Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-09-08

bill, | should owe, not only 10 inc llous5
but to the country, my most profound apol.
ogy. Ii has on the contrary expressly
IN lde a subject OF remark, and almost Of
complaint, that the language in which my
dissent was couched was studlously guard
ed and cautious.
Such being the character Of the official
communication in question, confess |
was wholly unpfepared for the course
which has been pursued in regard to it.
10 the exercise Of this power to regulate
its own proceedings, the House, for the
first time, it is believed in the History Of
the Government, thought proper TO refer
message to Select Committee of its
own body, for the purpose (as my respect
fof the House would have compelled me
to infer) of deliberately weighing the OBJ
lectlons urged against the bill by the Ex-
eculiye with d view to its own Judgment
upon the question Of the final adoption or
rejection OF the measure.
Ofthe temper and feelings in relation
to myself oil some Of the members select
ed Cor the performance Of this duty, have
uothing to say. That was matter en-
irely within the discretion of the House
of REPRESENTATIVES. But that committee,
taking different view Of its duty from
that which should have supposed had
led TO its creation, instead Of combining IL.
self 20 the objections urged against the
bill, awaited itself Of the occasion formally
to arraign the motives of the President
for others Of his acts since his Induction
INTO Office. In the absence OF all proof,
and, as am bound TO declare, against all
law or precedent in parliamentary pro.
ceediugs, and, at the same time, IN man
ner which il would be difficult to reconcile
with the comfy hitherto sacredy observ-
ed in the intercourse between indepen-
den, and coordinate departments of the
Government, it has assalled my official
conduct, without shadow Of pretext
CIR such assault; and, stopping short OF
impeachment, has charged me, neverthe-
less, with offences declared TO deserve
impeachment.
Had the extraordinary report which tho
committee thus made to the House been
permitted TO remain without the sanction
of the latter, ! should not have uttered a
regret, or complaint, upon the subject. -
Bat, unaccompanIed as II is by any paril-
Gle Of testimony to support the charges 1t
contains, without deliberate examIna-
ton, almost without any discussion, the
House Of Representatives has been pleas-
ed to adopt 1t as its own, aud thereby to
become my accuser before the country,
and before the world. The high char
meter Of such an accuser, the gravity oil
the charges which have been made, and
the Judgment pronounced against me, by
the adoption of the report upon distinct
and separate vote of the House, leave me
no alternative but 10 enter my solemn
protest against the proceeding, as unjust
10 myself as man, as an invasion of my
constitutional powers Of Chief Magistrate
of the American people, and as viola
ton, 10 my person, of rights secured to
every citizen by the laws and the Con-
.stituuon. That Constitution has intrust-
ed to the House of Representatives the
sole power of impeachment. Such i'm
peachment is required to be tried before
the most august tribunal known TO our
institutions.
The Senate of the United States, COM
posed of the representatives, oil the SOW.
crcignty of the States, is converted INTO
hall Of Justice and, in order 10 insure the
sirictest observance of the rules OF evil
dence, and of legal procedure, tho Chief
Justice OF the United States, the highest
judicial unctionary of the land, is requIr-
Ell 10 preside over its deliberations. In
the presence of each judlcatory, the voice
OF faction is presumed to be SILENT and the
sentence of guilt or Innocence IS pro-
nmnced under the most solemn sanctions
of religion, of honor, and OF law. 10
such tribunal does the Constitution au-
thorpe the House OF Representatives to
carry up its accusations against any chief
Of the Executive department whom II may
believe to be guilty Of high crimes and
misdemeanors Before that tribunal the
accused is confronted with his accusers,
and may demand the privilege, which the
Justice of the common law secures to the
humhest citizen, of full, patient, aud
impartial inquiry into the facts, upon the
testimony Of witnesses, rgIdly examined,
and deposng in the face of day. If such
proceeding had been adopted towards
me, unjust as | should certainly have re-
garded L, should, trust, have met with
becoming consistency trial as painful
MS IT would have been undeserved. !
would have manifested, by profound
submission TO the laws Of my country, my
perfect faith in her justice; and, relying
ON the purity Of my motives, and the rectI-
tnde of my conduct, should have looked
forward with confidence to triumphant
rrfutaion in the presence of that country
and by the solemn judgmen; OF such a trl-
bunal, not only OF whatever charges might
have been formally preferred against me,
bat of all the caiumnes of which have
hitherto been the unresistlng victim. As
IT is, have been accused without evil
donce aud condemned without hearing.
As fat as such proceedings can accom-
plsn it, | am deprived of public conn
dence 10 the administration OF the Gov
ernmcnt and denied even the boast OF
good name--a name transmitted 10 me
from patriot father, priced as my proud