Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-02-16
SENATOR CASS on THE RIGHT OF IN
STRUCTION AND KNOW -NOTIlINGISM.

Representatives 10 Use their best cxcrlonS procure
the pe,ngc Of the net prohibiting the introduction or
cIlsirnr. of slavery N any OF the Territories e-pe-
chilly in kans- and Nebraska, and To introduce with
out !rny bill for the latter purpose and to procure
! the immediate repeal OF the act %. Isj0
! Mr.. Prnsdent II is now some yeur- eince the Le-
! cisa,ure Of Michigan instructed the delegation oi
that State IN Congress 10 vote inr The measure ms
torcully known Ms the Wmot Proyi-o, the inter'ic-
! iiuu oi slavery iII0 tic territories Of the United
| States | took the earliest opportunity in my power
| in SOME remarks made here IN connection w.ih the
general subject of Congressional Jurisdiction over
! those political communities, 10 announce the course
intended 10 pursue. As my convictions OF cu.stItu.
! tionni duty prohibited me from obeying the nstruc-
tons avowed my determination 10 r-s gn my sra;
in this body whenever should be called upon By
its preceding to take my part III the decision of The
| Question.
! While blessing my adherence 10 tho general doc.
trnc, said Il am believer in the r:ght Of in-tcuc-
t!on when fairly exercised and under proper crcn-
| stances. There are limitations upon i!s exercise
but need hot seek 10 ascertain their extent, nor h-
p!catiOn, for they do not concern my present posi-
ton. acknowledge the obligation of the instruc-
| iihns | have received &c. Any further action
however, Oh my part became unnecessary, by the re-
peal oi the resolutions; measure which "te a"ic'
u,! with much unannity by the Legislature. and mp
proved by vast majority Of the people Of the
STATE.
And thus has The subject rested unli.turbcd. ill
within Il few days the delegation oi Michigan III
Congress having been left 10 follow The dictates OF
their conscience md Judgment in relation IL thir
whole matter. Quite recently, however Il change has
taken place. The Democratic party III the State has
lost lis ,Sc.nlanrv, and party, will. different
| ycws-and may add, IN many respects with ri!s-
Cur;iunt ouCshayIEg obtained possession OF IN" Lee
grlayc power, the resolutions whica have just been
read are the result al i'll action, and ca. u!,"m me- as
well upon the other members Ui the delegation, "a
vote for dcpriYiEg American citizen, III the terrific
ric- OF the power regulate of the most lmpor.
tant OF their domestic c1nccrnsthat ri the relation
iou between muster and servant. and for the repeal
Of the existing Fugitive Slave net passed n give 81!
feet 10 a solemn guarantee OF the Constitution.
As pcrcmptorly declined to do either, and intend
to retain Ey place il il necessary in my ylu!I.
cation before the people Of the State. whom desire
respectfully TO address from the seat which here
occupy by their favor and kindness, thnt | should
now do what was no' required 10 do on the former
occasion-to 'Gscertain the Limitations upon the
right ot instruction, or, To- speak perhaps with more
precision, "the extent Of the duty OF obedience, Sc
fur as concerns my present position. And have Il
say, sir TINT the circumstances III which the power
pass these revolutions originated constitute one %
the very cases which occurred 10 me, NJ the tim,
those words Of caution were spoken, ns restricting
the obedience of the Representatives. The practca
question: briefly stated is this Has political party
whenever il aCccdcs 20 power BY whatever combna
tiUns the pass resolutions which is opponents
'-IN
vented from obrynG by their conscience and consist
cncy to resi- gn their position
The consequences of sucl Il rule of action are to'
obvious 10 need detailed examination, and too serious
to br incurred without pressing necessity lM;o lh
BODY ii would introduce rhansrS. radically affecting
IL organization, and Incompatible vii! :ht objects o
is Institution the representative DGnc! oi the So
ve.cigiv OF the State. II would iJsc every charac
| teristic of permuncncc. s members going OUT, yca
by year political fluctuations might transfer powel
"a, For N
be easy select questions 70: this process oi removal
when no honest man, uf all opposite P'rty, c"u!'
support Some Of these are constitutional a!d other
scarcely inferior 10 them III lInporirn.r, iayu!v!
points Of policy tosIam. the very landmarks OF h
dcDnfab!e ground where our siruG-cs have a!wHy
heretofore tukra pacn. That this power would b,
used, abused indeed, for this uryosc 40 man wi
deny. The eXcitrmcnts of the past warn LIS 10 wha
the future would brn. with i. And that the d!sad
vantage would be the share OF the Dcmolr"c il Ger
tain, Tor it is well understood tlia:, III the ni U or
opponents. instructions carry w.th th"n neither th'
duty IL obey nor the obi, ,;atiOn 10 resign. The tw,
Wing Senators who have occupied seat, III this bod!
from Michigan, one nj them my nnm:dinc predCccs
Sur, aul the other my colleague during portion o
NY first term ut service, honorable Rm! distinguished
ciiIEeus, both disavnw"d the obligation OF in-trTc
,pn., aud refused al least in one Istahce tJ obey iht
expressed will Of the Legislature conveyed To then
~ lis resolutions. And believe thcir ,.cws were ir
salogln!ty with the opinion OF t",lf party IN tho
State.
| am not called upon to discuss the general doc
truc. All seek is 20 explain "hy acknowledged
the obligations ul The former instructions and GrHy
;4u.e ii represent: AMI when deny the powc~ u
:"c existing majority OF tho Legislature ot Michigan
r,uHpu-,.d IS /: /" y; political opponents, "hosc ELI
reut bond Of uppA IS aniagonlsti 10 tue Democracy
TO instruct me oat of Office lerl that NJ object II
! accomplished presume there vas not member OF
thc General Assembly, whose will IS embodied III tha
docuuIcnt, who did not know that no human cou'i!y
! ration would induce inc 10 support the measure;
which find -uch favor III their eyes so Tar r. rcsicc:
mv-rf, il wns the vacation ii The Office t;tt wn'
! hoped iar.
! Mr President, strange doctrines abroad, ana
strange organizations empioye 20 promuI@ate ana
enforce them. cur political history contains 10 s!ci
chapter in the progress Of our coantry A. that "hlr
nuw opening. The grave questions Of constitution
ay ani policy which have bccn 50 long the battle
rrv of parties are con;cmptuously ricct"d and ntol-
rrancc religious and POLITICAL finds Jealous and II
may be they will prove surcessu! ahroc"ts III tie
| middle of the Nineteenth Century, bons,ing, with
much sclt complncency. Of I's intelligence, and Ill
this free country founded upon emigration, and grow"
! prosperous and powerful by liberation.
X is n system Of prescription wlch would exclude
the frs, General who fell at The hemd ui MI organized
| American armv-and nubv and gallan;ly dlh he fall
While lighting tur eur infant liberties, under the walls
Of QucbLc--(rou a political confidence because nc
hap;,cnc to DC born on the wrong sd" OF the tt!an
tic and would exclude also the !t surviving signcr
of the Declaration of independence rom any similar
/ tok en- Of regard because hc was Il Catholic. what
If these eminent leaders in our revolutionary cause
were living to witness this appeal 10 local and >ccta-
| rian prcjudiccs Bu, Montgomery an! Carol! went
to their graves with the weight oi hc -Gc ln@ratii"dc
| upon their hearts
Two great parties equally attached 10 tho principles
Of our iiovcrtncnt. but differing upon many qHcs-
tirns % administration, aud alternately borne 10 pow"
r and driven from il, and whether in place or ou' "i
IT, watching cuch other with jealous scrutiny present
wise and fortunate arrangement for the pr'>eF'a-
! tnn uf freedom, aud for guarding aSl!'-i '"e "o"-
of authority. Such has been our condition. ana wen
| and wisely has it, work been done. " "Eat new cA-
! n,ri,u.nt i. needed What more docs this lutclv
| awakened zeal pr"posc' As Il country We rre III
o,.c.sjou of everything the heart of man can desire
! -puwcr intelligence. prosperity happiness, abuh-
dance freedom, equality, the religion al ,"d ana inc
respect of man; all elements, indeed which ave v"inG
70 snria lii. or security for the duration ol polliicnl
! blessings. We want un new parties. no new p!a,-
! forms. no organizations, aud the sooner iitse
dangerous efforts abandoned the better II WIZ Dc
or and for those who are TO follow U.s. IL ms he'i'
! tacc ot freedom. :.
Durjpr the process OF constructing party upon this
narrow basis Of exclusion humb!y affecting 10 know
nothing while rrsuutc.v determined I" direct eTeTy-
| thing. and especially ut constructing ono with prncs-
pies of Reorganization not on secret IN their operations
and seeking unity in action, not IN Individual cohVic-
ton und rs responsibility, hut IL tho surrender o III"
will Of each to the demands OF those who gam the d.
rcction of the Notwithstanding thu process the
public mind must be III s:htc q! !cvtrSh excitement
unrinndly calm IrIbCra;inn. ana Ilnlortcs, hc-
ouycd by combinations arisr. on; OF this state oi
things do not act under the tar and proper crrim'
stances which declared in 1870, to be indspeh-
nbe to the obligatory force OF the legislative in-tFnc
| ;ion. .,f
am firmly persuaded that the adoption OF eihet m ."
the Incasurcs much more Of both demanded ~ .h
Legislature III Michigan would he the 'iShhi -. ;u
| breaking up @! this Government ma INC | w i.
! nt mi. contedcracv. know rhcr. are man! ''nee ~
men who scout at every idea "t danger INV. i''.'; ~
OH crs who, while rtm!ttn. H. arr yrt tt'.n". ~
meet il. lei il bring wha; d6as''s II "":'
one ovcrpowerng impuls" which !rnas % eapi':G nI'ke
The h.urt and the und d.r.a":nS' lTs j s'o tiI 10
surrender the outwors- e: the cIih4ci-'o abandon