Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-20

AIr III
from South Carolina, (Mr Calhoun,) that the
naner was an official message from the Presi-
5ent of the United States-in some sort person
ol foo as every paper must be that was present
"a nv an officer to defend himself on charge
of disregarding his duty, his personal character
being in such charge necessarily involved
Considered as an official communication rom
= coordinate department of the Government,
4 vas with unfeigned surprise that MIR. r saw
the pertinacity of members in thus grayeiy DIS
cnssing the question, whether the message or
protest should be received or not. Senators
treat il as an ordinary petition or memorial
Now a petition was never IN the hanus VI TIC
Senate, until It was formally received. A mem
Der under the rule presents memorial IN mo
Mace. states its contents, and, if no objection Is
made. il is received. If objection IS made, the
sense of the Senate is taken-the memorial re-
manning, until the Senate agrees to receive II,
in the hands ofthe Senator who offered IL. How
is il with an official message from the Presluent
.to either house of Congress, or from one Dranch
of the Legislature to the other! Inc secretary
of the Executive or of the House presents NM
self at our bar Sc | am directed to lay before
the Senate a message in writing, &C." It is
laid on our tablet is beyond the control OF the
Executiye or other House-without our permls-
sion il cannot be wthdrawn-it lleson the table
of the Senate, in our possession, before ana al
ter 1t is read. Whatever may be its contents,
surdly. Admit our right to examine the paper
and decide upon its character before it is re-
ceived, and then, when passion, or reason, or
prejudice prevails, to refuse to receive mes
sage dsagreeable to us, what becomes OF the
rights of the President and OF the two Houses,
in their Intercourse with the Executive ana with
each other? A bill is sent to the Presldent-he
returns it with his UNDERSTANDING freely the
powers of Congress, and placing his refusal TO
pass the bill on the ground of want of consttu-
tional mower in the Federal Government to leg
islate on the subject of it-speaks freely or
harshly Of usurpationS OF power-and can we
or the House of Representatives refuse TO re-
ceiveil? What becomes oi,the bill! 1t Is law,
If not returned to the House where it originates
in ten days The message and returned bill, is
not on file or on the journals OF either House;
no record of the Veto where alone it can, or
ought to be looked for, on the journals OF the
House where the bill originated. What can the
President appeal to? In this dispute, which VIII
inevitably arise who is to decide, and how? In
the intercourse between us and the President
the right of the Executive is our right. If we
could refuse to receive his messages, he could
refuse to receive ours. bill is sent to him. he
will not receive it. When does il become a law2
He is allowed ten days to decide upon giving or
withholding his sanction. He denies having
had the consideration of the bill-he has not re
ceiped IT, What is TO become OF the Govern
ment, if such questions are permitted to be rails
ed? In the intercourse between the Houses OF
Congress, confusion and controversy would
every day arise; in that between the two or Ell
Their branch of Congress and the Executive,
disastrous hostility, followed by violent convul-
sons, would be the unavoidable result. 1t was
too late, out of time, to talk of receiving the
messagc--it was there. AS far as the official
character Oft the President or his personal honor
was concerned it was indifferent whether the
Senate refuse to receive the message, or what
treatment it met. Mr.. F. thought it had been
addressed by the proper channel to the People.
As an act of justice to the body 1t was sent
through the Senate. 1t was before the People
and they would form and act upon fair judg
ment of it. Mr.. F. was anxious that proper
disposition should be made of it from regard
to the character of the Senate. The more dis
respectfully it was treated, the worse for the
Senate the better for the Executive. In this
question which had been most unnecessarily
raised between them, Mr.. II. believed the Sen
ate were in the wrong and feared that the true
character and just influence of the body, would
be most dangerously impaired, if the mes
sage of the Chief Magistrate, chosen by the
people, and vested with their executive powers,
was not treated with due decorum and respect.
Recent events have fixed public attention, with
anxiety, upon the Senate Its character was scru
tiniZed. and on its future conduct depended its
fate Honorable Senators tell us that we pos
sess the public confidence, and that the hopes OF
the nation are resting upon our firmness and
integrity. That remains to be seen. In his
opinion, if greater caution, moderation, and
wisdom did not govern the Senate, it will come
to be considered a blot upon our system. 1t will
lose its title TO public confidence and regard
whenever the shield put under its care to inter
pose between other Departments and the Peo-
pie is thrown away to assume the sword TO as
sault coordinate branches of the Government.
The Senator from South Carolina, (Mr. Cal
houn, tells us that the President has assaulted
the Senate-that this Protest is a declaration Of
war by the Chief Magistrate against the Senate.
War on the Senate!! What was the resolution
of the Senate2 Was it not declaration OF war
against the President? An appeal to the Peo-
pie to condemn and punish him? But the Pre-
sidents integrity is not put in issue by the reso-
luton All! What then is put in issue2 His
understanding, if not his integrity Can man
be accused of usurpaton, of tyranny in Office?
Can an appeal be made to the People to rush to
the rescue oftheir dearest rights under guard by
one who has seized the purse and the sword,
without calling in question the integrity of the
accuscd2 Yet after angry debates and unmea-
sured denunciations by his political opponents,
and they have embodied their censure in one