Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-09-09

sboud have looked forward with confidence
TO a triumphant refitaiion IN the presence
of that country, and by the solemn Judge
ment of such tribunal, not only oil wha'eV-
or CHARGES might have been formally pre-
ferred against me, but Of all the calumnles
oc which have hitherto been the unresIst-
inc victim. As it is, have been accused
without evidence, and condemned without a
hearing. As far as such proceedings can
accomplish it, am deprived of public con-
fidence in the administration of the Govern
ment. and denied even the boast OF good
name,-a name transmitted to me from a
patriot father, priced as my proudest inherI-
lance, and carefully preserved for those who
are to come after me, as the most precious
of all earthly possessions. l am not only
subjected to imputations affecting my char
acter as an individual, but am charged with
offences against the country, so grave and
so heinious as to deserve public disgrace aud
Acknowledgement. am charged with vio-
lating 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 confer
red upon the President by the Constitution
from corrupt motives and for unwarrantabe
ends. And these charges are made with
ont any particle of evidence to sustain them
and, as | solemnly affirm, without any foun-
daton in truth.
Why is a proceeding Of this sort adopted
at this timer Is the occasion Cor it found in
the fact, that having been elected to the
second Office under the Constitution by the
free and voluntary sufirages of the People, |
have succeeded to the first, according to the
express provisions of the fundamental law
of the same Peopel 1t is true that the
succession Of the Vice President to the
Chief Maglstracy has never occurred before,
and that all prudent and patriotic minds
have looked on this new trial of the wisdom
aud stability of our institutions with some
what anxious concern. | have been made
TO feel too sensibly the difficulties of my I'M
precedcnted position, not to know all that is
intended to be conveyed in the reproach
cast upon President without a party
But | found myself placed in this most re-
sponsible station by no ususpation or contr-
vance of my own. ] was called to it, under
Providence, by the supreme law of the land,
and the deliberately declared will Of the
People. 1t is by these, the People. that
have been clothed with the high powers
which they have seen fit to confide to their
Chief Executive, and been charged with the
solemn responsibility under which those
powers are TO be exercised. 1t is to them
hold myself answerable, as moral agent,
for free and conscientious discharge of the
duties which they have imposed upon me.
l.. l. L.. al I
now called upon 10 resist the encroachment
Of unconstitutional power. represent the
Executive authority of the United States
and it is in their name, whose mere agent
and servant am, and whose viii declared it
their fundamental law, dare not, even were
inclined, to disobey, that ] protest against
every attempt to break down The undoub,ed
constitutional power of this department
without a solemn amendment of that funda-
mental law.
| am determined to uphold the Constitu-
ton in this, as in other respects, TO the ut
most of my ability, and in defiance Of all
personal consequences. What may happen
10 an individual is of little importance; but
the Constitution ofthe country, or any of its
great and clear principles and provisions, is
too sacred to be surrendered, under any cir
cumstances whatever, by those who are
charged with its protection and defence
Least of all should he be held gulilcss, who,
placed at the head of one of the great depart
ments Of the Government. should shrink
from the exercise of its UNREASONABLE au-
thorlty on the most important occasions, and
should consent, without struggle, to efface
all tho baFrtnrS carafi,lly oil b,., 10
People to control and circumscribc the pow
ers conhded to their various agents. Itmay
be desirable, as the majority of the House
of Representatives has declared il is, that
no such checks upon the will of the Legis-
lature should be suffered to continue. This
is matter for the People and States TO de-
eide; but until they shall have decided it,
] shall feel myself bound to execute, without
fear or favor, the law, as il has been written
by our predecessors.
Iprotest against this whole proceeding of
the House of Representatives, as "a pGrtc
and Extra .judiciai protest against it, as
subsersive of the common right of all citi-
zens, to be condemned only upon a fair and
impartial trial according 10 law and evidence
before the country. protest against it as
destructive of all the comfy of intercourse
between the Departments of this Govern
ment, and destined, sooner or later, to lead
to conflict fatal to the peace of. the country
and integrity of the Constitution. protest
against it in the name of that Constitution,
which is not only my own shield of protec-
tion and defence, but that of every Ameri-
can citizen. protest against it, in the
name of the People, by whose will stand
where do, and by whose authority exer-
else the power which I am charged with