Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-08

DoNELsoN, his private secretary; among
them the following
PROTEST:
To the Senate Of the United States:
1t appears by the published journal O.
the Senate, that on the 26th of December
last, resolution was offered by membe,
Of the Senate, which, after a pro,racted
debate, was, on the 2sth day of March
last, modified by the mover, and passed by
the votes of twenty-six senators out of for
ty-six,* who we're present and voted in the
following words, viz
"Resolred, That the president, in his
late executive proceedings in relation to
the public revenue, has assumed upon him
self authority and power not conferred by
the constitution and laws, but in deroga
ton Of both"
Having had the honor, through the vol
untary suffrages of the American people,
TO fill the office of president of the United
States during the period which may be
presumed to have been referred to in this
resolution, it is sufficiently evident that
the censure it inflicts was intended for
myself. Without notice, unheard and I'M
tried, | thus find myself charged on the
records Of the senate, and in form hith-
erto unknown in our history, with the high
crimes of violating the laws and constitu-
tion Of my country.
1t can seldom re necessary for any de-
partment of the government, when assail-
ed in conversation, or debate, or by the
structures of the press or of popular assem-
.blies, to step out of its ordinary path for
the purpose of indicating lis conduct, or
OF pointing out any irregularity or injustice
in the manner of the attack. But when
tie chief executive magistrate is, by one
Of the most important branches OF the
government, in its official capacity, in a
public manner, and by its recorded SEN
tence, but without precedent, competent
authority, or just cause, declared guilty of
"A breach Of the laws and constitution, it is
due to his station, TO public opinion, and to
proper self-respect, that the officer thus de-
nounced should promptly expose the wrong
which has been done.
In the present case, moreover, there is
even stronger necessity for such vndi-
cation. By an express provision OF the
constitution. before The president of the U.
States can enter on the execution of his
office, he is required to take an oath or az
firmatlon in the following words:
II do solemnly swear Tor affirm) that
will faithfully execute the office Of presi-
dent of the United States; and will, 10 the
best Of my ability, protect, and defend. the
constitution of the United States.
The duty of defending, so far as in him
lies, the constitution, would indeed have
resulted from the very nature of his office !;
but by thus expressing it in the Official
oath or affirmation, which, in this respect,
differs from that of every other functional
ny, the founders of our republic have at
tested their sense Of its importance, and
have gwen to it peculiar solemnity and
force. Bound to tho performance of this
duty by the oath have taken, by the
strongest obligations of gratitude to the
American people, and by the ties which
unite my every earthly interest with the
welfare and glory Of my country; and per-
fectly convinced that the discussion and
passage Of the aforementioned resolution
we're not only Unauthorized by the consli-
tuition, but in many respects repugnant to
its provisions and subversive of the rights
secured by it to other coordinate depart
ments, ! deem it an imperative duty to
maintain the supremacy Of that sacred to-
.strument, and the immunities of the de-
,partment intrusted to my care, by all means
consistent with my own lawful powers
with the rights of others, and with the gen-
aus Of our civil institutions. To this end
/ have caused this, my solemn profess
against the aforesaid proceedings. to be
placed on the files Of the executive depart
znent, and to be transmitted to the senate
4. II is alike due to the subject, the senate
and the people, that the views which | have
taken Of the proceedings referred TO, and
which compel me to regard them in the
light that has been mentioned. should be
exhibited at length, and with the freedom
'. sYEAs-Messrs. Bibb, Black, Calhoun, Clay
Clarion, Ewing, FreIinghuysen, Kent. knight
Lsigh, Mangum, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter
Rrentiss, Preston, Robbins, Sillsbee, Smith, South
srd, epssgue, Swift, Tomlinson, Tyler, Wagga
.nan, Webster, 26.
NAYs.-Messrs. Benton, Brown, Forsyth
Grundy. Hendricks, Hill, Kane, King, of Ala.
Eing, 81 Geo., Linn, Mexican, Moore, Morris
Hsbinscn. 6hepley, Tallmadge, Upton, White
NiIkins, Wright, 20.