The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-29

the whole long period Of my knowledge Of
this Senate, it can, without arrogance or pre-
sumption, sustain no dsadvantageous com-
parison with any public body in ancient or
modern times.
Full of attraction, however, as a seat in
this Senate is-suficient as it is to fill the
aspirations of the most ambitious heart-I
have long determined 10 iorego it, and to
seek that repose which can be enjoyed only
in the shades of private lie, and amid the
calm pleasures which belong to that beloved
word, HOME
1t was my purpose to terminate my con-
nexion with this body in November, 1910,
after the memorable and glorious political
struggle which distinguished that year but
l learned, soon after, what indeed had for
some time anticipated from the resulttOf my
own reflections, that an extra session of Con-
gress would be called; and | felt DESTROYS to
cooperate with my political and PERSONAL
friends in restoring, if it could be effected,
the prosperity of the country by the best
measures which their united cOunsels might
be able to devise; and therefore attended
the extra session. 1t was called, as all know ;,
by the lamented Harrison: but his death and
the consequent accession of his successor
produced an entirely new aspect of public
affairs. Had he lived, have not particle
of doubt that every important measure for
which the country had hoped with so conf.
dent an expectation would have been con-
summated by the cooperation of the execu.
tive branch of the Government. And here
allow me to say, only, in regard to that go
much reproached extra session of Congress,
that believe if any of those who, through
the influence of party spirit, or the bias of
political prejudice, have loudly censured the
al nIa IL H.
a spirit of candor and Of Justice, their con-
clusion, and that Of the country generally,
will be that if there exists any just ground
of complaint, it is to be found not in what
was done, but in what was left unfinished.
Had President Harrison lived, and the
measures devised at that session been fully
carried out, it was my intention then to have
resigned my seat But the hope Il feared it
might prove = vain hope) that at the regular
session the measures which we had left un-
done might even then be perfected, or the
same object attained in an equivalent form,
induced me to postpone the determination /;
and events which arose after the extra session.
resulting from the failure of those measures
which had been proposed at that session, and
which tended to throw on our political friends
a temporary show of defeat, confirmed me in
the resolution to attend the present session
also, and, whether in prosperity or adversely.
to share their fortune. But resolved at the
same time to retire as soon as l could do so
with Propriety and decency.
From 1906, the period of my entry on this
noble theatre, with short intervals, up to the
present time, have been engaged in the
public councils, at home or abroad. Of the
nature or the value of the services rendered
during that long and arduOus period of my
life, it does not become me to speak; history,
if she deigns to notice me, and posterity, il
the recollection of my humble actions shall
be transmitted to posterity, are the best, the
truest, and the most impartial judges. When
death has closed the scene, their sentence
will be pronounced, and to that appeal and
refer myself. Ny acts and public conduct
are fair subject for the criticism and judg-
ment of my fellow men; but the private mo-
tiVes by which they have been prompted are
known only to the great Searcher of the hu-
man heart and to myself; and | trust l may
be pardoned for repeating declaration made
some thirteen years ago, that, whatever err
rors-and doubtless there have been many
| may be discovered in a review of my public
service to the country, can with mistaken
confidence appeal to that Divine arbter for
the truth of the declaration that have been
influenced by no impure purpose, no perso-
nal motiVe-have sought no personal aggran-
dizement; but that in all my public acts
have had a sole and single eye, and warm
and devoted heart, directed and dedicated to
what, in my best judgment, believed to be
the true interests of my country.
During the long period, however, / have
not escaped the fate Of other public men, mol
failed to incur censure and detractiOn Of the
bitterest, most unrelenting, and most malig
nant character; and though not always in
sensible to the pain it was meant to inflict,
have borne it in general with comPosure, and
without disturbance here, [pointing to hil
breast, waiting as l have done, in perfec
and undoubting confidence, for the ultimate
triumph of justice and truth, and in the en-
/ tire persuasion that time would, in the end
settle all things as they should be, and what
ever wrongs or injustice might experience
at the hands Of man, He to whom all hearts
are open, and are fully known, would in the
end, by the inscrutable dispensatiOns Of His
providence, Tectify every errors redress al
wrong, and cause ample justice to be done.