Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-23

States that the President Of the IT, S. in the act Of di.
ccng and causing the public deposiics to be removed
was exercising power conferred him by the Consti
tuon independent of any other branch of the Govern.
ment that in the discharge Ut the Executive duties ot
his Office thus imposed him by the Constitution he is
aIune responsible TO the People; and that if he violates
the Constitution and laws the duty of the House OF
Representatives 10 prefer impeachment against HIM
But cunc-ding they had the power to censure him,
how exceedingly improper it for that body who are
unle the Judges by The Constitution the President
when hr is lmpeached hY the House Of Representatives
thus to declare that, III Their opinion, he guilty OF
acts. which, II true should have induced the House of
Representatives, 10 prefer m impeachment against him.
1T WAS insisted IN argument that the SENATE n the u.
States having thus placed It's journal what was Who'll
y nntuunded. regarded The action OF the President in
relation TO the public depnsrs, without any authority 10
do their resolution should BE- expumgrd from the
Iournai-lha 1t 1t were perulltled to retain lis place
there it would form dangerous precedent and Prrpetu-
n.e to the latest Pos,ery, charge of the most aggra-
waited nature against man who is Justly esteemed by 4
large minority of the American pcoplele benefactor OF
his country and sPo,ess patriot They insisted that they
did not wish to do act which unprecedented
that had been done in the Parliament Of England, from
whence we have taken our parliamentary furns-,lat
the Senate Of Massachusetts, during the last war; enter
ed upon their Journal! THAT it unbecominga Chris
tan People to rejoice for victories obtained in unrg
Gus war-that this resolution adopted because the
friends OF their country e1ued al the victory achieved by
Our gallant Hull, commander of the Constitution. when
lie captured the Guerrero; but when the sue.
cessiully termnated-whcn the American people again
sustained their ancient reputation for bravery and patriot
ism, the people of Massachusetts became indignant al
this resolution, and its Senate directed it To- he expungcd
from the Journal. All that the Administration party
wished was, to have mark Of dlsapprobalon stamped
! on this resolution.
But when the struggle came, the Wings, after COM
batting the arguments OF the Administration party with
speeches of two days rngth Astounding with party slang
aud vituperaon endeavored defeat modify the reso-
lutions with almost INCREASING ei'rts to amend them.
EMFhe first attempt was, to defeat us by Mr. Mallory
solution, which went to instruct Senators vote for
resolution repeal rescind &c, the resolution of the
Senate Of the United States of the 10Th March, 1894.
THIS recled because II admission Of the
right of the Senate of the United States pass the
solution. To repeal mcass to annul that which
acted according to the Constitution Of the country, and
was therefore done in virtue of legal authority TO
scind, means pretty much the thing AS the Re.
solution of the Senate passed without constutio a
authority x merely brunm tHtHcn, and the friends Of
the Administration disposed to icrns that
admitted the right of the Senate 10 pass the Resolution
which they wished TO be expunged from the Journal Of
T the Senate
The question was taken on striking out the first rcso
luton OF the committee to insert Mr.. Mallorys resolu
tion but it lost-ayes 81, noes a.
Then came the amendment of Mr.. Parker, in the fol-
lowing words at is intended hereby instruct the
Senators from Virginia 10 aid in any act by
which the record Of the said Resolution of the 10Th of
March, 1884, shall be destroyed obrracd deaccd
but that every word and letter of the said Resolution is
to BIZ preserved, as TO be distinctly and read.
This amendment merely submitted to BE- rejected,
that the opponents of the Resolutions of the Committee
might take the ground that not willing to man
tain the stand The words of the Resolution would plain
ly import, that while the word expungc used, we
would express our wish that the Resolution
should be obliterated How could the mover of it have
imagined that after refusing to strike it OUT would
have attached his amendment To H. How could the word
eXpunge be plainly written the Resolution of the
Senate, and that Resolution not be al all draced-and
vet Iu,p flnpl,t no ,I,l
word or aleter, OF the original resolution. The
friends Of the Administration wished tha, hereafter if
1t should be sought precedent, should plainly ap
pear by that mark that it had been declared criicr
n0rtuuS. This amendncnl too, was rrleccd-Gu ayes,
~ noes.
Next came Mr. Wtcher, with his amendment to strike
out the word Expunge wherever il occurred This too,
was rejected by the same vote. Next he moved to strike
out the words = introduce and, the effect Of which
would have been only 10 have made it the duty of
Senators 10 have voted for precisely such resolution
we wished to pass, when introduced by others No doubt
such instructions would have suited Senator who has
said he did not believe the Bank Of the u. States
stItutiona: but if he could believe it was the wish Of
Virginia such Bank should be established, he would
vote tor IT, This was rather too papaJe to receive coun-
tenance, and was rejected, ayes 39 noes Il.
Next came MIR. Brown, with his amendment (bcing
modification Of Mr.. parker's:) Provided that the
said Resolution and entry the Journal of the Senate
shall not thereby be obliterated rendered lcgbe.
The mcdus operandi in the Resolutions directed that tho
If this done the usual mode and Of writ
Ing the Resolution could not be thereby obterated or
rendered egble Then why adopt this resolution II
keeping up the farce that had commenccd vain
attempt either TO eubarrass the friends Of the Resol
tons, inpoent effort TO throw contempt and rdi-
Guile on the MINORITY. Next came came another amend
ment, from Mr. Hays, which pretty much in sub
stance like Mr.. Parkcrs
Then came Mr.. Parker again with his amendment,
declaring that any attempt TO expungc such journal
u destroy IT, in direct conflict with the plain letter of
the Constitution.
Here amendment asserting principle which
the whole wei ht of tile argument the side of the OPP
punens OF the Resolutions had sustained. Under the
INJUNCTION TO keep journal and publish the from
time to time, they commended the Senate had right
touch the journal. The Injunction keep journal
dues not prevent the Senate from showing their dsap
probation Of any unauthorized act in that body which
may have been entered that record. If contrary
doctrine prevail, into what absurdtics would IT
lead u.s. No matter what might be placed there, must
stand untouched to all ayes
II that body had entered its journal, that George
Washington was traitor to his county, il must stand
and the Senate must afterwards only repeal and rescnd
and annul the said resolution Legislative bodies have
heretofore adopted stronger and appropriate lam
guage, and the House OF Delegates followed their
ample. This amendment, too, was rejected; ayes G2,
noes 72.
Then came MIR. Gilmer with amendment precisely
like MIR. Parker s. leaving out the word dttcmp This
shared the fate of its nntecedent; ayes 90, noes q
Then came Mr. Craig with his motion to lay the rcso
luton the table, and not 10 he taken up until utter the
next Spring Elections
After fighting gaantly they cry the People the Pco
pe! We say the people arehe Judges, and appeal 10
them to decide between But we say the people have
decided the matter already. Have no, the people
tanned the President against the denuncdtlons OF the
Senate of the D. States?
Then came Mr. Murdaugh, the champion of the peo-
pie! with long amendment referring the matter to the
people be voted the spring elections and that The
result of the should be communicated to the Sena.
tors as the sense of the people, and of the General AS
seniby. Here was grand flourish! The General As.
seby is the constituent body that elect the Senator's
and of right ought to instruct them; but this resolution
refers 10 the people, and il tho people adopt it, then it