Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-04-26
GREAT CONSTITUTIONAL MEETING
of the People of Baltimore.

in pursuance of the previous CALL the cltizens
thronged Monument Square, the contiguous
streets, and the area in the east front OF the
Court House. The meeting was organized by
the appointment Of
President--Gen. MCDONALD.
ce-Presidents-Luke Tiernan, Charles F.
Mayer, John B. Morris, Jacob Rogers, Samuel
Mass William Lorman, Robert Purvance,
VIM Crawford, Jr, Darius stansbury, Solomon
Etting, J. X. Stapleton, Nathaniel F. Williams,
B. l. Cohen, VIM. Hubbard, J. McKim, Jr,
Geo. Waters, John Fallon.
Secretaries-Davd Stewart Samuel d. Walk
err. VIM Fl. Gatchell, Alexander Kirkland, Pc
ter Leary, E. Larabee z. H. Cooch.
After which the meeting was addressed in
most impressive and eloquent manner by John
P. Kennedy, Esq, who concluded by proposing
the following resolutions, which were seconded
by Charles Carol Harper, Esq, in speech
which elected the most cheering applause from
the immense multitude:
Resotred. That this meeting consider the Pro-
test transmitted to the Senate by the President
on the 18th inst, and published on the 18th IN
the official paper at Washington, as an appeal
by the Chief Magistrate to the people against
the proceedings of the Senate in reference to the
resolution passed Dy LIldL OOU( vi IuC Sotii Vi
March last; and as the said Protest processes
{ to set forth the views entertained by the Presi-
dent as to his powers under the Constitution this
meeting deem it their right and duty to express
freely their opinion on the subject matter OF the
appeaE -
That they do, therefore, upon mature rehec-
ton, unnHuenced by sentiments of political hos
tility to the President but deeply impressed with
a sense of the value of their free institutions,
and jealousy alive to every form of encroach-
ment upon the true principles OF the constitu-
ton, whether the same proceed from mistaken
views of power, or from ambitious motives,
most earnestly and heartily dissent from the doc
trnes promulgated in the said Protest.
l. That they do utterly repudiate the doc
trine that the resolution complained of by the
President is wholly unauthorized by the Con-
sstitution and in derogation of its entire spirit
But, on the contrary, they hold that it is of the
very essence of our free government that Ell
Their branch of the National Legislature shall
carefully note and clearly announce, in the form
of Joint or separate resolution, any act, by any
public functionary which, In their opinion, may
be an Invasion of the constitution; and that
the official acts of the executive may be taken
up, considered and decided upon, by either
branch of the Legislative Department, for the
purpose of public cenSure, without any view to
Y legislation or impeachment
g That they do entirely reject the doctrine
promulgated in the protest, that because, in
Senate may be resolved into judicial body to
try impeachments, it is thereby debarred the
right of announcing to the people an act of NAL
versation, constitutional encroachment, usurpa-
ton or corrupt design, coming within its know
ledge, of any officer of the government al
though it may have, at the same time, every
reason to believe that majority of the House
of Representatives will not prefer an impeach
ment 1t being the opinion of this meeting that
precisely in such a case does it become the most
solemn duty of the Senate, as guardians of the
constitution, to proclaim their opinion upon such
official misconduct.
3. That this meeting heartily deprecate as
an unauthorized assumption, the doctrine that
the whole Executive power is vested in the
President, that he is responsible for its eXer
cise,'-and that it is necessary consequence
that he should have right TO employ agents of
his own choice to aid him in the performance
of his duties, and TO discharge them when he is
no longer willing to be responsible for their
acts' For although this meeting do not deny
that he has the power of free selection in his
appointments to Office and, by settled usage
under the constitution, the power of removal,
vet they do most strenuOusly reject the notion
that the public officers are has agents. subject to
his control or supervision, or, in any manner,
responsible to him for the faithful performance
oftheir duties: This meeting hold that, like him.
self these are the officers of the lQW responsible
to the idp and subject to no mans dCtatOn in
the conscientious performance of the duties as
signed TO them by the law: That neither the
power of appointment nor ofremova infers the
right of control, asserted by the President
over the conduct of the officer while faithfully
performing the duty required of him by the law.
And although the members of the Cabinet be-
ing in matters of policy the privy councillors
or confidential advisers of the President may
in such character, be subject to frequent reno
val from ofice-yet in all matters where spe-
cial duties are assigned to them by law, they
are as independent of the President as any
other functionares of the Government: and it
is a plain infracton of the spirit of the Consti-
tuition for the President to use his power of re-
moval in order TO subdue them to his will, in
matter confided by law to their independent of
ficial Judgment and discretion.
a. That this meeting unhesitatngy repel the
inference which the President draws from his
constitutional obligation, to take care that the
laws be faithfully executed. 1They hold, that
This ohlioation does not make him responsible