Year: 1875

"REMINISCENCES OF JACKSON.

 We remember very well, pre- sume every Senator here will re- member, the famous resolutions that were brought forward years ago by tic distinguished Senator from Kentucky, Mir. Clay, with reference to General Jackson, the resolutions condemning him for removing the deposits--condemn- ling and censuring him in strong terms. Both houses of Congress were together sitting as the Leg islatiye Department of the gov ernment, and notwithstanding the Senate passed those resolutions, it was considered and was deter mined illegitimate, as it was not in the power of the Senate to pass upon the Executive, unless they were sitting as court of i'm peachment. But now we are call ed upon in the Senate to approve of the acts of the President of the United States. The nation in reference to the resolution that was adopted condemning General Jackson, when he was President of the United States, and when both houses of Congress were in session, and when they were con vened under the provisions of the constitution, and when they were acting in their legislative capaci- ty, repudiated the action of the Senate, and years afterward those resolutions were eXpunged from the journal of the Senate. Now, it seems to me that should settle the question most clearly; that we have no aut,- -ority to act upon resolution of this kind, and es pecially so in the absence of the other house. There are many things that are as legitimate for us to express an opinion upon as upon this resolution. What does this resolution propose? It seems it has required great care to pre- pare it. The first one introduced by the Senator from Indiana Mr. Morton was drawn up in some what broader terms; perhaps too broad for some members of the Senate to support. Then the Senator from New Jersey { Mr. Frelinghuysen) introduced a res olution seemingly not so broad as the ono introduced by the Senator from Indiana. It seems to mar TOW it down to almost an abstract idea, but when we come to get at it in substance the resolutions are the same, a mere modification in the matter of verbiage to suit the particular views of some individ- uals, and it does not effect the substance in the slightest degree. It is simply calling upon the Sen ate to express an opinion with reference to Executive conduct in the organization of th State gov ernment of Louisiana and approve of that action.

 FORMER COURSE OF THE GOVERN MENT.

 Now the query comes up, What has been the course of the gov ernment with reference to cases of this kindy l will refer you to one for the sake of making an in- troduction to what l am going to say. That was the case which !

 occurred in 1866. We found in the state of Tennessee, in the or ganization of the government there, that there was q Governor elected and a legislature elected under an amended constitution, which had been adopted by the l people in convention. The legis- laturc was convened, the governor was qualified and in tho discharge of his duties as governor of the state. Here was the legislative department, here was the execu-

 tive department, coordinate

 branches of the government. Tho

 Judicial Department was also in

 full operation, and each one ol

 these branches of the government

 moved in its appropriate sphere land one had no right to cncroacl