The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-02-16

east q dozen individuals, any ons Oh "nieh
81 a. well qualified personally for the sta
ton a. the present incumbent, and the
election Of most of whom would, az par
ty movsmsut, have been much more az
tan,ageous TO those with whom act poii'-
really.
/, mas be further remarked, that so Tar
wa, he from being The choice oil Tue STATE
,susrslly ,ha, the opinion was by no means
uncommon al Raieigh, that he was the
fret choice. even ola majority OF the wing |
msmb.rs, though nominated by the sys-
lem which shall presently explain.
His being the incumbent was decidedly
in his favor; though the slrategem by
which he was elevated two years ago great
ly impaired, II it did not entirely deprive
him of this advantage.
Before leaving Raleigh, | expressed
wish to my friends tina, | should not be
mt 10 nomination uness il should be as.
certaiued, after baliotiug, that Mr.. Badger
could no, be elected. further stated 10
them. that whatever course they might IN
the end resolve To take would be acqui'
cscsd 10 and sustained BY me. II was
then supposed that the election would be
pos,ponsd until the vacancy from fancy
should be applied but vote was sud
denly ordered at an earlier day, and some
of nv friends took the responsibility OF
xai;na aa.,ost tia nnu.inne Rainn al
eigh, after consultation here with soma OF
those political friends in whose Judgment
| had most confidence, | acceded to their
1 Lao
tina, they had decided TO run me az an in.
dependant candidate, on grounds hereafter
TO bs considered. Awaiting myself Of all
the time afforded me to collec, nforma.
ton, before the ballolng began, submit.
ted to my friends the opinion that i, was
not, under the circumstance, advisable to
make stand. They, however, with my
acSuisscence, decided on different course.
After the first vote occurred, again de-
sired such Of them as me, to vote for one
of the other gentlemen then in nomination,
(Messrs. Badger and SWAMP but they
preferred . different course. After the
third ballot had occurred, but before the
result was announced, Mr. Farmer, in &C.
cordance with the opinion then expressed
by me, changed his vote so as to cleo, Mr..
Badger. This he could not even then have
accomplished bu, for the fact that the
Democratic Senator from Stokes withheld
his vote on some understanding with Mr..
Badgers friends, while another member of
the same party was absent from sickness.
Before, however, stating the reasons for
this change, | must advert to one other
matter. Shortly after my arrival 10 Raj
eigh, | received letter from several gen.
ilem,u Of the Democratic party, contain
ing inquiries as 10 my opinion. on certain
points. IL was my impression, at first,
that the situation in which | found myself
placed was such as to excuse me from an.
swering their inquiries : but q moments
reflection satisfied me that was in error
in taking this view. Ths memaers Of the
Legislature are made BY the constitution
the electors Of the Seua,sr. A. the San.
ator, when chosen, is under our system
supposed 10 represent the views and feel
logs of the Safe, aud as the members of
the Legislature, in making the selection,
act for and are responsible TO their con.
stitusnts, thsy have a right 10 know The
opinions Of Tho person for whom they may
reasonably expect to vote and no gentle
man, either a candidate or willing to &C.
cep, the station, has, ia my judgment,
n2ht 10 withhold an expression of his oplo.
ions On imp0riant subjects.
With these views my reply was dictated.
/, was written Immediately after the re-.
ceipi Of their letter, without consultation
with any one. Ii was written to those
whose views we're, IN many respects, diff
fercni from my own, but who were 9eatle.
men Of high character and standing, ac,u.
ated. as | well knew, only BY elevated,
honorobie, and patriotic motives; and there.
fore my statement 10 ihem was conched
10 language the most respectful and cour.
,eou., and yet sufficiently Ineligible that
there might be no Misunderstanding be-
tween Us. | now give the letter and my
reply thereto.
RALElcu. \. c. Dec. IA, ls43.
HJa. T. l.. CLTSeGaN:
Dear Sir: The position you occupy
10 relation to the election Of Uaitsd Ststss
Senator. now pending before the Legisla.
ture Of lhl, State jus,lfies u, iva thiuk) in
respectfully propouadinI to you the follow
ing intsrrogatoriss, to.~it:
LIST. Do you believe il crPsdien' tia
Congress should charter 4 United State.
Bank And IL member Of the Senate
would sou vote for chartcring such an in
s.iiuiiooi
o.lsy. Ar~ Won IN fa~or Of the repeal
Of The Tariff Of 1915. Or ofa notification
thereof, affecting, materially, the princi.
pies Of said law
3rdIy. Are you in favor Of the rspeal
Of the law ssiablishiag the Iadependan,
Treasury
4!hiy. d, you believe that Congress.
has the constitutional power TO lesislaie
upon the subject Of the existence of slavery
10 the Territories Of the United Statesl
Believing that you are prepared rightly
to appreciate the motives which prompt u