The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-03-19

Complaint has been made against certain
resolutions that emanate from Legislatures at
the North, and are sent here to us, not only
on the subject OF slavery. in this District
but sometimes recommending Congress to
consider the means OF abolishing slavery in
the States. | should be sorry 10 be called
upon TO present any resolutions here which
could not be rcierablo 10 any committee or
any power in Congress, and, therefore, /
should We very unwilling 70 receive from
Massachusetts Instructions to present rcsO'u-
lions expressing any opinion whatever upon
slavery as it exists at the present moment in
the states, for two reasons because, first, !
DO not consider thar the Legislature OF Mass.
achuselts has anything 10 do with it; and
next DO not consider that l. as her repre-
sentative here, have anything TO do with it,
Sir, it has become in my opinion, quite too
common; and il the Legislatures Of the
States do not like that opinon, they have u
great deal more power to put it down than |
have TO Uphold it. 1t ha, become, in my O.
pinon, quite too common practice for the
State Legislatures to present resolutions
here, on all subjects, and to instruct US here
on all subjects. There Is 40 public man that
requires instruction more than doc who re-
j, more heartily; but ! do not like TO have il
come in TOO imperative shape. took no
lice, with pleasure, Of some remarks upon
this subject made the other day in the Sen
ate OF Massachusetts, by a young man Of tai
eut and character, from whom the best hope,
may be entertained | mean Mr.. llillard
lie told the Senate of Massachusetts that hc
would vote for no instructions whatever to
D / l,l
| for any resolutions to be offered, expressive
Of tho sense Of Massachusetts as to wha
/ their members OF Congress ought to do IL,
said that he saw no propriety in one set Of
public servants giving instructions and read
ing Lectures to another set Of public servants
To their own master all of them must stanC
or fall, and that master is their own constit
uenls. ! wish these sentiments could become
more common, great deal more common.
have ncyur entered into the question, an,
never shall about the binding force Of in
siruclions. | will, however, simply say this
if there be any matter Of interest penlin,
in this body, while am member OF it, il
which Massachusetts, has an interest Of he
own not adverse 10 the general interest o
the country, shall pursue her instruction
with gaduess Of heart and with all the eli
cheney which can bring it, But if the ques
ton be one which affects her interest and a
the same time affects the interests Of all 9th
er States, shall no more regard her politi
cal wishes or instructions than would regall
the wishes Of man who might appoint N.
an arbiier or referee to decide some question
Of important private right and who nigh
instruct me to decide in his favor. If eve
there was Government upon earth, IT
this Government il ever there was bod
upon earth, it is this body, which should con
slider itself as composed by agreement OF al
appointed by some, but organized by tn
} general consent Of all, sitting here undo
the solemn obligations Of oath and eonsciehc