The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-07-30

bill a cheerful and earnest support was ab,vs oil
things. the most astounding. A Senator, who had
hepn elected by a Democratic Legislature. whose
opinions IN this question were well known ron.
reseniing State every Democrat in which is
strongly opposed to the inequality of the act of
lS42 and in favor of its mod ficatinn and Ia hmm
] can with confidence add, considerable if mn,
large number of the Wing party; a Senator en-.
tirely untrammelled by any instructions or re-.
quests. even of Wing Legislature. although
since his election snch Legislature has assem-
bed in North Carolina and Immediately after
the Presidential election. in which canvass mod.
i6caton Of the tariff uf 1912 was one Of the prom.
inent subjects of discussion; a Senator whose
course on This vital question was never suspected;
who was always understood as being utterly up
posed to the protective policy; for snch Sena,ur
at this important Junc'nrP, ia desert his post, To
surrender his commssion will necessarily excite
the deepest regret throughout the country and in
our State The sev'res' apprehension and censure
The debate in the Senate has nav been con,in-
ned for two weeks. The opnuns of the mem
beTs were generally known. IL was expected the
vote would he taken on Saturday Il was believ-
ed the fate of the bill depended upon the vote of
the Democratic Senator from North Carolina
These painful rumors were The theme of CONVEX
sa'ion. Under these circumstances. considering
the relati"n IN which stood To that Senator, I
considered II an imperative duty tn see him IN
morning. was informed by him tina, he should
make motion tn postpone the operation of the
the bill till the 4th of March and if that failed
as he expected. he should VITO against the bill if
that succeeded, he would vote for it, That,
although he was opposed To the principle contain
ed IN the bill. he was willing waive that, if its
operation could he postponed as to give Congress
an opportunity o revise II al the next session, he
fore it o"k effect. I suggested that. as he was
willing TO waive the principle involved. could
not see any propreiy in voting against the bill on
question of time, in which he differed with all
his party, except those directly interested in the
protection afforded by the tariff act of 1872 |
reminded him OF the large delegation of nianufac-
turers now here, and that had motives would ne
cessarily be imputed to him under the crcum-
stances; that, in my opinion he would disappoint
the expectation and wishes of the Democratic
party of North Carolina that could rot sustain
hlm' and war upon him by the party could not
ne avoided, the consequences of which were fear
tni. L" these suggestions and appeals he replied
that he cared nothing for impua,on upon his mo-
lives, as none would be made by decent men and,
II he was driven to The wall he must acqnit his
conscience. and take the consequences He stated
then that at one time he had an idea of resiening.
hut understood him as having abandoned it,
Imagine, then, my surprise when was informed,
wv" "r three hours afterwards, that his resgna.
nation was lying the table of the President of
the Senate
1t is exceedingly painful to me 10 he compelled
10 characterize the conduct of that Senator as il
deserves. ! cannot hut view it as the grossest act
of political delinquency that ever was perpe,raled
bringing reproach upon the character of our ven
Grated State. the tears Of repentance on his part
tor thousand years would never efface stigma,
as lar as he can affix it, upon the political neg-
rlty OF her public men that will wiring the busom
every frank hearted North Carolinian, and which
will be execraed by all her sons who revere her
name and fame, and who cherish such integrity
as necessary trait in the education of public
servant. am proud OF the land of my birth. |
always feel pride and exuliation when our
brethren oi other States speak of her as the
omical and honest old North State, and in behalf
ot the people of that ancient commonwealth in
woke my countrymen not To estimate their charac-
Ter ny the conduct Of one of her apnsiaie sons by
whom she has been decei yed and disappointed
appeal to my fellow citizens of that State for a
response to the condemnation and disapprobaoD
now express upon the course of our late Senator
as necessary 10 vndcation of the character of the
o'ale and TeProbatiOn of that condnct, grossly
Inconsistent with the just expectations of all
Whatever be his motives, (uf which know no.
thing except what have stately no Justification,
ho Pailiatlon can relieve him from the bitter re
PROOF OF an outraged people, whose voice this cr-
Sis has by his act been thus stifed | repeat this
duty Is must painful one have heretofore
c'aWed mat Senator as persOnOl and political
friend: The canses that have produced a dissolu-
ton Of that relation is sourse of poignant regret;
yet a duty to the people represent. to my own
character as Representative, and by whose vote
such Senator was placed in power would not
permit me To say less, in expressing my solemn
convictions of the retrbuiion that ought to he
visited upon who has been thus recreant in the
discharge of a sacred duty, entrusted 10 him by a
contidlng constituency.