Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-01-30
II. S. SENATE.
MONDAY. JANUARY IA

Mr.. Brown having Presenteo 'he leSV'o'
fjoas Of the Legislature of North Carolina
on various subj cts connected with our "a
,o..aI poicy, and especially expressing dis.
approha,ion of some Of the principal acts OF
the last and the present Administrations Of
the National Government.
Mr.. B. spoke al length on the subject OF
these resolutions, and the whole scope OF his
argument was understood 10 be-, that he al
ways had been and ever would be ready
either 10 resign, or to obey the will OF his
Legislature, when expressed 10 HIM N the
form of ins ructions; but, as that Will was
no, now expressed in the form oil snStluc
lions, he did not feel himself bound to obey
them, ouf, on the contrary, he rather teit
bound to dsobcy Them, for the purpose, 1t
no other. of showing his regard 10 the doc
trinc ofinstructioas, 10 which the form and
manner of these resolutions were 10 be re.
gafded as tacit denial.
Mr.. Strange was understood to profess
his willingness 10 obey the will Of hts LcgIs-
ature, as expressed in these resolutions, as
far as he could consistently IN consclen.
tiousl, do so but there were some things
in the resolutions which even the torturcs of
martyrdnm -meeld CumPet hmm tn uu.-
Under these circumstances, he would have
been ready to resign, were it not that in the
present instance he thought it his imperative
duty, for various reasons, TO retain hIs seat.
But he expected not to receive justice from
hls opponents on this subject, and scarcely
thai from some of lis friends.
Mr. Clay, of ken,ucky, said, | could have
wished that soclc o:her Senator had thought
proper 10 make the few observations that
arc called for BY tic present occasion but,
asno ore has risl n for that purpose, and
as the Legislature of North Carolina are on
this subject here unrepresented, and as the
propositions embraced IN these resolutions
have nos single sentiment with which do
not anst heartily concur, trust that | shall
be indulged when making few remarks on
this occasion; and | assure the Senator
from North Carolina las, up, that nothing is
further from my purpose than 10 do any IN
justice 20 him or his colleague; and | think
1t was lulc unkind and gra,uitous in him
TO say that he never expected to receive
justice from his opponents.
The Legislature of Nor,h Carolina have
been charged by gentlemen with using dis.
respectful language in these resolutions.-
But if their language was indecorous, the
rules of the Senate prescribe it as their
course Of duty that the resolutions ought
not TO have BEEN submitted; for, as | un-
dcrs:and those rules, it is the duty Of every
member, when he has memorial or reso-
buttons 10 be presened, to see that they are
couched in the proper language.
But in what respect are these resolutions
dsrespec,ful to the Senate. as | understood
was charged by both the Senator'S from
North Carolina? Mr.. S range sail he
made no alluslon 10 disrcspecllul language
At least Mr.. c. undcrs' ood the other Sena-
tor (Mr. Brown 10 say That one of the reso-
lutions was disrespectful towards The Sen
ate. Mr.. Brown said he SO spoke of one
Of the resolutions, but he thought It his duty
TO his Safe TO present them notwithstanding,
and in no possible contingency could he
have refused 10 present them. Nr. G.
said, so understood The Senator That one
Of the resolutions was disrespeclful; but
he aow says that, in Difference 10 his Legis.
laiure, he still ought to present them. Sir.
if;here was indecorum in the language, |
repeat that it was his duty, under the rules
of.he Senate, not to present the resolutions
at all. Mr.. Brown SAID that there was a
very marked distinction between The Legs.
lature of sovereign State and individuals
on this subject. am not aware, said Mr..
c. that there is any such distinction express
sed in the rules; and if the Legislature of
State uses dsrespectful language, it is no
more 10 BE- received The" if it were from a
private citizen. But let that pass.
In what respect are these resolutions dis
respectful? The Senate, two or three years
ago. adopted resolution by vote Of a
malorty of,he body, which resolution was
afterward ordered 10 be expunged from the
journal and now the Legislature Of NoTii.
Carolina say that j, was, in their opinion, an
act Of party surviiy to the National Eye
cutve then in power. Now let US suppose
tha, either branch of Congress had really
been guilty of an act Of party suryil,y 20 the
Executive, have not legislative bodies q
right 10 express it i'll this or any other ceun.
try But whether that act was one Of sur
witty or not, is question which history will
in due time pass its decision. But as l have
said on every occasion here and elsewhere,
:, was in my opinion deroga,ory to this
n"dy. and history will pronounce upon it the
:. vercst censurc.
But the Se..ators from North Carolina
have both declared that they would have
obeyed these resolutions if they had been
mandatory in their language, instead of their
being simple expression Of The will of