Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-24
THE THIRTY SEVENTH CONGRESS
EXTRA SE ESSION.
WAsnlSGToN, July lG.
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,He ''ou' i.".i'IH Tt,i'eo "''cn the res
oi",'on V''o'ISI"s "'t 'iie 'cI' o' Tue rreS
w. r,r ""s ~ oe '.,"u' i,'e sl'er,"i o'ocr
.r'i i l'recNiir'oSe iil '"oN Inc hoof ana
'po"' 10 'o''o"'
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN {. BRECKINRiDGE.
I Mr.. President, it this were but an ord-
nary occasion, should content myself
with IL vote, but am unwilling to allow
| this resolution to pass Silhout eXuressins
rIl opinion aud protesting against the
acts enumerated in the icsoluliun.
! The words .! the resolution admit that
| the acts were rot done by Congress, nor
IN accordance with the constitution.
| should like to know, Mr.. President.
how the constitution invests Congress
with the power oflhu,, as it wishes, in
Identifying the President.
II The Pre- idenl has violated the laws
lie hats also violated the constitution. for
he Is sworn to see that those laws are cX-
ecu,cd. 10 declare that Congress by Il
JOINT resolution, can rdcmnif; the pre,i.
dent for any action he has taken. i. to
give the President a precedent that he
may always follow. ] deny that Congl css
can sse the constitution either as umcuns
Of cncroachmcDl OF Of ofindemnjfcauon
Mr., President, intend 20 speak only of
those acts OF the President enumerated in
in ,he resolution, and which | denouncc
is bold usurpations, and am sorry 10 see
here, on the floor OF the American senate,
%enators who are willing TO endorse those
acts. ! am Of tue opinion that the Pres
ldent should he rcbukcd
by what authority has Tie President
established blockade cr The Southern
ports? viii any Senator here tell me?
Show me the clause which empowers the
President to d. so. WIN any Senator
say that Ihc Constitution does?
lhe question came up at the last se,>
sion OF CcugIc3s, an | tho late Srlator
from Illinois Mr. Douglass advanced an
argument that was unanawcrable and sta.
icd therein that shonId the President at.
tempt to Go so I!e would be liable TO inn
; cachment. lie, any Senator show me
the clause or dcduco from any clause
where the President Is empowered more
than any other officer.
Daring all the past troub cs Of this
country blockade was 40. instituted
no, not even DUNG the troubles OF South
carolina, N 1857, "nd must the time
II ny yet come when it will not be treason
to maintain the co! stlluilon.
MI. brecklnrldse referred at some
length 10 tie suspension OF the haJc Is cur
pms. lie sald we have been told about
state rights aud individual rights, some
OF wLlcII we've mere shadows the writ Of
hajcds corpus is the right Of citizens every
where--a real right-the right of ri5 hts,
belonging to the high, the low. the rich
ana the poor alike, Yes, Mr.. President.
1t belongs to those to whom the President
chooses to designate rs a plain p opic.
1t was sought after, fought for, obtained
and locked up IN our constitution. 1t is
the chiei glory Of the British people. |
need not say that Parliament alone can
suspend 1t. We all know that mcnalch !
cannot thus invade this sacrOd right Of
people, yet transatlantic President
does II with lmpunlty.
such a thing was never before known.
Nlr. Jefferson ut one time thought he
would like to suspend the wilt, but he
asked Congress and it was denied to him,
and he did not attempt il. The constilu>
'loh does not designate The Executive
more than any other officer when tspeaks
oi INC writ.
Here Mr.. Ilecklnrldge quoted from
several Other Chief justices,
lie L.ndsd to the Meryman case, aud
sad hat the newspapers had denounced
Judge fancy, but never attempted to re-
flute his arguments, and these abuses of
the press will yet recoil on their
own heads., Here Mr. Breckin'idge
euiogl1ed Judge fancy for his ability and
courage, and said lie was he most illustr:.
Gus American living or dead.
Addressing himself u the Senate, Mr..
sad in a cool, yet defiant