Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-08

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ton of the Constitution and laws, although criminal
intent was expressly charged. II therefore seemed
ST TO MI W., that the resolution of March 2Sth,
1894, could have proceeded from the Senate, nei
TIER IN ITS executive, its legislative judicial character
bu as the powers guaranteed to thcyi under
ne oil III, heads, the conclusion v.iablc
the resolution unconstitutional aud OF course null
aud void-an intrt0per, without authority stand
Tue journal and the incumbent duty Of the Senate to
!, move the same.
Having, said Mr.. w. assumed ii true, that Il sacred
regard Tor the Constitution, and justice prosecuted
patriot required the same To be removed it remained
Tor nun to show how it was 10 be done. Parliament
TRY usage, and the opinion of Mr.. Jefferson bottoed
on substantial reason, justify in the assertion, that
m existing Senate has the power 10 amend correct
atcr ITS Jpurna And thus If the Senate, which passed
Tue obn ous resolution, had subsequently viewed it
IN tie light which he did they would have had the au
hority to make such disposition OF the resolution
now proposed for il assuredy would have been most
auAole correction, not only IN his estimation, but in
Tue estimation of the people he had the honor repre-
sent AS certainly could subsequent Senate have
taken any action the jouIaal OF preceding Sen.
ate, as he should presently proceed to shew which
,he public good might indicate. What the object of
the constitution in providing that journal should be
Kept and published from time Time &c: Doubtless
Tue promotion OF The public good by producing uniiormi
OF acton, by establishing fxedness in rules and en-
surins representative responsibility the very
vitality otthe systcn and hence the Senate
Is required to keep Journal publish the same But
no where does the Constitution say, subsequent Sc.
nate shall preserve and publish the journal of proceed
ing Senate unless it shall be for the promotion of the
pubic good Even then ii is OF mpicaton and
mat is mode in which he did like to derive author
constant
cnrence to absurdies ruin The object then of the
constitution Is clear The proceedings which were au.
o.Leu 70 oe oninalsed were such rs were warranted
ny the Consututlon-None other have the rpht-none
other ought To stand on the journal And have shewn
mat The resolution of March 18th, 1884 was neither Lee
giSduve, Elective, Judicial, with the proper cons
utonal prerequisites and that such only are the pro-
ceedings author lied by the Constitution The Consu-
ton did not authorize to be put on the onrna mud
cannot require il 10 be kept there. The question re-
ours now Is 1T 10 be removed together with its iniur
Gus consequences the Constitution and the fame of
the PRESIDENT: No one doubts the power to rescind
or repeal any resolution of the journal. But said
MT W. to rescind repeal the obnoxious resolution
would not obtain the object-the rcparation of the
oreach 1t made in the Constitution, and the com
pete vindication of the President To rescind or TO
repeal, is designed to destroy the legal effect of any
law or resolution, whether the same was properly
or improperly passed-t would not carry with il the
conclusion, that the resolution was wrong from the
beginning. For attending circumstances might endr
the enactment of law resolution highly expedent
which the course of subsequent events might make in
expedient, and repeal necessary Besides men Min,
come and see the journal the ncton of the disoraee
ana never dream in after time that returning sense of
nstice had caused the he repealed or rescined
ne use oil these terms, then, said Mr. W., could not
reach the object but would fall far short of it, He could
not therefore them this OCCASION What term can
nen he used None other than the word in the resou
uoh now proposed Tor adoption-Expunge. That is
what justice requires; that is what grateful people re-
quire What is the meaning this word? Parliamenta
~ usage makes it to signify that the resolution shall
stand Tor nothing. Expunge then is the word and il
is The only word dedicated to Parliamentary usape
that compass object 1t reaches back and conT
itself with the obnoxious observation-disclosures ON il an in
dehbe mark of nations Misrepresentation th
proceeding to be null and voidh that ought never TO
have had existence the ournal-and can no Longer
stand as a t0tHg part thereof
We have them said Mr.. W.. in bold relief the bane
and andote side by side in strict accordance with Ma
ture s plan AS well might the Senate have condemned
the House OF Representatives, for dereicton OF duty in
not preletrlng an impeachment against the President
ana thereoy destroying the beauty and harmony of tho
wsest system OF government created by human in
genuity consolidated by human wisdom The Execn
tive Is but another branch of the same government
IL AZ
lore, Imperative that should pass the resolutions that
we may stamp on the act of the Senate an indelble
marx, that IT may be known in all after thieves The
mark of Cain, the slayer of his brother
= But, can it be said, expunge because the
constitution says the Senate shall keep journal and il
ed supposton hat "ekIshGGSgne s means
ton, and keep means preserve; neither of which
DO grant The word keep has two meanings; and in
interpreting the Constitution may we not adopt that
you ever merchant, MIR. Speaker? If YOU were NOT
nave Seen-and kept Journal TO make entries in (,
copy correctly In all the transactions of the business
oi winch ID was Kept; but never thought it necessary
TO preserve 1T. The journal kept in that sense
~ was copied INTO the ledger and after that ii was of
NIUE OF no Importance Did you as Secrcta.
ry OF meeting, Mr.. Speaker? have-and cons;dsr
ed myself pledged to hep faithful journal of its proceed
ings, but not Ia retain i-merey to copv then, cnrrn
and when published, the original was thrown o,ro -
Thus, 1t is manifest that keep does not mean TO
in the cases enumerated Nor did he tint !, 80, .,
preserve, IN It's position in the Constitution the whl
design being 10 publish the Journal 10 ensure
alive responsibility.
ne panic Senate that passed the resolution of March
20 1884, TOOK an oath to support the Constitution and
OF course to keep journal OF its PROCEEDINGS ard oub
ilsh The same from time to tme-which was done and
II constitutionay done that SENATE had fulfilled t o,h
but now, SAID MIR. W., stands the question of sbsn
sequenl session OF the Senate? The new Senators r az
80 take an oath to support the constitution; of course 10
Keep Journal What journal do they swear to Keen,
ne journal OF former session? Surely not for If tbev
DO they swear TO publish the SANE; which propostio1
gTnnot lor moment be admitted, from its absudity
me new Senators, therefore, swear only to keen a
journal oil their especial term of service They NAV
tueh, vote, without any violation of their oaths o %
Puhge me Proceedings of former session of the Senoe
ana are lett free TO act accordance with the public GOOD
ana hence II was manifest to his mind that moi onlv
hau an existing Senate right TO alter or amend
her own proceedings in conformity with parlianentar
usage-but subsequent Senate has the rioht 10 eT
puhge, oblerate or burn the journal of any preceding
senate, never having keep or 90 .ncI
JouTna ana hence ITS power is limited only by the pub
hc good, the proposition he set TO prove
Having, said Mr.. W.. shown that the resolution or
March 2oth, 1884, UNCONSTITUTIONAL and therefore
without authority To- stand on the journal haynO shown
mat the present Senate had not only the cousttu,;oI
bounden duty so to do, it remains for me IN 90
taDsh the expedlency of passing the resolutions noo
unuer CONSIDERATIONS What springs into action the Pa
uiot! Nhat prompts to generous and patriotic decds
what makes 1T sweet TO die for ones country An no.
nest heart, and nations appreciation Let a ppblc
servant then never doubt in the honest dscharge Of
MS publ duties, the ultimate approval Of graioC,I
people II becomes you, iebuke Factions unbsllcd
aspirations, and the faithful public servant in tle a,L
hOur OF trial and difficulty, will be cheered with Tho a.
surance OF an abiding justice in the people, which though
SLOW IS ever sure TO await and PROSTATE the man fa
would owe his greatness to his country s distress or HE
country ruin. And hence the expediencv Of ihi a.
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