Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-31
A CARD.

reason that thought it unbecoming to speak
Of my past or present relation to the United
States Senate / desired, and still desire, that
relation 10 be preserved or severed, as may
seem best 10 that body. | sought the response
BILE position which | occupy to it, by no IN
worthy means desire to preserve it by none.
II ceases to be valuable to me, or of use, to my
political friends, when it must be retained by
compromise Of either my political or per-
sonal integrity. Both Of these have striven
to maintain intact
But when the continuance Of this relation to
the first and most august body in the world IS
made subject Of severe and general animal
version, throughout the country-when his
-Excellency the President of the United States
has conceived the harmony of the Demo
cratic party,n to hang upon the issue OF the
election Of printer to the Senate OF the United
States. and has used his official power, as well
rs his personal influence to supplant the pre-
sent Incumbent may be excused for this
and other reasons, TO which shall refer, II IN
;ustice to myself, and the first men in the
Democratic party who supported me before,
and may be willing to support me again,
shall say few words to prevent any mlscon-
struction of my present embarrassing position.
This position has been peculiarly embarrass-
i ps--tt, me-, 1t has been so, because know
that | have kind and generous friends who feel
perhaps more than they should that their per
sonal esteem for and relations to me incline
them 70 disregard and override this unusual
exaction of Executive behest. They have their
respective political responsibilities which must
Govern their action. They cannot object to
nv exercising the same right, not as Printer
Of the Senate, but as the proprietor and editor
Of an independent Democratic State Rights
paper, the principles of whose course they
have themselves endorsed. The object of this
card is TO make frank statement OF my posi-
ton. 80 that they may act adyisedly when they
shall he brought TO vote upon this question.
vas elected Printer to the Senate for the
Tbirtv-third Congress. ! was certainly not
elected because | was adept IN the art OF
printing. ] was elected simply and purely be-
cause was the founder, proprietor, and editor
Of a public journal which had for its object,
and from the pursuit of which, it has never
varied or departed, the single purpose Of asyo-
eating the principles Of the genuine State
Rights Democratic party. My enterprise was
conceived in no spirit Of captiousness, as has
been charged 1t was not conducted as the
vehicle r. speculations and populations upon
the public treas--v. as was charged by men Of
the unprincipled and Subsidized sheets through
out the whole country. A.. Ills last regard Il
lriU euen compare iceH Nth ~ Immaculate
morality Of the Washington Union!i,
i thought, and others wiser than / thought,
the time had come when the power Of the
Central Government was becoming unduly
strong, and that the sovereignty Of the States
was being infringed, if not actually weakened,
BY its exercise. This was one Of my objects
in establishing the Washington Sentinel, and
it is due TO candor to say that | did look 10
one Of the two legislative branches to aid me
in this mission. II, in my ardor honestly and
faithfully to carry out this purpose, have over
stepped the legitimate bounds Of party discip-
line, / may at least claim to have had the ap
probation and endorsement Of the most promi
nent men in that party, as well as very large
portion Of the party itself 1t seems, however,
that such violation Of discipline is now con-
strued into distraction Of the harmony Of
the Democratic party" and that the President
of the United States deems the election Of
Printer the turning point in his own political
fortunes. Under these circumstances, / say to
those friends who have 50 kindly and firmly
stood by me, and who have sought in my re-
election 10 vindicate their own, and my political
course, that, if such a test is made, ! am no
party to il, and consider them released from
any further support Of me. For many reasons
i prefer change Of Administration, and ]
shall use all my exertion and employ what little
influence ] may have to the accomplishment
Of that end. II is not necessary here to state
the considerations that have weighed with me,
if for no other reason than that they are al.
ready pretty well understood ! have no re-
carnations to make, and would not, therefore,
make one against my reason and conscience
for all the patronage Of both ends Of the
Avenue have thought thus much to be due
to my friends, and now ] shall leave the matter
with more Indifference, because ! feel that ]
have done my duty TO myself and to them.
In conclusion, may assume that have
performed all the duties Of my Office faithfully
and to the entire satisfaction Of the Senate,
since have not only neither heard com
plant, but have received, very often, the most
obliging compliments upon the manner in
which they have been discharged.
| have discharged, furthermore, in my 20.
litical position, if not ably, at least conscien.
tiously and consistently, all my duties to my
party without rartablcness or shado1o Of
turning, and, for the truth Of this assertion,
refer to the record of the political journal
which has been under my control.
BEVERLEY TUCKER.
WASHINGTON, January 30, 1856.