The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-09-15

have mariiested, by profound submission
to the laws oe my country, my perfect
faith in her justice, and relying on The pu. .
ritz of nv moiiu,s, and the rectltude OF
nv conduct, should have looked forward
with confidence to triumphant reintation
| in the presence Of that country, and by The
solemn Judgment of such tribunal, mol
only of whatever charges might have beer
formally preferred against me, but OF all
the eaumnies Of which | have hitherto
been the unresisling victim. As II IS, l
have been accused without Evidence, ana
condemned without hearing. As lar as
such proceedings can accomplish II, am
deprived Of public confidence in the admin.
istration of the Government, and denied
even the boast of good name,--a name
transmitted to me by patriot father, priz-
ed as my proudest inheritance, and careful
" preserved for those who are 10 come al /
ter me, as the most precious OF all earthly
possessions. am not only subjected to
imputations affecting my character as an
individual, but am charged with offences
: against the country, so grave and SO hem
!. Gus as to deserve public disgrace and DIS
: reimbursement. am charged with VIOLA
ting pledges which never gave and be-
: cause | execute what believe to be the
law, with usurping powers not conferred
by law; and above all, with using the
, powers conferred upon the President by
: the Constitution, from corrupt motives and
: for unwarrantable ends. And these char
! ges are made without any particle OF eyi-
: dence to sustain them, and, as solemnis
: affirm, without any foundation IN truth.
v WHY is a proceeding Of this sort adept
Il ed at this time Z Is the occasion tor Il
N found in the fact, that having been elected
Of TO the second oflice-uuder the Constitution
IS by the free and voluntary sufirages OF the
N People, have succeeded TO the first, nc
I'd cording to the express provisions oil inc
in Fundamental law OF the same People II
i. is true that the succession OF the Vice Pres
lden, to the Chief Magistracy has reyer
nj occurred before, and that all prudent and
as patriotic minds have looked on thus new
n trial of the wisdom aud stability Of orr IN
ne stitutions wiiha somewhat anxious concern.
m have been made to feel too sensibly the
G. difficulties of my unprecedented position,
n. not to know all that is intended to be con-
re yeyed in the reproach cast upon Pfesi-
or dent without party. But found myself
Sc placed in this most responsible station by
%. no usurpation or contriyance OF my own
cd was called to il under Providence, by the
a supreme law of the land, and the delber'
on ately declared will of the People. II IS by
he these, the People, that haye been clothed
with the high powers which they have seer
TO fit to coniide to their Chief Executive, anc
ed been charged with The solemn responsible
We ty under which those powers are TO be ex
@. ercised. Ii is to them hold myself an
Of swerable, as moral agent, for free anc
e. conscientious discharge oithe duties whIct
I'M they have imposed upon me. Ii is not a.
ed an individual merely tina, avn NOW calico
Elf upon to resist the encroachment OF uncon
a. stltutional power. | represent the Execu
,r- tive authority Of the People of the UnileC
NJ -g,u,,-s -s.etr rnn,0, whose mer,
Of agent and servant am, and whose will de
as cIared it their fundamental law, dare not
or even were | inclined, to disobey, that
rs, protesta gainst every attempt to break dow
oh the undoubted constitutional power Of ihi
he department without solemn ataendmeu
he Of that fundamental law.
or am determined to uphold the Cousti
, it tuition IN this, as IN other respects, to tn
CT, utmost OF my ability, and in defiance Of o.
as personal consequences. What may hap
nj, pen TO an individual is ofiIte Importance
en- bull the Constitution Of the country, oil an
- OF lis great and clear principles and proyIs
The ions, is too sacred to be surrendered, unde
,oa any circumstances whatever, by those VIII
ION are charged with itsproiection and defence
] a Least OF all should he be held guiltcs,
- who, placed al the head Of one Of the grea
Gle departments of the Government, shout
on shrink from the exercise Oft unques.ior
on, able authority on the most important occa
use sions, and should consent, without strua
a. gle, to eflacc all the barriers SO CAREFUL
me created by the People 10 control and eli
ore cumscribe the powers oonfded to their "a
lch rious agents. 1t may be dcsiruble, as th
yes majority OF the House of Representative
ent has declared it is, that no such checks upo
ion the will of the Legislature should be sui
ate iered TO continue. This is matter 70
i've The People aud the States to decide bu
the until they shall have decided il, shall fec
an, myself bound to execute, without fear o
ers favor, the law, as ii has been written b
go. our predecessors.
ol protest against this whole procecdin
"S Of the House Of Representatives, as Z,
ION par.e and ertre judieial. Iprotest ngans
I'd II, as subverslge Of the common right o
-, all citizens to be condemned only upon
ien fair and impartial trial according to la,
20 and evidence before tho country. pro
test against it, as destructive Of all tn
M comfy of intercourse between the Depart
'e- m uts OF tais GoyUgnmeGl, and destined
/, sooner or later, to lead to conflict fatal t
nc the peace of the country and the Iniegrii,
VI, of the Constitution. protest against ii