his political creed was in full accordance with
my own-not because had full confidence in his judg.
ment or his temperbut BECAUSE in all these respects,
though! HIM preferable 10 his competitor. he
was with me choice of evils The first four years Of
his administration tended 10 strengthen my hopes that
he would administer the Government SO depend
ca on hn upon principles approaching the standard oil
ihe strict construction school, Of the Virginia State
Rights Republicans. His veto on tho Maysville Road
Bill displayed great moral courage; and Notwithstanding
the untenabe distinction between national and local
works Of Internal Improvement constitutional point
OF view and the peposerous and arbitrary limitation MS
to appropriations for improvements, ab0re and bco,r
ports of eny-I regarded that veo elfcctng great
practical good, III checking the spirit Of exravagan and
unconstitutional expenditures Of public money for works
Of Internal improvement His constant efforts TO reduce
to keep down the to The standard of econo
mical adnnislration-the principles Of reform and re-
trenchment-ihe display Of anxiety the part OF his
partlzans for reducing Executive patronageof restrict.
ing and guarding against its abuse his opposition TO the
Bank of the u S. and his veto upon the bill for it's
charter Observation-Disclosures all calculated to make
him and bis administration more popular with the State
of Virginia, they with sustained him for
his second election with readiness than for the first
but then, with none of the spirit Of partizan.
Soon after his second election, the struggles which had
been going on in relation to the Tariff, grew TO head
Omen resistance made in Of the soveregn States
OF the Union, to the validity Of the Tariff law. She de-
cared that the law should not be executed within her
borders, and preparations made through conven
TONS test oaths and military array 10 sustain that de-
caraton. Sympathizing sincerely and cordially with
South Carolina her of the oppression and njus
tice of the Tariff yet thought her proceedings and
doctrines Of Notification rash, precipate and uncon
stutional The President issued his famous Proclamn
tion-no less rash and vioentand unwse and full Of
heresies Of doctrine. il few, however, like wildfre
through the land The purtzuns of the Administration
every where hailed it, with much Joy they would
have done second revelation of wisdom and salvation
Most of the protesting Rights joined the
shouts of graduation which rung hro all the land, while
the Opposition party of that day. and all those who still
cherished the old Federal doctrines the sound prnc
Piles of the Constitution shouted hosannus 10 him, whom
but little before, they abhorred the very oloch OF
a false and doatrous worship Even the Virginia lie.
gslature, which has been the vanguard in the de-
fence of State Rights seemed to be usounded by the
boldness or COMPOUNDED by the sophislres, by which
their long cherished theories of State sovereignty and
confederated government were nssaied Such was the
overwhelming popularity Of the Prnclamation-so great
was the plausbility of its reasoning In my own dis
irlct meetings were held 10 respond 10 lis sentiments
headed by some of the oldest and leading Republicans
Wholly undismnyed BY these things, promptly repn.
dated its hercsies and was believe among the FIRST
if not the very first Who in my place in Congress- con-
demned and denounced il. In small minority OF about
So, consisting of Nullifers and States Right men,
- Tho thp
offspring 81 temporary union between Democratic Re.
pubcons and National Republicans. The little remnant
of Stale Rights party, which before had begun to rally
and were looking with smile of hope, for the return Of
the better days Of the Rspublic-bcween the rashness
and odiousness Of Notification the one hand and the
hereses and popularity Of the Proclamation on the other
were crushed, broken 10 pieces and scattered 10 Le
four winds. The country saved from the calamity
Of civil war, and its inevitable and deporable
ouence dissolution Of the Union by the passage of the
Compromise act Of 1888, Of which cordially approved
1t brought healing on its wings-afToded South Carolina
an honorable excuse for retreang from her dangerous
and i'll Judged position and rendered imperative the po
tent and unconstitutional energies Of the Force bill
The country enjoyed brief period of political repnse
1t was however but "the torrents smoothness ere 1t
dash below" We were aroused by the removal OF the
deposcs of the public money, to participate in The mos,
tremendous conflict Of political parties, in which tho
country was ever involved.
In the beginning OF this contest was a calm and dis
! passionate enquirer | came here al the commencement
of the session SO 81, with political leaning whale
yer far parties and persons were concerned Ca'
cuating thot the question OF the sucency nt the Ica
sons which had induced the Executive to change The
place Of depcste Of the public money would be present
ed to US as mere question of practical e1Pediency-
prepared examine those soberly and cooIy
and to decide upon them as mere question OF exped.
ency. We not permitted so 10 examine and decide
it, Looking behind and beyond the practical questions
the conduct Of the President in removing Mr.. Duane
because he would not remove the depos'es-the power
of removing Executive ofcers-the right of the Pres
dent supervise and control the heads of the EIecu
tive departments TO compel them 10 execute the
law according to his construction Of the legislative will
were all assaed with the utmost Tiocncc-hls conduct
was declared "usurpation the right OF the President
to remove Executive officers was denounced as des
polio and kngly prerogative which must be resisted
at every hazard The Secretary Of the Treasury it
even commended not an Executive officer, and in.
stead Of being subject to the supervision and control Of
the President, responsible alone 10 Congress- And
was solemny argued that in acting contrary 10 these
principles the President usurper yran and des
pot The indications from public meetings, and all the
information received, from private and the most friend
ly in district, warranted the belief that these
opinions were the prevalent ones there. The Legsla
ture Of Virginia having large majority elected friends
of the Administration, passed resolutions by very large
maiores condemning in the mnst unqualified terms the
conduct Of the President, dangerous and alarming
assumption of power which could not be too strongly
demned" and declaring that his interference with the
Treasury Department clearly manifested disposition
extend his official authority beyond its just and proper
limits, which they could not but regard with apPehen.
sion and dstrust" Every Senator and Representative
from my Congressional district voted for these resolu
TONS i've one 1t was the general belief here in Wash.
ngton, that the power and popularity Of the Admins.
tra,on would be broken down and certainly, all will
admit TINT the prospects Of his party the close of the
winter of 1884, were gloomy than at any other
period before since during the Presidency of General
Jackson And happen to know that some of the lead.
ing and most influential supporters of the Adminstra.
ton party in Virginia, gave signs of that all
lost and were exceedingly anxious that we should re-
store the dcposes the only Of saving the banks
from suspension and the party from ruin. 1t was under
such circumstances had to perform my duty as your
representative While dsapproved of the removal of
The nt time and under the