Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-08
tendency of the measure be not check

II Is Que 10 Inc nlgn trust With which
have been charged; TO those who may
be called to succeed me in 1t; to the
representatives Of the people, whose
constitutional prerogative has been I'M
lawfully assumed; to the people and to
the states; and to the constitution they
have established; that should not per-
nit its provisions to be broken down by
such an attack on the executive depart.
ment, without at least some effort '.to
preserve, protect, and defend them
With this view, and for the reasons
which have been stated, | do hereby SOL
EMMY PROTEST against the aforemention-
ed proceedings of the senate, as unau.
thorized by the constitution; contrary
to lis spirit and to several of lis express
provisions; subversivc Of that distribu
tion Of the powers of government which
it las ordained and established; de-
structive Of the checks and safe guards
by which those powers were Intended.
on the one hand, to be controlled, and
on the other to be protected; and cal
culated by their immediate and colIat-
teral effects, by their character and ten
dencv, to concentrate in the hands Of a
body not directly amenable to the peo-
pie, degree of influence and power
dangerous TO their liberties, and fatal to
the constitution Of their choice.
The resolution of. the senate contains
an imputatiop upon my private as well
as upon my public character; and as il
must stand forever on their journals, |
cannot close this substitute for that de-
fence which have mol been allowed to
present in the ordinary form, without re-
marking, that have lived in vain, if it
be necessary to enter into formal vim
dication Of my character and purposes
from such an lmputation. In vain do |
hear upon my person, enduring memori-
ais of that contest IN which American
liberty was purchased-in vain have |
since perilled property, fame and life,
in defence Of the rights and privileges
SO dearly bought-in vain am now.
without personal aspiration, or the
hope of individual advantage, encoun-
tering responsibilities and dangers, from
which, by mere inactivity in relation to
a single point, might have been exempt
If any serious doubts can be enter
tanned as the purity Of my purposes and
motives. If | had been ambitious, |
should have sought an alliance with
that powerful institution, which even
now aspires TO no divided empire. II |
had been venal, should have sold my
self to its designs-had | preferred per-
sonal comfort and official ease to the per-
formance Of my arduous duty, | should
have ceased to modest it. AIN the history
Of. coaquerers and ausurpers, never, in
the fire Of youth, nor in the vigor OF
manhood, could find an attraction to
lure me from the path of my duty; and
now shall scarcely find an inducement
to commence their career of ambition,
when grey hairs and a decaying frame,
instead Of inviting to toll and battle, call
me to the contemplation Of Other worlds
where conquercrs cease to be honored,
and usurpers expiate their crimes
The only ambition can feel, is to acquit
myself to Him to whom | must soon rem
der an account Of my stewardship, to
serve my fellow-men, and live respected
and honored in the history of my coun
try. No; the ambition which leads me
Oh, is an anxious desire and fixed de
Termination, to return to the people I'M
impaired, the sacred trust they have
con6ded to my charge--to heal the
wounds Of the constitution and preserve
it from farther violation; to persuade
my countrymen, so far as | may. that ii
is not in splendid government, sup
ported by powerful monopoIes and arts
tocratical establishments, that they will
find happiness, or their liberties protec.
ton; but in plan system, void Of pomp
protecting all and granting favors to
none dispensing its blessings like the
dews of Heaven, unseen and rnfelt, save
in the freshness and beauty they contri
butte to produce. 1t is such govern
ment that the genius OF our people re-
quires-such an one only under which
our states may remain for ages to come,
united prosperous and free. If the Al
mighty Being who has hitherto sustain
ed and protected me, will but vouchsafe
to make my feeble powers instrumental
to such result, shall anticipate with
pleasure the place to be assigned me in
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