New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-09-02
He TRIBU N E.
pRoTEsT OF THE PRESIDENT.
To M< House Of Representatives:


sentatves and the Senate shall befor it become law o
presented the President of the United States: ne e
pree he ,ha sn II oai MT be Sal . Te ar originated
who shall enter the objections al large upon Inc
proceed TO reconsider ii" vt: 49, ;rn
In strict compliance with the positive oba mus ,
posed upon me the Constitution not having oeen aie
bring myselfto approve bill which me
of Representatives entitled An nctt 70 proTlne
i.npoSts and to change and mcdy existing avs np9sg
duties imports, and for other ;,Y,
These OBJECTION which had entirely satisfied my Own
mind OF the great impoicy,I nor inc rsSaecI ard
even defercna; terms would NOT have been 80 Tar ior
etfu ef what was due from one Department OF .he So
eminent 10 ano,1er have Intentionally enp.oyeo; "
~, o;al intercourse with the House. any language tlat
could be in slightest degree offensive 70 nose 70 "hom
II was addressed IT, III assigning my ooIectohs 10 NE pu'
h,d 60 lar forgotten what due to the House OF Rep
resenatives impugD its motives in passing the bii
,j,oud owe only that House but to the country my
most profound apology Such departure from proprety IS
however complained Of in any proceeding which the
House has adopted Ii has ;he contrary, been expressly
made subjec; of remark and axo.r of complaint tia,
the language in which dissent was cooched was siuo
ousy guarded and cautious.
Sncb being The character of official communication in
question: confess was wholly unprepared for inc course
which has been pursued in regard IT, In the exercise OF
the power TO regulate its own proceedings the House for
the first time; il is believed in the history OF The 0oSern'
ment asught proper TO refer the Message 90 seee oon
the House would have compelled me te iner) OF deiibe-
raey weighing the objections urged against the Dill oy .he
Executive with view to its own judgement apon tne
uezon OF the final adoption rejection Of the measure
or temper and feelings in relation TO myself OF some
have nothing to say. That matter entirely within
the discretion OF the House of Representatives But that
which should have supposed had led to its creation, H.
stead of conung itself the objections urged against tie
motives of the President others Of his since his In
drcton into Office. In the absence of all proof and as
am bound 10 declare against all law or precedent IN par.
Iameniary proceedings and the same time in manner
which would be difficult TO reconcile WIN luz oons'
rorde,t and rocrdnae departments Of the Government
Il las a.saed my whole official conduct without SHADOW
mem has charged me- nevertheless with offences declared
to deserve impeachment Had the extraordinary roper
which the Committee thus made 10 the House been permit
ed 10 remain without The sanction Of the litter should not
have uttered regret, complaint, upon the subject
10 support the charges It contains without deliberate
animation almost without any discussion. the House OF
thereby to become my accuer before the country and be-
fore the world The high character OF such an accuser
the gravity the charges which have been made and the
judgement pronounced against me- by the adoption OF inc
Report upon distinct and saperate vote OF the House.
ledves no alternative but 10 enter my solemn proles
invasion my constitutional powers as Chief Magistrate o.
the American People, and as voiason in my person OF
rights secured TO citizen by the laws and the Cons
tuition That Constitution has entrusted to the House OF
Representatives the sole power OF Impeachment such
Impeachment is requreH to be tried before the most august
tribunal known 10 cur institutions.
The Senate of the United States composed OF the Rep
re.entatves the sovereignty OF the States 10 converted
into hall Of Justice and in order to insure the srciest OBJ
Of the rules asd sr OF a
judicial unctonary in the land required 10 preside over
its deliberations In the presence OF each ndealory tne
of guilt nnocesce sprononnced under The most solemn
sanctions OF religion of honor and of law To such tr
bunai does the Constitution authorize the House OF Repre-
senatv9s TO carry up its accusations against any chief OF
Executive Department whom may believe to be guilty
Before that tribunal the accused confronted with his
accuers and may demand the privilege which the justice
of the law secures to the humbles CITIZEN OF
full patient and impartial inquiry into the facts upon the
testimony of witnesses, rgdly examined and deposhg IN
the ace of day Ifsuch proceeding had been adopted
toward me unjust as should certainly have regarded it,
should, trust. have met with becoming consancy
trial as painful as would have been undeserved would
have manifested by profound submission Tho laws Of
my country my perfect faith in her justice and relying on
should have looked forward confidence triumphant
in the preeecd country and by the solemn
judgement of such tribunal only Of whatever charges
might have been formally peferrek against but of all
the caumnie Of which have hitherto been the unreslstns
victim.
AS is have been accused without evidence and
demned without hearing AS far such proceedings can
accomplish it, am deprived of public confidence in the
administration of the Government, and denied even the
boast Of good name-a name transmitted to me from
patriot father priced as my proudest and care
precious of all earthly possessions am not only sub
@ @ s he s
grave and henou TO deserve public disgrace and
whch never gave and because execute what believe
the law with usurpins not conferred by law
and above ALL with using the powers conferred upon the
Presden, by the Constitution from corrupt motives and for
unwarantabe csds And these charges are made without
any particle of evidence to sustain then and as soemD
AFFIRM without any foundation in truth
Why is proceeding of this sort adopted this time Is
the occasion for found in the fact that having been elected
to The second office under the Conuton by the free and
voluntary Surages of the People have succeeded to the
r TO the law y OF ee same pe % h
Chief Magistacy has never occurred before and that all
pruden tand patriotic minds have locked on this new trial
of the wisdom and stability of institutions with some
what anxious have been made 10 feel too seDs
bly, the difficulties of my unprecedented position, not 10
Upon a President without party. But found myself
placed ~ this most responsible station by no usurpaon or
o
called BY ne Bs Ss
by these People that have been clothed with
high powers which they have III TO csnde 10 then
Chief Executive, and been charged with the solemn re-
sponsibty under which those powers to be exercised
Ii them hold myself answerabe moral agent for
free and conscientious discharge Of the duties which they
have imposed upon II j. not individual merely
that called upon resist the encroachment of
of the People 81 the United States and il is in their name
whose agent aRd servant, am, and declared
it their Fundamental! law dare not, even were inclined
10 dsobey that protest against every attempt to break
down the undoubed constitutional power of this Depart
ment without solemn amendment OF that fundamental law
am determined TO uphold the Constitution in this, as in
other respects TO The utmost my ability and in defiance Of
personal consequences. What may happen individual
is of little Importance; but the Constitution OF the country
or any of It's great and clear principles and provisions loo
sacred be Surrendered. undcr any circumstances what
fence Least Of ali should he be held gules Who placed
at the head of of the great of the Gover,
men sonld shrink from The exercise its unquestienable
authority the most important OCCASIONS and should
sent, without struggle, eiace all the barrier.
fully created by the People control and circumscrbe
powers conded 20 their various agents II may be desr
able the majority OF The House OF Representatives has
declared il is thai such checks upon the will of the lie
gssture should he suffered 10 continue. That matter
for the People and States TO decide; but uE,l they shall
have decided it, shn feel myself bound TO execute, with
out iearcr favor The law IL has been written by pre-
decessors.
lpr1tes, against The whole proceeding Of the House of
Representatives parte and extra judicial protest
against it, subver>ye OF the right OF all citizens
be condemned only upon fair and impartial trial
cordng law and evidence before the country pro,es,
between the Departments OF this Government destined
sooner later lead conflict fatal The peace of the
country ard the integrity of the Constitution protest
against il, in the of thar Constitution, which
only shield protection and defence but that
every American citizen. protest against il, in the
OF the People, by whose viii stand where do
NH, hic,