Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-05-08
A6R. I.EIaH,s SPEECH.

ell IN the Senate OF the United States, April Is,
1881:
Mr.. LEiGH said, that whatever surprise the
paper sent hithcr by the President, and read
yesterday, might have produced out OF doors.
he presumed there was no member Of the Sc
nate To whom II cagnc unexpected. Every
man here must have been aware, Tor some
time past, OF the actusi commencement of
hosti!ities 10y that potentate against this bod,
aud prepared, Of course, for the public dec A.
ration Of war that was soon To follow. The
language OF this manifesto lad been describ-
ed, BY the friends Of the administration, a.
temperate and moderate; aud 1t was tempe
rate enough, ia the sense IA which that cpi-
thct might be applied 10 all dcnunciation- Of
war by civilized Powers, IN moderate timc,-
as temperate as Is compatible with the nature
aud purpose OF such denunci atious. There
was nothing IN the mere language Of TIN, rN-
iraordinary paper that was offensive to han
Il was the act itself that reused his indisna-
ton. lie felt that sentiment very strongly
never, on any Occasion, more strongly and
u he were TO indulge the expression Of hi,
feeling, he should not, like the g.ntlem
from Name, (Mr. Sprasue) SPEAK more IN
grici than in anger much less would his Lam
suage be IN unison With that cheerful mood
ia which the gentle man from Alabama (Nir.
kins) had spoken on the subject, for he felt
IS u we were even now trcadins among the
RUNS Of the constitution. lie should, how
ever, endcayor 20 suppress all emotions OF
passion. His purpose was To examine this
act Of the President, the motive that obvious
~ dictated it, its manifest design aud Oh iect,
ana the mischief which il but too certainly
Portended.
What, then, said he, is the true character
ioi The act' IL - apparent Ia every line OF
NhAR al.
dispute about lit; for the gentleman from
Missouri, who had certainly been previously
apprlsed OF IFS contents, since no came pre-
pared with extracts from The Ftdsralisi, TO
sustain some OF the positions assumed by the
Observation-Disclosures, Of which, without the
spirit oil divination, he could not have seen the
application 10 the purpose, unless lac had a
previous accurate know ledgc-the gentleman
from Missouri tells us that this n solemn APP
peal to the American people, by the Presi-
dent, against the Senate; an appeal, he must
allow, such as has never before been at
tempted or thought Of And add, and shall
prove, that this Is quarrel causcles sly sought
by the President with the Senate, To be sub
United to the decision OF the people, IN which
he hopes for victory; aud, ii he succeeds, Il
prepared to avail himself OF all the ad. an
tages OF victory TO the uttormost.
Ihe PRESIDENT proposes trial Of the weight
oil ms personal popularity and OF. the ENecu-
1--we influence, against the constitutional pow
ers and rights Of the Senate, and the priv
lege Of this branch Of the Legislature 10 ex.
eroise its own judgment concerning its own
rIShts and duties. He undertakes 60 pre-
scribe to US the limits OF our legislative func-
tons. II he fail in this trial of his streagth,
the only consequence will be some mortilica-
ton OF his pride, and grcyous dlsappoint.
ment of The Ur..fiHrafi ,f To- e.. "A
burning resentments which but too pIainI,
influence all his actions. The constitution
Will remain uEaltered aud unImpaired. But
u The people shall sustain him in this appeal
the constitution OF the Senate " Ill be directly
attacked. He las indicated his own personal
motives, and the political objects Inc is seek
ing to accomplish III respect 10 the Senate, ia
ihis very paper, aud that in language too
plain to bc misunderstood 10y any man who
N"i mol shat his mind TO every thing bu;
PLAIN, upequivocal ayowal he saws:
I'll the ccnsiIrcs 81 ihe Senate be- submitted a.
= hy ihc President, he confidence IF the Drojl. ~
ne G5iHfg dndtSrGhr, aud tie thGrdcisI' anil uss-
'JailrSs II his GaiiRiIS!rGfon .-fE 1.H he a. al,
eyId, anal Me real po.aer Of tie Is1er,gt,,,1 vL
tai INFO hc haLs Of "a bo,Jp hoi,iDIa nieir slfre.
for ioIg terms, moi elected 6y tie fc"bic, and mol
10 them directly rcspoHa6te. II, on the other
hand, the illegal eensurcs of the Senate should
be resisted by the President, collisions and m.
cry controversies might ensue, discrc,litablc ia
their progress, aud IN the cnd compelling ia.
people 10 adopt the conclusion, either that their
'Chitt Magistrate Was unworthy 81 their respect
or that the Senate was eharI,,sble r;h ealdnn,
aud injustice. Either Of il,cs, rcsuIts would IN
par public confidence ia the perfection OF a.,
system, md Trad % serious alterations Of %,
franz lrorI o. 70 H'e practical Abandonment sJ
some 81 ne fr01gSioH" Aud ia AnotlI, r l,art H.,
says: q" Hut IL the Senate have right To inter
iere ~'!h The Executive po~ets, they have slso
tl'e right To make that interference effective
and % the assertion Of the power implied 90 the
resolution be silently seq'iicsccdl IN Ne NAV r,s-
sonabiy apprcbcDd tiiat It will h.. followed, NJ
some inturr day, by an Gffcrfbf az acs4af ey,-
'jofcciHeni. The NritIfc siIg refuse, ercrtf on
NE conhH1n that hc rel sHrrcTsLs- h4s sjsH9ns
10 hei's, and obrr their ,fH 10 b,rIorm n.rir o1r,
I . c9HsfdHfionGf f1acbDBFs IL PAS Alr Hr.cssarn
hrTs' 10 junction appropriations ftsIos@d by ~,
\ Ususr Of RebfcsrHillLilrs and Ia confirm bro.
/ pr nominations By the I'rcastHf."
Who does not see, m these expire sions the
manifestation OF those personal motives ~ hich
have imPelled tho President TO hostil.ties a.
CANT the senate 2 that the confidence Of the
people ~ ht' ability and tHfus, aud the char
soter and usefulness Of his administration, -
tho object that constitutes the personal mo-
tive of bis eoDduor Who does not see tina,
he refusal Of the Senate t0 sanction appro.
priaiions proposed by tho House Of Keprcsen-
taiiVe-, aud TO confirm proper nominations by
Tho PrcsIdent,' ate 10 be- regarded by him. aud
TO be held W to the people, a. an attempt,
on our part, az actual enforcement Of our
right 10 interfere with The Executive pow.
\ efs' Who does not also see "a those aliu-
.ions 10 the constitution Of thIs BODY. hold-
ibs uleH Offices for long terms, not elected
by uio people, and not To them directly res.
Ponsibie, the corrective which the President
- aiming at No ono can suppose that tie
serious alterations Of the frame " ORR. or tie
practical abandonment 81 some of tl,e prov.
SONS Oi the constitution, which Ne expects
Will grow out u these collisions between the
Executive ADD tie senate. will be- of nature
10 reduce tie patronage, power. and inhusnee
- tie former. The Hsuss 81 Represents
tives % must m deceney be presumed y N
make no appropriations, which q does nol
ihink wise and just nor tie President 81,
nominations, which be does not thilk pFopsr
but Tho senate, 10 " legislative capacity, DO,
80 express pOwe by tie constitution. o. sEres
- Tie appropriations proposed by us oihri
House, ol - disscat if-m them. according e.