Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-09-04

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ing anxiety and fears upon the subject. I'm
mediately after my return to this city. the first
day OF the debate in the Senate. | told several
of the senators (democrats) with whom | was
most intimate. the same thing. and, upon a
conferences; suggested to two of them that /
might have to resort to a resignation but they
did not agree with me, and / consented TO
think further of that 1t had been voted by
the party to have no reference, and agreed to
have no amendment to the bill. Next dav,
held a long and confidential conversation with
the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES him.
self. upon this subject, and informed him of
my determination not to vote for the bill but
left it to his discretion whether to,keep that
purpose secret or not. In that interview, such
was my anxiety to reconcile my duty with the
wishes. of others, that | consented to waive
my opposition, and vote for the hill, however
reluctantly, provided it were amended so that
the new tariff would not go into operation be-
fore 4th March, 1847. The bill would then
have operated as repeal of the tariff act of
1912, and so far l was willing to support it.
But desired its operation to be postponed
to some period which would be less oppres-
sive to existing manufactures, and which
might allow Congress time to correct its er-
rors, and, after full deliberation, to amend it
before the existing system had been destroy
ed-for deliberation had been refused. and a.
mendments excluded, although the one was
due to the subject, and the Others were admit
ted to be necessary. By that time, too, no.
ped we might have peace with Mexico. and,
indeed, | entertained no doubt that Congress
would see the necessity for modifying the act
at the next session. / knew we'll that the
Senate were about passing the bill, contrary
to the judgment of majority, under the du-
ress of party drill; yet, unwise as that was,
my feelings were averse to going against the
course of my party in that body. These rea-
sons / assigned to the PRESIDENT, whose
name is not used aoithout his express license
| Upon my return 10 the Senate chamber, as
had promised to dc, told several senators,
who were regarded as leaders upon this ques-
ton, that could not vote for the bill, unless
it should be amended as above but, if it were
SO amended, avouH give 1t ny cote. And l
again promised to keep my objections and
purposes a secret from the other side, until
my own party had been consulted, and until |
should be obliged TO act. The secret was kept
sacredy upon my part, and no whig senator
knew of my opposition to the bill. With that
view it was, that, down to the day before ]
resigned, had no conference with persons in
Washington, and out of the Senate, upon this
subject, except the President of the United
States himself and one of his cabinet; I'M
less it may be, that, in general terms, limited
to one of my colleagues in the House that ]
was embarrassed; but he asked no interview
and | sought none. On the day before | re-
signed, went into the country with a private
gentleman and a personal friend, Ca distin-
gulshed democracy to consult with him upon
the single point of my resiening, or of making
resistance to the bill. I had frequent CONVEX
sations with senators, and during Wednesday
and Thursday, before the vote was taken in
the Senate, held three confidential conferen-
ces with the PRESIDENT, by his request, to
whom my determination to vote against the
bill was always known. 1t is unnecessary
for me to allude to our intimate personal and
political relations. or to state the particular
conversations that occurred, if it were posi-.
BILE to repeat such conversations with perfect
accuracy. Suffice it to say, that he had no
tice of my difficulties, and knew all about my
determination, except my Intention to res On
IL was not willing TO tell him of my intention
to resi- when there could have been no mo-
tive for it, but to cof'sst his magnanlmlty
into resistance of my sefN llt ses 20 us az
ministration. He saw that my mind was
made up, and he respected my scruples, tho
he was not Indifferent to their supposed polit-
lcal consequences to me, or to his adminstra.
ton. | will not say more.
| had been positively informed, before my
last interviews with the President, that the
democratic senators could not unite, or would
not agree, upon the amendment which | had
suggested, and the reason ASST gned to me was,
that it would leopard the bill in the other
House to alter it, and that the House would
reject it, if it went back. [ replied to this,
that it was mistaken calculation and if not,
then the bill ought not to pass with the peo-
pies representatives against IL! The sequel
proved that was right, for it had to be return
ed 'O them, in consequence Of another amend
ment, and yet it passed, as ii had done before
Inc democratlc senators must have regarded
any eHort OF mine 10 amend the bill, contrary
to their 'cishes, and after all hat had passed,
as sinister attack upon their bill, odd ner.
haps they would have been justified in THAI.
and therefore | finally resolved not to move
an amendment myself. AS honor and good
faith to the party required of me not to attempt
amending the bill against their will, deter
mined to let my opposition be, in all respects,
ingly careful not to do any thing which might
expose me to censure, or interfere with my
confidential party relations with democratic
senators, and therefore resolved not to be put
in array against them at all, until was forced
to the wall, when, Gas told them,) would
be IS compelled to follow the dictates of my
conscience, party or no party, and leave the
consequences with God" There is no sena-
tor, am sure, who ever doubted my scruples,
or if he did, he had seIf-respect enough to.
conceal his suspicion. On the contrary. the
leading men of that body on the democratic.
side, without exception, as well as the .Presi-
dent Of the United States, expressed them.
selves to me, upon all occasions, anxiously.
but most con6dingly-all Of them concurring
in the wish that | could vote for the bill
none donbting my perfect sincerity. They
sawaand knew the conflict had to endure be.