Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-03-24

And I. too, reply TO those orders whlc
ale now given me, that will not exp1na
the records Of the Senate, until The Cor
stitution, while u 10 permitted 10 renal
as il 10. master over all. shall be changed
altered, or abolished. You win have 70
opportunity, gentlemen. to appoint anoih
or in my place. For my part. will no
consent to be made an instrument to &C
complish such an object. nor shall env.
any successor whom you may send OF
such mission.
Had your resolutions directed me 70 re
scind or repeal the resolution Of the Sen
ate, would have obeyed your orders
although with great reluctance, Iwould
nevertheless. have felt myself constrained
to do 50 by my recognition Of your right
to instruct me. That proceeding would
have reversed and annulled the act CON-
planned Of If your object was TO vindi-
cate the President in the authority which
he assumed, aud still exercises. over the
public money, and you esteemed Il neces.
sary in order to do so. 10 have your opin.
ions expressed through me in the Senate
chamber. they should have been faithfully
represented. His vindica'ion, al,er all,
cannot consist in the form in which j, may
be urged. II 10 TO be found alone in the
legislative expression Of opinion and even
il your declarations in his behalf were con-
fined to your own journals, the historian
would not fail TO avail himself Of them as
efficiently as If they were emblazoncd on
the heavens. From my knowledge Of you
| am sure that you would not he willing TO
pull down the constitution unnecessarily
and without object.
10 your effort to vindicate the President
you have cast on me. in common with
others, the very Ieproach which you are
pleased to regard as so offensive in refer
ence TO him. You have publicly, and be-
fore the world, declared resolution for
which voted 10 be "sub,ersive Of the
rights Of the House Of Representatives,
and the fundamental principles Of free go,
vernment." lf you designed TO charge
me with impurity Of motive in the vote
thus given, your accusation would imply
the highest censure. But this do mol as.
cribe to you. You int nd TO say no more
than that your judgment and opinion dit
fers from that expressed by me upon the
subject out Of which grew the resolution
Of the Senate; and that the senate com.
mitted an error which, in its effect, is cal
culated to subvert the rights OF the ii.
of Representatives, and the Fundamental
principles Of free government" The cen.
sure which your resolution conveys. i'm
plies a want OF correct judgment on my
part in voting for that resolution. and no.
thing more. II this be your tue meaning
land will not permit myse'f 10 th'nk 9th
erwise.) am yet TO learn how incur the
hazard Of subvertipg the rights OF the
House Of Representstn es, and the iunda-
mental principles Of free government by
having declared, in substance. what. as a
member Of the Senate. did, by my vote
declare that the President had mistaken
bis course, and that bis conduct was " IN
derogaiion Of the constitution and laws"
Have done more in this than you have
done in your declaration ? And. " not, !
submit il in all candor TO your dl-pssslon-
ate judgment 10 cay, whether, u were
liable 10 trial on impeachmen, before you.
you would consider yourselves as having
already pronounced upon my guilt IN ad
vance. I should certainly not dream OF
excepting TO you as my judges, because.
resting on my integrity Of motive, | should
feel confident Of acquittal There can he
no guilt without a criminal design and
am sure you would he among the last TO
ascribe 10 the President any criminallty OF
design. Am to understand you as de.
claring, because the House Of Represent.
atives may originate an Impeachment
against the President or other officers oil
the Government, that the Senate has no
right to express an opinion as TO any arI
of the President, Or other officer no mat
ter what may be the act, even II IL ami
hiIates the powers Of the Senate Has u
no rights, inherent in all other bodies, OF
self protection and defencep A Brennus
may invade the body and pluck II ny The
beard, and yet, according to this doctrine
il has no authority TO resist. Go TO that
venerable patriarch of Montpelier. Mr..
kIadison) aud ask him whether, IN framing
the constitution, lie designed that the Be.
nate should be mere motionless stock,
or a vigila nj sentinel TO give notice OF the
approach Of danger 10 that Constitution
which it is sworn 10 support Whether
the representatives of sovereign States are
such mere autouiata, as to move only
when they are hidden, and TO eli ~ their
places like statues, 10 record such edIcts
as may come TO them? " the President
recommends measure which the Senate
believes impolitic. shall il not say so II
he adopts a course which he may believe
TO be correct, but which the Senate thinks
unc unconstitutional, may it not say SOP And
does its so declaring tend to subrert or sup
port the fundamental principles Of free
government? You surely can be at no
loss 10 decide.
The Senate, in the instance OF the late