The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-05-02
for General jackson you expected me to do that
which could not, and would not do

Henry IldlDeIt' JohA OlllhtA,
David c. Heath, VIM. Davis,
VIM. c Collfin, Hez. Griffith,
Richard Pell, Wm. Hambln,
John Hendrick, David Tonkry."
CThe above statement was sworn TO before
justices of the peace, was duly certified, and was
published about that time in the papers of Ken
ucky)
We wish to know, secondly, what was Mr.
Claws course on the right of instruction, previ-
GUS to his disregard of the wishes of the legisla
ture and people of Kentucky in lS24-25
MIR. Clay, some years before, voted for the eel
ebrated compensation act, which gave great Of
fence to his constituents. 1t was on this occasion
to secure his reelection, he told his famous sto-
nv of the falling rifle, and concluded by asking
the people to '.pick their flint and try again!'
He promised to change his vote, &c, &c, and
was reelected In the January after, (lSl7,}|
he delivered speech, from which tho following
is an extract. [See the speech at full length,
in the National Int elligencer, January 1871
uAIr. CLAY said he agreed poTfeotly in the sem
timent, that instructions given by the people are
OBLIGATORY on the representatives. This was
principle consecraed by the revolution, tnseper-
able from all free government, and which he,
therefore, hoped never TO see departed from, in
practice, under ours. Whilst, then, he hada seat
on this floor, Mr. c. said it was immaterial ho,o
he arrived at the will of bis constituents, or what
were the erideaceS oft; it was sufficient that he
should know it, In all cases of eXpedieney, he
held the doctrine of an obligation on his part to
observe the instructions, express or implied, OF
his constituents"
So decsiyely in favor of General Jackson was
| the cW of the people Of Kentucky in lS24-25,
Hhat only eleven members of the House Of Rep
lresentatives, out of eighty-four present, voted a
eainst the declaratory resolution, to that effect
and of that eleven, not one based his vote on tho
allegation that the resolution was not true.
You ask, thirdly, what were the facts in refer
ence to the instructions Of the Legislature of Ken
lucky in 1S4l-42, on the subject of the bank
rupt law The leading facts arc as follows: On
the 5th January, 1912, the Kentucky House OF
Representatives adoptedthc following resolutions
unanimously, or, at least without division, viz:
"lst ResolDed, That in the opinion of The
general assembly Of the commonwealth of Ken
lucky, it is the desire of large majority Of The
people Of Kentucky, that the bankrupt law, enac-
ted at the late extra sessonof Congress, shallbc
repealed.
"2d. Resolpcd, further, That our senators in
Congress be, and they are horeby instructed, and
our representatives requested 10 use their inlQ-
eAce to have said law repealed"
On the 10th of January, the resolutions came
iback to the House from the Senate, amended, sc
as to read as follows:
"Resolpcd By the general Assembly ofthe Com
monuealM of Kentucky, That it is the desire O
majority Of the people of Kentucky, that the
bankrupt law passed at the late extra session o
Congress, shall be repealed, or so modified as tc
free it from its retrospective operation; and tha
our senators and representatives in Congress be
requested touso their influence to obtain such re
peal Or modification"
The House of Representatives had passed {
!. third resolution against repeal Of the distrlbu
lion law, which the Senate amended by adding
another resolution, as follows, viz:
ResoEped further, That the people of thi'
Commonwealth, as well as the general assembly
regard the continuance in force OF the land dis
Itrbuton law as offar greater Importance than thu
repeal of the bankrupt law"
You will perceive that the Senate made twC
important amendmonts-one changing the IN
straction to the senators TO vote for a repeal o
the bankrupt law into request, and the othe
alIowing them, if they could to trade for a con
tinuance of the distribution law, by conscntinl
TO preserve the bankrupt law for that coaSidcra
tioa.
The House, however, rejected the Scnate's a
mcndmcnts by a vote offs yeas to82 nays, Fac
House adhered to its position; ;and the resolution
: failed by their disagreement. No member, how
: ever, was left in doubt that both the legislator
: and the people ofKentucky were in favor Of tn
unconditional repeal of the bankrupt law, by a
d Overwhelming majority; and 'the obligation" {
+ the senators TO obey that will was complete, aC
J cordng to the doctrine Of instruction, aslaid dow
Oy Mr. Clay in 1917.
If there can be any doubt on the subject, it
i obviated by the remark of Senator Moreheac
:. (Mr. Clay's colleague from Kentucky in Janu;
u ry, 1912, on presenting remonstrance agan
9 the repeal ofthe bankrupt law He said
T. at could not have escaped his notice, and th
of the Senate, that the Legislature ofKontuck
IS had, by large majority, passed resolutions upo
u the subject of the bankrupt law, expressing q
: opinion that it ought to be repealed.
= ''It was not for him 10 search for reasons
l. Iyindicato the sentiments of the people Of tn
ss State on this or any other question; but he wou
at merely point to her position, under all circur
.. lstancos, and the manner in which, whether
as times OF prosperity or distress, in peace or in W
s, she has always acquitted herself as member
re the Union. Whether the bankrupt law was
~ measure Of national injury, was question abo
d which the people ofthe United States could FOX
their own conclusions; but whether the mcasu
N would affect adyantageously or injuriousy Il
OF interests of the people Of Kentucky, they aloI
ng we're competent 10 Judge; and SO far as he W
a concerned, he thought that from their judgme
p there was no appeal AT the extra session
no Congress he voted for the bankrupt law. If
ST. had been disposed to recount reasons why
or should vote for the repeal of the law, he wor
re- have pointed to the expression Of opinion in 1