Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-09-16

N'N tAPNHN VI y oHbHAuNlNO1 HHb UGuu
pleased TO adop; it as its own, and there
by,to become my accusers before Che
country and before the world. The
high character OF such an accuser, the
gravity Of the charges which have been
made, and the judgment pronounced a.
gainst me by the adoption of the report
upon a distinct and separate vote Of the
House, leave me no alternative but TO
enter my solemn protest against the Pre-
ceediDg. as unjust TO myself as a man,
as an invasion of my constitutional pow
ers as Chief Magistrate Of the Ameri.
can People, and as a violation, IN my
person, OF rights secured to every cit
izen oy the laws and the Constitution.
That Constitution has entrusted to the
House Of Representatives the sole pow.
er ofimpeachment, Such impeachment
is required, at all times, 10 be tried before
the most august tribunal known to our
institutions. The Senate Of the United
States, composed OF the Representatives
oil the sovereignty ofthe States, is con-
verted into a hall Of justice, and in order
to ensure the striclest observance of the
rules Of evidence and of legal procedure,
the Chief Justice Of the United States,
the highest judicial fuuctionary Of the
land, is required to preside over its de
Iiberations. In the presence Of such jud.
icatory the voice of faction is to be
silent, and TIE sentence of guilt or limo
cence is pronounced under the most sol,
emn sanctions Of religion, of honor, and
OF law. To such a tribulaI does the
Constitution authorize the House Of
Representatives 10 carry up its aceusa-
tons against any chief Of tho Execu
tive Department whom it may believe TO
be guilty oil high crimes and misdemea-
nors. Before that tribunal the accused
is confronted with his accusers, and may
demand the privilege which the justice
of the common law secures TO the hum
best citizen, Of a full, patient, and i'm.
partial inquiry, into the facts, upon the
testimony Of The Witnesses, rigidly ex
amined, end deposing in the face OF day.
If such a proceeding had been adopted
towards me, unjust as | should havecer.
tainly regarded it, | should, | trust,
have met with a becoming constancy a
trial as painful as it would have been
undeserved. would have manifested
by q profound submission to the laws Of
my country, my perfect faith 10 her JUS
lice; and, relying on the purity Of my
motives, and the rectitude OF my conduct
should have looked forward with conf
dence 10 a triumphant refutation 10 the
presence of that country, and by the
solemn judgment OF such a tribunal, not
only OF whatever charges might have
been formally preferred against me but
Of all the caIumnies oil which | have
hitherto been the unresisIing victim
As it is, | have been accused without ev.
idence, and condemned without a hear
ing. As far as such proceedings a &C
~complish it, | am deprived Of public con
6dence in the administration OF the Co
Vernment, and denied even the boast oil
a good name-a name transmitted iC
me from a patriot father, PRICED as my
prOudest inheritance, and carefully pre-,
served for those who are TO come aflel
me, as the mos; precious Of all earthly
possessions,
am not only subjected to imputationr
affecting my character as IAN individual
but am charged with offences agains
the country. so grave and so h~enious a;
to deserve public disgrace and disfran
chisemont am charged with violating
pledges which | never gave; and, be
cause | execute what | believe to be tn
law, with usurping powers not conferred
by law; and, above all, with using tn
-, powers conferred upon the President By
, the Constitution from corrupt motive
ard for un Warrantable ends. An,
/ these charges are made without an,
particle Of evidence to sustain them
and, as | solomnly affirm, without an.
, foundation in truth.
a Why is a proceeding Of this sort a
dopted at this timer Is the occasion 70
it found in the TACT, that having bee
, elected TO the second office under tn
Constitution by the free and %Vo!untar.
suffrages Of the people, | have succeed
ed 10 the first, according to the expires
=. provisions Of the fundamental law OF tn
same People9 1t is true that the SUI
Z cesslon Of the Vice President to tn
a Chief Magistracy has never occurre
4 before, and that all prudent and patrio
ic minds have looked on this new trit
Of The wisdom and stability Of our in
9 stiIutions with somewhat anxious con
Germ. ! have been made 10 feel tc
q sensibly the difficulties Of my uDprec
a denled position not 10 know all that
intended 10 be conveyed in the reproaC
cast upon a President without a part,
But | found myself placed in this re
sponslble station by no %usurpation {
- contrivance of my own. was Gale