The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1836-03-18

Of Bnrgesses. Every edort was made
10 induce him 10 produce the journal in
order 70 hare 4 sxpRged. He Was
subjected 10 al manner Of prosecutions; |
but he glOried in his suHerings. and his
noble spirit rose in proportion 70 his
prosecutions. He perrmPsorily refused
10 comply, alleging "a that his masters.
the House Of Burgesses. bad alone q
right 10 make such . demand, and that
their authority alone he durst or would
obey" And | too. reply 10 these orders
which are nav given me.-lhsl viii
not expnnge the records of the Senate
until ihe Constitution. while il Is permit
ted IN remain Is q il. master over all. shall
be changed. altered or abolished. You
will have full opportunity. gentlemen. 20
appoint another in nv place. For my
part. | will not consent In be made an
instrument 10 accomplish such an object
nor shall | envy any successor whom
Won NAV send on such a mission.
Had y0ur resolution directed me %
repeal or resrind the resolutions Of the
Senate. | would have nbeyed your orders.
although with great reluctance. lsould.
nevertheless. have fell myself constrained
10 do so by nv recognition Of your right
Ia instruct me. That proceeding would
have reversed and anng.led the act CON-
planned of. II your object vas 90
VindicaIe the President in the authority
, which he assumed and sill exercises over
the public money. and yau esteemed IL
necessary in order TO do SD To have had
| your opinions expressed through me in
the Senate Chamber. they should have
been faithfully represented His vindics-
lion. after all, canRo, consist IN the form
in which il may he urged. IL j. To be
found alone in the legislative expression
Of opinion; aud even II YOUR declarations
in his behalf were confined 10 Your Own
Journals. the historian would not fail to
avail himself 81 them a. differently a. il
they stood emhlaznaed on the heavens.
From my knowledge OF y"u, | am sure
that YOU would not be willing 10 phil
down the Constitution unnecessarily aud
without object.
In your effort 10 sindica,e the Prcsi.
dent, YOU have cas-, on me. in common
with others, the very reproach which YOU
are pleased To regard so offensive IN
reference to him. You have publicly.
and before The world. declared a resolu
lion for which voted. 10 be " subversige
Of the rights Of the House Of Representa-.
lives and the fundamental principles ut
free government" II You design Ia
charge me with inquiry Of motive in
the vote thus giVen. your accusation
would imply the highest censure. But
this do not ascribe To you. You intend
TO say no more than that Your judgment
and opinion differs from that expressed
by me upon the subject out Of which
grew the resolution at the Senate. and
that the Senate COMMITTED an error.
which. in its effects. is calculated To
snbvert the rights Of the House OF
Representatives and the fundamental prin.
cIplrs Of free government" The censure
which Your resolution conveys. implies
wait OF correct Judgment on nv part.
In voting for that resolution, and nothing
more. Ii this be your meaning. and |
will moi permit myself 10 think otherwise,
| sm vet to learn how | incur the hazard
Ut subverting " the rights of the House
nf Representatives and the Fundamental
principles Of free government" BY having
I declared IN substance, what as a member
Of the Senate | did b. my vote declare
that the President had mistaken hi.
Course, and that his conduct vas " IL
derogatlon of the Constitution and laws
Have done more in this, lhan you have
dune in your declaration! And if not.
submit il in all candor to your dispas
sionale judgment to say whether, if wer'
liable TO trial on impeachment before you
you would consider yourselves as havin!
already pronounced upon my guilt u
. advance. | should certainly not dream
ofexcepting to YOU as my Judges: because
resting on my integrity Of motive, SHOULD
feel confident Of acquittal. There can b,
J no guilt without criminal design; aud
am sure you would be among the last 4
, ascribe to the President any criminalit,
Of design. Am to understand you a
; declaring, that because the House q
Representatives may originate an i'm
? parchment against the President OF othe
/; officer of the Government. the Senate ha
no right to express an opinion as 4
any acl of the President or other officer
; No matter what may be the act, even
b il annihilates the powers Of the Senate
D has il no right inherent in all othe
q bodies. OF self-proteclion and defence!
: tirennus may invade the body and pluc
. it by the beard, and yet according to thi:
. it has no authority To resist. Go 10 ths
! venerable Patriarch Of Montpelier, Nj
/. Madison. and ask him whether, i
E framing the Constitution, he designe
J that the Senate should be a mere INC