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Editorial
February 9, 1837
Litchfield Enquirer
Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
The Whig General Committee of New-York adopts unanimous resolutions condemning the U.S. Senate's 1837 expunging of a 1834 resolution criticizing President Jackson's executive actions on public revenue as unconstitutional overreach, calling it a violation of the Constitution and a betrayal by 24 senators subservient to executive power.
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The following preamble and resolutions were adopted and passed unanimously by the Whig General Committee of the city of New-York, on the 24th ult. They breathe the spirit of patriotism, and should be followed by a like spirit in other parts of the country:
Whereas it is the constitutional right and duty of every legislative body to pass declaratory resolutions on questions affecting the public welfare; and whereas in the legitimate exercise of this right the Senate of the United States in the session of 1834, passed the following resolution: "Resolved, That the President in the late executive proceeding in relation to the public revenue has assumed upon himself authority and power not conferred by the constitution and laws, but in derogation of both;" and whereas the Constitution of the United States declares, that each House of Congress "shall keep a journal of its proceedings;" and twenty-four members of the present Senate; in disregard of the dignity and character of their own body, and actuated by an unworthy subserviency to executive power, have resolved that the said resolution be "expunged," therefore,
Resolved, That the said expunging resolutions do blot and destroy the journal of the proceedings of the Senate, and are a plain and palpable violation of the letter and spirit of the Constitution. But if they only mark with disapprobation the resolution they profess to expunge, then, as in the other case, they prostrate the Senate and the sovereignty of the States, the prerogatives and sovereignty of the people, the constitution and its guarantees of freedom, at the feet of the Executive. They register the will of the Executive.
Resolved, That the twenty-four Senators who voted for the expunging resolution, have betrayed their high trust as Senators—have inflicted a deep and lasting disgrace on the character of the country—and have proved themselves to be better fitted to register the edicts of a despot, than to be the representatives of freemen.
Resolved, That though they have defaced their records, the Senate cannot affect the truth of history, nor the verdict of posterity.
Whereas it is the constitutional right and duty of every legislative body to pass declaratory resolutions on questions affecting the public welfare; and whereas in the legitimate exercise of this right the Senate of the United States in the session of 1834, passed the following resolution: "Resolved, That the President in the late executive proceeding in relation to the public revenue has assumed upon himself authority and power not conferred by the constitution and laws, but in derogation of both;" and whereas the Constitution of the United States declares, that each House of Congress "shall keep a journal of its proceedings;" and twenty-four members of the present Senate; in disregard of the dignity and character of their own body, and actuated by an unworthy subserviency to executive power, have resolved that the said resolution be "expunged," therefore,
Resolved, That the said expunging resolutions do blot and destroy the journal of the proceedings of the Senate, and are a plain and palpable violation of the letter and spirit of the Constitution. But if they only mark with disapprobation the resolution they profess to expunge, then, as in the other case, they prostrate the Senate and the sovereignty of the States, the prerogatives and sovereignty of the people, the constitution and its guarantees of freedom, at the feet of the Executive. They register the will of the Executive.
Resolved, That the twenty-four Senators who voted for the expunging resolution, have betrayed their high trust as Senators—have inflicted a deep and lasting disgrace on the character of the country—and have proved themselves to be better fitted to register the edicts of a despot, than to be the representatives of freemen.
Resolved, That though they have defaced their records, the Senate cannot affect the truth of history, nor the verdict of posterity.
What sub-type of article is it?
Constitutional
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Expunging Resolution
Senate Journal
Constitutional Violation
Executive Power
Whig Committee
Senatorial Betrayal
What entities or persons were involved?
Whig General Committee Of New York
Senate Of The United States
President
Twenty Four Senators
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Condemnation Of Senate Expunging Resolution Against Jackson's Executive Actions
Stance / Tone
Strongly Anti Executive Overreach And Pro Constitutional Patriotism
Key Figures
Whig General Committee Of New York
Senate Of The United States
President
Twenty Four Senators
Key Arguments
Expunging Resolutions Violate The Constitution By Destroying The Senate Journal
Expunging Prostrates Senate And Sovereignty To Executive Will
Twenty Four Senators Betrayed Trust And Disgraced The Country
Senate Cannot Alter Historical Truth Despite Defacing Records