The North-Carolina standard., 1839-02-13

|
both of wisdom and philosophy, useful in all the
relations of life public as we'll as private,
Sir, the period, intervening the passage of the
condemnatory resolution, and "Ihe expunge"
furnishes much instruction on the point now be-
fore the Senate Bear with me. till present a
short note of it. AT the Session of 1833'34, the
resolution trying and condemnng Gen. Jackson.
was passed; at the same Session and shortly af-
forwards, Senator from Missouri, Mr.. Benton,)
gave notice, that he would cat the next Session,
move that it be expunged hom the Journal" and
should persevere until successful. Accordingly,
at the Session of 1834r35, he introduced. what
is so well known by the name of the expung
ing resolution" 1t thus became the prominent
and agitating topic of the day; the issue was
fairly joined, and submitted to the people. On
one side was the Bank of the United States,
with all it's hosts of able advocates, pwmy satel-
| lites, and SiGUiSh dependents, with their num-
bers not little swelled by those. who crouched
before its colossal power; on the other, stood
Gen Jackson and the people, contending, like
freemen, against usurpation and misrue.s 1t
was carried also into the Presidential election
of 1886. Mr.. Van Buren,. being formally in
terrogated on these points, in letter from Rep
resentative from tae State of Kentucky, frankly
answered that Il regard the passage of Cot
Benton's preamble and resolutions to be an act
of justice, to a faithful and greatly injured
public sercant, not only constitutional in itself
but imperiousLy demanded by proper respect
for The ooSu kno,en opinion Of the people," All
well remember the triumphant ma jority which
carried that eminent citizen to the Executive
chair. Parties being thus marshalled, the strug
gle was long and arduous; the public mind was
| lashed almost into phrenzy, by the artihces and
struggles of politicians and, victory seemed
for season, doubtful. But the People, think
God as they always will, when their intelli-
!gence, energies and lOre Of country are enlisted
| I-trumphed. Legislature after Legislature, to
wit Nele Hampshire, Maine. Connecticut, r.
Island, Ne,0 York. Ne,c Jersey. Virginia, North
Carolina. Georgia, Alabama Arkansas Ms
souri,, Illinois and Michigan; fourteen in all
being majority Of all the States-by instruc
tions, not in ambiguous terms, but in every in
stance, using the mandatory word "instTuet )"
commanded their Senators to vote "to erpunge."
Accordingly. on the 18th January 1837-as
before stated, it was expunged. and that too by
the positive and explicit mandate of the People
of the United States. And yet we are tod it is
an act of party ServiIity degrading to the
character of the Senate. What Sir, would be
our answer, if the people of the other States
should demand the authority for this unwar-
ranted interference in the relations between
them and their Senators? If it were In my
power, Sir, this thing of ours should never
be heard beyond these walls. I would spare
the State this stain upon her character, and res
ple-but, will not say ii, Sir, will not say 1t.
But, Sir, the case Of our own Senators is much
stronger and confess | refer to it with some
feeling of defiance. The obnoxious resolution,
recollect was passed in March l834-the pub.
lie mind Immediately seized upon the exciting
topics it involved-the dismissal of the recusant
Secretary Mr.. Duane-the appointment of Mr..
Taney-the remoraL of the deposites, and the
fragrant assault upon the character and Patriot
ism of Cen Jackson. These were the sub ects
that awakened the attention and commanded the
investigation ofthe whole people Of North Caro-
lima Our elections ensued in the summer Of
that year, and the Legislature which convened
in the autumn, reelected Mr.. Brown to the Sen
ate by large ma ajority, with full knowledge
of his opinions and votes upon all OF them, and
also passed a resolution inStructing the other
Senator from this State to vote for expungng
from the records of the, Senate of the United
States, the resolution declaring "that the Presi
dent, in his late Executive Proceedings, in rela-
tion to the public revenue, had assumed upon
himself authority and power potconferred by the
Constitution and laws, but in derogaton of both"
At the ensuing Congress in I834-'35, your
Senator so instructed, did not obey or resi- gn
This placed the conduct of the preceding Legis-
lature, and the opposite opinions of your two
Senators, one being for and the other agGist the
expunging resolution, fairly and fully before the
people. They were freely canvassed and made
the test questions in the elections in 1885; again
did the people return majority to the Legisla-
: ture of that year. approving the course and
opinions of Nj. Brown and the policy of Gen
Jackson in relation to the finances and the Bank
f of the U. States During the canvass for 1886.
the same questions were renewed. discussed and
again decided, and the manifestation of pub
lie sentiment afforded by the result of the cleo
tions so decisive and uneqnivocal was this repeat
ed ex preston of public opinion regarded, that MIR
Mangum, the colleague of Mr., Brown. resigned
his seat in the Senate, and MIR. Strange his pres
ent colleague was twice chosen Senator by the
Legislature of that year once for the unexpired
term of Mr. Mangum, and afterwards for the six
years ensuing. Could there be more clear
and authoritative enunciation of the public will?
Your resolution of instructions unrepealed. elec-
ton after election by the people and by the Legis.
ElGtu,e, furnishing the most unequivocal proof of
its approval, there was no room tor doubt
What course then became your senator's? what
did the high behests of public duty demand2-
They did not hesitate; they were instructed by
the people, Instructed by the Legislature, and
they yielded ready obedience 2-
1t was then the act of the People; the act of