Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-09-17

Their, priced as my proddest Inheritance,
and carefully preserved Tor those who are
to come after me, as the most precious OF
all earthly possessions. am not only sub
iected to inputatons affecting my charac-
Ter as an individual, but am charged with
offences against the country, so grave and
so heinous as to deserve public disgrace
and disfranchisement. ! am charged with
violating pledges which never gave: and
because execute what believe to be
tho law, with nsurping powers not confer
red by law; and above all, with using the
powers conferred upon the President BY
the Constitution from corrupt motives and
Tor unwarrantahle ends. And these
charges are made without any particle
Of evidence to sustain them, and, as |
solemnly affirm, without any foundation in
truth.
Whv.is proceedings of this sorisadopted
at this time? Is the occasion for 1t found
in the fact, that having been elected to
the second Office under the Constitution
by the free an volun'asy sutirages' of the
People, have succeeded to the first, ac-
cording to the express provisions ct the
fundamental law of the same People? 1t
is true that the succession OF the Vice
President to the Chief Magistracy has
never occurred before, and that all prudent
and patriotic minds have looked on this
new trial OF the wisdom and stability Of
our institutions with somewhat anxious
concern. have been made TOO feel TO sem
sibly the difficulties of my unprecedented
position, no, to know all that is intended
10 be conveyed in the repruach cast upon
4 President without party. Buti found
myself placed in this most responsible sta.
ton by no usurpaton or contrvaice of
nv own. was called to it, under Provi-
dence, hv the supreme law of the land,
and the deliberate y-decared will of the
People. 1t is by these, the People, that
have been clothed with the high powers
whichtheyhave seen fit to contide to {heis
Chief Executixeyand been carged With
the solemn sponsibi!ltY gSdNdcf which
those powers are to he exercised II is to
them hold myself answerahIe, as NOR
al agent, for free and conscientious dis
charge Of the duties which they have i'm
posed upon me. 1t is not as an indlvIdu.
al merely, that | am now called upon to
resist the encroar hment of unconditional
power. represent the executive author
i.y of the People Of the United States,
and II is in their name, whose mere agent
and servant am, and whose will declared
il their fundamental law, dare not, even
were inclined, TO disobey, that | protest
against every attempt to break down the
undouLted constitutional power of this de-
partment without solemn amendment OF
that fundamental law.
am determined to uphold the Consti.
.,t;on in this.as in o her rcspects, to tho
n,nos, ef my ability, and in defiance OF
an ,aIsopai consequences. What may
baonen ,s an individual is Of little impor-
lance; but the Constitution OF the coun-
try. OF anv Of its great and clear printi-
mics and provisions, IL too sacred 10 De
snrrendered, under any circumstances
whatever, by those who are charged WIN
lie nrotection and defence. Least OF all
should he be held gulItless, who, placed at
the head of one OF the great departments
of the Government, should shr,nk from the
oxercise of its unquestlonabIe authority
on the most important OCCASIONS aho
ohonid consent, without struggle, TO ell
face all the barriers so carefully creaiec
nv the PEOPLE to control and circnnscribe
tho mowers conf ed to their various
agents. 1t may he desirable, as the ma
iority of the House OF Representa-
;;vos has declared it is, that no slci
checks upon the will of the LegISla
tn,e shonId be suffered to continue. I'M
matter tor The People and States to de
eide INT until they shall have decided II
n I shall leel myself bound to execute WIN
ont fear or favor, the Inv, as 1t has beel
written bv our prejeceSsors. :.
prstast against this whole proceedih
of the House Of Representatives, as e
porte and extra judicial. protest aga'n'
& az suDyersive OF tue common righ'
~, citizens To be condemned onl y upon
fair and Impartial trial according 10 ia'
and evjdenre before the country. l pre-
rest against it, as destructive OF ali me &C
,ni,v of intercourse between the DepaF
men,s of this Government, and deShne'
snoner or later, to lead to conflict lata'
the peace OF the country and the infegi
tv Of the Constitution. | protest again
!; in the name OF that Constitution, whIc
Is not only my own shield Of Protect'o
md defence, but thai of every America
citizen. protest against II, IN the nan
e H. pannIe. by whose will star
where do, and by whose authority e
ercised the power which | am charge
with having usurped, and to whom | a
resnonsibIe tor a firm and faithful dl
aocord;,o 10 nv own conviction