Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-02-14
MR.wEBSTGR' 5 PROTEST AGAINST EXPUNGING
APART OF TIE SENATE'S JOURNAL.

WR."EbSTER = PROTEST ASA!NSi ENFp->Si->N
APART OF TIE SENATE's JOURNAL.
The debate having closed, and the ques-
ton being about to be taken, Mr.. WEB
STER rose, and addressed the Senate as
follows:
Mr.. President: Upon the truth and JUS
tice oil the original resolution OF the Senate,
and upon the authority of the Senate 10 pass
that resolution, had an opportunity to cX-
press my opinions at Il subSequcn: period,
when the Presidents protest was before rs.
Those opinions remain altogether unchan-
. ged.
And now, had the Constitution secured
the privilege of entering PROTEST on the
Journal. should not say one word on
this occasion, although, if fwhat is now pro-
posed shall be accomplished, | know not
what would have been the value ofsuch pro-
vision, howcvIr formally or carefully it
mig,,; nave been inserted in the !,ody ofthat
iIistrum;.It.
Bur, as there is no such coEs itutiora!
privilege, Can only effect my purpose by
i;lus addressing the Senate; and rise, there.
.ors to make that PROTEST in this man-
ncr, in tho face Of the Senate, and in the face
Of the country, which | cannot present in
anv other form.
| speak in my own behalf, and in behalf
Of my colleague; we both speak as Sena.
tors from the State Of Massachusetts, and,
us such VT soIemnly PROTEST against this
whole proceeding.
We deny ha Senators from O. her States
hayc any power or authority 10 eSpungc
nyvo or vot"s which we have given here,
and w:lich we nave recorded, agrccably 10
the express provision Of the Constitution.
We have j high personal interest, and
the State whose representatives VIC arc, has
also high interest in the entire presecva.
ton ofeyery part and parcel Of the record
Of our conduc., rs members of the Senate.
This record the Constitution solemnlv dc.
ciaros shall bn kept; but the resolution before
the Senate declares that this record shall be
erpungd.
Wlether subtcrfusc and evasion, and,
as it appears to US, tho degrading mockery
ofdrawing black Eacs upon the journal, shall
% shall not leave our names and our votcsl le.
siblo. when this violation of the record shall
have been co.npio cd, sill thcterms Go cx-
purge" and the terms ''to keep" when ap-
Piled 10 record, import ideas exactly con-
tradictory; as much so as the terms go pre-.
serve" and the terms ''to Destroy
The object Of tic provision in the Con-
s;itu,ion, rs We think most obviously, is, ti'at
rhs proceedings of the Senate shall be pre-.
served, in writing, not for the present only,
uor until published only, because copy Of
The printed ;ourral is regular evidence; but
preserved indefinitely ; preserved, as other
records are preserved till destroyed by time
Or acci,..u1.
Every one n.gs: sec that matters of the
highest importance depend on the p@rma.
nent proscrva:Iua of the journals of the two
Ilous.:s. WA bat the journals show that
bills have been regularly passed mo laws
through the s;rrral stages; what but the
journal shows who arc members, or who is
PrcsiJrns, or Sp,akcr, or Secretary, or Clerk
ofihe body? VIVA; bu: the journal contains
the proof, necessary for the Justification Of
those who act under our authority, and who
withou, the power Of producing such proof
must stand as trcspasSers? What but the
journals show WHO is appointed, and who
rejected, by US, Oh tkc Presidents nomina.
ri1n; 0? wi,o is acquitted, or who convicted:
in trials Oh impeachment! In short, is there,
a, any time, any ether regular and legal
proof of any act done by the Senate than
the Journal its:.ll?
The idea, therefore, that the Senate is
bolnd to preserve lis Journal oaly unt It's
published, AMI tn n may al;er, m1tilate, or
destroy /, ut pleasure, appears TO us one Of
the most extraordinary sentiments ever al !
vanced.
We are deeply grateful to those friends !
who have shown, with so much clearncss,
that all the preceden:s, relied on to justify or
TO excuse this proceeding, arc either not to
the purpose, or, from the times and circum- !
stances at and under which they happened, !
are no way entitled to respect in free
Government, existing under written Con-
stitu,ion. B:I,. for ourselves, we stand on !
tho plain wor'is o! that Constitution itself. .
A thousand pceccdcnts elsewhere made, ,
whether ancient or moIern, can neither re-
clnd, nor co;:tfol, aor explain away these
words.
The words arc, That ':cacil House shall
KEEP a Journal Of is proceedings" No
gloss, 20 ingenuity, no specious interpreta-
ton, and much less can any fair o: just rca-
soning reconcile INC process of cxpunging
with the plain meaning these words, 10
the satisfaction of the common sense and
honest understanding of mankind
1.-THE Senate may now expungc one part ;
Of the Journal Of a former session, it may, /
with equal authority, expungc another part, (
or the whole. 1t may expungc the entire I
record of one session. t