Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-07-14

lie confidence VIII De ever DcTlSue oy me.
Ii would be presumptuous in me to claim exemption
from error. in acting on the many important orr etions
which have been before Congress, since / have occuPI-
ed a seat i'm the Senate of the . ). | have, however,
The consolation to know, that Whatever errors may
have committed, my motives have been disinterested,
and ths, nv public course has been dictated BY an anx-
ious desire 10 promote the happiness of our common
country, and TO pepetnate lis free institutions.
have the honor 10 be,
With great respect,
Your obedient serv't,
BEDFORD BROWN.
To the General assembly Of the State Of North Carolina.
hereby resign the trust with which the Legislature
Of the State Of North Carolina was pleased to honor
me as one of her Rel resentatives in the Senate of the
| United States; which resignation desire to take effect
at the commencement Of your next session.
No unwilingncss TO serve my country; no under es-
timate of the high and undeserred honor / enjoy in re-
presenting a State whose character is unsullIed and
| whose people are unsurpassed for moral purity; no in
s~ensibility to the heavy debt of gratitude that rests
upon me for the many marks OF confidence and the
unmcrited favors | have received; not even the convlc-
ton | feel of my own inndequacy to the responsible
and weighty duties of the station | fill, induces me to
resign it. On the contrary, the %proudest retrospect J
shall ever have is, that the representatives. OF one OF
the noblest States of the American Union, thought me
worthy to represent her in the most august body under
the sun; and the most cheering consciousness | shall
ever experience, will be that of having discharged the
duties of the station with 4 fidelity measured only by
my ability.
NV political principles have never been disguised,
and they were well known not only to those who elect
ed me, but to every other citizen OF the State with
whose acquaintance | was honored. No one can say
that | have given a vote in the Senate of the IT,. States
which could not have been foretold by every man at all
conversant with public affairs. Those have, | firmly
believe, been just such as the people OF North Carolina,
or their representatives, by whom | was elected, would
have instructed me TO give. Yet, since my election, a
general election for members of the Legislature has
taken place and made some change in the COM
plexion of that body, whether or not fairly repre-
senting the sentiments OF a majority OF the peo-
pie, is a question which the people themselves
must decide. At their last session, majorities OF
both branches of that body, were pleased to adopt re-
| solutions expressive ofthe opinion that my course was
not in conformity to the wishes of the people. From
that opinion mine respectfully differed. Had that body
assumed its proper responsibility and instructed me,
however, | should have either obeyed these instructions
literally or forthwith resigned. The mere expression
g opinion, left all the responsibility upon my shout
ders' only incrcsr:nr thereby its weight and dellcacy,
| was not ignorant that there "cs a design IN some
to nse these resolutions as a snare in when "'as
to be caught and my political death accomplished.
Nav, many believed there was no way for me to
escape. If | treated the resolutions as instructions
and resigned, (for the terms OF the resolutions rem
dcred obedience impossible and thereby insure my
place being filled by an opponent of the Admlnistra.
ton, | should bring upon myself condemnation as a
lIulltT u nus NiV "a ''S' n.y. - 80 '"
dcserter of my post in the hour of trial. II on the
other hand | neither resigned nor %obcyed, should be
denounced as one who disregardcd the will of my con-
stituents and set at nought their right TO instruct me.
saw the dilemma in which | should be placed, and
resolved to escape from it by throwing back the respon-
| sibility where it properly belonged. | was well con-
WINGED that could not with ~propriety treat the reso-
lutions as instructions, and so respectfully informed
the Legislature, requesting at the same time, tina. i'll
was wrong, | might be set right. My conclusion if
- ...,ot onrroctcd and puiuIt ha1-n cpDfnptnI
myself in my position until its term expired. But |
knew the public mind was much stirred concerning
the doctrine of instructions, and that ungeneTous per.
sons would, notwithstanding the pains ! had taken
10 set myself right, Impute to me the design oil
holding under constitutional forms n place for which
according TO It's spirit and substance | was unfit
II had been said by high authority, that | was support
ing an administration to which my constituents were
opposed. am among the last men to question the
representative character of our government, or de-
nv to tile people the right of setting up and pulling
down at pleasure, and | would sooner perish than avail
myself of a position in which their generous confidence
had placed me to thwart their wishes. Believing tina,
the legislative elections had not taken place in refer
ence TO any such result, and that the appointment Of
nv successor could not be made in conformity to the
expressed wishes of the people, my immediate resigna.
ton would not have secured obedience 10 their will
But, determined and accordingly promised 10 resign
in time for the people to avail themselves of the first
occasion of indicating their choice of a Senatorial rep
rescntativc.
That pledge is now redeemed. j return to private
life, with a bosom glowing with the same zeal for my
country, and the same confidence that the people will
do rinht, as when | accepted at their hands a trust
comforting more honor than a diadem.
That every citizen of the State may be ~apprized OF
my resignation and the motive that leads to it, shall
take the liberty Of furnishing a copy of this letter fol
publication.
am, with very high respect,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT STRANGE.