Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-22
SPEECH OF MR.. KANE,
Or ILLINcIs,

motion Of Mr.. PorNDExrER, that the pro
test Of the president of the United State
nga'nst the resolutions Of censure pass
Cd by the Senate, be not received;
Mr.. Kane rose and said:
Mr.. president, 1 am amongst thos,
who believe that this session has been al
ready sufficiently extended; and tina
the time for action upon the necessar,
business Of the country has arrived
my sentiments upon the present suhiec
will be therefore delivered as briefly a.
possible. The proposition first made
in haste and without consideration, no,
to receive the communication OF the
president has in some measure, e:yer
way to more sagacious councils; more
saeacious because formed upon more re-
reflection. Gentlemen in the opposi
ton have trodden back their steps, and
have consented to present their reasons
upon record, in the shape Of the resolu.
aions now before you. 1t will not sur
prise me, il our further progress should
lead TO further recessions. take no
pleasure in retorting upon senators, who
have charged retraction Of opinions up.
on the president, because Of his supple
mental explanations, the fact that their
propositions have been thrice altered,
and that down to this moment they have
not agreed upon the course to be pur-
sued.
The more generous, just and manly
ground to take, is to allow every gentle.
man in public or private life, to explain
his own language in his own way, to a.
void misapprehension or misrepresenta-
ton. must say, however, that the
notes l took before the appearance Of
the presidents explanation, will show
that had come TO the same conclusions.
Great surprise was manifested upon the
first presentation Of the protest. One
senator after another rose in his place,
and declared it an extraordinary paper
most extraordinary indeed. This
feeling Of wonder grew stronger and
stronger, until it was augmented to such
a degree, as to impel one gentleman to
pronounce it an impairment interference
NTH the affairs Of the senate. What pro-
duced this surprise! The paper had
been once hastily read by the secretary,
had not been examined, and its doctrines
and arguments could not have been ac-
curately understood by any one. Where
then, is the reason for all this petrifying
astonishment to be found? Is the fact
which gentlemen saw before their eyes,
and about which there could be no mis-
take, that human being had, perhaps
for the FIRST time in the history Of our
proceedings, ventured TO demonstrate
against the injustice which the senate
had done him, without constitutional
warrant? II this be the FIRST incident
Of the kind, it is first only, because ne
necessary occasion for such a procedure
on the part Of the executive was ever
before furnished by the senate.
Let US look back and see what the
senate was, and then compare It with
what we now know it to be-. For ma
ny years after the adoption of the
frst adopted federal constitution, the
<senate was composed Of men Of the
greatest discretion, Of the profoundes
Wisdom, and wellregulated and patriot
ic ambition. Impressed with proper
sense Of their heavy responsibilities
they consulted the public good. the in
terests and wishes Of their respective
states, of the nation and nothing else.-
Satisfied with the regulations they ha'
already acquired, and that the station
at,sy occupied had rs much Of dignlt
sui consequence about them, a. sensibl
d,er could desire, or as any which ire
country could or ought to furnish. the
neither courted the applause Of sp
rounding multitudes, nor desired TO 81
change the calm, dignifed occupation
OF the senate chamber for the uncoa
irritable, turbulent. and tempestusus ca
ployments Of executive efice. Fl
some time they sat with closed door
eon6ned themselves 10 revising the bu'
ness sent flom the house Of represent
- lives, aud to their executive and jud'ei
duties, always careful to preserve Il
rights Of the body from eneroaehme
from any quarter, and avoiding oil int
ference with the just rights Of ether q
.paits.ents Of the government. IL
eeur,s Of conduct like this, Was the y