The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1842-07-28

right 10 expect. ] fosgive my enemies.
and hope they may live 10 obtain he Cor
giyeness Of their own hearts.
ltwould neither be flung nor l. il my
purpose 10 pass judgment on all lhe acls
Of my public life; bur l hope | shalI be
excused for one or two observslio.s.
which de occasion appears 10 me 70 sn-
shorize.
] never but once changed my opinion
on any great measure Of National policy
or any great principle Of construction Of
the National Constitution. In early life,
on deliberate consideration. | adopted The
principles Of interpreting The Federal
Constitution which had been 50 ably de-
voloped and enforced by Mr.. Madison in
his memorable report 10 the Virginia Lee
gislature, and 10 them, az understood
Them, ! have constantly adhered. Upon
The question coming up in The Senate OF
the United States 10 rechsrler the FIRST
Bank Of the United States. thirty years
ago, opposed the recharer, upon con-
viciions which ! honestly entertained.
The experience ofihe War. which short
ly followed the condition into which The
currency oflhe country was thrown, with
out Bank. and. may now add. later
and more disastrous experience. conyinc-
ed me ! was wrong. ! publicly stated
10 my constituents in aspeech al Lexing-
ton. THAT which had made In the House
Of Representatives Of the United States
not having been Reported my reasons
for that change, and they are preserved
in the archives Of the country. appeal
TO that record: and am willing 70 be
judged now and hereafter by their validi-
~.
do not sdveri 20 The fact Of this sol
iisry instance OF change Of opinion %
implying any personsl merit. bui because
o 10 fact. will, however. cay that
think ., very perIlous 10 the uiIlly Of snv
public man 10 make frequent changes Of
opininn. or any change bu, upon grounds
90 sufficient and palpsble that the public
can clearly zee and approve them. II Ne
could look through window into the
human breast, and there discover the
causes which led 10 changes OF opinion.
they might be made without hazard. Bu,
% % impossible 10 penetrate The human
heart. and distinguish between The sinister
and honeu motives which prompsh. Any
public man tina, changes bic OPINION, once
deliberately formed and promulgated. M
der other circumstances than those which
! have stated, draws around him dis,rust.
impsirs the public confidence. and lessons
his capacity 10 serve his county.
Il Will take this accession now 20 say,
tina, ! am. and have been long salts
fed. that ID would have been wiser and
mure polite in me 90 have declined &C.
coping The office Of Secretary Of State IN
1925. Not that my motives were not ss
pure and patriotic as ever carried any
man into public life. No, that The cal
umny which was applied TO the fac, was
not 80 gross and as unfounded ss any that
was ever propsgated.. Here somebody
cried out lha, Mr. Carter Beverly. who
had been made The organ Of announcing
IL. bad recently borne testimony offs be
ing unlounded Mr.. Clay said !, was
true tina, he had voluntarily borne such
testimony. | want no tes,imony--hers--
here-here. ppestedly touching his
heart. amidst tremendous cheers, here 10
the bes,of all witnesses Of my innocence.
Not that valued friends. aud highly es.
tee med opponents did NOT unite in urging
my acceptance of the Office Not that
the administration Of Mr. Adams will not.
| sincerely believe, sdvantageously CON
psis with tina, Of any ofhis predecessors.
in economy, purity, prudence and wis
dom. Not that Mr Adams was himself
wanting IN any Of those high qualities
tons and upright and pa,riouc intentions
which were sniled 10 the office. or lha,
extraordinary man. Of, rare and varied
tttainmen,s. whatever diversity Of opin.
ion may exist a. 10 his recent course in
the House Of Representatives. land can
dor oblgss me to say that there are some
things IN il which deeply regret. IL is
with no less truth than pleasure that de.
clare that. during the whole period Of his
! administration, annoyed. assa,led and as
saul,ed 40 il vas. no man could have sho W a
q more devoted attachment 10 The Union,
and all its eres, interests, a more ardent
desire faithfully TO discharge his Whole
duty, or brought to his cid m"re useful
experience and knowledge than he did
/ never transacted business with any man,
in nv life. With more ease. satisfaction
and advantage than did with ,hs. mos
able and interchangeable gentleman as Pre-
sitleni Of The Jared States. And | vii
add, ,ha, more harmony never prevailed
, in any Cabinet than ~ hls.
But my error. in accepting the Office
arose on. Of my undertaking the power o
derac,ion aad The fnrce Of ignorance. on,
abiding. with TOO sure confidence, in ,h,
conscious integrity and uprigh,ness Of IN,
o~n motives. or tina. ignorance. ha,
q remarkable and laughsble example ol
an occasion. which | will relate. va
travelling. in 1928. through, I believe !
was Spotsylvsnia county in Virginia. oI