Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-01-31
MIR. MEBsTER,s PROTEST

The debate having closed, and the question
being about 10 be takeh, MIR. WEBsrER rose
and addressed the Senate as follows;
Mr. President: Upon the truth and Justice
Of the original resolution OF the Senate. and
upon the authority Of the Senate 10 pass tbat
resolution, had tue opportunity to cxpNss
my opnlons at a subsequent PERIOD when the
Presidents protest was before US. Those
opinions remain altogether unchanged.
And new, had the Constitution secured the
privilege of entering Protest on the journal.
shonld not say one word on this occasion
although, If what is now proposed shall be
accomplished, ! know not what would have
been the value of such n provision, however
formally or carefully II might have been inscr-
ted in the body Of that instrument.
But, as there is no such constitutional priyi-
tege, can only effect my purpose by thus adj
dressing the Senate; and | rise, therefore IN
make that PROTEST in this manner. in The
face of the Senate, and in the face of the conn
try, which cannot present in any other form
speak IN my own behalf, and in behalf of
my colleague; we both speak as Senators
from the State Of Massachusetts, and. ms sncb
we solcmnly Protest against this whole pro,
cceding.
We deny that Senators from other States
have any power or authority TO cxpunge anv
vote or votes which we have given here, and
which We have recorded, agreeably the the OK
press provision Of the Constitution.
We have high personal interest, and tho
State whose representatives we are, has also
high Interest in the entire preservation of every
part and parcel Of the record OF our conduct ns
members OF the Senate.
This record the Constitution solemnly de-
clures shall be kept; but the resolution before
the Senate declares that this record shall be
erpunged.
Whether subterfuge and evasion. and. ms il
appears TO MS, the degrading mockery of draw.
ing black lines upon the journal, shall or shall
not lcdve our names and our votes leeiblc
when this violation of the record shall have
been completed, still The terms "to cxpunae"
and the terms " to keep" when applied 10
record, import ideas exactly contradictory as
much SD as The terms "to preserve" and the
terms "to DESTROY"
record which is erpunged, is not record
which is kept, any more than record which is
destroyed can be record which is preserred-
The part expunged is no longer part Of the re-
cord; ii has no longer a legal existence. 1t
cannot be certified as part OF the PROCEEDINGS
OF The Senate for any purpose Of proof or eyi-
dencc.
The object Of the provision in the Constitu.
ton, as we think, most obviously is, that The
proceedings Of the Senate shall be preserved.
IN Wtl,lng' NOT Tor the present only, moi until
puo'lsn'd on because copy OF the printed
journal is NOT regular legal evidence; but pre-
served lnd'hHi'ely preserved, as other rec
oi1s arc PFes'N'u' III destroyed by time Ornc-
c'IGn''
Every enA must see mat matters OF the high
est importance depend on The permanent pres
eIVaton OF me journals OF the two Houses
What out INC journals show that bills have
been regularly passed INTO laws, through the
several SIEVE STAGES W nat Out The journal shows