The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-04-23
REMARKS OF MR.. BUCKINGHAM,
OF MIDDLESEX

lon former day, Mr. Walker of Worcester ha(
moved to amend the Resolves by striking out all af
Ter the word, "Resoved,' and inserting esThat thu
non Daniel Webster, in his recent speech in the
senate OF the United Sates has not faithfully repre-
scented the sentiments of the people of Massachu-
sets. The amendment having been rejected. b,
a vote OF ~ to 10, Mr.. Buckingham moved a recon
slderatlon OF the vote, and spoke as lollows:7
MI Presldent,-lt is not without reluctance, and
unaffected sorrow, that attempt to address the Sen
ate on the subject now before it. With reluctance
because feel my inabitSto make suitable reion-
der to arguments that will be used against me. With
sorrow, because am certain that shall utter senti-
ments, not III accordance with the views of some,
with whom have had the honor and the pleasure
heretofore to be associated in acts of friendly private
intercourse and in support of public measures mu-
tually believed to be honest vrtuous and patriotic.
feel my inability to utter all that | would-all that
Is labormg within me for utterance. | have doubted
whether should enter into this discussion. But my
convictions of duty have all scrupIes, aris-
ing from dillldence.
have been young, and now am old. For more
than thirty years, have, in a certain sense been
public man. My thoughts, my opinions, my mo-
tves, my actions, have not been hidden under
bushel; they have been openly and frankly (some
think unwlsely and impernenty expressed,) and in
manner which has given them almost unlimited
circulation; and have always found that openness
bodness, fearless honesty in the expression of opin-
ions, gained more for their author than concealment
disguised tlmldity, equigocation. And, Mr. Presi-
dent, am impelled by my sense of duty to my own
character-duy to the State, the humblest of whose
servants am-duty to the present and future gen.
eratlons-duty to my own soul, and to him who
placed that soul in this rail and feeble tenement of
mortality, TO lay before the Senate some of the
thoughts which have occurred to me- in the resolves
now about to receive the solemn sanction of this
body.
And first, Mr.. President in relation to the amend
ment proposed by the Senator from Worcester,
now absent from his seat am unwilling to ndulge
In any remark that may be considered as partaknq
of personality Probably should not allude to any
man now In INDEPENDENTLY not to Senator
from this State In Congress-if the amendment pro-
posed by the Senator from Worcester had not been
framed with especial reference to the recent speech
OF that gentleman In the Senate of the United States
listened to the long and elaborate review of that
speech, made last week at this board by the Sena-
tor from Worcester And | must declare, honestly,
and frankly, that do not recollect single senti-
ment or expression In that review, to which cannot
give my cheerful assent. From my heart endorse
every word of it.
The Senator from Suffolk (NIr. Hilliard) thinks it
entirely out of our province to censure the conduct
OF a United States Senator. He thinks we have no
right as Legislators, to review the speeches and de-
caratlons of our Senator in Congress- TMr. billiard
rose, and said that he did not deny the right of the
Senate to discuss the merits of the speech of our
Senator In Congress, or to animadvert on his con-
duct. He only said it inerpedient He admit
ted we had the right. Mr. Buckingham continued. I
/ always thought that every public servant,-and
senator Is nothing more nor less,-was responsible
to his constituents for all his public acts That thew
not only have the right but that 1t is erpedieat. to
examine and review his public conduct and to an
prove or dlsapproye according to their Judgment
And who, let me ask, are the constituents of orr
Senators in Congress Who are their direct and inn
mediate constituents? Who, but the members of the
Legislature? We, the Senators of Massachusetts.
appointed them to their places. They hold their
seats by our votes They are as clearly responsible
to US, as we are TO the people, by whose votes we
occupy these seats Their speeches, their votes.
their whole conduct, Senators, are as fair and de-
llberate subjects of discussion of animadyerson nj
approval or dlsapproval, at this board as our acts
| are, at town meeting or a caucus. Shall we be
deprived of privilege which every man in tho
street enjoys, to the fullest extent?-whch the press
enjoys and exercises every day, and brings the re-
suits oil that exercise, and lays them on our tables
every morning. MIR. buckingham here read, as
part OF his argument, several extracts from Mr. Web
sers speeches in the Senate of the United States in
1888. agree to this doctrine-every line and
| word of it. INV
The Senator from Suffolk also stated that 70 m
dertake to censure the conduct of a United States
Senator, at this board, was Unprecedented. To the
memory OF that Senator, it may appear novel pro-
ceedlhg. But my memory runs back to the wear
1917 or 1893, when something very nearly parallel
| took place. have no record before me- nor have
mad an opportunity to refer to documentary evidence.
but Il my memory IS true to its trust, at that time
Mr.. John Quincy Adams was a member of the JJnit,
| ed States Senate from this Commonwealth. and vot-
ed Tor Mr.. jefierson's famous embargo law. His
vote on that question created great excitement.
ieel sure that 1t was the subject of severe remark in
both branches of the Legislature, and. I tbinl, Of
some direct legislative action-in consequence Of
which, Mr.. Adams resigned his seat in the Tinted
| States Senate.
| And now, Mr. President, to come to the Resolves
as they come before US from the House of Renre,
sentatlves am opposed to them, and cannot vote
for them. dislike them Altogether and in all their
| parts dislike them in general and in detaiI-in
the abstract and the concrete, in whatever way Won
take them up, in whatever way you consider Them.
Let us take hasy survey Of them
1t is first resolved that the people of Massacbu-
sets regret the existence of the questions which now
| agtate the public mind do not regret the exist
ence of those questions, and of course, it would be
| wrong for me to vote for the resolve If did
should be false to my own convictions | have no
regrets on the subject ratherrejoice that questions
do exist that may cause agitation Agitation is the
life of the republic the safety of orr lher,oo ro,