Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1833-12-26

w AshANUiON, wv - A1Oos
10 he Senate Of The United States.
have attentively considered the Re-
solution OF the Senate OF the 18th IN
slant, requesting the President OF the
United States to communicate to the
Senate ga copy of the paper which has
been published, and which pufports to
have been read by him to the Heads of
the Executive Departments, dated the
Isth day Of September last, relating TO
the removal of the deposites of the pub
lie money from the Bank of the United
States and its Offices"
The Executive is coordinate and
Independent branch ofthe government,
equally with the Senate: and have yet
to learn under what constitutional au-
thority that branch of the Legislature
has a right to require ofme an account
of any communication, either verbally
or in writing, male To the Heads Of
Departments, acting as Cabinet
Council. As well might be required
TO detail 10 the Senate the free and pr-
vate conversation | have held with
those officers on any subjects relating
to their duties and my own.
Feeling my responsibility to the A
merican People, am willing, upon all
occasions, to explain to them the grounds
Of my conduct; and am willing, upon
ell proper occasions, to give to either
branch Of the Legislature any informa-
ton in my possession that can be use.
full in the execution of the appropriate
duties confided to them.
Knowing the constitutional right of
the Senate, | shall be the last man, un-
der any circumstances, to interfere
with them. Knowing those of the Ex-
ecutive, shall, at all times, endeavor
to maintain them, agreeably to the
provisions Of the Constitution, and the
solemn oath have taken to support
and defend it.
am constrained, therefore, by a
proper sense of my own self.respect,
and of the rights secured by the Con.
stitution to the Executive branch of
Government to decline compliance
with your request.
ANDREW JACKSON.
The Message having been read,
Mr.. CLAY rose, and said, that the
call to which this message was a re-
spouse, had been made upon the Presi.
dent after full dcliberatlon. The right
TO make 1t was founded upon the pre-
sumed act of the President. 1t was
founded upon the fact ofthe promulga-
ton of the state paper emanating from
the President, relating to the deposites
of the public money of the people OF
the United States, with the Presidents
assent and direction. That paper had
been published to the world, with the
sanction of the President. 1t was now
in the full possession of the people Of
the United States. 1t had been pub
lished to make an impression; and it
had made deep impression on their
minds. But still it had been published
on authority alleged by the editor of a
newspaper, to be derived from the Pre-.
sldent. Whether the paper was, in
fact, genuine, or, if genuine, whether
1t was promu' gated with the Presi-
dents sanction, were questions respect.
ing which we had no evidence, but that
which the assertion of the editor, the
paper ITSELF and concurring circum-
stances, afforded. In this situation, it
was by (Mr. G. himself, and he sup.
posed by those who voted with him in
supporting the call, deemed due and
respectful to the President, due to the
Senate, and due to the whole country,
70 appeal to the highest source of in.
formation in relation to this subject,
and to request an authentic and official
copy ofthe paper itself.
This call was in conformity with es.
tabllshed usage, coeval, he (Mr. CO.
believed with the Government. When.
ever either branch of Congress desire
a public paper in the possession of, or
proceeding from, the Executive, it has
called for it. Innumerable instances
of such calls are TO be found in the
journals of the two Houses.
In this case, the President refuses to
comply with the call; and undertaking
10 Judge OF the rights of the Senate, land
Of the rights of the Executive, pro-
nounccs that the coll is not one which |
he Senate can cons.itutiOnally make, |
Or with which it is his duty TO comply. |
Whatever sincerity and strength may
exist in the opinion of the President,
they cannot be greater than those
winch are entertained by him, Mr.. c.
and ne has no doubt, by the majority
OF the Senate, that they have a right to
an oihcial copy ofthe paper. He had
expressly dIsclalmed all right of inter-
ventlon between the President and his
advisers. Every such
purpose was, and is, distinctly disa.
vowed. If the document had renoa;n