The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-21


be compelled to follow the dictates Of my conscience
party or no party and leave the with God
Democratic senators, numbering twenty. seven had
agreed to vote for the experimental tariff bill and SO
had MIA Jarnagin, whg senator from Tennessee. I
knew tna Air Jarnagin expected 10 for IT, for he
not only had told himself but had also reliable iu
formation OF the fact that he had given Of his
nxed determination to do which hardly possible
for him or any to violate and had ledge more
than week before resigned. that, case Of tie the
wee President meant to vote in favor of The result
has proved that was not mistaken in my facts From
these facts may been that with my or with
out H. the bill was destined to pass the Senate If had
kept my seat and voted for the BILL would have passed
ps vote su o. twenty nine i had kept my seat and
ing vote of tie Vice President.
But why resign, my vote against the bill would not
nave counted in the result not to be expected
ina; should vote against party friends, without de-
lending my vote. speech in the Senate that time
would have created great excitement and doubt the
have denounced me for holding to my Office merely
Tor the sake of making upon my party. My friends
had reason to of selshness probably some
Of my reasons uttered in the warmth Of public speech
might nave appeared much like arraigning others
defending myself In Short deprecated the possibility
OF an open rupture with those loved, but with whom
than place in the Senate to avoid it. unless nv duty to
the country had demanded that risk at my hands
Country before party but party before SELF" has always
been principle of action II my selfsacrifce did
secure the It intended to propate Of the
Senate am abundantly rewarded by its effects the
Senate My firm intention was quietly to resign, and not
70 attack measure Of the administration after II had
been passed BY my party friends for my vind
the folly the wickedness others had forced this
explanation from me in selfdefence.
But Kept my intentions secret You have seen, that
to the extent that this true it act of party
obedience on my part which partisan has right to
Their less than unselfsh duty upon
Facts already stated II any had been inclined
question the policy of the conceament beforehand the
resuS proved his mistake, since it did harm to the
party the bill; and it had turned otherwise
the fault would not have been nine 1t secret Of
n m md tuct0 hahn
it, might reasonably put in claim for credit Having
once consented not to disclose my hostility to the BILL Il
became point OF personal honor with me; and prudent
man, who has that to keep, cannot be
Letting the politicians who are to assist him:
leave of my State! Is that true1 Let see Suppose
every voter in the democratic party had commanded
vailed as it did aganst the Joint influence 81 nv feelings
my individual friendships and my personal ambition
there man who will deny that still had perfect right
to resign my station and my conscicncel Did any
ono ever before suppose that party had the right
dominion over the man who served them well the
offce they had bestowed-over the soul well the
station OF their agentl Never never.
But in my case there is for theories The
legislature that elected passed resolutions aeclarao
ry Of their doctrine They were passed by the party
that elected me- Whilst the voice OF God in the soul
riff democratic legislature at the utmost only de-
manded Of me to do otherwise resign, and for obey
me as treachous No man. with due sense
OF honor and accountability could put himself in posi-
imperative and unavodable; end nobody would be fit
serve the republic who could Upon any such terms it
would be infamous to serve any party.
But the North Carolina resolutions, of themselves
Constitute at once my Defence and refutaion of the alb
surd notion that senator's who obey have right
to resign without being criminal
Are you instructonists Behold here is complete
excupston of conduct The legislature says that to
does prefer obey their instructions II is not
to obey without any other al ernative but is to obey
choce So he doss or the other hs S ms
Are you observation-disclosures 2 Then remember that
had 1t not in my power to sacrifice the country
or my vote could not have prevented, than Il
could have secured, the pas age of the tariff act With
without my vote, the deed would have been dome
Remember too that these resolutions passed by
own party, and the legislature who elected me- and
acceptance Of the Office in the some honora
BILE friends, night have been held create an implied
pledge that would resign provided did obey their
Instructions and therefore, that Independent of any poll
obligation to do Inc same thing Hence, by holding on
to my seat and resisting there might have been some
room for censure but desired to have such cOntro
the republic, surely all will agree that my right
resign.
must be confessed that these resolutions did not pos
lively instruct the senators from North Carolina to vote
Tor the experimental tariff by that name, by any
the Legislature had not anticipated the invention such
tariff and am sure had not But they did instruct
in the foregoing resolution !" and plausible argument
if not sound migk be made in favor of the con
the *
therefore IL had remained in the Senate to vote against
the tariff bill might have been alleged, and it would
have been charged that had dsobe ed the
of the North Carolina legislature merely for sake Of
my Office And what could have answered Had told
you that the resolutions obscure that therefore
had not been able to obey, my would have been
false one for have already shown you not
for the thing had been sent in the
very words of the when the alternative Of resgnn
was conceded to be my right and my duty. Had told
you that higher duty imposed upon the obligation
Of defeating this unwse and sectional tariff Of 1896
in order to the republic and the people from those
ipu,i'u, results which according judgment
my post in defiance Of Instructions would have been
", untrue rue in my case for as have already stated knew
capable Of resorng such false preexts for my de-
fence Asa Christian and gentlemen. it was my duty
admitted already that the princples Of these resou
tons be carried out' by the experimental tariff
and not being able to obey therefore my right
resign. II there had been any doubt about the other
principles set forth in the foregoing resolutions there
was none upon the principle Of the senator's duty
resign !" and his right" to do that was
and unquestionable.
to the tariff act of l642, concurred with them and
again repeat that my embarrassments grew altogether
out Of this that tho act by which proposed get
rid OF the tariff Of 1912 under the circumstances Of
s presentation progress and enactment and in view Of
all m the party and the country bad
or worse than tho act of 1912 and support of by my
vote utterly repugnant duty to my SELF
and of iealty to North Carolina the Union so that
retired from IL as would from political pestilencc
did not do it for the already given
for the additional that the Of the State
the democratic party elected me- If it was not my
duty was certainly my right to postpone 1t until the
August elections, and that right exercised for the bene
nt OF the democratic party whose minons have been the
first to denounce me for it The people Of North Caro-
lima will they cannot in honor and Justice give their
sanction to such abomnable iniquy. They just
100 honorable to approve OF the execrable maxim that
+" alls fair in politics.
may be regarded slight evidence of the faithful
ness with which adhered to my party obligations, that
after consentng under the pressure Of strong feelings
to vote for the experimental tariff provided il could DO
amended SO as to postpone its taking effect until 4th
March next, had very considerable doubts whether
had not gone too far. Yet in my endeavors avoid
complaint adhered to my pledge and nobody suf
fered TO know OF my repentance. The minute before
resigned it was maze known that would abide by that
offer. and final answer was given by those competent
TO reply that the bill would certainly pass without my
and any alte ration Of it would endanger passage
In the other House, and therefore amendment would
be voted for. This communicated to me, and there
upon my resignation was handed nto the Senate