Speech of Richard H. Bayard, of Delaware
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| Hersteller: | Forgotten Books (Bayard, Richard H.) |
| Stand: | 2015-08-04 03:50:33 |
Produktbeschreibung
Excerpt from Speech of Richard H. Bayard, of Delaware: On Mr. Denton´s Notion to Expunge From the Journal of the Senate the Resolution of March 28th, 1834 Mr. Bayard said that, notwithstanding he had not before had an opportunity of expressing his opinion on the subject now under discussion, yet he should have been unwilling at this late hour to have trespassed on the time and attention of the Senate, had he not felt it to be a duty which he owed to himself and to his immediate constituents, to contend and protest against a measure which he believed to be a violation of the Constitution. I say, sir, constituents, for, in my theory of this Government, we are all the representatives of the People, though chosen after a different manner. Every infraction of the Constitution, however unimportant it may appear in its immediate consequences, tends to diminish the general confidence in the stability of our Government, and the general attachment to it; and as the People of the State I have the honor in part to represent are devotedly attached to that instrument, and feel that their political existence is incorporated with it, that in it they live, and move, and have their being as a political community, I say, sir, it is a duty which I owe to them to contend to the uttermost of my ability against whatever thus incidentally affects them. It is a duty, too, which I owe to myself, as I have a personal interest in whatever affects the character and honor of this body, of which I am an humble member. I have no intention, Mr. President, to inquire into the motives which may lead gentlemen to the adoption of this resolution. The motives of every man are his individual property; and as his action here, in relation to this matter, is under the sanction of an oath, they involve a responsibility only to his conscience and his God. I cannot say, sir, that the act which is now required to be done is a sacrifice to the Moloch of party spirit. I cannot say that it is a homage to an idol resembling that which the Chinese pays to his household god when he burns before it a little piece of gilt paper as the humble offering of his piety and adoration. Nor can I say, sir, that it is intended to smooth the mane and calm the roar of the lion. All these views belong to the class of motives with which I have nothing to do. But, sir, I have something to say and something to do with the doctrines advanced and the acts done here, which become part of the common stock. If it seems from the nature of the act done, and from the insufficiency of the reasons given for it, to be an act of homage at the footstool of executive power, I have, then a personal interest in the matter which not only justifies my doing so, but makes it a matter of duty to express my opinions as well as to record my vote. And, sir, it becomes the more necessary and proper to express those opinions, since, if this principle of expunction be adopted, I have no security that the record of that vote may not be destroyed, if hereafter it should become expedient to give to the resolution the appearance of unanimous approbation. What is it, sir, we are called upon to do? A man may do wrong unwittingly, and we must take care to have a clear and precise idea of the act to be done. In words, sir, we are called upon to expunge from the journal a certain resolution, but in fact and in truth to falsify a record. The same mind which might contemplate the one proposition with indifference, would regard the other with horror. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
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