The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-04-11
PAYABLE YEARLY.

tDe tfIdt dHu CouFittioD VI shc 'h''N's
by a committee of the Senate for more than
year. The public, which was doubtless the IN
tent, have formed their opinions upon II -1reat
irreeularity in public bodies necessarily produces
disorder and EN- barrassment. General JACKSON.
in turn, has demanded in memorial. TO be heard
by the Senate whose committee have condemned
him, and accuses that committee OF error and m
justice towards him, and impeaches their pro-
ceedings as novel and understandable. This me-
mortal has been received by the Senate, printed
and sent abroad to the public. So that Il is "ie-
yated body, duly authorized to try impeachments
when regularly brought before them, are, by
singular fatality, brought to be the humble organ
of elimination and recrmInation, sounded m NE
public ear, through all the varieties Of painted
inv ectiTe.
But upon what possible known rule Of 'egs'a-
tive or judicial proceedings, or on Whist prneipie
drawn from the nature OF our government, Could
this subject have found its way to the Senate IN
such state of deformity? II all questions Of ms
cond ict in public officers are to be tried By eithe-
Horse OF Congress, both 1t pleasure The lines
of duty prescribed to the different departments OF
government, by the laws aud constr ut.on, are
completely obliterated. The result 10 the III
stance under discussion is, that the senate have
exhibited TO the world most singular spectacle
A military officer and committee OF tneir eva
body arraigned before them, each accusing the
ton. Ia this Improbable and extraordinary con-
flict the public mind is deuded from the soe end
insuperable cause OF Gen. Jackson's remaining
without any decision in his case. 7as eTse'"'fs
department is has shield. There and there only
rests the power to trea, him an offender, OF As
an obedient servant of the government. 30 long
as he is thus protected the irregular blows aimed
at him, without right AMI without colour oil at
thority are mere bantering niockery, which lie IS
lac,. ~ 10, at pleaeur In his me-
mortal to the Senate he has given some part,cu-
lars of his powers and instructions which go FAR
TO show why his case has never been submitted
TO military court, whatever might nave oeen
public sentiment in favor OF such measure. by
these we are led TO understand that he was au-
thorized 10 take ne Prophets and inst 'ators o.
the car and intgicl on them " EXEMPLARY PUH-
IsHMEsT FOR HosrtLrriEs so uNPRov"kEp'
That he ras 10 Obtain speedy and .fsefaai tef-
nitnation of the rar ; and ,tst The Spanish tsrr'-
torres icere o be enf.red, # NECESSARY Il TIE ae-
cyn,piishn,snf offhe object IN riew. II is evident
there is much lstitade these powers: and It IS
quite unaucouniabe why the Senate. instead OF
the inefhciea, course pursued, had Dot acted Ia
their legislative capacity 10y passing bill resu-
lating the future conduct 10 oe pursued IN carry
ing on hostilities our frontiers. II is now well
known that another expedition in the floridas IS
in contemplation, and is in expectation OF being
soon carried INTO operation unless by the friendly
interposition of the sovercigns Of Francs and Rus
STA il should happily be prevented. The exam
pie of the past has been t1e subject OF the Sen.
ate's animadver,ion and reproach; and is the
nation now To believe that this is to terminate
their proceeding. on the subject Ii indeed law
had been passed At the last session limiting the
powers heretofore exercised, II would have spoken
a very different language from all that has yet
been said or done respecting the Seminole war.
F IA b.v hem "A slD. tautial CeQsIre le-
climate form, and of iDdubiiable effect. 1t
wop,d have gone to the bottom of the disease,
! and been a sure pledge TO tire nation against
re'aose Bot we are yet TO learn whether any
thing OF the kind ia in contemplation.
| The inference drawn by Gen. jackson in his
! memorial that the vote Of the House OF Repre-
sentstves not 10 criminate him. operated As his
trial and acquittal, is altogether forced and un-
tenable. Il operated merely as determination
not 10 try him-not to assume power that did
| not belong 10 them the speeches on the ocea-
SION 90 tor nothing; and fhe merits of his case
| are left where they were found. resting solely on
| executive responsibility. And yet this inference
shows most manhestly the danger Of assuming
| jurisdiction by me branch Of the government
| which belongs exclusively to another. He IS
justified il is to lie undo stood, because he was
| not condemned ~ tribunal that had no power
TO try him Surely such reasoning cannot pass
currently with the common sense OF manalnd.--
II is not here intended 10 be insusatce that on
tral by competent authority he might not have
shown that he acted in Conformity with the tenor
of his orders bat il may with truth be explicitly
avcrred. that a vote o.! the House Of Representa'
tiyes not TO pas. resolution declaring h'n guilty,
is not the smales, approach to his Justine alton.
If Gen. jackson hal by the constitution heen
subject ia impeachment, the case would havo
been very different. II would then have been
decision by the competent authority that ne was
no, liable to such prosecution. But the con
.tiiuton has guarded against tae Interference OF
the House Of Representatives. with The military
transaction. OF any officer under the President, by
combining that body, expressly, as the inquest OF
the nation, to crimes and misdemeannrs commit
ted by the - President, Vice President and all
civil officers of IN. United States And IN such
cases only are tho Senate made competent TO try
the accused.
From these considerations il results. that exc
cutive prote alone Is the .nrc and inpregna-
bic fortress, If Gen Jackson. There is his strong
hold-and there, without the least danger OF any
effective annoyance, he may set every other
branch of the government ri defiance.
CONsTiTlTlONALlST.