Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-05
From the National Inielligcncer.

''"''"S p"IOIe our TeRierS the OttlcIa
version OF the opinions expressed by the Pres
dent on the 0ccas on Of the late breach of the
privileges OF the House Of REPRESENTATIVES, we
now oiier Il lew of the reflections upon that mr.
tIcle Which Obtrude themselves on our mind.
Inc whole tenor al the remarks in the official
paper, IN relation to the recent attempts 10 over
awe, by violence, the freedom Of debate, In.
been apologize, and most justilicatory when
most dIsclalmiuS Justification of them This
we had hoped, was the tone Of the Editor orI -
hnd the result OF personal bias in him. We are
now, however. officially advised 20 the contra
ny, and that the language of the President, i'm
more lhan one conversations, fnlIy susiains The
Official paper I'm the ground il has taken We
are indeed, told that the reports of the Presi-
dents conversations which have found their way
TO the Public, arc ''mOnsii fabricaIions bu,
TINS declaration Is followed by Il statement of the
conversations referred To, Substantially confirm
ing all that has heen reported of them. We saw
substantially, Tor we hope that. in the article of
the Clobc, the President is not literally reported;
as there are somo phrases in it which it would
be an outrage OH all probability To suppose the
President To have used.
The article in the Globe makes the Presi,,en,
maln'ain IN the first place, doctrines on the sub
Jecto the power of the House of Representa-
tiVes III cases Of contempt, which are in our opi-
mon, utterly fallacious aud unienable doctrines
Which, carried out, strike nj The root of the con-
Servaiive powers of Congress. and degrade the
House OF Representatives into an assembly of
mere mummersf--a body assembled To gcsficu-
late and make faces at one another without the
right To utter word, but under the pains and
penalties OF CLUB-LAw. These doctrines are
summed up i'll the declaration that 1.-The arrest
" ana confinement of Houston, by the House of
y" representatives WAS an act of usurpaiion" III
members OF the House. as the President is said
10 MAINTAIN, when /; Is not in session. are .sIuonI
d iootinS WIN other ciiizcns," and have no 9TH
er rights or privileges what is tho sense of ,hnt
c'"oSe OF the Constitution, which says, that
" they shall IN all cases, except treason &c he
- Pr1cHeged from arrest during their attendance.
" at The session Of their respective houses, ami
" III going TO or returning from the same s' Ur
less the case of Casnir Perrer so bapuily bro
III To illustrate aud fortfy The Presidents idea OIL
Congressional privilege. he understood TO nuliC,
the Constitution, II must he admitted rha mem
beTs Of Congress have rights that uthcr cit;-rn
have not, and especially shc privilege. TINT for
. my speech "r debate in either II,usc, they
: shall not b" questioned IN any other pince j
How does the doctrine of tic President. thar
" the power OF sell protection il confined tn the
walls of the Cnpo? consist with this posi,ivc
provision TO the contrary To us il is c,cnr
That the President does not hold his right as
Ommandcr-n- Chief Of ioe Army and Navy oil
the United States, tremendous as is the poyyer
which that right carries with u, by auy stronger
tenure than that by which the Senators and Re
prcscuiavcs in Congress hold their ripht To pro
tcct the freedom &c debate not only . ia eiiber
House." hut g. w any other place"
lf we profess against the d0ciriuc of the Pres
ideut as to the power Of the House OF Represcn.
larlyc- to protect its Members, his Opinions. rs
to the @spcct practically due to the right of
VI mbers Of Congress to suggest abuses in the
Of fbe Government, are not less
We refer To that pnssage i'm
which it is represented, dat 4" he asked whether
- members of Congress could be justified IN SLAM
= deriUg private citizens, aud 10 violating the
: rules IF the House Ivy departing from the top.
" ic in discussion for such purpose 30 And
- further maintained that tlIe slaudrrer was
. worse than the muI dcrer." The SORT Of sIanGer
here referred to is n suggestion Of intended fraud
IN relation to 2 rertain pnsIc contract, whether
we'll or III founded we suppose will sooH I've as
,ertaned Ivy the report Of Il committee. In that
sense, every suggestion Of abuse may he held to
,e a SANDER which goes ut once To the root oI
he power Of Congress 10 enquire iuto abuses
n the Government. AstO the SANDER deserving
punishment when it touches "prlvate" citizens,
'Mummcry, as a pastme, having gone ont of vogue,
perhaps we may save Of readers the trouble
# consulting dictionary Tor the meaning of the term
y giving ueJn Noah Webster's definition of it
hummsry Fa5cicai sLs,c hypocrticsl disguise
III Prr'de to d'i'sG c1Ig0r minds.