Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-04-14

II ~ tho rig bt To cooperate with the Executive
IN the formation aud ratification Of treaties,
~ enjoyed ~ ell its magnitude and weight by
| this body, while ii Is possessed by neither O
theirs besides which, there is another ol
very great practical import iaDce-that Of shar.
| ing with the Executive branch in distributing
the vast patronage of this Government. IL
both these latter respects, we stand or
II grounds different from the House Of Peers
either of England or France. And then o.
To the dignity and decorum Of It's proceed.
| ings, aud ordinarily as 10 the ability of il
members, can with great truth declare That
during The whole long period Of my knowl-
H dge of this Senate il Gun, without arrogance
or presumption, sustain no disadvantagcous
comparison with any public body in ancient
Il r modern times.
H Full of attraction, however, as a seat in
This Senate j., sufficient as 1t Is to I'll the az
pra,ions of the most ambitious heart, have
long determined to l"rego 1t, and to seek that
rpose which can be enjoved only in the
shades of private life, and amid The calm
pleasures " hich belong to that beloved word
"home.'
H II was my purpose To terminate my con-
nexon with this body in November, 1910,
after the memorable and glorious political
struggle which distinguished that year: but
| learned, soon after. what indeed lnd for
some time anticipated from The result Of my
'wD reflections, that an extra session Of Con-
g,ess would be called and | felt deslrous Ia
cooperate with my political and personal
friends in restoring, if il could be effected
the prosperity Of the country by the best
measures which their united counsels nigh,
he able to devise: aud therefore attended
the extra session. 1T was called, ns all know,
/ " the lamcnted Harrison, but his death and
the consequent accession OF his successor
produced an entirely new aspect Of public
affairs. Had he lived, have not one parii.
Gle of doubt tina, every important measure
for which the country had hoped with so con.
iident an expectation would have been con.
sumInn,ed by the co operation of the Execu.
tive branch Of the Government. And here
allow me TO say, only, IN regard 10 that so
much rcproaehed extra session of Congress,
that believe il any Of those who, through
the influence Of party spirit or the bias ol
political prejudice, have loudly censurcd the
measures then adopted, will look at them IN
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 wha,
was done, but in what WAS lefi unfinished.
Had President Harrison lived, aud 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 il
might prove vain hopr) that at the regular
sc ssion the measures which We had letl 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 ses.
sion, resulting from the failure of those mea-
sures winch had been proposed at that ses
SION, nnd which appeared To throw on our
| political friends u temporary show Of defeat,
confirmed me ~ the resolution to attend thc
present session also, and, whether ~ pros
periiy or advcrsiy, To share the fortune Oimy
trends. But resolved at the same time 10
retire as soon as could do 50 with proprie,y
and dcccncy.
From lS06, the period Of my entry on this
noble theatre. with short intervals, to the
present tine, have been engaged in the
public counscls. Ut home Snd abroad. or the
nnture ur the value of The services rendered
during that long and nrduons period OF my
j ife 1t does not become me To speak history,
| II she dcigns To nOicc me, aud postrrlty. "
he recollectons of my humble actions sha !
tie transmitted TO postcrlty. are the best, the
,ruesi, the most impartial Judges. When
death has closed the scene. their sentence
will be pronounced, and To that ! appeal and
refer myself. My acts and public conduct
are n fair subject for the criticism and indg
ment OF my fellow men but the private mo-
tivcs by which they have been prompted are
known only to the great ScarclIer of the hu
nan heart and TO myself; and trust may
be pardoned for repeating declaration made
| 'ome thirteen years ago, that, whatever er'
rors-and doubtless there have been many
may be discovered IN review OF my public
service To the country. can with mistaken
confidence appeal TO that Divine arbiler for the
truth Of the declaration that ] have been in
t1uenced by no impure purposes, no personal
molivc-hlve sought no personal 6ggran.
dIzement; but TINT IN oil my public acts
have had a sole and single eye, and warm
and devoted heart, directed and dedicated to
what in my Judgment | believed TO be the
true interest of my country.
During that long period, however, | have
not escaped the fate of other men, nor fail.
I'd 10 incur censure and de,raction of the
btterest, most unrccn,lng. and most malig.
nant character; and not always insensible to
the pain it was meant 10 iDfiict, have borne
It in general with composurc, and without
disturbances here, pointing 10 his breast wait
ing as have done, in perfect and undoub'
ing confidence, for the ultimate triumph Of
Justice and Of truth, and in the entire per.
sua sion iha, time would, in the end, settle all
things as they should be. and that Whatever
wrong or injustice might experience at the
hands of man, lie to whom all hearts are
open and fully known would in the end. by
the inscriItable dlspensations of His provl-
dence, rcctIfy all error, redress all wrong,
and cause ample justice to be done.
But have not meanwhile been unstoined
Every where throughout the extent of this
great continent | have had cordial, warm.
hearted, and devoted friends, who have known
nc and justly appreciated my motives. To
them, If language were susceptible oi fully
expressing my acknow wledgemenls, | would
now offer them MS all the returns have now
to make ior their genuine, dsintcresied, and
porsevering fidelity and devoted attachment.
But if fail in suitable language to express
my gratitude To them for all the kindness
they have shown mc-what shall say-whai
can | say ut all CONNIE ensuratc with these
feelings of gratitude which ] owe to the
State whose humble representative and ser
want have been in this chamber? Here
Nr. C.'s feelings appeared to overpower him.
and he proceeded with deep sensIbiity and
with difficult u,terancc.
emigrated from Virginia to the State Of
Kentucky now nearly forty FIVE years ago +;
| went as on orphan who had not yet attained
the age of mojorty-who had never rccog
nized fathers emile nor felt his caresses-
poor-pe -pensyless-without the favor Of the
grcot-wI,h an imperfect and inadequate
education, limited to the ordinary business