Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-28

no, undertake to supper, Them We have pla-
ced ourselves, Mr.. Speaker, in this dilemma.
Inv adjoining the resolutions Oh Monday ii
those resolutions are true we have sand
they are soft is our duty as good citizens and
"a repre sentatives Of the people OF Tennessee,
especially after we have taken up the subject IN
our legislative characterize assert the purity
of our government, and 10 cry aloud tor the
impeachment and punishment OF those who
have sullied their high stations, and abused The
confidence of the people. Others may hereal-
ter appe al to this case as precedent, and may
consider il an H. Insufficient ground for mbeach-
ment, that the president has been guilty oil the
high crimes which we have laid 10 the charge
of the present incumbent. Mr.. Adams, they
will saw, was charged without being punished:
he was deliberately pronounced guilty 10y le'
cislative body, and yet he still retained his ee-
waited and responsible station. Nay, an I'M
peachmentswas opposed, and il was publicly
declared, by the very body which had accused
him, that he must nevertheless retain his lligot>
ten power II, on the contrary, the charges
which have been made against the president
cannot be substantiatet, II Is due TO him lha'
the matter should be sci right, and Inc error
corrected 1t is not only due 10 him, that DIS
innocence should be made m aniesi, II he is not
guilty, bur il is due 10 The American people,
who must ever re Dice at ,he acqui'tai OF me
innocent, and the condemnation aud punish>
ment Of the guilty: aud it must not br forgotten,
that it is the boast and pride OF every re'uh'
can whose birth and fortune have allied h'm to
his country, that he is blessed with govern
ment Of free and equal privileges that ne Is
entitled to shear justice, no matter what his po'
pularty, fortune, or station IN society may be
~ hot Nor M iS r he'd q u
scurity, or enrolled on his,ory's page, and
known 10 the nations of the earth his cnara ter
is no, to be traduced wrongfully, or his rights
trampled upon with impunity.
We are ,old, Mr. Speaker, that we should
not pursue This matter any further, because we
are rennesseans, the friends and ncighbors OF
Gen Jackson, and should therefore most eau
t.ously avoid furnishing any ground tor lie
suspicion or acCu sation against US, OF prst-
cutting SPIT ii towards the administration. But
sir, does not this argument apply, with equal
nav with greatrr-forcc, against the adoption
of the original resolutions? Which exhibits
most strongly an iliberal and pe,secutlng Gls-
position-to make charge III positive terms,
and Lubish il TO the world as true, without al
fordins The accused an opportunity to be heard
i'm his own deienoe--or 10 present the accuse
ton before The proper tribunal, and challenge
the accused to meet and repel IL? If the facts
were not so. we ough, not 10 have made the
charges If they are so, we ough' fearlessiy 10
perform our duty II we now stop short, We
shall nave done worse than nothing The adj
minis,ra,ion party viii! exult over us-thcy will
crv out, zee are resdy for investigation, aud you
are, afraid TO meet w..
We are told, indeed, that ,heAe-sere two
modes Of imps achment-one before the irlou-
nal e the nation, at the expiration OF the term
of uffice, and The other before the Senate oil The
United STATES. This may be true 10 certain
extent, bu, il does not relieve US from RESPONSE.
bll,y
The failure to re.elect is not proof Of guilt,
and the delay necessarily resulting from walt
ing till the next election is a sufficient objec-
ton t. reliance on that mode of impe &C hment,
if such il can he called. The country might be
ruined by the prohigscy of the incumbent, be-
fore an opportunity could be afforded FOR his
removal by the vote Of The people al the next
election. Corruption in the highest officers OF
our government, was anticipated and provided
against by the trainers of the constitution: they
provided for impeac hment, no, only of subor-
dinate officers of the different departments of
government, bu, Of the Presiden, of the Uni,ed
States Notwithstanding all this, we are in
y
Maury, for the information, tat the provision
of tine constitution, providing for impeac hmcnt,
is perfectly useless, and ought not to he enfor-
crd. He has pointed out and portrayed to this
house the DARK, stodreds Of corruption done by
the president Of the United States, and yet he
says he ought not 10 be impeached and re-
moved from Office, until his term Of service
expires. This doctrine, although coming from
one who PROCESSES TO be the bosom friend ot
General Andre w Jackson, and who claims the
right 10 direct his interest," cannot be palm
ed upon any in'elligcn, American. Where is
The man that can be found; who has i regard
for political honesty, that will say the president
Of the United States is guilty Of gross corrup-
zion il office, aud that too, susceptible OF proof,
and set he ought to hold his high and dIgnihed
station for four years, although the constllu-
ton has wisely, for the safety of,he nation pro-
vided for his trial and REMOVAL Sir, the very
arguments made Of by the gentleman, a.
gains; the adoption OF this resolution, turnisht s
the strongest reasons for lis adoption. Darker
accusations Of corruption scarcely could be
made against any public officer, than tina, gen.
tleman has made and asserted against the chief