Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-08-25

existing manufactures end when allow COn-
Congress time 10 correct IT. errors, * after lUii
elaboration 90 amend il before the existing
system had been de>troyed-ior deliberation
had been refused. and amendments excluded,
although the one Was due to the subject, aud
the Otheis Were admitted TO b. necessary. BY
shat time, too, ! hoped We might have peace
with Mexico. and indeed. ! entertained nO
doubt that Congress would see the necessity
Tor modifying the act at the next session. |
knew we'll that the Senate were about passing
the bill contrary Ia the judgement OF the ma
lonty, under the durcss OF "a purity driH: yet,
unwise as that was, my feeling were aver>e To
going against the cOurse OF my party IN that
body, These reasons | assigned tu the PRLsl-
DsNT, whose name Is not used pithOUt his er-
press HoeHce.
Upon my return to the Senate Chamber. as
l had promised To- do, | told several senators,
who were regarded leaders upon this quesi ion
that | could not vote for the bill, unless IL
should b. amended asabove, hut. il SO amen
ded, could giro 10 ny uOfc. Aud | again prom
Used to keep my objections and purposes a Sc
cret from the other side, until my own party
had been consulted, and until 4 should be o.
btigcd "a oct. Tn secret was kept sacrcdly
upon my part, aud no wing senator knew my
opposition To the bill. With that view il was,
that, down To the day | resigned, / had no
conference with persons in Washington, and
out OF the Senate, upon this subject, except
with the President of the United States, him
sell, and one OF his cabinet; unless il may be,
that, IN general terms, | limited TO one of my
colleagues in the House that | was embarrass-
ed, but he asked no interview, aud ] sought
none. On the day before ! resigned, | went
into the country witha private gentleman and
personal friend, "a distinguished democrai) To
consult with him upon the single point OF my
TeslgnIng, or oi making resistance Ia the bill.
j had frequent conversations with Senators,
and duriug "Wednesday and Thursday, before
the vote was taken in Senate, | held three
confidential conferences with the PRESIDENT.
by his request, To whom my determination 10
vote against the bill was always known. IL
is uunecceSsary for me To- allude TO our init
mate personal and political relations, or 10
state the particular conversations that occur
RED, I il were possible TO repeat such converse
satious with perfect accuracy. Suffice il 10
say that he had notice OF my difficulties. and
knew al, about my determination except INV
intention 10 resign. | was not willing TO tell
INN oi my intention TO resign, when there
could have been no motive iuI IL, but To CON
STAIN his magnanimIty into a resistance of nv
sell to his administration He saw that my
mind was made up, aud he respected my scui-
pies, though he Was not indifferent To their
supposed political consequences To me. or
10 his administration. Twill not say more.
| had been positively Informed, before nv
last interviews with the President, that the
democratic Senators could not unite, or would
not agree upon the amendment which | had
suggestion, aud HE reasons assigned To me
was, that it would leopard the bill in the 9th.
er honse, to alter il. and that the House would
reject IL. II il went back. | replied TO this.
that IL was a mistaken calculation; and if not.
theu the bili ought not TO pass with the peO-
pies representatives against 10. The sequel
proved that | was right, ior it had 10 be- re-
turned TO them, in consequence of another
amendment, and yet il passed, as it had done
before. The democratic senators must have !
7 'gaTded any effort TO amend the bill, con- .
trdry - their lcishos, aud alter oil had pass
ed, as Il sinister attack upon their bill, and
they would have been justified in that;
aud therefore ! finally resolved not To move
AN amendmert myself. As honor and good
faith 10 the party required OF md not TO at
tempt amending the bill against their will, |
determined To let my opposition be, in all re-
lects, direct and abr-r CfV9. sol sxas
eN-~vdi-sfy careful not TO 10 anything which
might expose me 10 censure or interfere with
my confidential party relations with e nocr I
tC acnatOrs. and therefore resolved not 10 b.
put IN array against them at all. until | was
az" ~ Wv a AEtlH Aa0 4 AU4l AlFIn.l /
would be compelled tn follow the dictates
OF my conscience, party or no party, ind leave
the consequences with God" There is no
senator, ] an sure. who ever doubted my
scruples, or ii he did, he had self-respect e
nough TO conceal his suspicion. On the con.
udry, the leading men OF that BODY On the
democratic side. without exception, as well as
the President Of the United States, expressed
themselves tome, upon all occasions. anxious
iy, but most COnfidingly-all of them concur
ring in tIe wish that | could vote for the bill
none doubling my p, RECT sincerity. They
saw and knew the conflict | had To endure
betwixt feeling and duty, but which / amnot
able to describe to Won.
There was never an hour whcn, ! could not
have altered my course without any annie
mcnt OF their aspect, or any sacrifice TO my
own pride of opinion, il ! could have recon.
cited II TO my sense of duty, aud NV con
science, under any circumstance to vote for
the ball as il fras. Yet my convictions were
too strong Tor that. ! could not do IL. And
nothing remained Tor me but 10 continue in
my plsce and vote against my party friends.
or to resign INV seat, at a period when no other
question was likely To be affected by it. /
owe il To myself 20 state, that all those who
knew beforehand of my intention TO resign,
with one voice dissuadcd me from it, Gor Tea-
sons indicative Of their confidence and attach.
ment, personal and political; aud after my re-
signatiOn had been laid upon the table of the
Vice President, a number Of them, without
my know ledge, interpOsed to have its presen-
tatlon delayed until could be solicited 10 re-
call At. But 10Y own opinion never varied
upon that point although my determination
occasionally yacllated anterior 10 the 18th of
July, out OF defence TO others; and haping
d0he ghtoT The party that an honest man could
90 ! "osc 10 re6icH. And now, after a calm
ltNIew 81 an tbe circumstances, / do not hes
ltaie TO declare that / should 30 precisely the
same thing wen IL to b. done over aprin' ami
These are mv reasons.
Deutocrdtic B4nators, numbering twenty.
seven, bad agreed 10 vote fWr the expeumsn.
cal tann bill; ADD 20 had Mr. 1amagin, "a Wing
, .nttor from Tennessee ! knew that Mf.