Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-16

the President OF the United States had nominated
Martin Van 3urcn al the opening of the session
oil Congress, for the Office of Minister To the
court OF 81. James. The Senate, the highest col
ectivc body known TO the COnstitution-hat boz
ny winch represents in peculiar manner State
sovcrcigntics and State rights-that power which
is designed TO check and control the Exccutivc-ii
was gravcly contcndcd, mast agree, as matter of
course, TO any nomination that might be sent TO
them from the President, whether by back stairs
influence or any other, and become the mere re-
Gisiry OF Executive DEGREES. In executing the du
" they had performed, they were actuated by n
regard to their own dignity and the honor of
their country, and it was duo to them that their
country should sustain them in its exercise We
nad heretofore been represented abroad by a Boni
FRANKLIN, an Ellsworth, Jefferson, Il Monroe
ana other wort!ics-and what one he would ask
had ever dared 10 propose such PRINCIPLES as the
foundation Ola negotiation, those given by Mr.
van Burcn TO NJ. Mci.ane. What were his i'm.
structions? TO present our own faav difTcren.
cos; To represent the government as the advocat to
oil British doctrines; and To urge, that what was
not granted to the government, should be grant
cd TO party, friendly to Great Britain Who
had read those Instructions and did not blush for
ms country! Have VIC indeed fallen SO low that
o hr country has no rights equity, no justico?-
The wellington admin stration might as well nsk
some boon for tho favor shown us, and wo might
rec our Minister negotiating, by way of return,
Tor Antl-Rciorm. and the Rotten Borough system.
was there not reason for rejecting Martin
Van Buren,? The Senate were u part of the APP
pointing power, and had acted u ntcr their oaths.
But 1t was said they had acted with magnty.
And yet it was singular that among his defenders,
there was not one Senator who had defended the
instructions, who stood forth rs the apologist
of his acts They all shufilcd it off on the old
General. Had indeed Van Buren, fallen so low
that he was obliged TO put his sign manual TO what.
ever the President might dictator Rather than
submit to such degradation, an honorable and
hghmnded man would have resign ed his Office
and gone into retirement. But, if he chose still
TO retain it, hc was most Justly held responsible
for the tenor of his dispatches
Martin Van Buren,, said Mr.. Stevens, has been
Tor many years prominent politician in this State;
ana what arc the avowed principles OF policy by
winch his course has boon directed! His friend
Mr.. Marcy, has frankly admitted on the floor of
the Senate that his State was divided into two
great parties, and that 'to the victor belonged tho
spolls OF the enemy Now could Mr. Van Bu
rem complain If the same measure was meted out
to him, that he had mctcd out with ruthless hand
to others?
Upon the return of tho rejected, he might say de-
Jccied Minister, lie would doubtless he met Mt the
whurvcs by host of tide walters, sycophants, and
revenue officers, with expressions of their touching
coincidence In every village he journeyed to-
wards kinderhook, EDWARDS to the west, he
might lind vast numbers of reformed pestmasters
and other officers who had obtained their stations
by the operation of the system of prescription ND
on which he has so long acted. II he gocs to AL
bany ne may see the Spcnccrs and others elected
and rejected from judicial Offices by his procure.
mont; who can forget that the illustrious and
lamented Clinton, the father of our system OF in
ternal improvements, was elected from Office bv
the van Buren, policy?
Will these gentlemen undertake 10 say that this
system of prescription which they have practised
with unrclcnting rgor for nore than twenty wears
is bad one? But it is said he is a citizen of New
ork! Iruc-and was not De Witt Clinton CT
tizcn of New York?-yot the ruthless system of our
'lavorite son" Glove him down Ii is base and
selfish syStem-a system that the fathers of the re-
would sDu b,
Tic Samuel Adamcs, the Franllins, and Montpo-
merys of that day fight for their country, or we're
thcy only contending for 'the spols of Officer"
Sir, said Mr.. Stevens were it for no other reason
than that to which have just alluded the iudg-
ncnt OF the Senate is holy and righteous iudg-
incnt, (grcat cheering) and there core move for
the appointment of committee of nine persons to
prepare resolutions of that import to be submitted
to the meeting.
Alderman Stevens Sal down amidst shouts of APP
plansc. The motion pat and carried unani-
mousl y; when the President announced the follow
ing committee: Alderman Stevens, William w.
Woolsey, William II. Ireland, Stephen Whitney,
Seth =. Staples, William w. TODD James G;
hing, Jonathan Thompson, and Joseph Blunt,
Eslrs. The committee retired, and daring their
absence, Joscp r. Simpson addressed the assembly
III few observations in the course of which he adj
vcrtcd to the late assembly at Tammany Hall! CON
vened to arralgn and control the Senate of the
United States in the exercise of It's constitutional
power As well, said Mr.. S. might p meeting in
conduct
senate OF this State, now i'll session at Albany.
Mr. 5. also advorted to the proscrIptive course off
MIR. Van Buren, and his Regency, and observed
that the whole system of his policy directed to
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of himself.
The committee having returned with the follow
ing resolutions, they were read by Mr.. Hollcy
Tor the consideration of the meeting,
whereas meeting lately held in this city
to dcnounco majority of the Senate of The Uni
ted States for their fIsal in the exercise of their
IN
in appointing Martin Van Buren, as Minister to
England and being unwilling citizens of New
York, TO nave it understood by our silence that
we approve of the proceedings of the meeting,
therefore,
ResOEucd, That in tho opinion Of this nnectinr
the Senate of the UuDitcd States as an indepcn.
dent and coordinate branch of the Federal Go.
vernment, was desgnedly and wisely vested with
the right of asserting to, dissenting from, the
nominations of the President; and that this
power was given to that body, as Il substantial
power, to be exercised in order that the interests
and honor y, thcconntry might not be cndangcr
Ell ny The IndIscrction or error of an individual
temporarily invested with executive authority; and
this meeting most earnestly roprobate the doctrine
which would degrade the American Senate to a
body assembled merely to register the edcts of any
chicfmag stratc.
Resumed, That we recognize among those who
voted for the rejection Of Martin Van Buren,, the
most distinguished statesmen and representatives
OF Tie different sections of the Union; and that in
tho opinion of this meeting, they arc responsible
mainly TO their constituents for the exercise of
their power MS the representatives. of the several
States, and that while we acknowledge the right
OF the people freely to assemble and 20 express
their opinions Of the acts Of any branch Of the
"oEarnmcn, VIC consider an in discreet exercise
OF that right the late meeting called in this city,
10 dcnounce the Senators Of other States, for the
independent exercise Of their constitutional au-
thority.
hcsoired That the Senate, in refusing to adj
wise and consent to the nomination Of Martin Van