Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-22
vwemty-Gfh Coagress---:sd scss.
IN SENATE,
N SENATE.
Monday. January IA, lo39-[CoscLuDED
RESOLUTIONS OF TIE LEGISLATURE OF NORTH
CAROLINA.

given in yesterday paper
Mr. STRANGE said II iswi,h grea! reluctance, Mr.
President that occupy the public time and attention OF
the Senate, upon matters which seem properly 10 resi-
between constituents and my colleague and myself
Two considerations however, promp, me 10 occupy
portion Of both The is the established practice
far am able to Judge, prevailing III this body, on like
asions and The other ills being in Judgment The
most convenient and respectful mode Of throwing imnP-
ely before constituents purposes, with short
slnsmcnt o! the reasons which govern US Ind my
self ia of the responsible positions have ever
occ uped and my anxious wsh has been 10 act as TO
ensure al least The unwnvering probation OF my
conscience From my political adversares have learn
ed 10 know. by sad experience, that have no favor to
hope for, aud not justice to expect Aci as may,
my conduct will be misrepresented and my motives i'm
peached Even from my political friends have reason
to arprehcnd divsinn IN their Judgment Of my course,
while | know they will do justice to my motives.
The resolutions Just read come from source entitled
Ia my highest pcct MID most derrenal consideration.
They are from the Legislature of State to which am
deeply indebted, ways without number. Though but
an adopted Of that Stale, she has leaped upon me
kindness far very far beyond my deserts, and have
uyed golden opinions lar beyond my merits from all
sorts of people Though not native OF the Stale there
has nv heart found the Objects Of its endcrest aiec-
tons and thilher does it turn insriEcvely when that
magic word /" hcn.' ss within II those holy assncla
tons which no other word has power TO awaken. Com
ing then, from such a source, how gladly would have
found my self able TO follow in any direction TO which
counsellor, and thrown off the responsibility Of acting
upon my alIble judgment Had these resolutions
been couched IN terms Of command no alternative
would have been left NE but obedience resignation
Coming as they do merely in The language of counsel
or advce& should uuhesilangly follow that counsel,
could Do So consistently with my sense OF duty and my
own sellIespect But the two first Of these resolutions
counsel me that, which, not all the erros OF auto
do te could induce me 10 perform. Gracious llraven.
TO place upnn The everlasting records Of my county my
hal | bab her Cons Iu,iD
uon tie n!amods of party scrVllily! NJ sooner
would be off my tongue, and spit back in the faces
IF those no had counscled such inamy however high
and dignied the stations they might fill Mo- conscious
"a am Of ha wing been actuated IN what did. by mo-
lives the highest, the putest. the most patriotic, am
p:oud 10 have My associated with the act and am
content that poslery may Judge OF me by 1t alone -
Mistaken | may have been, but never vas corruption
farther from my heart II those were corrupt who did
the deed what the Legislatures OF the noble States
who commanded it tobe done: ! myself III the part
acted but conormed to the express instructions of the
Legislature Of North Carolina. A Legislature elected
when tha, question distinctly before The people, and
Notwithstanding those instructions were given, Legs.
lature a majority OF which favorable TO those in
sruciioug, was ngain elected. could not, therefore,
with proper respect TO the Legislature and people Of a.
Carolina by whose command The act was done, crnsure
il in the manner proposed If there nothing else 10
restrain me.
Far be il from me, in thus rcmarking upon The resnu
tons to inpeach the motives or inpngn the conduct &"
those no passed the m. My opinion is, that family
Guarrels should he carried beyond The paternal d.
main, and. if have any thing TO complain Of in The
temper, language. substance Of these resolutions,
different theatre viii that complaint be made. Here, at
least it is my wish and my purpose always 10 speak re-
specllully OF those whom the people Ct North Carolina
shall see fit 10 elevate to high places.
The terms Of the resolution having placed conformity
10 them entirely Of the question: it remains be
considered hat is my alternative course. Were at
liberty to consult the suggestions of mpnssioned per
snnal pride, | should certainly resign it is always
easier 10 retreat from difficulty danger than to
Counter it, and abide the issue When gets into
political difficulty, the shades Of private life have many
attractive charms and upon them he is t to cast wish
ful eye For my part acknowledge that feel myself
in political difficulty, from which would willingly
retreat if might do with prnpriety. But the question
is one Of duty simply and not Of choice II il is mt my
duty resign, it my duty 10 remain here One or the
other is clearly obligatory upon me and which is the
question? As said before, had these resolutions been
couched in The language Of command OBJ dence resg
nation would have my duty. accepted the trust
now hold under The full knowledge that those who sent
me here expected me TO obey instructions When recev
ed or resign Such is the creed Of The political party
that elected me, and should disappon their expecta-
lions if refused Ia act upon that principle; but the
other hand should be guilty of treachery TO them it,
upon any other ground than high sense OF duty, sur
rendered the post TO which they ha We assigned me II
The Legislative elections in North Carolina shortly
10 occur nv position would be clear Of all difficulty.
would of once The close Of this session, return hack
10 the people The hold, to be conferred by them
according their pleasure But in the long interval TO
ensue before another election in that Stale, very Gala.
mous results might my apprehension attend an i'm
mediate resignation. Every man knows that most i'm
portanl political struggle going in the land, preg
as all admit with The most interesting qnences.
Each party is full Of hope, and expects victory in the
issue. feather may turn the scale The dimnution
Of force SIDE slight accession on the other,
NAV decide the controversy And shall in a fea.
Their into The scale Of my adversares II is my duty 10
stand here and do my utmost in advancement of those
principles which hold sacred. II is my duty, if for
no other but keep those out who would certain
ly be sent in my place know there are many men OF
both parties in North Carolina who better qualified
than myself 10 fill this station But OF the many able
sons Of ~ Carolina who differ with in political OPT
MONS and for whom have the highest personal respect,
should reluctantly any here the present
ment Those who here, therefore, have right to
expect that will maintain my post, unless driven from
BY come paramount principle and that do not aban-
don il in cownrdy MANNER upon the occurrence OF The
first difficulty. There is but great and paramount
princlple which can be for moment supposed to de
n,ond my resignation; and that is the doctrine OF in
srucrion Upon That doctrine my colleague has fully
and ably enlarged. Am then, by any creed upon that
subject, placed in situation 10 render my resignation
duty? OF the political party of which majority oil
those who voted for these resolutions constitute part
il is principle that there is right in the Legsa
ture instruct, and, consequently, obligation on the
part of the Senator either to obey resign No COM
plant, therefore, he made by them of any course
which we may think proper TO adopt or the political
party which have been attached, the creed is 10 be
found in Mr. Leighs celebrated repor, in The Virginia
Legislature and in the uniform practice of all those Le-
gslaues who have attempted any efficient action IN re
dera sas In the document before mentioned Il is said
Senators are instructed and equested
and goes give The for this difference OF Ian,
guage that The rg htto comman and
towards the other the tender of advice In The one
case they may assume to declare the popular will in the
language proper to the expression of wil-eommondand
when so expressed il stand far that will, whether
really In the other, their command does not
stand for the popular will, and the responsibility still
rrsis upon the Repre- NATIVE find what it is
This difference Of language has been uniformly used,s
far as am able TO learn in ell resolutions adopted by
Legislatures OF the different States. whenever they have
attempted any direct action in Federal affairs They
have assumed that The Legislature is recognised as EN-.
bodyng the popular will of The State, so far as Sena