Washington sentinel., 1855-02-08

wise and fortunate arrangement for the pre-
servation of freedom, and for guarding against
the abuse of authority. Such has been our
condition, and we'll and wisely has its work
been done. What new experiment is needed?
What more does this latel ly-awakened zeal pro
pose AS country, we are in possession Of
everything the heart Of man can desire
power, intelligence, prosperity, happiness,
abundance, freedom, equality, the religion Of
God and the respect of man-all the elements,
indeed, which give value to social life or secu-
rity for duration Of political blessings. We
want no new parties, no new platforms, no new
organizations, and the sooner these dangerous
efforts abandoned, the better will it be for us
and those who are to follow us in this heritsge
of freedom.
During the process Of constructing party
upon this narrow basis Of exclusion, humbly
affecting to know nothing, while resolutely de-
termined to direct everything, and especially Of
constructing one with principles of organiza-
ton not only secret in their operation, but
seeking unity of action, not in individual con-
viction and responsibility, but in the surrender
of the will of each to the demands Of those
who gain the direction Of the associations--dur
ing this process, the public mind must be in n
state Of feverish excitement, unfriendly to calm
deliberation; and majorities acquired by COM
binations arising out of this state Of things do
not act under the fair and proper crcum-
stances" which declared in 1850 to be indis-
pensable to the obligatory force Of legislative
Instructions
! am firmly persuaded that the adoption Of
either Of the measures, much more of both, de-
manded by the Legislature of Michigan, would
be the signal for the breaking up of this gov
ernment, ard the dissolution of this confeder.
acy. ! know there are many honest men who
scout at every idea of danger, and many others
who, whilst admitting it, are yet prepared to
meet it, let it bring what disasters it may
prepared to sacrifice this magnificent structure
OF freedom to one overpowering impulse, which
leads captive alike the heart and the under
standing This is no time to surrender the
outworks of the citadel, to abandon the securi-
ties which wisdom and patriotism have pro-
vided, and to throw away all the checks we
possess against rash and dangerous innova-
tions. For myself, sir, if Providence permit, |
shall remain in the position occupy during
the residue of my term of service, unless, in
deed, the Democracy Of Michigan should re-
quire me to do what my convictions of duty
would prohibit me from doing; in which event
should retire, without hesitation, to private life,
where indeed | am sufficiently warned, by the
years that have passed over me, snust soon
retire, come what may. But as my life draws
towards its close-aye, as it advances--instead
Of enfeebling, adds strength to my love of coun-
try, and continues to console me with bright
hopes of her future power and stability.
"What | fear above all is, that in the provi-
dence of God we may be struck with that judi
cial blindness with which nations are punished
for national offences, and thus add another to
the melancholy list of people who had not wis.,
dom enough to appreciate the value of free in
stutions, nor virtue and frmness enough to
maintain them.
Mr.. STUART said that he presented the
joint resolutions as an ordinary act of duty /;
and in order that he might not appear to be
indifferent to the action Of the legislature of
his State, he would simply remark that, when.
ever the occasion should arise which should
make it necessary for him to act or rvote upon
the subjects alluded to in those resolutions, he
should endeavor to regulate his conduct and
his action. by his sense of duty to the State
whose representative he was and duty tc the
Constitution of the United States, which he
had sworn to support What that action
would be, circumstances might 60 very far to
regulate. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof
"The joint resolutions were laid on the table
and ordered to be printed"