The North-Carolina standard., 1839-02-13

tIon. Edcn volume is me journal OF the SendIe,
and is moao preserved the act is done, and has
not been undohe. - 60 E<
But Senators on the other side Of the House,
say no. and insist that the Senate of the United
States, at it session in 1887 interfered with this
duty, not only unconstitutionally, but in man
ner to bring reproach and ignomy on themselves.
What act is this, asked Mr.. E., that requires
such unmeasured denunc iation? at the session
of 1887, the Senate, not forgetting the-exclte-
ment produced in the public mind; its exaspera-
| ted and feverish condition in consequence OF
the resolution, at the well known panic session
| in 1884, by which General Jackson was adjudg-
ed to be guilty of UioIation ofthe Laa0s and
StitWtion of his country and well satisfied that
by that resolution, the highest judicial tribunal
in the country; the Senate Of the United States,
had been converted into cruel engine OF party
tyranny, and party oppression; by the horrible
combination of all the qualities of accuser, wit
ness, juror and judge in that body; we'll salts
fed that the power of the House of Representa-
tives, which alone had the right TO prefer and
prosecute impeachments, had been usurped !;
well satisfied that the rightful exercise by the
| President of the powers OF removal and OF GP-
pointment and of his power in the execution of
the laws, which he was under the solemn sane
| tion of an oath "to take care" should be "talth-
fully executed" had been denied and unjustly
censured; we'll satisfied, also, that the resolution
|
on the feelings and reproach on the character OF
General Jackson believed it due to that emf
nent citizen due to the loud demands of their
constituents due to the offended majesty of the
constitution TO draw its fangs and to disarm it OF
its sting to fix mark and brand upon it, and
to put upon 1T, and its authors, what it would
put upon another.
No means presented itself so appropriate
Indeed none other would answer) as the e1-
pungi ing resolution. Hence on the 10th Jan'y.
! 1887, it was resolved,
"That the said Resolve be expunged from the
Journal, and for that purpose that the Secretary
of the Senate, at such time as the Senate may
appoint, shall bring the manuscript journal oi
the session 1884, into the Senate, and, in
the presence Of the Senate, draw black lines
round the said Resolve and write across the face
thereof, in strong letters, the following words
'Expunged by order of the Senate, this 10th day
of January, in the year of our Lord, 1887"
This was accordingly done to the rery letter
and though the resolution of "a was subjected
10 this process, and received this brand upon its
face, yet it is just IegibIe, and as capable ot
imparting Information, as 10 all that had been
done as it was before its trial, conviction and ex
ecution We are spared, said MIR. E, the ne
cessity of going into pathological criticism as
to the meaning of the word "expunge." The
resolution defines it; and be its elementary
meaning what it may, we must abide by that de,
| finiton. 1t tells US that it means nothing more
than to draw black lines round the condemned
Resolve and to write certain words across It's
ace-but not to ebliterate or blot II out. Now,
will gentlemen tell me, where the clause or pro-
vision is to be found in the Constitution, which
forbids subsequent Senate, whose Secretary
has the custody of the manuscript Journal Of q
preceding Session, from pointing to such Journ
al by indez or mole. in language, plain or meta
phorical; by hierogliphcs; or any kind of en-
blem or device whatever, it may choose; denot
ing either commentator or censure2 Sir, de
pend upon it, no such inhibition can be shown
The right is clear and unquestionable. Anc
vet, this is all that has been done.
Again, said Mr.. E., if the word keep, in the
Constitution mean to prepare Journal, to the
end that publication may be made, then, as soon
as it is printed and distributed, the duty enjoin
ed is fully performed If on the other hand
it mean to preserce, then the Senate, being the
only Judges of the means of preservation, hav-
| ing had it prnted-and for aught we know, fol
that very purpose, tit is not the less the Journ
al because printed,) and carefully placed among
the other public documents and records, has
faithfully complied with all the acquisitions o
the Constitution. Every volume, so printed, i:
| the Journal of the Senate. Has, then, the Jour
nal been kept and published? Is it mow kept
and without destruction by any act since done
Go to the Library of Congress; to the offices
of the Secretary of the Senate ard of the House
Of Representatives; consult the numerous vol
umes there deposited and you have the answer
an answer furnishing an unqualified negative
to the charge, that the plain letter of the Consti
tuition has been pGlpG6iy violated.
will now, Sir, take up the second branch O
this resolution-the issue Of fact. chlr2e
the expunging resolution to be an act of part.
serviIity calculated to degrade the character o
the Senate" 1t is said Mr.. E., no part of my
business to inquire, how much this charge rar
takes of the exalted qualities of charity, o.
conforms to the laws of fair and honorable war
fare But. must be allowed to say, while Sc
nators so loudly denounce violations by others
they take little heed, or they would not venture
to tread upon ground, which involves them also
in the sin of violation; violation of the right:
of public servants, not amenable to the Legls
lature, or to the people of North Carolina a
violation of all the laws which command the
observance of respect and courtesy, towards the
Senate of the United States. What right, ask
ed Mr.. E., have we. to cast upon the Sen
ate of the United States, such offensive lam
guage2 What right to pronounce sentence o.
infamy and disgrace upon the representatives
of other States they are responsible to others