The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-10
A CARD TO MY CONSTITUENTS.

Impelled by deep ctnsiction of constitutional OBJ
legation TO separate from my Southern friends on the
question of resembling the 2lst Rule the House and
declining to assign my in Congress, because
deprecated all discussion that subject al this
ordinary session of Congress- on,ened for the pnr-
pose of relieving the Government and country oflh.ir
financial ADVERTISEMENTS, and because | was unwil-
ling 10 avail myself Of privilege was not di posed
To extend TO others, feel thai IL may be due
who feel interest in my legislative action briefly
toassign the reason that prompted me to vote in The
affirmative
In the FIRST place hold the right of e to be alb
solutc UNNAMED, and uncomfortable Tor, If line is
bedrawn you will hardly find any two that would draw
il at the same point) right guaranteed TO The hum
best citz'n in the community, and that il
rly carries with il the obligation consider; and upon
lis consideration two questions arise lst Have you
the power to grant the prayer and ally, lfyou have
the power have you the disposition And my answer
to these particular petitioners would be, that have
the power and i'll had have the disposition.
My fri nds deny the right receive the Petitions he
cause, they say, we have constitutional right TO
grant the prayer. Ii this doctrine be correct, upon
what principle of propreiy those who deny tho
constitutional power to Congress TO establish bank
or protective tariff consent to receive petitions
either Of those subjects The unavoidable Interrupt
ton that would ensue To the harmony of the Union
from the assertion of such principle in the govern
ment need not be exposed.
But, apart from the constitutional question, the
profound Election that am capable of giving 10
TINS question mas not only strengthened put (WHICH my
former Impressions upon my mind that the course Of
wisdom and true policy TO the South is to disconnect
the question the right Of petition from that of abol
tion and to dissipaiethc deuson that prevails at each
extremity of the country, by ascertainng the exact
strength Of the abvltoniss in Congress- and thereby
settling the question and forever. Moreovss.
not disposed to indulge in timidhy and apprchen-
sion he body ola dead monster, that can only be re-
animated by injudcious course OF policy by It's
enemies lflef to themselves, the aboIiiionsls IL
revocably dead.
was satisfied before came to Congress that we
occupied false opinion this question, which
rendered more untenabe at the last session by tho
adoption of the 2lst Rule, and, while was willing to
surrender great deal to the judgment Of those
whose interests identified with my own, could
consent to yield the deep deliberate and conscientious
convictions Of my own judgment, with full view of
the mischief that thought would necessarily result
from incorporating that with the other rules of the
House.
Next winter iii is thought desirable, shall be pre-
pared go fully into the subject with those who differ
with me, but at this time was neither disposed to en-
bark in the discussion myself nor indulge it in others
Most respectfully
JUNE 6, 1S4l JNO. M. BOLTS.