Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-01-26

I UhcfoOtfs ptcsent, Of e1fUe1 on Llf
journal. This provision. most mani
testify gives u personal night to those
members Who may demand il. to the
entry and preservation Of their votes on
the record Of the proceedings Of the
body. not-fcr one day or one year only.
bat Tor nj tiGA There the yeas aud
nays are TO stand. forever. Is perrna-
nent aud lasting proof Of the manner
IN which members have voted on great
and important questions before them.
But Il Is now insisted that the votes
OF members. taken by yrs rsd nays, and
thus entered on the journal. as matter
OF right, may still be eNpunsed; so that
that, which II requires more than four
hiths of the Senators to prevent from
being put on tho journal. may never
;helesS. be struck of, and erased. the
next moment; or at any reriod sf,er-
wards, by the vii of = mere majority:
or, II this he not admitted. then the alb
susdity is adopted Of maintaining, that
this provision ot the Constitution is full
filed by merely preserving tho yeas
and my, on the journal, after having
expunged and cbli,ero,ed the very re-
solution. or the very question. on which
they were given. aud IN which alone
they refer; leaving the yeas and nays
thus mere list Of names, connected
with no subject, no question. no vote.
We put IL To the impartia! judgment Of
mankind, If this proceeding be not, in
this respect also. directly aud pa!pably
inconsistent with the Constitution.
We protest, in the most solemn
manner. that other Senators have no
authority 10 deprive Us Of our persona!
rights, secured to US by the Cons,itu-
ton. either by cxpunging. or obli,rr,,-
ing, or mutilsting. or defacing, the
record Of our votes. duly entered by
peo, md rqys; or by eXpunging and
obliteraiing the resolution, or questions
on which those votes were given aud
/ recorded.
We have seen. Min deep and sin
cere pain. the Legislatures of re.pecta-
bic States insiructing the Senators Of
those States 10 vote for and support
this violation of tho journal of the Sc
nate; and This pain i. infinitely increas-
ed by Our full belief, and entire con-
'ictlon. that most, If not all these pro-
ceeding' OF States hsd their oriyin in
promptings from Washington; that
they have been urgently requested
and insisted on as being necessary 10
the accomplishment of the intended
purpose; and that i, is nothing else but
the Influence and power Of the Execu-
tive branch of this Government y hich
has brought the Legislatures Of 81 many
Of the free States of this Union 20 quit
the sphere Of their ordinary duties for
the purpose Of cooperating TO accom-
rlish measure in our Judgment so
unconstitutional. so deroga,ory 10 the
character Of the Senate, and marked
with so broad an impression Of COM
p!iance with power.
But this resolution is 10 pass. We
expect il. That cause, which has
been powerful enough TO influence so
many State Legislatures will show IT.
self powerful enough, especially with
such aids, to secure the passage Of the
resolution here.
We make up our minds 10 behold
the spectacle which 10 10 ensue.
We collect ourselves TO look on, in
silence. while a scene i, exhibited
which. IL wa did not regard il as q
ruthless violation Of sacred ins,ru-
mcnt, would appear to US to be little
elevated above the character Of a con-
tempiible farce.
This scene we shall bt hold. and
hundreds O. American citizens, &c ma
4 m ,DN- IL
and galleries. will behold it also: with
what feelings ! DO not undertake to say.
But We PROTEST, most solemH;y FRO
TEST, against the substance and against
the manner Of this proceeding. against
It's object, against its form. Snd sgainst
its effect. We tell you that you have
no right to mar or muiilaie the record
Of our votes given here. and recorded
according 10 the Constitution; We tell
you that you may as we'll erase the
YEAS AND NAYS on sny other question
or resolution. or on all questions aud
resolutions. as on this: we tell you that
you have Just as much right TO falsify
the record. by so altering u as TO make
us appear 10 have voted Oh any ques-
bhhs ~ w uiu NOT NOle, n YOU nave
10 erase a record. and make that page
a blank. in which our votes, ~ they
were actually given and recorded. nov
stand. The one proceeding. ss 1t APP
pears TO Us, is o. much fal.iGcsiion Of
the record aS the other.
Having made this PROTEST, our
duty 10 performed. We rescue our
own names. character and honor from
all participation in this matter; and
whatever the Maynard character Of
the times, The heSdlong and plunging
spirit Of party devotion. or the fear or
the love Of power, may have been
able 10 bring about else where, We de-
sire 20 thank God that they have not.
as yet. overcome The love of Liner
~. fidelity 10 true republican princi-
pies. and a sacred regard for the Con
stitution. in that State whose soil vas
drenched, TO a mire. by the hrst and
best blood Of the Revolution. Massa-
chusciis, as yet, has not been conquer
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