Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-05-25

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my tranquility, or shaken my determi-
nation to perseveie IN maintaining the
principles ayowed by me at the period
of nv election sand should it ever be
my misfortune to differ upon vital ques-
tions from that Democratic party,
which since manhood has received my
first and every vote--I never would
become the opponent ofthat party in
the station in which they had placed
me, but would instantly resign that
station,whi in my judgment could
then be held no longer with honor. !
am now however too old to change my
principles, or abandon party to which
| have been so long, so uniformly, and
devotedly attached, and during the re-
mainder of my term, my friends and
opponents can expect nothing but
perseverance in the maintenance Of
the principles avowed before my cleo
ton, and Returned in this communica-
ton. | have the consolation to know,
that my heart has ever beat in unison
with what believed to be the true in
tercsts Of the people of Mississippi, and
that my time and all my energies have
been zealously and faithfully devoted
to promote their welfare. In their
services | have, as many of you well
know, greatly neglected and impaired
my private interests, during this period
of general embarrassment. In their
service Ihave greatly injured my health.
nor would desert my post, at a period
of great Importance to the State, though
suffering under a severe and painful
ahlictiQn. | was attacked with this
disease, which was at first enormously
believed to be an affection Of the lungs,
almost Immediately preceding the SEES
sion ofl837. By all my medical advi-
serS and friends, was urged to return
to the South, as indispensable to the
recovery of my health. The session
however, was close at hand, there was
no time to appoint a substitute in my
place. Mr.. Van Buren, | believed
would strongly recommend in his mes
sage, the passage ola presumption law,
and ola graduation bill in favor of ac-
tual settlers, measures which / had so
long and ardently supported both be-
fore and after my election. My friends,
in their too great Partially, had placed
me at the head of the committee Of
public lands, to whose charge the pre-
cmption and graduation bill would ne
cessarily be committed, and though, at
such period, even my humble services
might be of Importance to the people
of Mississippi. Actuated by these mo
tives, | encountered the risk, introdu-
ced the presumption and graduation
bills at the very commencement Of the
session, urged a speedy consideration
OF both these measures, entered fully
into the warm debate and animated
conflict in regard to them, nor did ]
for single day leave my seat in the
Senate until after months Of severe la
Dor, both these bills, and one Of them
for the first time, passed the Senate by
triumphant majorities. Ny health
however was broken down by these ef
forts, and after more than year ofse-
vore affiiction, have but recently en-
tirely recovered. Although the dis
ease has vanished, my strength has ne
yer been fully restored, and it is there
fore my desire, at the expiration of my
present term, to retire to that repose so
necessary to complete recovery, and
to commingle once more with you as u
private citizen. There are some bills
introduced by me yet pending, especi-
ally the graduation and railroad bills,
and with the views chiefly of passing
those measures, shall serve out the
balance of my present term, and shall
as honestly and zealously devote my
self to the service ofthe State, as though
] were a candidate for reelection. To
the Judge of all hearts it is known, that
to the people of Mississippi | am deep
ly and devotedly attached. To you,
gentlemen, and to nay, friends and par
ty, who have thus far cheered me on
ward amidst panics and pressures in
my arduous career, can truly offer the
homage of my undissembled gratitude;
and to my political adversaries, most Of
whom have spared me the fierce and
libellous assaultes which degrade the
press and disgrace the conflicts Of par
ty,I can truly say, that | have ever
endeavored to promote what | believed
tc be their true interests. My consti-
tuency was the whole people Of Missis-
sippi, nor haveI ever endeavored to
favor one section Of the State, because