Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-12-25
/ candoT Of gentlemen who differ so widely from

me. -
But, sir, this is n new age, new era, and one
of new revelations. And if there be anything in
this modern-I don't know whether to call 1t SCI
ence OF humbug, Overwhelmingly; butif there
be anything in this modern question of spiritual
communications spiritual rappings as they are
vulgarly called-ths question whether dead men
can resign or not may assume practical mpor.
lance Of which we have as yet poorly conceIved55
l am sorry to see gentlemen laughing. "A am sorry
that when we are dealing with such grave subjects
this honorable Senators cannot bring to It's con-
'sdeIation hatgravity to which it is so emlnenty
entitled. Con dead men resignf nsk whether
in the wildestvagares of thought, our lmaginatons
have eYergrasped such question as that think
it is we'll that the question comes up at this time.
The great excitement of theipOlidcal contest IS
over. The passions are lulled. The overwhelm-
ing surges Of a tremendous political majority have
silenced the voice of faction and fannticism; and
the public mind is now in a favorable state to go
into the consdera ton of this important question:
whether dead men can resign their offices or not.
And, sir, as the honorable Senator from Come cit
cut says, this IS question which has never been
pTesenied to tie Senate before, and upon which
there are no precedents. | have no knowledge or
ntimaton from any quarter that the question has
ever been brought into considerations my expert
ence agrees with his The question is, whether
Senator can resign his senatorial Office after DEATH
Why, sir, the realities of life and the soemnities of
death all concentrate in this great question. 1t
deals not onlywith the things that are now; 1t not
only concerns the living, temporal, palpable things
with which we surrounded, and which appeal
to the senses; but it goes beyond even tha-t goes
beyond the pageaiitrj of the funeral and the SOL
emnity of the tomb it looks into the vista of fu-
turity, although the veil which hides it has never
been withdrawn, aud it asks that solemn question
whether those that live in the Lord can resign.
l know, sir, that poets have aSked-I wish
could quote poetry, but l cannot; have got The
idea, but not the verSe-poets have asked:
''Do they love there sting &c SIS
That question has been celebrated in song; and
the wish has been expressed that some bird from
the shnlowy land might come to visit US, that we
might ask
"Dothey love there stiH2"
But poetry must stand back, andif ever from the
land of shades the winged messenger should APP
proach to whisper something OF that upper world,
the question will be, Do they resign Office there
| Laughter. 800
find sir, that it is in vain for me TO try to invest
this matter with the seriousness to whlcht is ent-
tied. But, sir, leaving this question, which, do
not believe can be satisfactorily settled by any
committee al the present session, ask the Senate
10 take common sense and practical view-the
upper-region view-the view which presents itself
TO those who are invested with flesh and blood.
Read the plain language OF Mr.. Clay. See what
his deliberate intentions were; how he understood
himself; how the Commonwea of Kentucky I'M
derstOod him; how the Legislature of that COM
monwealth understood him; how the Governor un-
derstOod him; how Mr.. Meriwether understood
him; how every member of this Senate understood
him when he resigned his seat. Is there any doubt
| in that-.the least in the world Yes, sir; there
lis Gentlemen say that they doubt; and that is
evidence That there is doubt. But, SiE let it be
Remembered in all coming time, for the honor oil
| the Senate, that the history which teaches there
was doubt whether the Hon. Mr.. Dixon was emit
| tied TO a seat upon the floor of the Senate was
| coupled with that other doubt whether dead men
can resign their Offices