Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-06-25
And, Sir. we have neglected another pow.

And, Sir, we have neglected another pow
er, and that isthe power of impeachment. -
Every violation of a provision of law ought
to be fgliowed either by impeachment or =
bill OF inemnity. IL the necessity il SO ur-
gent as to justify an executive ofhcer in Eio-
ia:iag the laws, or TO vary q hairs breadth
from the law, this House ought to recognize
that necessity b. passing a bill Of inemnity;
otherwise an impeachment ought TO follow
The moment tAe delinquency is brought to
The notice of Congress. In my Judgment,
HE House ought ne; TO waste its time in
covering up plain violations Of law, even ii
not involving turpitude. violations which
ought TO be followed by impeachment, and
tbns ,hroag upon the Senate The duty of try
ing the offender.
When you bring abou; these reforms, ne
shall Aaye no more Loan bills, We shall nave
40 m7re Treasury Notes In my j~adgmeH.s
from the most careful examiaatlen can make
the expenditures for The fiscal year can be
reduced 10 ity million dollars, a SUN which
will be BniIin The public receipts But |
have no sope thai tllis will be d5ae. We
knox by fasal experience tae Po~er and ln-
duenee OF IL. Executive aacureea and M
checked lis opiy when this House assumes
and maintains is iail powers, AMI ensesces
ta=m, that the President and the heads Of
tie DspariIneHis can be KEPT H:Rhia The law
1 incluae heads vi Departments, because, Tho
not recognised 81 the Constitution except as
mere clerks oil lie Executive, yet custom and
ppalic opinioa have given their mandates an
Undue Importance. Trey arc sent to Us, the
Representatives. Of a free people. and we are
expected to bow in ahjret Submission 10 their
demands. For one, while | bold a seat up
on this floor, | will axalnias. for aud expose
any violation Of la%, whoever N ~ cominitit-
Such is the dufy % each Vi Us. Important
powers are eie1ated 10 US, AMI So c1nItst
avoid their exercise without dls!s0rcr. Wien
a mere question oi personal eiiaueite arises
we may be disposed ~ bow politely and yield;
but when il comes To qerfusaning representa-
i've duties, we should perIosm them, whoever
may sheer, whvoyrr my reproach, ana what
ever power may stand IN the way. l know
10 power above ihe power U; this House
But, Sir, / have NJ hope, while shis House
is constituted as it IS now. OF fns;itntiBg any
fadicsi REFORM. 4 believe that the House OF
Repre-. e I~tatises should b. in pp3sttiCntbshe
President. We know the Intimate reiations
made by party ties and party feelings. We
know that with a party House-a House u
mai 3r;ty Of &a3se members are friends o:
the president-it is Ism ~4ssiale to bring about
a reform. IL S Only by "a Rrin, able atd de-
termlned opfosniou-nps yiekling 10 envy
friendly request: not yieldlng TO every argent
demand, nor yieldEng TO every apPeal--that
we can expect 10 reform the abuses Ia the
administration ct the Government.
Al the beginning Of this session, ] did hope
that a majority .! this Honse would otnPose
such on opposition; and wtfiie on the one
hand il Crushed the unholy ate DPt 10 impose
an odious Constitution by force, or wiki
threats or brides. upon a free people, it wooid
be prepared to check the reckless extraya-
gance OF the Administration in The disburse-
ment of the public funds. But the power Of
party ties and Executive influence were too
potent. We can only look now TO the viz
tue and intelligence OF the people, whose
potent will can overthrow Presidents. Sen
aaies and majoruies. have an abiding hope
that the next House of Representatives witt
do what This should have done, and become,
like its great p~rotolypes The guardian OF the
liuhts aud liberties OF the people.