Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-02


Whole House, and refer them to the Commir,s. u U
Whole on the Stale of the Union. VI u
Objection being made, Mr.. UNDERWOOD
a suspension Of the rules. Tellevs being ode,a% ',
House was found without quorum. ="
Various motons were made, and finallrshe n
was compelled to adjourn account Of The q, -, ~
quorum.
The PRoTEsT.-We give the Presidents p,o,.
against the proceedings of the House of Reo,aa
tives, in relation TO the appointment Of Comm,,,.
10 report on his late veto message, and the adoo,
by the House of that Report BY separate and d,,,
vote. The paper We now give has been DELAYED ;.
the President under the mistaken hope that the a.,
of Representatives would, before lis adournmep, h,'
reviewed, in mode, its extraordinary procee5,+
by which il in fact converted itself into COM,
accusation and Oft trial. The Protest is written in .
and decided language, but s, at the same TIME hil
respectful and courteous To the House of Rsoreso,.
tves. We regard il as Of the most mporl,c, :.
interesting documents which these evenful time. H..
brought FORTH ddisonian.
PROTEST or TIE PRESIDENT
To the House Of Representatives:
| BY the Constitution Of the u S. it is provided H.
seyery bill which shall have passed the House Of r..
representatives. and the Senate shall, before become
| law be presented TO the President to the u S: T.
1pproue he shall sign it, but if not he shall return
with his objections TO that House in which il shall A,
originated, who shall enter the objections al large u.s.
the journal and proceed TO reconsider it.
In strict compliance with the positive Obligation
thus imposed upon me BY the Constitution, not Layr
been able 10 bring myself to approve bill which o.,
gnated in the House of Representatives, entitled ~,
act to provide revenue from mposis, and 10 chan..
and modify existing laws imposing duties lmpo:,
and for other purposes, returned the 10 III,
House, with my objections 10 its becoming lag =
These objections, which had entirely satisfied my ON
mind OF the great mpolicy, II not the uncons.tQ.
tioHaty OF the measure, presented in the mf,,
respectful and even deferenlia terms. | woult M,
have been far forgetfu of what due Gen
one department Of The Government 10 another. >,
10 have Intentionally employed, in my official ina,
course with the House, any language that could be-
the slightest degree, offensive to those TO whom ".
addressed. Ii, in assigning my objections TO the bill
had 80 far forgotten what due 10 the House o r
representatives. as 10 impugn its motives in passing lie
bill, should owe, not only to that House, but 10 lie
country, my most profound apology. Snch departure
from proprety is, however, not comp!snrd of in any
proceeding winch the House has adopted. IL has o.
the contrary, been expressly made subject Of rema,s
md almost Of complaint, that the language in wta
my dissent was couched was studou.y guarded snt
cautious.
Such being the character of the official commune.
ton in question: confess | was wholly unprepareG fl
the course which has been pursued in regard to IT,
In the exercise Of the power to regulate It's p:s
ceedngs the House, o. the first time, it is believed
the history Of the Government, thought proper 10 rs
fer the message to select committee OF It's own 6ot
for the purpose las my respect for the House would
have compelled ME TO infer of deliberately weighing
the obs c,ions urged against the bill by the Executive
with view 10 lis own Judgment upon the question
the final adoption rejection ofthe measure.
c. the temper and feelings in relation to myself q
some Of the members selected for the performance q
this duty, have nothing to say. That was a matter
..,t.. ~ ~ ft,o NJ
sentatves But that Committee, taking diferA
view of lis duty, from that which should have su
posed had led TO its creation, instead OF confnln.
self to the objections urged against the bill, nssi'4
itself Of the occasion formally TO arraign tie motives
Of the President for others Of his acts stree BIS
duc,on into Office. In the absence OF all proof, Ft
as am bound TO declare, against all law or pace
dent in parliamentary proceedings, and st the ,aG.
time in a manner which it would he Difficult! to 't
conce with the comfy, hitherto sacredly o5srrTt
in the intercourse between independent and Good
nate departments cf the Government, 1t has asss't
my whole official conduct, without shadow Ct pr
text for such assault and, stopping short OF impe,ch
mcnt has charged me- nevertheless, with offences e.
c!ared to deserve impeachment Had the extrafth'
~ report which the Committee thus made 10 'b'
House been permitted 10 remain without the sane1a
Of the latter should not have uttered regret
complaint, upon the subject. But, unaccomr'ar.
as il is by any particle of testimony TO support 't'
charges il contains, without deliberate examni''f
almost without any discussion, the House Of Rep.
scntatives has been pleased 10 adopt it as its oar
and thereby 10 become my accuser before the eoll
try and before the world. The high character d
such accuser, the gravity OF the charges naia
has been made, and the judgment pronounced agsad
me- by the adoption of The Report upon distinct 'tl
separate vote Of the House, leaves me no alternative
but to enter my solemn protest against Tie proce'df
as uni just to myself as man, Gs an invasion Of ~
constitutional powers Chief Magistrate Of the An
rican people, and violation, my person, OF rsLt
secured IN every citizen by the laws and the IONS
tuition That Constitution has entrusted TO the loI"
of Representatives the sole power Of Impeachmeh
Such impeachment is required TO be tried before Tx
most august tribunal known 10 our institutions
The Senate of The United States, composed Of IT,
Representatives Of the sovereignty of the States .
converted into hal! Of Justice, and in order 10 nsGr
the strctes, observance Of tie rules of evidence and
Legal procedure, the Chief Justice Of the L. ), w
highest judicial functionary Of The land, is requEe@
preside over its deliberations. In the presence oil &
udcatory The voice Of faction is presumed 10 oe y
lent, and the sentence Of guilt or Innocence u
nounced under the most solemn sanctions oil refe
Of honor ard Of law. 10 such tribunal does he q
stituton authorize the House o. Representatives u"
ry up its accusations against any chlei oil The EA'
tive Department whom it may believe to be gun!
high crimes and misdemeanOrs. Before that 'fV""'
the accused IL confronted with his accusers, anc W.
demand the privilege, which the justice oil 'ne ' SG
mon law secures TO the humblest citizen, OF wv
patient, and impartial inquiry into the facts w..
the testimony of witnesses, rigidly esam'neG, y.
deposng in the face Of day. IL such proce'c'
had been adopted toward ne, unjust as ] s''''
certainly have regarded il, ! should, J trust 'H !.
met with becoming consistency trial as panic 7
it would have been undeserved. | would have ran
Tested by profound submission TO the Laws oi ny f
try, my perfect faith in her justice, and rely 's on "
purity oil my motives, and the rectltude of my c'".4
should have looked forward with confidence To- ..
umphant refu.aton in the presence ofthai county,
by the solemn judgment Of such tribunal, not o..
whatever charges might have been formally prefer
against me- but Of all the calumnies of which nave ~"
er,o been the unresislng vic,m As il is. have ore"
cused without evidence, and condemned "iihoLt
ing. As far such proceedings can accomplish IT.
deprived Of public Confidence in the adnna'i''S"
the Government, and d. MED even tho boast o. =
name-a name n,miled I" me from pa'roI 80. 80
priced us my proudest inheritance, and ca'e'': ii,
served for those who 10 come alter He, NJ,
most precious of all earthly possessions s .5,,.,
only subjected TO imru,utIons affecting my e..
ter as an individual, but am charged w''n Wv" q
AGAINST the country. grave and so he"'"