PRELECTION, Having been elected three times successively to the House of Representatives of the United States from "the Garrard District," Mr. Robertson resigned the whole of his third term, and made the following Valedictory Address to his constituents through "The LUMINARY," of the 11th May, 1821. VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. To the Electors of the Seventh Congressional District of Kentucky: FELLOW-CITIZENS-I have this day resigned my seat in the Congress of the United States. This I considered proper, after the most grave and deliberate reflections on my duties to you, and to those to whom I am bound by other and more sacred ties; and I hope you will believe that I have not taken this course from motives of interest or convenience, nor without the most respectful attention to your claims on my services, and a becoming sense of gratitude for your kindness and indulgence. If my circumstances and private duties would have permitted me to consult freely my own inclination, I would have remained in your service as long as my conduct should obtain your approbation and your suffrage. No situation under the Federal Constitution could present as many attractions to my taste, my patriotism, or my ambition, as the one which I have now abandoned; and no ordinary consideration could have induced me to relinquish it; but the health and condition of my family-their increasing claims on my care and attention-and circumstances of business and fortune, left me no prudent alternative. I determined, therefore, after some hesitancy, and the most anxious endeavors to ascertain my duty, to retire from a station in which I believed that I could not much longer continue without a violation of the most sacred and paramount duties. And having formed this resolutiou, I considered it my duty to execute it without longer delay, for the purpose of giving you sufficient time to select with full discretion a successor, and without unnecessary inconvenience, at the next annual election of State Representatives. I hope that the time which I have given you will be amply sufficient. I would have given you even more, if I had not felt it my duty to give a respectful consideration to the opinions and solicitations of friends. necessity which has controlled my decision. But, among the many embarrassments with which, in coming to this decision, I have been perplexed, I have derived gratification and encouragement from the conviction that, if my services could, at any time, be considered of any value, there is nothing in the present condition of the country that could oppose my retirement now; and that all the circumstances of the time I have selected, are as favorable to it, as any that might ever occur. I am happy on this occasion in being able to congratulate you on the enviable condition of our country in all its great interests and relations. Never did more tranquility, peace and concord pervade the Union than at this moment; and never was there, in any country in my opinion, less necessity for national legislation. I believe that the less we legislate, under existing circumstances, the more we shall consult the substantial and permanent good of the community. If we rely, as becomes us, on our physical and moral capacities for the principal means of happiness and competence-if we encourage industry, economy and public spirit, and by a liberal and diffusive system of education, literary and moral, bring into useful operation the latent energies of the rising generation-if we will adopt and inculcate enlightened, liberal and elevated notions of government, and of the social, religious and political rights and duties— such is the benign genius of our institutions, and such is the happy posture of the affairs that concern our welfare as a nation, that we may reach the proudest destiny with which hope has ever flattered us, without the constant multiplication of laws, or an habitual depenpence on the supposed magic of legislation. All things duly considered, we have very little cause of despondence or complaint, and much of exhiliration and mutual felicitation. Never, (I believe,) could the people of the United States say with more sincerity When you duly appreciate the motives and truth to the national legislature, "LET which, (and which alone) influenced me on US ALONE." The most prominent circumthis occasion, I have the fullest confidence, stances, international and domestic, which from the liberality and indulgence with which have for some time agitated our counsels, and you have always considered my conduct, that menanced the harmony and integrity of the you will approve my resolution, and acquiesce Union, having been satisfactorily arranged without censure, in my decision. It is under during the last session of Congress, the prosthis hope, and for this purpose that I now, for pect before us for years to come, in the most the last time address you. It is, I assure comprehensive survey, presents, in the great you, with reluctance and regret, that I leave outline of national prosperity an encouraging your service; reluctance produced by a recol-view, and anthorizes the most animating lection of the strong obligations to serve you, which your repeated acts of favor have imposed on me; and deep regret resulting from the nature of the circumstances constituting the hopes of the longevity of our institutions, and of the independence and happiness of our people. I am happy, therefore, in believing, that if, under any circumstances, my feeble talents 402 VALEDICTORY ADDRESS TO THE CITIZENS OF THE and the little experience which I may have ruins without emotions of sorrow, surprise or acquired in national legislation, could be con- resentment, looking in triumph to its day of sidered by my warmest friends of any advan-resurrection. All who engage in political tage to your rights, your interests, or your warfare should be thus shielded, if they wish honor, the auspicious circumstances under to avoid ultimate discomfiture and disgrace. which I retire, diminish their utility so much, A firm and honest man should always be conthat whether I remain longer in your service tented under the consciousness, if he fall, of or not, becomes of very little concern, except having done his duty. He has also for his to myself, especially as you will have no diffi- encouragement an assurance from the testimoculty in finding others willing and able tony of all experience, that if, in the storms of serve you, who have stronger claims on your confidence and favor than I can have any hope of possessing or deserving to enjoy. shall be, for awhile, overwhelmed, and lighter faction or momentary popular commotion he bodies should be permitted, for a moment, to mount the bursting wave, the sunshine of reason and the calm of sober judgment will soon return and find him on a proud eminence high above those ephemeral favorites who could vegetate and flourish only in the beams of popular favor, and Cameleon-like, live by snuffing air-the breath of popular applause. "Popular applause" is gratifying to all good men, but there is danger, if pursued too eagerly, of its becoming an ignis futuus to decoy us into error. No wise man will be insensible to the approbation of his fellow-men, or indifferent about obtaining it; but, no honest man will ever attempt to obtain it in any other way than by endeavoring to deserve it. The popularity which is gratifying to an honorable and eleva ted mind, is not that evanescent capricious thing that must be conciliated by caresses, and purchased by dishonest compliances, but that high and constant sentiment of esteem which follows virtuous actions, and is their best reward, next to the approbation of a sound conscience, which it will, sooner or later, gratify and prosper. In taking leave of you, I have the satisfaction of a strong assurance that, whilst in your service, I have done my duty. I know I honestly endeavored to do it, by an undeviating adherence to those maxims of public policy and public duty which my own judgment and conscience recommended to me as best adapted to promote the honor of the government and the good of the people; disregarding as far as possible, personal and local considerations. Many could have served you more ably, but none more faithfully. That I have frequently erred is probable, but I flatter myself that my errors were venial; and I am proud in being able to say that I have no recollection of having been reproached either by you, or a disapproving conscience, with any aberration from the principles of political rectitude, or any dereliction of public duty. My public life has been short and humble; it furnishes no incidents to flatter pride or gratify ambition. If in the stormy and difficult times in which it was spent, it has been disinterested, firm and straight-forward, I shall have fulfilled in its 1 have been anxious to obtain your approresults, all my expectations, and have de-bation, but more so to secure that of my own served as much commendation as I have ever conscience. The last I know I enjoy the desired. If, in reviewing it, I see nothing to first I have endeavored to deserve. And I enbe vain of, or to extort the applause or admi-joy a sentiment the most gratifying to my feelration of others, I see, what is more grateful to ings, in having good reason. to believe that my my feelings, that it exhibits nothing of which I am ashamed, or of which on mature reflection I repent. But while I recollect no act of my public life which I would alter, I confess, that I have, more than once, done that which I regretted, and still regret, being compelled to do by convictions of public duty. In other The connexion which has hitherto subsisted words, my votes have not always been in ac- between us as constituents and representative accord with my feelings. Political life, how-being now dissolved, I avail myself of this first ever humble or uuambitious, is beset with many difficulties, trials and perplexities; it is the crucible of merit, the ordeal of virtue and energy, He who expects to pass through unhurt and self-satisfied, and wishes to be able, when at his journeys' end, to look back, without shame or remorse, on the various meanderings and multiform incidents of the mazy path which he has followed, must be prepared to do many things incompatible with his individual inter-command. ests, and repugnant to his personal and local Accept my most earnest wishes for your predilections. He must expect to be instructed welfare, individually and collectively, and by the suggestions of an unbiased judgment, believe me to be, with sentiments of the most frequently to do that which, while his head profound respect, approves, his heart abjures. He must be prepared too, to smile with unmixed contempt at causeless abuse, and to see his popularity in feeble efforts to do my duty, in your service, while they excite no sensation of remorse in my own bosom, have been crowned with your approbation which is the consummation of my hopes, and the highest achievement which my ambition ever sought or my vanity expected. moment after becoming a private citizen, to tender you, in the plenitude of unmixed gratitude, my warmest acknowledgments for the friendship and good opinion which you have so frequently and so signally manifested towards me. I shall long cherish a grateful recollection of those flattering testimonials. Services which my capacity and situation will permit me to perform, you may at any time Your friend, and your humble servant, CONTENTS. 1. Argument on "New Election" of Governor of Kentucky, (1817.) 2. Speech in Congress (1819) against interdicting Slavery in Arkansas, 3. Speech in Congress (1820) in favor of establishing the present system |