Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1842-09-24
PROTEST OF THE PRESIDENT.
To the House of Representatives.

ny me constitution Of the United
States 1t IsProvided thapevery bill which
shall have passed the House OF Reuresen.
ta'Ives and the Senate, shall, before il be.
come law, be presented to The President
OF the unIted States, il he approve il he
shall sign it; but If not he shan return !,
with MS oblec'ions,io that House 10 which
It shall have originated, who shalt enter
the objections at large upon the Journal
and proceed TO reconsider i'm
In strict compliance with the positive
obligation thus imposed upon me by the
Constitution not having been able TO bring
myself to approve bill which originated
IN the House of Representatives, entitled
Gan act 10 provide revenue from imports
and to change and to modify existing laws
imposing duties from imports and for 9th.
or purposes returned the same to the
House, with my objections to its becoming
law. These objections, which had
entirely satisfied my own mind of the
great lmpoicy, il not unconsitu,ionaIily
OF the measure, were presented in The
most respectful, and deferential terms
| would not have been so far forgetiuI of
what was due from one Department of
the Government TO another, as to have in.
tentlonaIly employed, in my official inter.
course with the House, any language that
could be, ia the slightest degree offensive
TO those to whom it was addressed. Ifin
assigning my objections to the bill, had
so far forgotten what was due TO the House
OF Representatives, as TO impugn its motives
IN passing the bill, | Should owe, not only
to that House, but to the country, my most
profound apology. Such departure from
proPriety Is, however not complained of
in any proceeding which the House has
adopted.-ll has, on the contrary been
made subject Of remark and almost OF
that the language in which my
dissent was couched was sludiously guard.
ed aud cautious.
Such being the character of the official
communication in question, confess
vas wholly unprepared for the course
which has been pursued in regard to it. In
he exercise Of the power to regulate its
'wn proceedings, the House for the first
Ime ii Is believed, in the history Of the
Government, thought proper TO refer the
message TO select committee from its
'wn body, for the purpose as my respect
or the House would have compelled me
o infer OF deliberately weighing The obiec.
ions urged against the bill by the Eyecu-
ISe'w'ih view to its own Judgment upon
he question Of the tinal adoption. or rplec
ION OF the measure,
vi the temper and feelings in rela.
ION to myself OF, some of The member Sc.
ecied for the performance of this du,y, |
ave nothing to say. That was matter
nilrely within the discretion of the House
i Representatives. But that committee,
akIng different view of its duty from
nat which should hive supposed had led
lis creation instead OF conjning ITSELF
he objections urged against the bill
vailed llselt OF the accession formally 10
rralgn the motives of the Presiden, for
lhers OF his acts since has induction into
fllce. In the absence OF all proof, and
S am bound 10 declare, against all law
precedent In parliamentary proceed-
lg and at the same time, in a manner
'bIch IT would be difficult to reconcile
nm the comfy hitherto sacFedIy observed
the intercourse between independent
no coordinate departments of the Coy
rnment, 1t has assaulted my whole official
Dnduct, without shadow Of pretext for :
lch assault; and stopping short of i'm.
sachment, has Charged me, nevertheless, |
TN offences declared 10 deserve i'm. /,
sachmenI. Had the extraordinary re.
,ft which the committee thus made 10 the !;
louise been permitted to remain wi,hon. .
e sanction OF the lalter,I should not have ;,
iered regret or complaint, upon the !,
bJect. But, unaccompanied as il is by a
" particle of testimony TO support the a
arges It contains without, deliberate =
animation, almost without any discus. a.
'n, the House Of Representatives has .
en- pleased 10 adopt 1t as its own, and =,
ereby 10 become my accuser before the i,
untry, and the world. The high char. NJ
Ter OF such ap accuser, the gravity of m
, charges which have been made, and
Judgment pronounced against me, by n
adoption OF the report upon a distinct =,
d separate vots oflhe House, leave me no al
ernaIlve but to enter my solemn protest h.
alnst the proceeding, as unjust to my "a
!, as man, as an invasion of my con. o.
utIonal powers as Chief Magistrate Of nr
American people, and as violation r.
my person, Of rights secured to every IN
lzen by the laws and the CONSTITUTION. an
Iat Constitution has entrusted TO The bo
use OF Representatives the sole power an
impeachment. Such impeachment is a.,
L Il =