Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-05-27
Twenty-third Congrcss.--Isl sess
DEBATE ON THE PRESIDENTS PROTEST..

lily; anu Mr. Calhoun having addressed the Senate and
offered his resolutions aud The Yeas and NAYS being or
deTed thereon "s VI
Mr.. Forsyth said, he concurred with The Senator from
SCUM 0"rona (Mr Cshoun) iha, the paper an of.
Meier message from the President Of the United States
In some sort personal too every paper must be thai
was presented by an officer to defend himself on charge
OF disregaiding his duty his personal character being I'm
charge necessarily involved Considered as an OIL
cia' communication from dinafe departn,ent ~ The
ooss,nnen., II was with unieigned surprise that Mr. +.
be received not. Senators an culinary peii.
uon or memorial Now petition never in the
hands oil the Senate, until il ic naly received. A
mber under The rule presents memorial in his plsce
states its contents. and il objection made il receive
ed III objection Is made the Of the Senate taken
The memorial remaining, until the Senate agrees
ceiye IT, in the hands Of the Senator who offered it, How
Is IL with an .cis message from the President either
House oil Congress, from one branch OF the Leesa-
ture 10 the otheI The Secretary the Executive or of
The House presents himself at bar: 81 directed
lay before the Senate message in writing &C. Ii is
laid on our tabe-i is beyond the Of Execu-
tive Of the HousewiIhout permission cannot be
whdrawDit lies the table OF The Senate in our pos.
session. before aud after il is read. Whatever NAV be its
contents, we Cannot refuse receive without acting ob-
surdy Admit our right examine the paper and decide
upon ITS character before is received and them when
passion, or ieasoR or prejudice prevails 10 refuse to
ctive message dsagreeabe us, what becomes the
rights OF the President the two Houses in their inter-
with the Executive and with each oiher bill
Is sent TO the President He returns il with his Veto
examining freely the powers of Congress, and placing his
tonal power in the Federal Government legsae on
'he subject oil -peaks freely hanhly Of usurpalOns
" ives
refuse 10 receive in What becomes OF the bill? Ii is
law If not returned the House where il originates in
days The message and returned ILL file
or on the Journals OF either House: record Of The Veto
where alone ought 10 be looked for on the
Journals OF the House where the bill originated.
What can tie President appeal 10 la the dispute
which will inevitably arise, who is ecide, howl
In the Intercourse between and the Preside te ht
Of the Executive is our right IL we could refuse 10 re-
ceive his message, he could refuse 10 receive ours bill
is sent 10 him, he will receive it, When does be.
come law! He is allowed ten days to decide upon
giving or Withholding his sanction. He denies having
had The consideration Of the bilhe has received it,
What is 10 become OF the Government, if such questions
are permitted 10 be raised? In the intercourse between
the two Houses OF Congress, confusion and controversy
would every day ais; in that between the eithe
branch OF Congress and the Executive, disastrous hos
ty, followed by violent ulsons would be the una.
voiable result. 1t are, out Of lime TO talk of
receiving The message II there. As tar as the of.
fetal character OF the President his honor
concerned, II was Indifferent whether the Senate TO
receive the message, what treatment il met Mr..
thought had been addressed by The proper channel TO
the people As act OF justice the body, it was
sent through The Senate. IL was before the people,
and they would form and act upon fair Judgment OF H.
Mr. r. was anxious that proper disposition should be
made of it, iiom regard TO The character Of The Senate
The more disrespecliuily il treated the worse for
the Senate the better for The Executive. Ia tho 4ue..
lion, which had been ccssy raised between
them Mr.. F. believed The Senate in The wrong, and
feared that the tue character and just influence Of the
body would be most dangerously Impaired, il the mes
sage OF the Chief Magistrate, chosen by lhc people
aud vested with their executive powers, not treated
with due decorum aud respect Recent have fixed
Its character scruiinzed, and It's future conduct
depended its late. Honorable Senators tell US that We
possess the public confidence and that Tie hopes the
nation are resting upon our fmness and integrity That
rebons TO lie In his opinion il greater caution,
moderation, and wisdom did not govern the Senate,
il will come TO be considered blot upon our sys-
em Ii will lose its title 10 public confidence and regard
whenever the shield put under its TO inerpose be-
tween oher departments and the people, is thrown away
10 assume the sword TO assault ordinate branches Of the
Government.
The Senator from South Carolina (aIr Calhoun) tell.
us that the President has assaulted the Senate-a t.
protest is declaration Of war by the Chief Magistrate
against the Senate War the Senate -! " hat was
the resolution OF The Senate Was il a declaration of
war against The PreseUI An appeal 10 the people,
demn aud punish him! But the Presidents integrity is
not put in issue by the resolution. All! What then, is
put in issue! His understanding, If not bis integrity. Can
be accused OF usuTpalion, Of tyranny, in office
Can appeal be made to the people rush 10 the
Of their dearest rights by who has seized purse
sn the sword without calling in question The inegiy OF
The accused Yet alter angry debates and unmeasued
denunciaons by his political opponents, and they have
embodied their censure IN one resolution, wor'!ed
uousiy TO convey every thing against him and commit
themselves as little possible his temperate and respect
iu answer Is making war upon the Senate-is appealing
TO The people against the gment Of the
OF the States III has made 10 wsr-he has made no sp.
pes-he has answered deliberate accusstion--he has
met The appeal OF the Senate the people. Did honora
BILE members SUPPOSE The President would shrink from
the tribunal TO which the Senae called him, end efuse
plead -They could rot know the President, and have in
duiged such thought. Could any President, however
limd and rresolue Is 10 defend himself when thus
sailed That The Chief Magistrate had The tight answer
his accusers will not be denied How il should be
done is questionable. scrutiny might be demand
ed OF the House Of Representatives, aud in ordinary
cases this might be The proper That would have
been ssid il, going TO the House, The President had de-
handed inquiry into his conduct, thus ssssed he
by the Sruae unjusy, aud in disregard OF The pro.
visions Of the Constitutions? We should have been told,
that conspiracy foot to destroy the Senate by
union Of the Executive and Of the House Of Representa-
vesthal the President perfectly safe in demanding
inquiry, because constitutional majority Of tie Sc
nate could not be, ssctrained hy the the
resolution Of censue, found pronounce bin guilty The
pursued OF sending the defence TO hose lao made the
accusation, certainly just md fair here lis defence
made necessary by the act Of the Senate IL denounced
command TO stain records by recording contra
dicon Of the record. Does he commando Tie language
is, ~ request" But this request i not made says tie
Senator from Kentucky, mir Clsy) convicted clim
nal hubled by OF guilt std peniten Tor lis
erosion No, indeed IT Is not II is made IN The eSpec
lu snd moderate, but firm Of officer Of
innocence, and forgetting injury Inflicted upon him in his
posteiy lie requests only that il msy he recorded with
the accusation, ihst II may be preserved Tor The bspoc.
lion Of al those Ito shall the thafge VIII the Sc
ciUse ths request! IL may be thrown in tie FIRE
treated wnh any and every speries OF conumeiyih the
consequence OF such treatment will all upon che Senate.
True, false, i, should be preserved. II false, those
who have given for il, ought fejoce lair
scrutiny INFO IL, will be just and appropriate. Examine
its acts prove them 10 be assumed, doubtful, lsse.
Silt IT, arguments show them be loose. illogical H.
usofy Weigh lie conclusions, demonstrate lhcm 10 be
unsound Tie Senate itself, and 10 the President,
and the people OF tie States 70 place tie subject n all
js lights before The world Tie Senator South
Cstona (Mf CahouD) asks for the constitutional auiho.
rty Of lie PRECEDENT TO send such message' Mr.. y.
would answer This question distinctly. The authority Is
given 80 The concluding paragraph Of that part Of The Con-
sntlon ~lhei authorized the Senate 10 pass The esou-
-