Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-22

OpTOslTlOn
anu '"e ior the oil, however reluctantly provided II ~er
amended 50 that the tariff would 20 opera
non before the 9TH March, ls47 The bill would then hay
operated AZ repeal OF the tariff OF 1884, aud 80 far
was willing to support it, But desired its operation to b.
postponed TO some period which would be lees opprcs.v
eAsnng msnuisctnres and which might allow Congress
June TO correct its errors, and. after tul elaboration
smond before tho existing system had been DESTROYED
Tor debeiaon had been refused and amendment cxcud
Cd although the Que due the subject, and the oher
were admitted Ia be by that time, too hop
Cd We might have peace with Mexico. and indeed, On
eFaned no doubt that Congress would tho neccs.,,
| Tor modifying the the session. I knew
well That the Senate about passing the hill con
uay TO the judgment Of u mSor,'y. under tho du-
! ress OF PARTY DRILL; yet. unwise that Yves. m,
my party m that body. These reasons | assign
| ed the President whose is used without hi.
express license Upon my return TO the Senate chamber
as had promised TO do told several Senator'S who wer,
regarded as leaders upon this question: that could moi
vote Tor the BILL unless shoud be amended ne abo,e
| II hwerc 50 amended would give II my vote. Aud
again promised 10 Keep objections and purposes a Sc
erci from the other side, until party had bee
consulted, and until should be obliged TO act The sc.
se' was Kept saeredy upon part and Wing Senator
hne" OF my opposition ~ the bill With that view II was
ths sown 10 the day before resigned hsd no COME.
renee with persons in Washington aud the Senate
upon this subject except the President Of the United States
himself, and one OF his Cabinet unless may be- that m
general terms, l limited OF my colleagues in III.
House that was embarrassed but he asked no interview
aud sought none. On the day before rcsignod went
IN" me country with private gentleman and personal
Trend, Ia distinguished Democstl consult with hin,
upon the single point OF my rrsgnng or OF Masking -,.
lance 10 the bill. had frequent conversations with Sc
naors, and during "Wednesday and Thursday b.f,. an.
vote was taken IN the Senate held three confidential
isenees with the President. by request to whom INV
determination TO vote Against the bill was always known
Is unnecessary for aude our intimate personal
and political relations state the particular
IONS That occurred 1t 1t were possible to repeat such
versaons with perfect Suffice IL to saw thai he
had notice OF my difficulties, and knew oil about nv deter
m'nauon except my intention To resign. not vii
hhg 10 tell him OF my intention resign when there
In a.
magnanimity into resistance Of my self sacrifice TO m.
Administration lie that my mind was made n o. . nd
he respected NV seruPles though he Indifferent, to
their supposed political consequences TO me- OF % his Adj
minsrauon. / will say more.
had been positively informed before my last inter.
views with the President, that the democratic sena
tors could not unite, wodld not agree, upon the
amendment which had suggested and the reason assign
60 10 me was, that would leopard the bill other
House TO alter H. and that the House would reject it. # IL
went back replied to this that IL 4 mistaken cal
euaon and not then the bill ought not to pass with the
peoples representatives against IT, The sequel proved that
was night, for II had TO be returned them in cons,-
quenee OF another amendment aud passed, il had
done before The democratic seuatos must have regard
ed any effort OF mine 10 amend the BILL contrary TO their
wishes, and after all that had passed. as sinister attack
upon their bill and perhaps they would have been justified
IN that aud therefore finally resolved not 10 move IN
amendment myself As honor and good faith To the par
required Of attempt amending the bill
taeT w determined 20 let my opposition be, IN all re-
sPee direct and above suspicion. 50 was exceedingly
careiu no 10 DO anything which might expose cen
democratic senator's and therefore resolved TO be put
IN array against them ALL until forced TO the wall
Nhen las told hem would be compelled TO follow The
dictates VI my conscience party and leave h,
consequences with Cod" There is senator, am sure
who ever doubted my scrupes or If he did ne had self
respect enough 10 conceal he suspicion Ga the contrary
the leading men OF that body democratic side with
out exception as well as the President United States
expressed themselves ~ upon all occasions anxousIy
but m0si eonhd'ngy-a OF them concurng in the wish
that could vote Tor the bill; doubling my perfect sin
Knew he rOnftr \ had
eewNi feeling and duty, but which am able to describe
YOU Ihere was never an hour when could not have
altered my cou sc, without any abatement Of their respect
o' any saSHhce to my own pride Of opinion. If could
have Teeonced II 10 my duty and my conscience
under any clrcumsiances to vote for the bill Yet
my CONVICTIONS were too strong tor hat could not do
IT. And nothing remained for Inc but continue in nv
place and Yole against my party friends, TO resign my
seat al period when other question likely 10 be
ai-eted by IT, owe 1t to myself 10 state, that all those
who knew beforehand OF my Intention resign, with one
voice. dssuaded me from for reasons OF their
confidence aud attachment personal and poea and after
my resignation bad been laid upon tie table OF the Vice
President, number Of them without my knowledge inter
posed 10 have its presentation delayed until could be So
ciied recall IT, But my opinion never varied upon
hst point although my determination occasionally vacli
TED anterior TO the 10Th OF July out OF Difference others;
and having done all for the party that man could
do, choee TO resign. And now, after a calm review ct
oil the circumstances, do hesitate to declare that
should DO precisely the thing, IL be done over
again, and these my reasons:
Democratic senators, numbering twenty-seveu had
go had
M Jarnagn, wing senator from Tennessee. ] knew
hat Mr. flanagan expected for H. for he had not
only told himself bot also had reliable information of
the fact that he had given his fixed determ
nation 10 do which u hardly posi- lc for him or
any man TO viosis ard | had knowledge, than a
week before resigned, that tie the Vice Pre-
sdeni meant 10 vote m favor oft the result has proved
mat was not mistaken IN my facts From these facts
may be seen that, with my without IT, the bill was
destined TO pass The Senate. Ii had kept my seat and
voted Tor TIE b would have passed BY OF twenty
nd ken N.Y. .rI, -.
bill would have passed by tho casting Of the Vice
President!
But why resign my against the bill would not
have counted IN tie result Ii be expected ihi
should vote against my party friends whou, defending
my vote speech "a the Senate that would have
created great excitement and doubt the persons
who now complain OF my resgnng would have denounced
me tor holding 10 my Oce merely for tue sake Of
ing war upon my party. My friends in the Senate who
mad resolved not TO speak might have had
me o sesh'ess and probably some Of my reasons,
ed ~ the warmth OF pubic speech might have appeared
as much Ike arrhgnirg others defending myself. la
Short deprecated the possibility OF open rupture with
those loved 5u' with whom dsrcd act, aud ever
ready % sacrifice much than place the Senate 10
avoid H. unlcss my duty the country had demanded that
REX al my hauds-"COunty before party, but party before
SELL las always been my principle Of acton. II my so
sacrifice did the peace int nded TO prop
tate oct o. the Senae abundsnty rewarded 10y its e
ieets IN the Senate. My firm intention quietly
sign, and not n attack o the administration az
ter il had been passed by my party friends, for my
ylndieation And that determination would have been kept
the folly or the wickedness OF others had forced this
explanation from me IN solf-deence.
Bot Kept my intentions tecreR You have seen, that
"a the extent that this true, Of party sJe
dteHee on my part, which partisan has right
denim and al. can zee, who will see, thatt neither
more or less than unsoh Of duty upon the al
ready stated. ii any had been inclined question the
policy Of the conCe8ment beforehand ihs result proved mis-
mistake since did no harm to the party tho bill and
aud II mad turned out otherwise, the fault would have
been mine. IL secret OF the parry al nv hazard
aud instead Of being bumod for might reasonably put
IN claim for credit Having consented not to dis
close nv hostility 10 the bill, It became point of personal
honor with me, and prudent man, who that keep
cannot DO 300 cautious ~ selecting the politicians who
10 assist him.
But resigned without night to do So and without the
leave OF my STATED l. that uueI Let see Suppose
every voter IN the democratic party had commanded TO
vote Tor the bill and yet my judgment had prevailed.
rs old, against the Joint influence Of my feelings my udi
Viduni friendships, aud my personal ambition Is there
man Who will deny that sul had a perfect right resign
my station and save my cOuscenoei Did any be-
fore suppose that purity hlt the tight claim dominion
the man who served them well tho Office they had
bcstowtd-ovcr the soul well the station Of their