The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1846-08-27


wsIiRgo,n City, Angus, 10. Isi6.
TO tho People Of North Carolina.
Ihaye never appeared before The public.
By myself or otherwise, 10 wrilo down IN
accusation against me, but have hitherto
chosen 10 bear unjust rrbuk0 in silence.
and rely upon lime and my manner Of life
To consign 10 oblivion tho whisperings of
tho enSiOus and the calumnies Of The nla.
lignanl. do moi affect To CONCEAL that a
departure from this rulo gives me much
pain; and | am persuaded tliat II many of
my friends did moi think That il is 4 duly
owe 10 tho people nol iofemain silent IN.
der the recent censure Of phrcnziod parli-
Fans, | should leave il, as far as concerns
me, 10 my known character and tho self.
denying act which has proyokedit il. to vim
dictate tho patriotism and purity Of my mo
liyess repOsing confidently upon the dis
eemment and Judgment Of an intelligent
public, in view Of The simple facts rs they
occurred; and not doubling that, as soon IS
the occasion had passed By, and There was
no longer necessity for oyerawing others
who il might have been supposed were
moro iimid in their purpose, and no chance
TO deceive the people at the North Carroll.
ma elections, by INSCRIPTIONS libels against
me, my assailanis would cease from their
/" dirty work, !" and bad men, who measure
the motives oftllc yiriuous BY standard Of
morals which vice has erected in their own
bosoms, would go hunting after some fresh
victim to crafty their ignoble malice. Blu.
| como before you at this time TO sposk Of
myself, not OF others, and TO defend my
own failhiulness, not to- expose their de-
signs; and | think myself happy that l
have tho honest people Of North Carolina
to Judge my cause. | invoke no sympa-
Thy, ask no compassion, and | thank God
| need them not. But, with tho proud
consciousness OF ono who has dared to DO
his duty as q servant OF the Republic.
amidst dangers and trials. such as. trust,
arc not to grow common in our Govern
meni, Island before you to lay claim to
tho confidence, respect, and appreciation
Of fall good men, more especially Of those
belonging 10 tho Democratic party. IfeeI
and know this day, and viii provo even
to my enemies, that in my station as Sc
naior, and in retiring fromit, Incurred no
guilt-dcceived no onc-l betrayednopar-
ty--I made no sacrifice OF your interests,
and no surrender Of your rights-nonc u
all, directly or Indirectly. And they who
have charged tho contrary, with all who,
from any motive, personal or political,
have given to il their aid and eountcnancc,
did " bear falso Witness"
II is true that on the 25lh Of July, a few
moments before tho vote was expected TO
have been taken on the new tariff bill Of
1916. Improperly called. McKay's BILL ,
resigned my seat as a Senator III Congress
into the hands Of North Carolina, to whom
il belonged, believing that il was my duty to
do il sooner than cast my vote against my
own conscience for law that could not
approve, and knowing that it was my per-
feet right TO do il, and that Iwould be but
exercising that right in precise accordance
with the last written doctrine Of the legis.
llaiure and OF the party who elected me. In
this only have offended; and in manly
sInceriiy, but with that plainhcss Of speech
which the humblest man in the commdni-
ty will DO able TO understand for himself
:, proceed to lay before you my oxplana-
ton.
The suhjectof thc tariff, and Che system
!! Of laws by which taxes arc imposed and
collected for the use Of the General Govern.
mcnt throughout tho Union, Is ono OF deep
importance, but Of much intricay and greal
difficulty in its judicious arrangement
Soon after taking my scat in the Senate o.
the United States lin December, l843,)
for one felt what any man when he frs
goes into Congress directly from private
life will be aptso experience, and that was
"a lack Of necessary knowledge and infor
tmatiofi upon il. With an ambition 70 learn
my duty as legislator for this great 70.
public. and fixed determination 70 pursue
il afterwards, Immediately gave my
whole mind TO the study and consideration
j OF this tariff system, well knowing that
upon il depended in q good degree the
chief operations in commerce, agriculture,
and manufactures in the other States Al
well as ours. During the first session o.
the last Congress, and after having desUt-
| Cd nearly all my time for some months 70
! this study, hoped had made myself qua
lifted. and my political associates believed
me fit 10 be consulted and counsellcd with