The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-09-16

cusslOn, the House Of Representatives has been
pleased to adopt II as lis own, ami, thereby, to he
come my accuser before the country, and before
the world. The high character OF such an ac-
cuser, the gravity of the charges which has been
made and the Judgment pronounced against me,
by the adoption of the Report upon distinct and
separate vote of the House, leaves me no acrna-
tive but to enter my solemn protest against the pro-
cecdmg as unjust In myself us man, rs an lnva-
sion of my constitutional powers as Chief Magis-
,rale of The American People, and as Il violation,
in my person, Of rights secured TO every citizen by
the laws and the Constitution That Constitution
has entrusted to the House Of Representatives the
sole power of impeachment. Such impeachment
is required TO be tried before the mos, august tri
bunal known to our Institutions
| The Senate of the United States, composed of
the Representatives of the sovereignty of the
States; is converted into hall of justice, and in
order To insure the strcest observance of the rules
Of evidence and Of legal procedure, the Chief JUS
lice of the United States, the highest Judicial lunc
lonary of the land. is required 10 preside its
deliberations, In the presence of each judcatory
the voice of faction is presumed to be silent, and
the sentence Of guilt or innocence is pronounced
under the most solemn sanctions of religion, of
| honor, and of law To such n tribunal does the
Constitution authorize the House of Representa-
lives to carry up its accusations against any chief
of the Executive Department whom lnay believe
/ to be guilty of high crimes and mStemeanOrs. Be-
| fore that tribunal the accused is confronted with
| his accusers and may demand the privilege, which
! the justice OF the common law secures to the hum
b'est citizen, OF full, patient, and impartial in
quiry into the Facts, upon the testimony of wit
nesscs, rigidly examined and deposing in the face
of day. If such proceeding had necn adopted
toward me, IN ust as should certainly have re-
] rrba CHI | trnc hat viii "a bn-
coming consistency trial as painful as i, would have
| been undcscrved would have mailes,cd, by
profound submission to the laws of my country, my
perfect faith in her Justice, and relying on the pu-
ry of my motives, and the rectilude of my con-
duet, should have looked forward with confidence
TO a triumphant rciulatlon in the presence olihat
country, and by The solemn Judgment of such
tribunal, not only of whatever charges might have
been formally preferred against me, but o! all the
caulnnies of which have hitherto been tho I'M
resisting yiclinle. As it is, | have been accused
without evidence. and condemned without II hear
ing. As far us such proceedings can accomplish
it, am deprived of public confidence in the ad-
mnstraiion of the Government, and denied even
the boast of good name "a name transmitted TO
me from patriot father, priced rs my propdcs,
inheritance, and carefully preserved for those who
are to come after me- rs the most precious of all
atons affecting my character as an ndi, ldual, but
am charged with offences against the country, So
grave and so henous rs to deserve public disgrace
and di,lranchiscmenl, am charged with violating
pledges which never gave; and because ! exc
cute what heIieTe 10 b ehe law with usurpng pO-
wcrs not conferred by law and ablyc all, with u
sing the powers conferred upon the President by
the Consultation, from corrup, II owes and for un-
wnrrnntahe ends. And these urges are made
without any parral of evidence to sustain them,
and, as | solcnnly affirm, without any iounda-
ton in truth.
Why is proceeding Of this sort adopted at this
time Is the occasion for it founded in the fact, |
that having been elected to The second office under
the Constitution by the free and voluntary su!lra- !
ges of the People, have succeeded to the first ac-
Cordng y the express provisions of The lundunrn.
tai law Of the same People 1t is true tla, the
succession Of the Vice President, to the Chief Mag
islracy has never occurred before and that all prn-
dent and palriptia mind, have looked on Tins new !
trial of the wisdom aud stability Of our institutions
with somewhat anxious concern. ! have been |
made to feel too scnslby the difficulties Of my I'M
precedcnted position, not 10 know all thu, Is intended
10 be conveyed in the rcproach cast upon Pre.i-
dent without party But found myself placed in
this most responsible station by no usnrpl'ion or
conlrvance Of my own | was called To it, under
Providence, by the supreme law of the lnnd and
the Deliberately declared will Of the People. II is
by these, the People, that have been clothed with
the hgh powers which they have seen fl, TO confdo
10 their Chef Executive, and been chnlged with
the solemn responsibility under which those pow
ers are to be exercised. 1t is to them hold my.
self answcrnble, as n moral agent, for free and
conscientious discharge Of the duties which lhpy |
have imposed upon me. 1t il not as an indh idual
merely that ! am now called upon to resist the |
cncroachmcnt of constitutional power. ! represent
the executive authority Of the United Stated md .
il is in their name, whose mere agent and servant
am, and whose will declared it their lundancn.
tai law, dare MOI, even were | inclined to diso-
hey, that protest against every attempt TO break
down the undouhlcd constitutional power of this
department, without solemn amendment OF that
fundamental law
am determined 10 uphold the Constitution in
this, as in other respects,to the utmost Of my nbili-
~, and in defiance of personal Correspondents
What may happen to nm indi, dnal ia of little I'M
por,ancc; but the Constitution Of the country, or
any of It's great and clear principles aud pro, i1ion
il too sacred to be surrendered, under any circum-
stances whatever, by those who are charged with
is protection and defence. Least Of all should he
hr held guiillcSs, who, placed nj the head Of one
Of the great departments of the Government, should
shrink from the exercise of its unquestionnbe an-
thority on the mos, important occnslons,nnd should
consent, withou, struggle to eiihce all the bar
rers so careful created by the People to control and
the powers conlided TO their various
agents. II may be desirable, ns the majority Of the
House Of Representatives has declared it il, that
no such checks upon the will Of the Legislature
should he suffered TO conlinnc This is matter for
the People aud States to decide; but until they
shall have decided it, shall feel myself bound 10
execute, without fear or favor. the law, as it has
been written By our predecessors.
protest against This whole proceeding Of the
House of Representatives, as ca pdrie and erird
jGficiai protest against it, subversi,e of the
common right of all citizens 10 be condemned only
npon fair and impartial trial according to law and
evidence before the country. protest against it,
NJ nsiruciiun of all Ihn emily nc ininrcnns In