The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1842-04-23

been consmmated by a candid co-Opeta
ton between the Executive branch OF the
Government and Congress; and, sir. al .
10" me 10 say, and il is only with respect
to the extra session, that | believe If
there be any one free from bias and from
prejudice, who will look at It's transsc-
tons IN spirit of candor and OF Justice,
he must come 10 the conclusion 70 which, /
think. the country generally will come,
that, 1t there DC any thing 10 complain OF
Ia connexlon with that session. il Is not as
to what was done and concluded. but as TO
that which was left unfinished and unac
complished. After the termination oft
that session, had Harrison lived. and had 4
the measures which It peared To me II I
was desirable to have ACCOMPLISHED 4
been carried, it was my intention to have I
retired; but | reconsidered that deter
mlnaton, with the vain hope that. Al the /
regularsession Of Congress- hat had been Z
unaccomplIshed at the extra session,
might then be effected, either upon the
| terms prOposed,or in some manner which
would DO equi aIent. But events were
announced alter the extra session
events, resulting, believe, in the failure
to accomplish certain objects al the ex-
! ira session, events which seemed to throw
upon our friends everywhere present de-
teat-thls hope, and the occurrence Of
these events, induce me to attend the re
| gular session and, whether In adversely
or in prosperity, TO share in the fortunes
oil my friends. But came here with
the purpose, which | am now about
TO effectuate, of retiring as soon Is
thought | could retire with propriety
and decency, from the public councils.
From the year 1906, the period Of nv
entering upon this noble theatre OF my
public service, with but short Intervals,
down to the present time, | have been
engaged in the service Of my country
Of the nature and value OF those servi-
ces which | may have rendered during
my long career of public life, 1t does not
become me to speak Hlstory-if she
deigns TO notice me-aHd posierty-if a
. recollection of any humble service
which | may have rendered shall BE-
transmitted to posteriJy-will Be the
best, truest and most impartial judges:
and to them | refer for q decision upon
their value.
But upon one subject | may be allow
t ed TO speak. As 10 my public acts and
: public conduct, they are subjects for the
2 Judgment Of my lelIow-citizens; but my
7 private motives of aetion-thal which
4 prompted me to take the part which
= may have done upon great measures dur
J. ing their progress In the national coun
:. ellis, can be known only 70 the Grea
# Searcher Of the human heart and myself
q and trust shall be pardousd for re
k peatlng again a declaration which
e made thirty years ago, that whateve
} error may have commItLed-anr
r doubtless | have committed many dur
e ing my public seryice-I may appeal q
: the Divine Searcher OF hearts for tn
D truth of the declaration which | nov
e make, with pride and confidence, that
5 have been actuated by no personal ne
ST tives-that | have sought no persons
r, aggrandizement--no promotion from tn
a advocacy of those various measures o
a. which have been called to act-that
" have had an eve, single eye, heart,
er single heart, ever devoted to what az
peared to be the best interests of To
a. country. Yet, sir, during this long p
ne riod, | have not escaped the fate Of o,he
is public men, in this and other countrIe
u have been often, Mr.. President, the Of
It's iect of bitter and unmeasured detractio
at and calumny. have borne 1t, will a
g say always with comPosure, but | ha'
At, borne it without creating any dIssurbanc
n | have borne it, waiting IN unshake
.e- and undoubiing confidence, that, the II
IT. umphs of truth and justice would vi
ce mately prevail; and that time would Sc
lp- tie all things as they ought to be settle
is | have borne them under the convictio
be of which no injustice, no wrong, no
ny Jury could deprive me, that did not d
es. serve them, and that He to whom We a
as all to be finally and ultimately respon
it BILE, would acquit me. whatever injustt
ill might experience at the hands of 4
,us fellow men.
ed But have not been unsustained d.
be ing this long course of public service.
in Every where on this wide spread con
ny nent have | enjoyed the benefit of p
ri sessing warm hearted, enthusiastic a
the devoted frIends-friends who knew
lch and appreciated justly the motives
ned which have been actuated. To the
in if had language TO make suitable
Ike acknowledgements, | would now take lea
;es- to present them as being all the on
re- ing that can make for their long C
nds tinued, preserving and devoted ire
op- ship. But, sir, if | have a difficulty
ac- giving utterance to an expression OF
of feelings of gratitude which fill my ne
cen towards my friends dispersed throu
pom out this continent, what shall sal