Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

634 ABRIDGMENT OF THE SENATE.] Virginia Military Land Warrants. [FEBRUARY, 1835. knowledge from them; and I rejoice that mine motives have governed, if treachery to the best may see and know all that I, as their agent, interests of the people have been exhibited, if have done; and that there is no lawful power a responsibility has been assumed which may to hide it from them. The consequences of overwhelm the guilty when the journal shall this modern notion of expunging from the jour- be published, and their conduct exhibited, how nal what may be unpleasant or offensive to the easily will this doctrine now to be established, existing majority, are calculated to alarm those and this example now to be given, enable them who take an interest in the permanence and to conceal for ever their guilt, and evade the prosperity of our institutions. Shall I allude account which the public might require. It briefly to two or three of them? The striking was better to have no journal of our secret sesof our clock and the approaching dissolution of sions, but to leave every member to give such Congress remind me that I must, on every topic, relation of our actions as his interest dictates, aim rather at brevity than fulness of illustra- or his regard for truth might require. tion. Mr. President, will you look to another conThe changes of parties in our country are sequence? Entries are made on these journals rapid. The possessors of the " spoils " to-day of the votes and proceedings which create, enbecome the antagonists of power to-morrow. act, and give validity to the laws of the land; They who enjoy popular confidence now, may and to all those acts which are enjoined on the shortly find themselves bereft of that confidence, Senate by the constitution-laws, treaties, apand sinking unhonored into the mass of the pointments, judgments on impeachment, every community which will no longer regard them thing. Shall we calmly establish the docwith respect. Opinions alter with the interests trine that these votes may be expunged, and and condition of the country; and honest, in- these constitutional acts be left unsustained by telligent, and wise men who have formed their the authority which gives them sanction and policy on existing circumstances, are often validity? For, sir, even the proceedings and obliged to give way to others better skilled in judgments upon an impeachment may as well the approaching or expected wants and rela- be expunged, as any other item in that record. tions of the nation. All this does take place; It is a process of nullification new in the theory all this may and will take place hereafter, in and practice of our Government, now first atthe progress of society. I am no railer at popu- tempted, and whose consequences no man can lar changes. I have as much confidence as any anticipate or depict. For me, sir, it is imposman in the intelligence, firmness, and stability sible to bring myself to a belief in its correctof the people of this country; and certainly do ness. The constitution commands us to keep not yield, on this point, to any noisy demagogue, a journal. It must be true and faithful; it who supports to-day principles which he held must remain inviolable; and when you shall up to scorn yesterday-with professions of have expunged any thing from it, you will have devotion to the people on his tongue, and pur- disregarded one of the plainest and most imposed deception and selfish ambition in his portant injunctions of our great constitutional heart. I speak only of facts-changes have charter. happened. If society shall progress and be prosperous and free, they must happen here- Firginia Military Land Warrants. after. It is the condition of every human The Senate considered, as in Committee of society, especially when it is free. There are, the Whole, the bill granting an additional quanthere must be, frequent changes in public men tity of land in satisfaction of unlocated Virand public measures. Shall it be established as ginia military bounty land warrants. the constitutional doctrine, that, on every Mr. CLAY opposed the bill, on the ground change the triumphant majority may erase from that the number of acres appropriated would our records the acts and votes of their prede- not be sufficient for the purpose of satisfying all cessors? If you pass this resolution, and it be these claims; we did not know when we should established that we may alter and falsify the ever stop. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. journals, such may, and not improbably will, TYLER) informed him, formerly, that the last be the course of our future history. The worst appropriation would be sufficient, and yet we men in power will have the strongest tempta- appeared to be no nearer the end of this busition to erase the acts of the best. The most ness than we were then. servile devotees of the favorite of the hour will Mr. EwING would much rather appropriate be most likely to seek his favor, by expunging the sum of $687,500, instead of five hundred whatever may be obnoxious to him, or an ob- and fifty thousand acres, and then we should stacle in the way of his purposes. Your jour- know what we were about. nal will cease to be a record of your acts; and Mr. LEIGH made some remarks in favor of may be made an instrument to aid the advance the bill. He said this appropriation could not of corruption and despotism. be considered as made to Virginia, any more Observe the danger of this doctrine in an- than to Ohio, Kentucky, or Tennessee, for not other aspect. The Senate sits in secret, when one-twentieth of these claimants reside in that advising the President upon treaties, appoint- State. ments, &c. The record of their acts, with Mr. TYLER said, if the original appropriation closed doors, is a part of the journals. If base! of five hundred thousand acres was just and

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 634
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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