The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-13

y honorable man, situated as he was, could do
The course he pursued is already known to you
y Mr.. Chairman, and to the country. As eve
true to his principles, and preerring the privat
station with the conscience of an henest man, Il
, the honors and emoluments of office, at the ex
pense OF principle, he resigned, and in the per
Torrance of that last act of his public life
t placed himself on more elevated ground, than he
had ever occupied before.
But MIR. Chairman, although that great and
lamented statesman and patriot, Of whom it may
be said, that
''Nature formed him and then broke the mould,
was thus ostracised and driven from the service
; of his State, and of the nation. Although he
lost his life from the exposure incident to his
journey home, in the most Indictment season oil
the year, and is now receiving the reward of his
virtues ia the eternal world, his friends draw
consolation from the fact, that he yet lives and
speaks to us by his noble example. The resol
lection of his Roman frmness and devotion to
republican principles, is yet fresh in the memory
OF all His name is inscribed high up in the
Temple of Fame, and will endure as long as
Liberty, virtue, patriotism, has a votary upon
the Garth 1t will be transmitted to posterity on
one OF the brightest pages of his countrys histo-
ry, while the names of the authors of that foul
deed will be consigned to oblivion, among the
trash and rubbish of the times, in which they
| hved-but no, sir, | am mistaken. These in
structing resolutions are upon the records of the
State, and their names too must go down to
posterity immortal in the annals of infamy and
disgrace, and only to be execrated by every no.
| nest man.
Sir, before taking my leave of this subject,
| Continued Mr.. c. must beg permission to call
the attention of my friend from New York (lMr
StrongO to an authority on the subject of the
duties and obligations of a representative in
| Congress, must also beg the attention OF 'Fthe
! party" generally, in this House, and especially
their new allies from the South, as they seem to
have forgotten that it exists. 1t is authority
the competence and force of which none of them
will question, am sure ~
| Mr.. CROCKETT said-
But, sir, do this with great reluctance, be-
/ cause know that it must be exceedingly pain
! full to the gentlemen to find that they have ''de-
parted from the faith delivered" by the great
apostle of modern democracy to his Disciples but,
sir, the case is exactly in point, that feel
obliged to refer to it. And with the permission
of the committee, will read a short extract from
| Gen. Jackson's proclamation, in which, speaking
of the powers of the government and of each de-
partment of it, he says:
ttIn the House of Representatives there is this
difference, that the people of State do not as
in the case of President and Vice President all
vote for the same officers. The people of all the
| States do not vote for all the members. each
| State electing only its own representatives. But
this creates material distinction When cho-
| sen, they are all representatives of the United
| States, not representatives of the particular
States from which they come They are paid by
the United States, not by the States, are they
accountable to it for any act done in the perform
ance of their Legislative functions"
Now, sir, | must beg gentlemen who ever
lastingly Prating about democracy, and who are
ia the daily heEA.t. of invading the sanctuary of
the ...ustrious dead, to drag forth the memory OF
Alexander Hamilton, the brave companion in
arms of Washington statesman and PatrI-
enemy of liberty, 10 remember this article in
their own political creed. Here, sir, is the de-
| claration put forth in the most solemn FORM and
in the most emphatic and unequivocal terms, by
the late President, that the representative OF the
people this body is not responsible to them tfor
| any act done III thu performance of his legisla-
tive funetions'-fnat he is not the representative
of the State frCm which he comes, but of the u.
| States! What, sir, must be the inevitable result
of carrying this doctrine into practice, but TO con-
solidate all powerin the general government, and
reduce the States to mere subservlent and DEEPEN
dent colonies? And, sir, what Is this, but the
very essence and quntessence OF federalism
And yet, sir, it is of the leading articles in
4 the political creed of the present selfstyled Fsde
| mocratic partv!" With all their professions of
respect for public opinion, assert, without the
fear of successful contradiction, that i'll their
practice they openly disregard it. | believe l
hazard nothing in declaring, that at this moment
al
the wishes of yialority of the people IS this ma
ti9n were faithfully represented on sas floor, the
o'l on your table would, fer tat fourth time, be
rejected by decided majority. But, sir, the
party in power, acting upon the principle laid
down in the extract have just read, namely,
that the representative IS independent of the peo-
pie; their will is disregarded and treated with
contempt.
Sir. this would not have passed for democrat
ic republican doctrine in 1873, and for one,
shall take this occasion to express my unqualified
| dissent from it now. At the same time, Mi
f Chairman, that deny to the Legislature OF my
State, the right to exercise any control over my
r conduct representative, am proud TO ac-
knowledge myself to be of the representa-
: tiyes from the State of Tennessee: but more es
! uecially the representative of the 18th Congress
: sional District of that State. acknowledge
sir, with pleasure the right OF majority OF tho
h people of that district to control my action
| When was before them candidate for thu
station now occupy, gave them my views fui
w. frankly and without reserve, in regard to the
; measure under consideration, and all Others like
a ly to engage the attention of Congress, during
e my term of service; and, sir, was elected VIII
, direct reference to the views and opinions Their
. expressed. his have always held, MIR. Char
, man, before my constituents and elsewhere, to be
the only true and practical mode of giving IN
= structions to a representative And, sir, accord
ing to this view of the subject, have been IN
structed by decided majority of those have
the honor to represent, to use all fair aHd honor
able means to defeat this bill. shall obey theil
wishes with the greatest pleasure, not only or
account of the obligation owe them as their re
preventative, but also because it is in accordance
> with my most deliberate Judgment ON the sub
: iect There is no reasonable sacrifice would
not make, sir, sooner than disoblige my copsh
tuents, upon whose good opinion place SO high
: an estimate. But, sir, if majority OF them were
: in favor of this bill, could not vote for it; be
cause believe, as have already intimated, that
the prosperity of the people, than pestilence, to
e saw nothing Of its dangerous effects upon our ex
q isting form of government and free institutions
!; Rather, therefore, than give it my support,
: would resign the trust committed to my hands.