The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 11, October, 1836Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 11, October, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
“I cannot refrain from remarking that these gentlemen, (Messrs. Tyler
and Leigh,) both professing to maintain the true and orthodox
doctrines of ‘Instruction,’ and exerting their powerful and cultivated
intellects to explain them through many a labored column, at last
bring themselves to opposite conclusions on the same case. Is it
possible to give a more impressive illustration and evidence of the
fallacy of the whole faith than that two such men, both indoctrinated
in the same school, should, when brought to the practical application
of their principles, so differ about their import and obligation?”
I should humbly conceive it proved the fallacy of that faith which
holds that a senator cannot be wrong. Two senators “come to opposite
conclusions upon the same case,” and it proves not as simple mortals
would suppose, that _one_ must be wrong, but that the _legislature_ is
wrong. If _their difference_ only proves error in some one else, we
cannot wonder at the vast estimation in which senators are held by
their admirers. But their difference is not so great as supposed. One
says I cannot obey, and, therefore, I resign now; the other says you
want me to resign, but I will not now, but at the beginning of next
session. Here is the same conclusion from the same case. Mr. Leigh
postponed, but why will he resign at last? He gives no reason, but the
instructions, and no one has suggested any other. He must resign on
account of the disagreeable feelings produced by the peculiar position
of being a misrepresenting representative. Those feelings are required
and expected by our theory in the bosoms of all conscientious
senators. So even the difference which was to destroy us, is one of
_time_—not of _principle_. As to the argument that some of the voters
of last year gave contrary instructions the year before, if true,—it
does not prove them less worthy of respect now than then,—indeed, the
last being the more deliberate, is the more worthy opinion; and as Mr.
Tyler obeyed the first, _a fortiori_ he was bound to obey the last, or
resign.
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