Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-22

address their agents in this body From their earli
est action down 10 1884 when the resolutions were pass
ed commanding the act now denounced as unconstu-
ona aud dictated by party serviy they used this Pc
cular phraseology Language consists merely OF the
signs, which, by common consent, haze been received
as representing particular ideas Technical language
frequently differs from common language. by common
consent the word instructions has received technical
Specification, when ustd in add by the Legislature
oil State 10 It's Senators Congress Theee facts were
all known 10 the Legislature Of North Carolina, which
passed the resolutions under consideration Was, hen
the omission Of The word uniformly used by the Lrgls
la'ures heretofore when they designed direct action
their Senators, accidental whimsical omission
merely; and it intended believed that those used
would be efficient! | have not the slightest idea
that it was In the first place, the known belief Of
many who voted for these resolutions, that The Logsla
lure has right 10 instruct Senators, and cnnssQp
ly that there is obligation Senators 10 obey,
forbids the idea. They could not have intended VIVA.
they believed they had no right TO do Such a sus
pcion would, am persuaded, do them great injus
ticc. The Just conclusion is, that they meant to do
just what they have donethe expression Of their belief
that public opinion is what they set forth in those
uons 10 be their opinions; believing most justly,
that while they had no right 10 command their opinions
would be most respectfully considered by their Senator's
The omission Of the w"rd instructions was designed -
And WHY: Because II was well known that peculiar
force and Specification attached to it, and OPERA
nn given 10 It which they did not approve and therefore
did wish to sanction by is That the omission
designed, is further proven by the fact, which is
matter of history that in both Houses proposed amend
rnent by It's insertion rejected But to place the mat
beyond all doubt, my colleague and myself addressed
a Joint letter TO the Legisaue-not inguirIng hat e
feet they intended their resolutions to havenot imply
ing doubt which we did not enterain-but, openly
declaring what he firmly believed, that should
not hold them Instructions, al the came time drcsr
ing purpose TO obey resign should We be instruct
ed This letter written in the most perfect snceTi
and good faith. care rot whn may think proper TO
question it. | can appeal 10 God and my own con-
science for my truth But il is also known to friends
here 10 whom declared my determination TO resign If
my construction Of the resolutions was pronounced En-
roneous. 1t was no; 50 pronounced We received no
answer 10 our communication. The vIndcation OF my
sincerity in addressing that letter. therefore, presents
strong consideration against resignation. II ! resign
now, il may be justly said that when wrole my Lester
TO the Legislature considered these resolutions as in.
strucons in The face Of my declaration TO the contrary,
and am now bound down by the eight Of my con-
viclinn | still think, as | thought then, that they
are not instructions, either in fact according
the intention o! mos, of those who voted for hem and
believing, the alternative u obedience resignation
is not presented 10 me Is there. lhen any obligation
ur.r To resign; Docs any human being perceive
any? Wio point il out: Perfect obedience Is out
OF the question. it follows, then, in my judgment,
that for The present il my dny to remain here, and.
while do treat the resolutions as instructions !
will show them all due respect and give TO them such
influence my conduct my judgment may up
prove have said that had tie Legislature met during
the ensuing yrHr would resign at the close OF this
session: but is still my purpose afford the sovereign
people Of North Caronn the earliest opportunity Of de-
Gliding The important GurslIun, by what class OF PoItI.
clans they choose to be represented in this body The
Legislature, at its first biennial session, shall have
opportunity of selecting for the seat ell Democrat
or +. dpras who thinks it right ipe of Tie
foul and IN nst stigma cast upon the fame D Andre
Jackson who is for prrprullng 1t through all
generations This, they viii have an opportunity oi
doing. under fair expression OF popular sentiment and
To HE people OF North Carolina will checrfuy submit
the
Mr. CLAY OF Kentucky commended that these tspu-
nns neither lndecoruus disfespectiul. Mr..
Strange said he made nllusicn TO disrrsprctfu Ian
ruagf Mr. E.. said be understood al host of The
Senators TO say that OF the resolutions WAS dSs-
specltu 10 the Senate. Mr Blown said he spoke Of
of the res.ullous but, enanatng they did ir"m
the Legislature of his State IN possible contingency
could he have refused 20 present them Mr.. & said, 1t
there indecorun his duty, under the rules Of
The Senate not To present the resolutions. l Brown
said there very marked difference between the lie
gislalure OF sovereign Stale and individuals this
subject MIR. T.. said he not aware there any
such distinction in The rules, and if the Legislature of
State dsrepecliu! language, it is 10 be
ceived than if il from private citizen. But the
Senators gave for not complying with the
solutions OF The Legislature that they did not contain
tine word instruct He thought it was infinitely IN re
respectful TO those receiving the Instructions not 10
The word instruct Sir, suppose say 10 my MN
Charles please bring my boots shoes and he dass
it with aacry; hut. if ! shonId say, Charles nstfrct
you bring my boots, he would think strange Ian
uunge, aud. very probably would ask me for expa
"
Discrimination strongly TO obeyng these instructions,
they seemed altogether to overlook that there al
tentative presented 10 ,hem-.hat Of resignation
Mr. STRANGE reprd that he certainly felt mech
indebted he Senator from Kentucky Er. Clay tor
the advice he had proper volunteer The pre-
occasion. But it had been very long since it had
been his wont TO lock for political information from Inst
quarter On the contrary he viewed the Senator from
Kentucky, with all his talents rather a beacon than
guide, and when indicated by him, gene
rally considered il reason for stunning rather than
pursuing it It not therefore, to be considered at
oil remarkable, if his Suggestions the present
SION should have but weight The Senator is pleas.
ed to say that he considers my complaint, that have
neither favor justice 10 expect from my political nP
ponrnts little grauitous No man knows better where
the shoe pinches Than he who wears 1t. The Senator
nothing Of the ground upon Which this complain!
is made, and has, therefore, right to say whether
it is graluous not. He, Mr.. s. had said, that sad
experience had warned him not 10 expect either favor or
justice from his political opponens-and ne said so tru'
ly. And that the Senator had somew hat forced il
upon him, he would remark, that man had shown
comfy Difference 10 his political opponents than
himself; and yet not only the scnrrilDus partisan
papers Of the country but by those with whom he
had exchanged the courteses of e and from whom he
had parted with the grasp Of friendship had his motives
been assailed and his conduct mpeuched. With such
facts before him, he might well say that he could eI-
pect neither favor Justice from his political opp'-
nens. The Senator from Kentucky, he said, with an
unfarness and which he had not thought al
toy Their becoming, had observed, that in remarkng
upon the impraccabilty of obedience, he (r Strange
and his collengue) seemed to have overlooked ano-
Their alternative, and that was resignation Now, un-
lees The Senator'S less acute than usual,
he must have heard both him and his colleague very
distinctly advert to that alternative, and himself 10 de-
clare that he liberty 10 act in obedience to his
feelings he would resign but that, under present
circumstances high Of duty 10 those who sent
him here compelled him 10 remain. The Senator from
XIV then takes up the doctrine OF instruction. and
cording 10 his won't in the absence Of argument and
attempts TO drive us from position by raery and
JEST for that purpose paradss before that ever hvo
the Senate with dialogue between himself and that dig
tinguised parsonage But his illustration has no appl''
cation to the subject There is parity between Inc