Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-04-25
'rwenty-third Congress.--lst scss.
IN SENATE.
IL
THurSdou. dnriI IL

Thursday, .aprii II.
As soon as the Senate was called 10 order this morning.
Major Donelson, the Private Secretary o.. the President Of
the United States, handed in the Message to the Senate, a
full copy Of which will be found in another part Of this DAYS
paper.
The Message was read ,broucb bv IN. S..rfu.
Senate.
As soon as the reading was ended
MIR. Poindexter rose aud said: I do not rise. Mr.. Presi.
dent. TO discuss at this lime the various topic, which are
touched in the very extraordinary paper which has been
just read TO the Senate; nor, indeed, will give utterancc
10 nose iechngs oil indignation which such a paper,
coming IRON such a source, is so well calculated 10 excite
IN The bosom OF every honorable member of this body, and
oil every patriotic citizen in the country. Leaving these
matters for future discussion on a more suitable occasion.
my purpose Is at present to enter my solemn pro est
against me reception OF this paper, and TO submit a motion
uhdt II be not received. Sir, 1 should be disposed TO
81 as FAR as any honorable Senator on this door in
paying due respect to every Executive communication TO
me senate, coming within the constitutional range of
Executive power. But when the Chief Magis,rate Shall
,link tit TO depart from his constitutional sphere. aud. undrr
color Of his official duties, attempt 10 make rhi, baJv ,br
conduit of his popular appeals to the people, fulminatinp.
1 VIII not say caluDnies, but the most unfound.d charges
against the body through which he proposes to promulgate
nus appeal, j Tor one, feel bound to resist him in such a
course. Referring to the resolution introduced by the
honorable Senator iron. Kentucky, (Mr. Cisy,) The Presi.
uent says una, II ., both novel and unprecedented" If
II De So l should be glad 10 know what appella'ion
ought 10 he gwen TO this extraordinary paper! Has il
any parallel in the past political history OF The country
sir, l venture the declaration, that there is not OH record
any act oil the predecessors OF the present Chief Mspis.
trate bearing the slightest resemblance 10 This out.
rage on the dignity OF the Senate and the cons,it,,.
tional functions OF the Executive Department of the
government. Ii may well bo characterized as .bo,h
novel and Unprecedented" No such paper was ever pre-.
sented TO either House OF Congress; none such Is TO he
iound on the journals of our proceedings. as the one son,
10 us tins morning, under the guise OF official authority.
from The foundation OF the Government down TO the pre-,
sent moment. Sir, will not dignity this paper bv con.
sidering II IN the light of an Executive Message; il is no
such thng. L regard 1t simply asa paper with the sigma.
ture OF Andrew Jackson; aud should the Senate retus. q,
receive NJ II VIII not be the first paper with the same sig.
nature which has been refused a hearing in thi, body. on
,me ground oil the abusive and viiuperarive language which
II COntaInpu Ii will ha nAito. A.. -
IN ITS character, couched in terms grossly disrespecttuI IN
me Senate, was presented, some W here about the wear
1919, from the same individually; and such was lis excen.
uonabie character, that his own friends became ashamed
oil IT, IL was objected TO, rejected, and sent back for
nodihca'ion' so as TO render II respectful TO the body 10
wnich IL was presented. The offensive passages were
stricken out, and, thus modified, it was presented and
received AT The next session Of Congress. This eff.
tort 10 denounce and overawe the deliberations Of the
senate may properly be regarded as coping The Gilman
OF that systematic plan of operations, which, for several
years past, has been in progress, designed TO bring his
Dolly INTO disrepute among the people, and thereby remove
the only existing barrier 10 the arbitrary encroacbmen,s
and usuiPations OF Executive power. Destroy public
confidence III The Senate, which now stands, thank Cod.
unnoved, between the Chief Magistrate and the people,
aud Tyranny, in its worst forms, would very soon oversbo'
dow the land, and rule, with an iron hand, the de.rnies
oil the American people. The Senate, by its pecuIi,r Or.
ganizauon, is well calculated to preserve and perne,ua,e
The great fundamental principles OF public Liberty 10 the
"os' pos.efly. removed IRON popular impulses, which
some INES arise In The commissions incident to lre e5o,n n,
opinion, and OF discussions OF grea, political oursjous il,
may look win cdiinness on the misguided multitude, misled
49, ""6 uNN UcieO Save ID Stale
nom The deieterious consequences Of errors, which are the
inevitable result oil passion or precipitation. |. is an integral
par, Of ,ne Executive power, and, while itren,ains firm in
lis devotion TO the Constitution and The laws, uncorrup.e ed
by The temptations oil office and emolumen,. no chief
niagisrate' whatever may be his reckless ambition, can
successfully move beyond the bounds OF his legitimate
powers, and ride over the Liberties oil the peopIe. Hence
The untiriDg and anxious soiicii ude so often manifesto cd y
or'ng MS oony' thus constituted, into disgrace among tie
people. ~ here existed at this nom. mt no such con<er.
valve body as The Senate. power would march onward
TO The climax of d~espotisH,. The Republic might in
deed exist, nominaily, but, in practice, we sho,id he
bound to the car OF some Imperial Dictator.
There does not appear to be a disposition, in the House
al me other end OF this building, 10 arrest the inrosds OF
arbitrary power; there the edicts Of The Executive r q
gisiered,. and his acts are defended by the force of ,,,tv
discipline, regardless of their Injurious effects on the Urea,
interests OF the country; and 1 repeat The ouestion Saha,
would be the condition of the country buI f,s,he s,i,,a.,
Intervention OF that Senate which has become the ohio,
OF Executive vengeance, and which he now seeks TO die.
The people, founded OIL his past services and personal mn
pul-rily! Sir, is there a single power granted i'm ,ho
Oohsi uioh which The President has not assumed and
eAe'S'seus i know oil none, except that he has not. as
yer, followed The example of one of The Kings of Eno-
iauo, and taken his seat among The judges, TO control their
judicial decisions. This seems 10 bo the ooJv 49,
Wtlch The President has not grasped, 10 compIete The
overthrow OF all the other departments of the Cavern
ment. BY the frequent and Unlimited exerciss oI H.
Veto power, lie has concentrated in himself The entire Ia.
gis'anve authority OF the country. We NAV. il is true
4yerruie hs veto, by a majority of two thirds in both
Eouses OF Congress-; but who is there among lis. with the
Biue Book in his hand. exhibiting the immrnse oa,ronsas
oil The I hiei Magistrate, combined with the yei.I,I NJ ~.
PoiSoh"i ihnuence, tndt does not see and feel The imnossi-
o'ny o' oo'aining a union OF opinion o.. two thirds of Con.
gress against any measure which has the sanction Of Tho
PRESIDENT! Such a triumph never has and never will oc-
cur ID The legislative history OF the country. H.. has G..
ci"red bis Intention OF applying this Tremendous veto nov.
er 10 every OH which does moi meet his APPRECIATION ~
I'D o'her words, he will apply il 10 any bill against which
" e "ouiu RECORD his vote ~ a member OF either Housa nj
Cong'ess' what, then, becomes Of the legislative po,ver
OF Congress We are reduced 10 the condition Of msrs
uru"ges, anu the My duty which we can perform IL IN
prepare Oihs, discuss and amend them, and aJspt lJ,en a.
iar IS we csi,t 10 the public good, aud, alter passing them
ihey must be sent 10 The imperial Head. and he . m ,ei
US whether they shall be enacted into laws or mo, H.
might as well dispense with the Legislature altogetber
ahd can III the all OF the Judges of The Suoreue On,
anu us Attorney General, TO prepare such bills as mav sui,
MS ''e"s' VI u chnicai language, and then issue ms pro
''aniduon, Gecla'Ing that such aud such laws had been In.
cofPof"'ed IN The statute beook. Under the free use of uo
Ve'o power DOW Tor the brst time introduced into practice
oy 'he fresidehi, the legislative power of the Union has
uMlnuIe" mo mere mockery; the power, il il true, is qua.
lihed 10 The Cons tuition, and may be controlled bv I,,o.
thirds on Congress, but, in practice, il amounts 10 an s6solnIe
's!o' hs has the power Of appointment and removal from
once, anu thereby becomes the fountain of honor ~ "a
ue hlgh attributes OF The British monarch. from "a boss
uO,hlnlon we had rescued ourselves by The war of the Re.
voIulon, III asserting and maintaining. the liberty and In.
dependence OF these States; lie il Commando. in. Cbief
OF NE army ana Navy, aud, by an assumption Of mower
moi delegated ~ the Constitution aud the laws, he has e.
idced The broad line, wisely drown between the powet
winch wieIds the physical force Of The country AID ,.
National Treasury, for The obvious reason that these now
ers, separated, can never be dangerous 10 liberty. willie
a combination OF them, IN the same hand, is the very de.
mutton oil military despoisn. Thus the Chief M ,gis,,,1.
srfogaIes TO himself, in the last resort, the lie islstive al.
thorly OF the nation; he is placed By the Cous,itudoo !,
the head Of the military forces and the militia Of the Sc.