Frankfort, September 22, 1825.
My Dear Sir, —
Your letter has been received, and I thank you for your friendly
congratulations on my election. You are pleased to attach more consequence to
it than it deserves. The general result of our late elections is a triumph, and
a just subject of congratulation among the friends of constitutional
government. It is my misfortune that so much is expected of me. I speak it more
in sorrow than in vanity. The “Anti-Reliefs” and the “Reliefs” both have their
eyes fixed upon me. The former expect me to do a great deal, the latter
to forbear a great deal. My situation will be delicate, and I fear I
shall not be equal to it. The party ought to do nothing from passion, nor in
passion. We must retrench, and we must have a short session, must avoid every
act of indiscretion which would turn from us the public feeling. It is not
certain what course the new judges will pursue. They have not resigned; some of
their party talk of their holding out to the last extremity. Supposing them to
take this course, and supposing the governor and Senate to defeat the
passage of a bill for the repeal of the act under which these new judges were
created, ought not the House of Representatives to declare, by resolution, that
act to be unconstitutional, and that Boyle, Owsley, and Mills are the only
constitutional judges? Ought they not to resume their functions and coerce the
redelivery of the records that were wrested from their clerk by the new court?
Would it be better to leave the new court in possession of the records and
appeal again to the people at the next election? The subject is perplexing, and
I should like to hear your views.
Yours, etc.,
J. J. Crittenden.
SOURCE: Mrs. Chapman Coleman, The Life of John J.
Crittenden, Volume 1, p. 63
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