The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-16

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What IL Will do not admire these questions Of expe
deney 40 not hold to inqurng how it is going to op-
craze on Puonc opnlon If do this, or do that. Do
that which is right, and take the consequences Now
we have an important duty perform; are the repre-
sentatves oil the sovereign States bound to pro-
tec our responsibility and standing because upon that
responsibility depends influence upon the affairs of
the nation Now, ask if an individual insued in
this outrageous manner, would he leave his door open
Tor the entrance OF him who had insulted him No,
he would very Justly refuse him admission. But you do
not take tins course you publish the world that your
editor may say what he peases OF YOU and you will not
resent it. put gentlemen would you act so in your
own case And II not, would you act upon less high
principles in regard the representatives of the sovereign
States than you would in regard to yourselves ndivdu
ally Sir, have no hesitation in this matter am pre-
pared 10 give my vote firmly strongly. shall not
trouble Inc Senate any further in regard to it,.
Mr. CASS SAID: regret the introduction OF this sub
ect, and still more the of this discussion do
not believe that the character of the Senate required any
such agis as this That character is the property of the
country, and amongst It's most valuable property too
From the functions OF this body uniting portions of the
legislative, judicial, and executive powers, and from the
previous position of its members It must always exert
considerable influence upon public opinion. But its inu-
ence will not be increased by measures like this Its
dignity will be better protected by its course, than by
the punishment OF newspaper editors, of newspaper
writers, who may call in question its action the
tives OF its members do not say, sir, that case may
not arise, when II may be proper to inquire into as
sauts upon the character and conduct of the Senate But
they must be strong onesamost extreme onesfar diff
ferent from this For myself agree with the senators
from Ohio and Virginia, that the defensive power OF this
necessary TO protect 1t in the execution of its duties
This is the only tangible point 1t is clear that the
constitution coniers no such power. As to our as
suming it, because is exercised in England by the
Legislature there, reject the proposition, as
unworthy of our nation. Neither as a part Of the
common law nor as the result Of analogy can we
great law OF selfdeence and it must be limited by the
same necessity TO which it owes its origin. We can
our dignity, as it is called, requires further atonement
let tribunal for the trial be established by law, and the
proceedings regulated by law Even in its mildest form
it exceptional power, not Within but urithOut
institutions We judges and parties at the time
The peudcesno not the prejudices-bu the Just feel
ngs OF the country at once array themselves against such
then only in papabe to carry conviction with
them This case is not only one where this summary
power is exercised but where it is exercised without
giving the party who is the object of opportunity OF
being heard. 1t violates fundamental principle of all
codes, of the rudes that the accused, before
demnation shall be heard in his defence. Strike out
hear me, memorable invocation, which has come
down to US But We in this age of the world, about
to strike without first hearing Now, nothing could il
usre this universal rule better than the OF the
matter before The second resolution required the
A SENATOR. That resolution is withdrawn
Mr.. CASS. | know that, sir, well as can be told.
But my object is to show that, before any such resou-
ton acted on the party should be heard in his defence
wish to enforce the universal principle and to do So
the reporter the opportunity Of defending himself Still our
proceedings have shown that ought to have done
We have discovered that the reporter was wholly
that of publishing partial report the result OF the
purest accident It was because Of your members it
was because l. sir, wrote out my own remarks, which
were then published agreeably to an nvariable usage
known to every member OF both branches of Congress
Had either of the other senator's done the same thing,
the Union But after ALL far respects the repor-
ter, say it with all respect but it really seems to me
that this prosecution is very much OF tempest in tea
pot Is such grievous offence that on the second
evening after incidental debate, only OF the
speeches should be published And that is the sum to-
tai of this grave contempt shall not enter into any con-
sderaon OF the duty of reporters to give the details
speedily that will only say, it is physically impos
sibe and for not doing what general rule it is i'm
expeng the reporter. Had we acted Immediately,
had the reporter himself sat STILL and the member, whose
speech was published, been absent we should have
passed judgment of expulsion and then found that
we had convicted innocent man, simply because we
found him guilty without trying him And we, are now
going with the remaining resolution, violating the
eternal principle and perhaps to regret our
ecipate action We propose to expel the editors OF the
Union; and for what Because, in communication in
Senate, as aiding the Mexcans in our war with them,
and kind of endorsement of those views in an edito-
rial paragraph. Now, Mr.. President, have no apology
bad taste and will never be defended by me- But what
kind of charge this after ALL Just such as has
abounded every page OF our party history from the ou
thets French party, and British party, were banded
about in every paper in the country The federallsts
charged with being under British influence, ana ne
democrats under French influence; and each was &C
cuscd OF sacrificing the interests OF their own coun-
try to that OF the rival nations. In the House
Iof Representatives during the last war, dis
tinguished member of Congress from New York, said
that Mr.. Madison chained to the chariot wheels OF
Bonaparte And what is the amount of all this : This
ndefensbe article charges the Senate with promoting
the interests of Mexico But how Why, the charge is
rhetorical one The Senate delayed the passage of
certain BILL and therefore promoted Mexican in
teess The promotion of those interests is the deduc
ton of the writer from his premises not the assertion of
an Independent fact Why, where is the wing paper in
the republic which, during and since the last session OF
Congress- has not charged the democratic party with
fcng the interest of the country to England the
sage OF the last tariff act' And if am not greatly de-
ceived in paper published in this very city, extracts
given from English papers, approving the views of
the Secretary OF the Treasury and the action OF Con-
gress upon the tariff, proof that what had done was
well done for England, and badly done for the United
States and that interests had been sacrificed BY party
to hers Whoever thought of investigating such charges
seriously! There is not man in the country, fit to
be out OF mad house. who believed that the demo-
thatone member of Congress desired to sacrifice interest
to Mexico This is no charge OF speclhce offence,
such as demands investigation Such a charge OF
bribery, treason, of other acts implying moral guilt
1t is a deduction, constructive charge, where the
premises given and the conclusions drawn says
eraons delayed and Mexican interests subserved.
repeat all this is in bad taste. But let us not act in
still worse taste by saying out upon expedition against
the writers OF articles like these What do propose
To expe the editors OF the Union. In the course of
this debate of these gentlemen seems to have been ex
that he is exclusively the object of this measure How
are we to affect him | will not enter the question OF
the nature of his right here. Let it be right privilege,
courtesy, what you will He has place here by our