The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-01-31

have pleaded The order uf the President
in bar Ihereuli n Tie President have =
constitutional or lesal central over him.
he could have done u; and Il 90, xhy, IL
is ridiculous IN tslk shout The power Of
Impeachment. and there 10 no prcteeli0n
fnr the public resenue but Ihe arbitrary
viii Of the Executive.
But the power 0l the Senate 10 pass
the resolution Of the 2sth af May. 1884.
was denied. even sdmiIIing he had trans
rended his ennsii nlInnsl bounds in re-
gard 10 The resenne. This question de.
serves some examination; lur on IL are
based tie reasons Cor passing The resolu-
iian shieh blurred, blalled. aud dis6gur-
ed ihr records Of the Senate.
II understand The principles OF our
government correctly, The Senate. in re-
specl 10 lie powers. 10 lhresfold. Itmsy
hear aud determine impesrhmenis. aud
so FAR il Is Judicial in lis functions. II 10
made The. adviser Of the President in The
appointment 81 officers, and is so far ex-
eeuIise: aud u possesses al The same time.
al the ordinary powers Of legislative bot-
irs. The Senate did, nolhing more in
passing The resolution Of The 2sih Of May,
Than he legislature of this state and all
the states have done from The first foun-
Jaiion Of Ihe government. Has The right
II The legislature 10 express an opinion ~
10 the conduct Of one az the officers Of
the government ever been denied! Ifse
desire preeedenIs lor this right. they can
be found in the history OF al legislative
bodirs--in that Of the British Parliament,
IL the State Legislatures. and Of The Sem
ate itself. The Panama omission affords
= case s,rikingly in point. Governor
Branch introduced resolution in the
Srnais of the United States. denying the
President certain powers which he had
cl.ant,l aud exercised, and declaring
"thai lest silent Ge9liescenee in such
doctrines. oRths part o ihs Senate. should
BE- liroscn info precedent. therefore re-
soired that ihe President pOsssssts no
such pOrer or righ so claimed Ly him. I"
n" one thought 81 denying u the Senate.
= RIGHT To pass such a resolution. hwss
conceded by al. In ~hst mslerIal re.
specI. then, dues this resolution differ
lrom that 81 tie 2s,h of May. 1884! BY
II csrtain puwers are denied tn the Pres
idrni, winch he had exercised, thereby
Implying that he had rsscended those
which had been granted him. That Of
the 2slh OF MAY did nOIhlng more. II
lmpeached no motive and sought not To
crim,nale The intention ol the Executive.
But | place the right Of the Senate To
pass such resolution on higher grounds
far above, and Independents Of all pre-
redenI. II is right inherent in, and sP-
pertaining 10 every legislative body-a
right af sell.defence. which is necessary
Tor us very existence. The legislative
branch Of every government is guaranteed
cerIain privileges. Of whs, avail ave
these privileges wiIhou, the power In pro-
.eci thems Are they not nugalory with
nut IL! The constitution declares that
all irrislstlnn shall be vested 10 con-
gress of the United States" Suppose
The President denies this. and claims Tor
himself parl Of the legislative power be.
longing To Congress. must the Senate and
House sii mute and trembling, deprived
of the right, even 10 protest against such
a claim! Each house shall have the
right tn Judge Of the qualification Of its
own MEMBERS" says the Constitution.
Should the Executive attempt to deprive
them Of this right, must they say nothing!
Can they mol even announce 10 The peo-
pie, that he is attempting to usurp pow.
eri Should The House Of Representatives
become ihe..servile TOOL Of the Executive,
What protection will be left The Senate!
They. would refuse To impeach, aud The
Senate. according 70 the doctrine con-
tended for, would have 10 remain notion
less--cowsrdly mo,ionless, and see L.
self stripped Of its powers one after an
other. until il would become the very
scair VI the nation. But ihe doctrine leads
10 yetmore dangerous and threatening con-
sequences. II has been the desire Of The
friends of constitutional liberty. in all ages
aud countries, to inspire The representa-
tive with vigilance. They have eadeav-
ored To frame legislative bodies with pow.
srs suited TO this end. What, then. may
be the result Of depriving the Senate and
Hnuse of the privilege 10 warn the peo-
pie on the approach Of danger! The Con.
s.i,ution guarantees to each state repub'
lican Torn. Of government. Senators are
the direc, delegates Of the states. Should
the President under The influence Of {
daring ambition attempt 10 wres. from
the states this sacred right. must the Sen
ale remain SILENT or. would il no, be their
duty to call on the people. "trumpel
longued." to come to their rescued
What was the conduct Of the British
Parliament when James The Bud claimed
the exorbitan. privilege OF dispensation
by which Catholics we're absolved IRON