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

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 321 APRIL, 1834.] President's Protest —Notice of Expunnging Resolution. [SENATE. behind. To such a community-in an appeal, but refuse even to suffer it to remain in the on a great question of constitutional law, to the Senate? Will they refuse to permit it to reunderstandings of such a people-declamation, main on file, but send it back, or throw it out passion, epithets, opprobrious language, would of doors, wsithout condescending to reply to it? stand for nothing. They would float, harmless for that is the exact import of the motion now and unheeded, through the empty air, and made! Will Senators exhaust their minds, and strike in vain upon the ear of a sober and dis- their bodies also, in loading this very commupassionate tribunal. Indignation, real or affect- nication with epithets, and then say that it shall ed; wratlh, however hot; fury, however en- not be received? Will they receive memorials, raged; asseverations, however violent; denun- resolutions, essays, from all that choose to abuse ciations, however furious, will avail nothing. the President, and not receive a word of deFacts-inexorable facts-are all that will be fence froIm him? Will they continue the specattended to; reason, calm, and self-possessed, tacle which had been presented here for three' is all that will be listened to. An intelligent months-a daily presentation of attacks upon tribunal will exact the respect of an address to the President friom all that choose to attack their understandings; and he that wishes to be him, young and old, boys and men-attacks heard in this great question, or being heard, echoing the very sound of this resolution, and would wish to be heeded, will have occasion to which are not only received and filed here, but be clear and correct in his facts; close and per- printed also, and referred to a committee, and spicuous in his application of law; fair and introduced, each one, with a lauded commnencandid in his conclusions and inferences, tem- tary of set phrase? Are the Senate to receive perate and decorous in his language; and scru- all these, and yet refuse to receive from the pulously free from every taint of vengeance and object of all this attack one word of answer? malice. Solemnly impressed with the truth of In this point of view —as a question concerning all these convictions, it was the intention of the Senate itself, it may become material to the himself, (Mr. B.,) whatever tjhe example or the Senate, in a country and in an age when no provocation might be-never to forget his place, tribunal is too high for public opinion to reach his subject, his audience, and his object-never it, it nmay become material to the Senate, in to forget that he was speaking in the American such a country, and such an age, to reject and Senate, on a question of violated constitution throw out of doors the calm and temperate deand outraged individual right, to an audience fence of the President, in the midst of the comprehlending the whole body of the American reception of a thousand memorials and resolupeople, and for the purpose of obtaining a right- tions condemning him for the very act which cons decision from the calm. and sober judgment he is not allowed to defend. Is he to be the of a high-minded, intelligent, and' p Aiotic only citizen who is not to be heard by the Sencommunity. ate? Him wlhom it seems to be lawfull for The question immediately before the Senate every one whose education and manners qualiwas one of minor consequence; it might be ties him for the application of billingsgate rhetcalled a question of small import, except for the orlic, to lavish it upon him. Rejected or not, effect which the decision might have upon the that communication cannot be secreted fiom Senate itself. In that point of view, it might the eyes of the American people. It has been be a question of some moment; for, without read, and will be printed. An independent reference to individuals, it was essential to the press will carry it to the extremities of the cause of free governments, that every depart- country, and hand it down to succeeding genment of the Government, the Senate inclusive, orations. It -will be compared with speeches deshould so act as to preserve to itself the respect livered for three months in this Capitol, against and the confidence of the country. The imme- this President, and an enlightened and upright diate question was, upon the rejection of the community will decide between the language President's Message. It was moved to reject it of the defence, and the language of the accusa-to reject it, not after it was considered, but tion; between the temper of the accusers, and before it was considered! and thus to tell the the temper of the accused; between the violent American people that their President shall not President who has violated the constitution and be heard-should not be allowed to plead his the laws, and the meek and gentle Senators defence-in the presence of the body that con- who have sat in judgment upon. him for it. demned him —neither before the condemnation, The people will see these things-will compare nor after it! This is the motion, and certainly them together-will judge for themselves; and no enemy to the Senate could wish it to mis- that judgment, in this fmiee and happy land, will carry. The President, in the conclusion of his be the final and supreme award, from which >Message, has respectfully requested that his there is no appeal. defence might be entered upon the Journal of The great question,:Mr. B. said, which was to the Senate-upon that same journal which con- go before the American people, and to claim from tains the record of his convictions. This is the them that intense and profound consideration request of the President. Will the Senate deny which the English people gave to the conduct it? Will they refuse this act of sheer justice of the House of Commons in regard to the Midand common decency? Will they go further, dlesex election, is the constitutitutionality of the and not only refuse to place it on the Journal, Senate's conduct in adopting a resolution -which VoL. XII,-21

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 321
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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