Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-04-14

,,,. w;th,ut warrant. aud therefore unlawful:
that IL Is manifest violation ut the rights vi the
San..e: and If the act was done with that view,
it is fiagraht usurpation OF their constitutional
powers.
MIR President. nv strength is almost gone,
and your patience must be III least Is much ex-
haasted. vet few words more--t nope they may
be The last with which | shall have occasion 10
trouble yua. For many years have watched
the workings of this government, and have seen
it steadily advancing To ti.t condition to wh'cn
our most ssgacious statesmen long ago preaictco
IT must one dav come Occasional obstructiofs
to its onward motion, nave sometimes cheereu
me with the hope. that these predictions woui" uo'
be verified. Nor will ever part with tins nope;
while this body remains true to itself, aud iai''i"'
to the States whose sOvereignties are here repre-
seuted. Rut what have seen and heard OF ia'e'
is not well calcula' cd cherish hope Inc tune Is
not far distant, nay, 1T is at hand wien the 'h'o
retc maxim of the British law, will become
practical rule for the American people. The En-
glish jurists tell us. that the King can do no
wrong" aud soon may we expect to hear 'h's nc
ton of the British government transferred TO ours
as solemn truth affirmed Of our President.
wish we may be able to Introduce with this prin-
from whence it Is borrowed. There, although
the King can do no wrong, his ministers are res
ponsbe for all the bad advice they give him.
"In the instance before us, am willing to be-
Iieve. that the President has not knowingly vio-
lated the Constitution, or designed to impair the
rights of the Senate or desired 20 usurp for him
self the entire and absolute control over al. ZAP
pointnents, although such certainly is the effect
of his acts. In the mode IN which business OF
this kind is done, as we all know, many circum-
stances NAV have existed To absolye the Presl-
dent from all designs to exert any such power as
has been here put IN practice, in order to produce
such effects. But what must we say OF his MIN
isters the bounden duty Of some Of whom it is.
TO present 10 him the facts as they know them to
be. OF his cabinet, four were members ot this
body during the memorable Panama discussion.
One of them. the Secretary Of the Navy was the
mover of the resolution declaratorv OF our rights.
and denying TO the President the power then
claimed, and here exercised Another OF them
the Secretary of State stood by my side III that
debate, the able advocate of those rights. eo-
QuentIv deuouncns the claim of power then pre-
ferred. as but part of long settled system CO.
verify ~ increase the influence and patronage CT
the executive. Aud all four united with me in
the vote given upon that occasiOn.--SGrrounded
~ such advisers, if no voice was raised to adnon
iSh him, if no friendly caution VAS given 20 him
By any Of those whose opinion upon this subject
was so well known, and one OF whom had IN his
own office a full representation Ut all the facts
existing in the case, it ought not to be matter OF
much establishment. if the President should have
regarded ii rs one of COMMON occurrence; aad
the omission 20 lay the appointing ts before the
Senate az their next session. may possibly have
been accidental. J know not hoW this matter
stands: but this know, that # such representa-
ton had ever heen made to the Senate, should
never have been heard TO censure mere oversight,
or acts of any kind unconsciously done. When
honorable Senators, however, instead of excuslng
seek to Justify what has been done; and this too
by such arguments as we have heard, which, Il
sound, must suffice to perpetuate this power, ale
case assumes very different aspect indeed
Under this different aspect have been obliged
to consider it.
For thus rcgardlngit. know well what am to
encounter. have seen the writing on the wall.
1 know the finger by which it was inscribed. 1t
needs no Daniel to interpret it. But. sir. it Is
my consolation to know, that the balance in which
| shall be weighed, will never be held by any Elk
ecutive officer Of this Government, be he whom
he may. They who sent me here, placed me as
as warder on the Watch-tower, to warn Of the
apr zach of danger. will not play the shepherd
boy. and cry out when there IS none. But when
the danger stands confessed before me, come in
what questionable shape"u may, will do my
duty.
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