The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-02-23
Mr.. Cass on Instrction.

On Monday last in the United States
Senate, Mr.. Stuart presented the joint reso.
luton OF the Legislature Of Michigan, in.
structing their Senators and requesting
their representatives to use their best exer.
tions to procure the passage Of an aot pro-
hibiting the introduction or existence Of
slavery in any Of the territories, especially
In Kanzas and Nebraska, and to introduce
without delay bill for the latter purpose.
and also procure the immediate repeal of
the act Of 1850, known rs the Fugitive Slave
Law.
Mr.. Cass said, that when, some years aso
the Legislature Of Michigan instructed her
delegation in Congress tovote for tho vii.
mot proviso, he said that he should resign,
when called upon to act. Tho Legislature
repeated those Instructions, therefore he did
not resign. He added that he should neither
proceeded ut some length to state his req.
sons.
He said, the democratic party has lost its
ascendency in Michigan, and these rosolu.
lions are the result of the action Of the new
party. am now instructed to vote 10 do.
privo American citizens in tho territories Of
the power to regulate tho relations between
master and servant, and for tho repeal Of tho
Fugitive Slave Act, which was passed to give
effect to the solemn guarantees of the Con-
stitution. shall neither obey these in
structions nor resign my scat. IT a political
party whenever, by whatever combinations,
it at'ains power, can compel Its UPponcts,
holding legislative trusts, to violate their
consciences and consistency, or resign their
positions, il would radically affect the orga.
nization OF the Senate, and be incompatible
with It's Office, rs the representative branch
of the sovereignty Of the States.
The Senate would lose every characteristic
OF permanence, rs power was transferred
from ono party to another. This would OPP
crate against the democratic party, for their
opponents do not recognize their right to
instruct. The intolorant prescription which
is advocated by The new party would exclude
from political confidence the FIRST General
who fell at the head OF mn organized army
at Quebec, and tho last surviving signer Of
the Declaration Of Independence, because
he was Catholic.
The adoption of either measure recon-.
mended by the Legislature Of Michigan,
would be the sequel for the breaking up Of
this government, and the dissolution of this
confedericy. There arc many honest men
who scout all idea Of danger, and arc pro.
pared to sacrifice tho structure Of freedom
to one ovsrpowcring impulse. shall remain
in the position now occupy till tho end of
my term, unless tho democracy Of Michigan
shall require mo to oct against my convic-
tons Of duty.
What fear above all things, Is that tho
people may be struck with judicial blindness,
with which tho nations aro punished for
national offences, and thus add TO the mel
ancholy list Of tho people who had not wis
dom enough to appr ciate tho value Of free
institutions, nor virtue and frmncss enough
to maintain thcm." ...
Wo can hardly SEQ how the last paragraph
can be written by man Of common sense,
in any other spirit than that Of the most
sarcastic irony. e'.lt