Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-03-10
,,...,.,iens Of PSriek Henry. of that period.


,l, ,,i.l.,a, ,,>cendancy and the, Immediately
formed re rcsolIi,on fe erp'mge them from the
journal Ban BY stroke Of policy as bold as it
was successful, Mr.. Henry saved those resolu
;ions from being cxpnne.d. which form AT this day
one of the brightest pages of Virginia History, and
recorded on any mans tomb would ctcrniz. his
fame: Aud vel, to expunge them ilom the jour
nal. was regarded much an act of duty by those
who proposed 1t, as YOU, gentlemen can esteem
!, 10 br m the case under consideration. They
faied--and my PRAYER. rs citizen of free
oant vs.. HAT YOU too ma, bc unsuoccssiu'-you
pastcris may have good ia rejoice in your
failure.
Another example, almost as ill,s,rious, is To be
found ~ The conduct of Robert Beverly during
the administration oi Lord Culpeper, The histo-
nv of the incidents Of that transaction mot onl,
Instructive, bat highly interesting. Lord Culpc-
per. armed with all the authority Of the Ming OF
England, his master, ordered that resolution
sdopcd i,v the House Of Burac>sc, during the ad-
misis,ra,on of Herbert Jeilries, should be expun-
ged from their records rs highly de,oeator, 10 his
Maiesus prcroeativc." Robert Beverly was
C-ik In The House ii Buigcssrs. Every effort
made 10 lndace Inn 10 produce tho journal III
order Ia have ieJpapged. He WAS subjected 10
all mariner OF prosecutions but he elorcd IN his
offerings. and his noble spirit in proportion
10 his prosecutions lie p"Iempiorilv refused Ia
cutnni., alleging " l. al his master, the House OF
Burrc>ses, had alone right to MAKE such de-
mand and tina, ihe,r authority alone me burst or
would ohev."--tnd too. reply 10 these orders
which ARE now gIIen mr,-thi will not cSpunrc
the records of the Senate until The Constitution.
which, while it is prrntcd 10 remain, is master
ovef all, shall br changed, altered abolished.
You will have full opportunity, gentlemen, to ap-
~. l 4
not consent to be MADE ms 90 accom-
piish such an objcct--nor shall envy any success
whom You may scui Oh such mission.
Had vonr resolutions directed mr. 10 repeal or
rcscind the rsolntion OF The Senate, | would have
obeved YOUR orders, although with eatrl ctanee.
| would. nevertheless have fll my ,ri co, strained
iodo 81 by my recognition f your right to instruct
me. That proceeding would have reversed and
annulicd The act complained of. Ii Your object
was 10 vndicatc the President in the authorit,
which he assumed and sill cXcrcis,s oy,rthe public
money. aud esteem necessary, IN order to do 50,
10 have had your opinions oppressed through me
in the Senate Chamber, they should have been
faithfully represented. H., vindictIon, after all,
cannot consist in the form inwhich II MAY be urged.
/, is to BE- found aloae IN The legislative cSprcssun
Of opinion; and even i Your declarations IN lns
behalf were confined II Your own ,ournal,, the his.
IA NbHl' 0'l }dl az dNdli HliiNtIl " li''Ii
efficiently As il they Stood cnihlazoncd on the hea.
,ens. From my knowledge of you, am SUR that
YOU would mol be willing TO pull down rho Cons,i-
tuiion unnecessarily and without object.
In Your effort 10 siGdica,c tic President, sou
have cas-, ON me-, IN common 18th others the very
reproaoh which vonatc pleased 10 regard SO often
sfre in reference 10 I'm. Yea have publicly, and
before the world, declared resolution for winch
voted. 10 be SIdvcrs5vc OF lhr rights OF the loasc
OF representatives. aud the fundamental principles
Of free government If you designed 10 charge
me with mpurity OF motive ia the VOTE lhus CIV
~, Your accusation would Imply lila byhr.i cen.
sure. Bat ibis ! do not ascrlbc 10 ynu. fou m
tend 10 81, no more HAN tlat ,our Judgment AID
opinion dlbprs from thst expressed by me upon The
SUBJECT odt al wh'sh grew the resolution OF the
Sen3tt, 49, 'hll ~ :, pale committed an error,
which, effects. Is calculated Ia subvrrt " the
rights OF th- House oil Representatives and the
fundamental principles OF free government" The
censurc which Your resolution CONVEYS, implies
want al correct judgment. on my part in voting
Tor that resolution, and nothing more. II this BE-
your meanng--and | will not permit N, self 10
think oihrfw,e--i Am Yet 10 Learn how incur
the hazard OF subycrting =" he rights OF the House
vi Representatives and the fundamental principles
oi iIoe government, BY having declared in sui
stance, what ~ "A member of the Senate did by /
my vote declare, that tine President ha, mistaken
his course, and That ls conduct was " ia dcroca.ion
oil the Constitution and laws" Have done more
IN this Than Nuu have done in Your declaration
And II not, submit II IN all candor 10 ,our dis
passionate judgment TO whether, if | WAS liable,
/" trial GA Impeachment before yon, YOU would
consder yourselves as ha,inc already pronounced
upon my guilt in advance? | should certainly not
dream OF excepting Ia you my Judges hrcausr,
resting on my integrity OF motive, | should feel
confident of acqulta. There Can be no guilt
without criminal dc,gn--aud | am sure YOU
would be among the last 10 asoribe 10 the President
any crlhli sny Of des IN. Am 10 understand
You as declaring, HAT because the House OF Rep
rescnauHeS may originat" an impeachment a.
gdnsi The President other officer of the Gov
ernment, the Senate has no righi 10 express an
opinion a. 10 any act of the President or such oh
or officer No mltier what MA, be the act, even il
II aiinihiiatcS the pow, OF the Srnatc-has il 10
power, inherent IN all Other bodics of sct.protcc-
ton and dcten,el 4 BrcLnus may invade. the
body and pIuck 1t by the beard, and Vet accor-
ding TO this, II has authority Ia strike. Go Ia
tina, vencrabl" Patriarch of Mompelirr (Nlr Mad.
ison,) and ASK HIM whether, in framing the Com
siItution, he designed that the Senate should be
mere motiontcsS stock, or Ni-llant sentinel 10
give notice u lhr approa, OF danger TO that yer,
Constitution which IL il swora to support-Ah cticr
the Representatives 81 the sovereign States are
are hidden, aud to ST ia tLeir places lill statues
10 record such edIctS as may come to them II the
President recommends a measure which the Sem