The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-12
NORTH CAROLINA AND HER UNITED
STATES SENATOR'S.
INSTRUCTIONS

WHEnEAs we believe that great crisis has arrived
"a the political history OF our country the issue Of
which we conceive the safety Of our free do
depend and whereas we consider il bounden duty
as the representatives Of the freemen Of North Caro-
una to express in calm dspassionac language our opin
IONS on the great questions which have been for some
time, aud some Of which still are aghatng the public
mind
Resoiesd, therefore, That this General Assembly do
condemn in the most decided manner that act Of the
that body. papabe violation Of the plain letter of
the Constitution, and act Of party seryily calcu-
lated to degrade the character of the Senate.
Resotred That resolutions ought to be passed by the
Senate OF the United States condemnatoy of that act
and resembling the resolutions authorizing to be done
RESOLVED, That this General Assembly do consider
The sub Treasury system which this Administration is
endeavorng to establish another item in that series
OF fatal experiments Of this and the past Adminstra
lon which are the main Of that arrangement Of
INC currency and prostitution OF commercial credit
which has been severely felt of late in every branch
Of Industry and which, If suffered TO become law.
wii' by It's tendency to augment Executive power,
unite The purse and the sword in the hands OF the Ex
ecuise, and TO destroy the credit system by the
ton OF specie in the Government dues ultimately change
te real character Of Government and place in peril
The Liberties of our country
RESOLVED, That we consider the public lands Of the
United States as the common property OF all the States
ana that we therefore condemn the late act OF Con-
gress allowing settlers the public lands the right Of
redemption at the minimum price, an act OF gross
injustice to the old States which originally coded them
or VINO contributed common fund for their purchase
RESOLVED, Thatwe believe that the most proper and
equitable disposition Of the public domain is divide
me proceeds arising from their sales among the several
States OF the Union, according the ratio OF their fede
raj population.
Resot0ed. That we do most solemny protest against
tho wastefu extravaganza Of the present
and their profgate expenditure Of the public money
which not only creates demaud for heavy taxation in
order to meet the exorbtan appropriations Of the Gene
raj Government, but tends to the corruption Of the pub
lie morals and the degradation Of the national character
Resotped That the power and patronage OF the Exc
cutve Department Of the Federal Government have in
creased to an alarming extent and ought to be dimin-
ished.
Resolved Thai our Senator's in Congress piA repre-
sent The pishes Of majority Of The people Of this Stale
by voting 10 carry out The foregoing resolutions
Resoced, That the Governor Of this State be request
ed 10 for,oard copy Of these resolutions each Of
Senator'S IN Congress, with request that they lay
them before the Senate Of the United States, and
to each Of the Governors of the several States of the
Union with request that they lay them before their
spective Legislatures
In the same Legislature the 4th day Of this month,
the following Letter presented by hepresidng Off
GERS to both Houses of Assembly
WASHINGTON CRY, Dec. 81, 1898.
4 o inc H0H Hc General Assembly OF ~. u:
GENTLEMEN Having learned from unofficial sources
which, however, leave doubt upon minds Of the
correctness OF their information that certain resolutions
have passed your honorable bodies expressive Of the OPT
Mons Of majority Of each Of them upon political mat
tiers, some of which have been and others still
pending before the country, we have been induced to
ticpate their coming hand, and respectfully address
you concerning them
In thus anticipating the reception Of copy Of the
solutions through official channel, we trust that an
apology will be found in the information have recev
ed Of the intention of the Legislature to adjourn at an
early day.
The resolutions do not exactly instruct to carry
into effect the opinions expressed therein; nor are
able to perceive in them, implicitly any authoritative
command, such instructions convey.
We are therefore, left to infer that it the inen-
ton of the General Assembly not to assert or exercise
the right Of instruction. from the absence oil the manda-
tory terms heretofore used when the General Assembly
Of North Carolina has thought proper to resort to
The ground heretofore occupied by US is wholly
changed, and scarcely needs recaptulaton. We have
publicly declared that whenever instructions given
us by the Legislature we will either obey them
sign.
We therefore respectfully ask of your honorable
bodies our construction OF the resolutions,
that may be set rgh, in time to act becomes the
position in which we stand.
With view to prevent any Misrepresentation of our
motives, we dscaim any intention of disrespect to the
Legislature, considering it not only duty to ourselves
thus respectfully to make this request but that owe
it to the people Of the State Of North Carolina whose
interests have been confded to US in the Senate Of the
United States.
We have the honor to be, with great respect, your
obedent servants.
BEDFORD BROWN,
,, ROBT. STRANGE.
In the SENATE of the State on the same day, the
following resolution received three readings, and
passed. BY the precise vote by which the above reso-
lutionS were passed:
"Resolped, That the resolutions passed by this Ge-
neral Assembly, and transmitted TO Senators in
Congress- are sufficiently plain and intcg'b 10 be COM
pretended by any desirons Of understanding hem
that we believe this communications, anticipating the
reception of said resolutions, and making inquiry as to
their meaning, rs not IN good faith and that II Will be
inconsistent with the self-respect Of this General AS
sembly to make any reply to it."
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS this resolution was
taken up on the day following, (the 5th,) and, after
an exciting and angry debate, was passed py mat
body.
We perfectly agree with the Raleigh Register in
the opinion that the last resolution plainly interpres
the hand writing on the WALL and that the indig-
nant rebuke Of the Legislature will present Messrs.
Brown and Strange "to the nation in an attitude SO
undignifed that we presume no one will be found to
covet their position" 1t seems that the resolutions
were so plainly understood by one of the Locoioco
party in the Legislature, that, he declared TO that
BODY "tat 1ccrc he Senator, he acoId instantly re-
sign"
We do not know what course the honorable Sena-
tors may take when the several questions embraced
in the resolutions come before them, but we presume
that as in such cases made and provided" those
who have been the oudest in protesting the doctrine
of instructions as a cardinal feature of "democra-
cy," will be just those who will regard i, the least
Any attempt to evade the instructions, by the petit
foggers quibble that the word obstruction" is not
used will not, in humble opinion be justified by
any man OF honest understanding.
The first time that we remember this measure Of