Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-06-19

DEBATE ON TIE PRESIDENTS PROTEST..
EXTRACTS
From Mr. Webster's Speech,
In the Senate Of the United States May 9TH, 1884.

= VIII Nhh' W OpStSb - SPSNsAh1
In the Senate ofthe United States, May 7th, 1884.
1 Mr.. President, know not who wrote
this Protest ! confess AN nstonished,
truly astonished, as well at the waR of
knowledge which It displays of Consti-
tuional Law, as at the high and DANCE
rous pretensions, which it puts FORTH
Neither branch Of the Legislature can
express censure upon the Presidents
conduct! Suppose, sir, that we should
see him enlistIng troops, and raising ap
army, can we say nothing, and do moth
ing? Suppose he were to declare war
against Foreign Power, and put the
! army and fleet in action, are we still to
be silent? Suppose we should see him
"borrouing money on The credit Of the u.
States;" are we yet to wait for Impeach-
ment? Indeed, sir, in regard to this
borrowing money on the credit ofthe U.
States, wish to call the attention ofthe
Senate, not only to what might happen,
but what has actually happened. We
are informed that the Post Office De-
partment, n department over which the
President claims the same control as over
the rest, has actually borrowed near hay
a million Of money on The credit of the U.
States.
L Mr.. President, the first power granted
to Congress in the Constitution, is the
power to lay taxes, the second the pow
er to borrow money OH the credit OF the
United States. Now, sir, where does
the Executive find its authority, in or
}, through any department, TO borrow mon
ney without authority OF Congress! This
!; proceeding appears to be wholly illegal,
and reprehensible in very high degree.
1t may be said that it is not true that the
money is borrowed on the credit Of the
Post Office Department. But that would
be mere evasion. The Department is
but a name. 1t is an office, and nothing
3 more. The Banks have not lent this
money to any officer. If Congress
should abolish the whole Department to-
morrow, would the Bank not expect The
a United States to replace this borrowed
'' money. The money then is borrowed
on the credit OF the United States, an &C
which Congress alone is competent tc
authorise. If the Post Office Depart
ment may borrow money, SO may the
y War Department and the Navy Depart.
y ment. If half million may be borrow
ed, ten millions may be borrowed
What, then, if this transaction shall be
: justified, is to hinder the Executive from
borrowing money, TO maintain fleets, ant
d armies, or for any other purpose, at hi
pleasure, without any authority of law
Yet, even this, according to the doc
ID trne of the Protest, we have no right Il
complain Of We have no right to de
clare that an Executive Department ha
!, violated the Constitution and broken tn
os law, by borrowing money on the cred
of the United States. Nor could w
make a similar declaration, if we wer
- to see the Executive, by means of thl
borrowed money, enistlng armies an
equippng fleets:
I'd The Protest, (said Mr.. Webster
contends that neither the Senate nor tn
- House Of Representatives., can EXPIRE:
A. its opinion on the conduct Of the Pres
dent, except in some form connectc
- with impeachment; so that, if the powt
Houses, though they be Representative
bodies, though one Of them be filled b
- the immediate represe entatIves OF tn
people, though they be constituted lik
sc other popular and representative bodie
could not utter syllable, although the
saw the Executive either trampling c
in. their own rights and privileges, "r grasl
,le ing at absolute authority and dominic
over the Liberties Of the country! 81
hardly know how to speak of sue
70 claims Of impunity for Executive Ell
croachment. i am amazed that ar
American citizen should draw up p
per containing such lofty pretension
pretensions which would have been m
oil with scorn in Eng gland, at any tim
since the revolution of 1888. A m,
. who should stand up in either House
the British Parliament, to maintain tn
the House could not by vote or resol
aus ton, maintain its own hts and priv
lcges, would make even the tory benc
es hang their heads for very shame.
me, There was indeed, q time when su
: in proceedings were not allowed. Sof
!. ofthe Kings Of the Stuart race would r
tolerate them. A single instance
royal displeasure with the proceedings
Parliament, occurred in the latter part
""' the reign Of James the !. The Hou
of Commons had spoken, on some {
- casion, "ef lis O'en undOubted rights a
-. p,ip,ieges."
~ The King thercupon sent them ]
a.. dnclar,no that he would not all