Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-09-04
TERMS: % SO i'm advance.
WHOLE NO. 1O3.

turing interests; and imposing unjust, unequal,
ana oppressive burdens upon other branches of
industry and particular those peculiar to the south
ern Stses and that such being the effects of this
law, 1t IS unwise in policy, dangerous to public lib
erty, and perversion of that free constitution of
government which was framed and adopted for the
protection and security of all, and which will be-
best sustained by the equal operation of its laws
and the just dispensation Of its benefits to every
American citizen.
" Resohed, That this law is not only protective
in its character, and unequal in its operation tut
that it violates the compromise of 1889, uniusty
deprivng the south of the benefits of that act pre-
clsely at the period when they were >to accrue to
US, and Immediately after we had patiently and pa
triotically endured all it's burdens; and, there
fore, in the name of honor, Justice, and good
faith, the legislature of North Carolina DO protest.
against this law, and insist that it should be mod-
fled. so to place it the basis Of revenue due
ties"
"Resolred, That our Senators in Congress be.
and they are hereby INSTRUCTOR, and our repre-
sentatives requested, to carry into effect the prn-
cipes set forth in the foregoing resolutions.
RESOLVED, That the governo: of this State be
required to forward copy of these resolutions TO-
each OF our senators in Congress, with the request
that they lay them before the Senate of the United
States.
Ratified the Goth day of January, A. D. ls49.
CALVIN GRAVES, S. H. c.
Louis d. WILSON, s. s."
Are you instructionists? Behold here is a
complete cxcul patton of my conduct. The lie.
gslature says that to 'resign" is not only the
right, but the "duty" of senator, who does
not prefer to ''obey" their instructions. 1t -
not to 'obey" without any other alternative,
butitis to obey cor resign'-either one or the
Understanding 10 his own choice. So he
does one cor" the other, he is faithful. Will
the honest democracy of North Carolina, who
have been forgetful of these instructions, per-
verseIy adhere to an error, by which they may
have allowed themselves to PREJUDICE one who
has spent the best part Of his life, and worn
out his constitution, as | have, in unfolding
the democratic party in North Carolina, against
political foes without and selfish demagogues
within its fold? will that be honorable, or
/ just, or democratic? | leave your own hearts
| to answer.
| Are yon non-instructionists? Then remem-
Der, that had it not in my power to sacrifice
myself to the country. for my vote could not
have prevented, no more than it could have se-
cured, the passage Of the tariff act. With or
without my vote, the deed would have been
done. Remember, too, that these resolutions
were passed by my own party, and the Iegis-
lature who elected me, and my acceptance of
the office, in the view Of some honorable
friends, might have been held to create an inn
piled pledge that would ''resign," provided
did not obey their instructions, and there
fore, that, independent of any political " duty
to obey or resign,'1 had come under person.
al obligation to do the same thing. Hence,
by huiding on to my seat and resisting, there
might have been some room for censure, but 1
desired to have no such controversy, and as
my resistance would have done no good to the
republic, surely all will agree that ii was my
right to resign.
1t must be confessed that tlrese resolutions
did not positively instruct the senators from
| North Carolina to vote for the experimental
tariff by that name, nor by any other precise
f description of it. 1t is more than probable
the Legislature had not anticipated the inven-
t tor Of such tariff: and am sure had not.
! But they did instruct the senators to "carry
t into effect the principles declared in the fore
going resolution - and a plausible argument.
if not a sound one, might be made in favor OF
: the construction, that their "princip:es. or at
E least some of them, wouId be carried into eff
e feet by the sxperimenta! :aEif. and .hsIsi2Ess