The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-30

eistion Of 4 similar doctrine II was admitted 10 DO
competent Congress 10 regulate the official conduct
OF this class OF ctzens but then Il was said and " y
now ia substance repeated you must take care not TO
violate their constitutional right freedom Of speech
and ofthe press. Now 70 this seems TO be an ap
solute per,eTsIon ct terms, soccism IN the stctest
of that term. The constitutional right OF o.
flee holder SUCH TO the freedom OF speech ana OF
the press rs something Of which can form no conceP
ton know Of no constitutional right which belongs
TO office holder Office holder save those whcn
derived from the provisions Of tile Constitutions IN
relation 10 the office which he holds In these sns
freedom speech and that of the press are MOI
These belong TO him citizen, and IN .na' cna'a1
ter only are guaranteed 10 him by the Constitution
the necessary and proper discharge OF his Official
interfere with the enjoyment OF his rights a. cAen
why he voluntarily parts with them iof me 'iine ~
confederation of the emoluments or other dement's OF
his official station Every who accepts office sur
renders while he holds il to the extent necessary 70 the
faithful performance Of his duties, his Individual ree
dom of action. He sunendcrs his time has talents
his rsht 10 locomoton will in fine, his right to do
whateye, The law forbds in relation the office which
he holds Your statute book is full Of such nhi
biiions all conflicting with the right of the Office
holder individual citizen but still binding upon
him as officer. He submits 10 the restraints
which they impose in consideration OF the benefit
which he derives from his Office. When these re-
strainis become burdensome, and his Office does not
afford equivalent, he casts them from him, by
cunning the station and with il the rights Of private
citizen Theapprehension that the removal ofthese Off
the Senate by any force ofngenuy be made
70 appear to be attack upon the freedom OF the press
does not therefore, move me. | acknowledge and
reverence this great constitutional privilege. II is an
agent OF vast, almost unlimited power, whether its
energies he exeried for evil or for good. feel and
deplore its RIGHTEOUSNESS. Who does not Z know
that il perverted the vilesi purposes but feel too
that its legitimate exercise is essential to the prcserva
ton of civil liberty, and prefer to bear with its cen
tousness rather than TO incur the hazard Of mparng
It's conservative energies No, sir; the freedom Of The
press must continue To be, what the Constitution has
made it, I" a chartered libertine." But how do we in
wade the freedom of the press by dissolving
nexion with these incumbents We are not dealing
with the Editors Of the Globe, but with the Printers
to the Scnate-with officers, whom we have
the constitutional right TO elect and dismiss and
we are SO dealing with them as not restrain but TO
enlarge their individual freedom Of action In the
laton in which they stand TO us, officers of this
House. all who agree that ordinary decorum, and the
respect which the Senate is entitled TO exact from its
officers, will impose some restraint upon thsse incum-
bents in the exercise OF their editorial functions
far the Senate is affected by them The rcsolu-
ton proposes to release them from this restraint TO
remit them to their rights citizens, and thus TO
large not to restrain the freedom of their press Ift
abundantly realized But will no longer trespass
upon the patience of the House. | have endeavored
10 show
l. That the Senate has power TO do the act which
this resolution proposes and
q That there is abundant cause for the exercise of
that power.
And having thus explained the reasons which in
fuence my judgment, am ready TO record my vote in
affirmance of the resolution under consideration.