Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-04-25

He rested under The firm conviction that the resoln,ion IF
,"e SENATE which had draw from the President the calm,
temperate, and dignHhed Protest which had been read az
tue liable, was a resolution which ought to be expunged
IRON The journal OF the Senate; and Il any thing was ne
cessafy 10 stimulate his sense oi duty in making a motion
to that effect, and in encouraging others alter no was
gone. In following up that molten 10 success, il would be
,oana IN the history and termination OF the similar
motion which was made in the English House of Com
mons 10 which he had referred. That motion was
renewed for fourteen years,-irom l76s TO l7S2.-beiore
IL was successful. For the first seven years, the lofty and
Indignant majority did not condescend to reply 10 he mo-
'on. They sunk IL under a dead vote as often as present.
Ell. ! ne second seven years they replied; and, at the
end OF the term, aud OH the assembling OF a new Parlia-
ment, the veteran motion was carried by more than two
10 one; ana The gratifying spectacle was beheld, of o pub
nc expnrgaion, in the face of the assembled Commons Of
England, OF the most obnoxious resolution from the Jour-
nal OF the House. The elections in England were sep.
tenniai, aud it took two terms oil seven years, or two gem
era' elections, TO bring the sense Of the Kingdom to bear
upon their representatives.; the elections OF the Senate
were sexennial, with in,ercalory exits and entrances; and
II might'aSe a iess, or a longer period, he would not pre-
snne' to say which, TO bring the sense OF the American
People to bear upon an act of the American Senate. OF
thathe would make no calculations; but the final success
OF Tie motion in the English House Of Commons, after
fourteen years perseverance,, was a sufficient encourage
ment for him TO begin, and doubtless would enrou,ags
others TO continue, until lhe good work should be crown
ell with success, and the only atonement made, which il
was 10 the senate's power TO make, TO the violated msjes-
fy oil the Constitution, the invaded privileges of the House
oil representatives, aud the subverted rights Of an Ameri.
can citizen.
In bringing This great question before the American
People, MIR. b. should consider himself as addressing the
calm Intelligence OF an enlightened community. He
believed The body OF the American People TO he the most
enlightened community upon earth; and, without the least
dlsparagement TO the present Senate, he must be permit
Ted to believe that many such Sena,es might be drawn
from The ranks oil the People, and still leave no dearth of
intelligence behind. To such a conmunity-in an appeaI
on a great question of constitutional law, TO the UNDER
standings oil such a Experimentation, passion, epithets,
opprocrious language, would stand for nothing. Thew
would fioat, harmless and unheeded, through The empty
air, and strike in vain upon the ear OF a sober and dis.
passionate tribunal. Indignation, real or afec ted; wrath,
however hot; Jury, however enraged; asseveraions, how
ever violent; denunciations, however furious, will avail
nothing. Facts-inexorabie tacts-are all that will be-
attended to; reason, calm and seii-possessed, is all that
VIII De listened to. An intelligent tribunal will ex-
act The respect OF an address 10 their understandings;
aud he that wishes TO be heard in this great oues-
ton, or being heard, would wish TO be needed, will have
occasion 10 be clear and correct in his facts; close and
perspicuous in his application OF law; fair and candid in
his conclusions and differences; temperate and decorous
IN his languages; and scrupulously free from every faint of
vengeance aud malice. Solemnly impressed with the
truth Of all these convictions, il was the intention of him
sell (Mr. B)-whatever the example or the provocatiop,
might be-hever TO forget his place, his subject, his au-
a'ence' and his object! Never 10 forget that he was
speaking in the American Senate, on a question of viola
ted Constitution aud outraged individual right; to an audi
ence comprehending the whole body OF the American
People, aud Tor the purpose OF obtaining a righteous de-
cision from the calm and sober judgment of a high-mind-
ed, Intelligent, and patriotic community.
The question Immediately before the Senate was one
oil minor consequence; it might be called a question of
small import, except Tor the effect which the decision
might have upon the Senate Itself. In that point OF view,
II might be a question oil rome moment; for, without re-
Terence TO individuals, it was essential 10 the cause of
Tree GoveInmenfs, Thar every Department OF the Govern
"e", Wc SsHdlt lhcIusife, should so act as 10 Dreserye
10 i'seit The respect and the confidence OF the country.
lhe immediate question was, upon the rejection of lie
Presidents message. Ii was moved 10 reject ito re-
Ject u, not alter IL was considered, but before il vas rom
sldeTed! aud thus TO tell the American People that their
President shall not be heard should not be allowed 10
plead his detence-in the presence of the BODY that CON
demned him, neither before the condemnation nor after
II! This is the motion, and certainly no enemy TO the
Senate could wish II TO miscarry. The Presiisn Mt, i'm The
conclusion oil his message, has respectfully requested that
his defence might be entered upon the Journal of The Sc
nate-upon that same Journal which contains the record
oil his conviction. This is the request of the President.
WIN The Senate deny h' Will they refuse this act of sheer
justice and common decency? win they go further, and
moi only refuse TO place il on the Journal, but refuse even
10 suiierh 10 remain in the Senate Will they refuse 10
permit II to remain on file, but send il back or throw il out
oil doors, without condescending 10 reply TO il? for that
is the exact import of the motion now made will Sc.
majors exhaust their minds, and their bodies also, in load
ing this very communications with epilhets, and then say that
1t shall not be received! Will they receive memorials,
resolutions, essays, from all that choose to abuse the Pre-
sideui, and not receive a word Of defence from him Will
they continue the spectacle which has been presented
here for three montbs-a daily presentation of attacks up
on the President from all that choose to attack him.
young and old, boys aud men-atlscks echoing the very
sound OF this resolution, and which are not only received
and hled here, but printed also, and referred TO a commit
tee, and introduced, each one, with a lauded commentary
Of set phrases! Are the Senate to receive all these. and
yet refuse TO receive from the object of all This attack
woid OF answer! In this point Of view, as a question con-
corning The Senate itself, il may become material 10 the
Senate, IN a country, and in an age when no tribunal is
too high for public opinion TO reach il; il may become ma
teriai 10 the Senate, in such a country and such an age. 10
reject, and throw out oil doors, the calm and temperate de-
fence oil lhe PRESIDENT, In The midst OF the reception OF a
thousand memorials and resolutions, condemning him for
The very act which he is not allowed TO defend! Is he 10
be the only citizen who is not TO be heard by The Senate ,
Him, whom 1t seems 10 be lawful for every one WHOSE
education and manners qualities him for the application
OF BiliDgsgate rhetoric, TO lavish il upon him Reject
ed, or not, that communication cannot be secreted from
the eyes Of The American People. 1t has been read.
and will be printed. An independent press will carry il
to the extremities OF the country, aud hand it down TO sue
ceeding generations. II will be compared with speeches
delivered for three months in this Capitol, against this Pre-
sident; aud an enlightened aud upright community will
decide between the language OF the defence, and the len.
guage OF the accusation between the temper OF The ac-
cusers, and the temper Of the accused between the vio-
lent President who has violated the Constitution and the
laws, and the meek and gentle Senators who have eat i'm
judgment upon him for IL. The People will see these
thiDgs-will compare them toge,her-will Judge Tor them
selves; and that judgment, in this free and happy land,
will be the final aud supreme award, from which there is
no appeal.
The great question, Mr.. y. said, which was TO 90 be.
fore lie American People, and TO claim from them that
intense and profound consideration which the English
people gave 10 the conduct Of The House of Commons. in
Of the Senale's conduct in adopting the resolution which
condemned the President for a violation OF The laws and
Of the Constitution OF his country. IL was the con-
ducto Of the Senate which would now be on trial; and that
conduct deserved 10 be tried, and, as far ssit depended up
on bin, should be tried, UPON THE FACTS or THE CASE
ALoNE-upon the facts which our own journal con-
t,ins-upon the resolutions rs offered and adopted here
upon the authentic speeches which the supporters
Of these resolutions have published 10 the world, and
which show the sense in which they understood the pro-
ceeding which they carried on. The proceeding he, MIR.
b, held to be an impeachment, without the forms of an
impeacbment-a conviction without the form OF a trial
a scnteuce of condemnation for y high crime and rpiaIe-