Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-04-11
4 Pr0test from the President of the
-lAAA United States.


two drst clauses Of :hs drst resolution adopted
BY tho Heuss Of Representatives on the 5th
iostede sld pablished in the Congressional
Giobs on the succeeding day. The clauses are
In the following words: First, Resolved, That
. COMMITTEES of i've DO appointed by the
Speaker for the purpose Of investigating
whether the President Of the Unitca States. or
any odIcer Of the Government has BY none, :.
patronage or other improper meaus, sought TO
influence the passage Of any Law appertaining
to the rigbiA Qf any State OF Territory; and
secoud, ALSO !" TO inquire Into and investigate
whether any officer or officers OF the govern.
msnt has by combination or otherwise pre-
vented or attempted to prevent or defeat the
execution OF any laws now upon the statute
book; or whetI,er the President has failed or
refused to compel the execution of any law
thereof" S0hane myself exclusively to these
two branches Of the resolution because the
portions Of that y hich follows relate to alleged
abuses 10 the Post Office, Navy Yards, Public
Buildings aud other public works of the
NR1Aa StatsA H. snch cases, inquiries are
highly proper in themselves, and belong equally
to the Senate and the House, a. incident to
their Legislative Auty, and being necessary to
enable them to discover aud provide appropri-
ate legislative remedies for any abuses which
MO ~ eortains6 - exist r. ssF 3
Although the terms Of the latter portions
Of the resolution are extremely vague and
general. ny PqI9 purpose in advertiog to them
ut present s Ii ulSks The broad iseof distinc.
ton between the accusations aud remedial
clauses Of this resolution. The House Of Rep.
areseptatives pos.css no power under the Consii-
tuti0,i.ov tho first sccusatory portion Of the
rcsolution, except as On imPeacbing body;
whist ovc:: the last, in common with the Sem
ute, their authority ~ legislative body is
fully aud cl.eersully admitted. It is solely in
retercnccto The irst Or impeaching power 49,. ...
ipt6pQsf tosmakJ few observations. Excep,
ID this single case, the Constitution has invested
the House Of Representatives with no power,
no sjuEsdietion,e NO supremacy whatever, over
the President. IN all other respects be is Just
az Independent Of them rs they are of him
Aa a co-ortiilate branch of the government he
Is ehe!r equal. Indeed he is the only direc,
representative on earth Of the people Of all and
each Of the sovereign States TO them, aud
to, them aloLe, 10 be responsible whilst acting
within the sphere Of bis constitutional duty,
and not 10 any manner to the House Of Repre-
sentatives. The people have thought proper
10 Invest him with the most honorable, respon-
'sible and dignfed Office in the world, and the
individual, however unworthy, now holding
;lhis exalted position, will take care, 80 far Us
in him lies, that their rights aud prerogatives
shall never pass To his successors uuimpaired
by the adoption Of dangerous precedent. He
will defend them to the last extremity, against
any unconstitutional attempt come from what
quarter it may. to abridge the constitutional
rights Of the Executive, and render him sub
servent to any human power except themselves.
The people have not confined the President
10 the a1ercise Of the executive duties They
have also conferred on him a large measure Of
legislative power. No bill can become law
without his approval, as representing the pco-
pie Of the United States, unless it shall pass
after bis veto bya majority Of two-thir,is OF
both Houses In bis legislative capacity, he
might, in common with the Senate and House,
institute inquiry to ascertain any facts which
are to influence bis judgment in approving orr
votoing any bill. This participation in the
performance u legislative duties between co.
ordinate branches Of the government, ought to
inspire the conduct of all of them in their rcla-
tioDs toward esch other with mutual forbear-|
ance and respect. At least each has a right,
to demand justice OF the other. gg
The cause Of complaint is that the constilu-
tional rights and immunities Of the Executive
have been violated 10 the person Of the Presi-
dent \
The trial Of an impeachment Of the President
oetoge the Senate on charges preferred audi
prosecuted against him by the House of Rep
reseDtatives would be an imposing spectacle
for the world In the result, not only bis re-
mOval from tho Presidential Office would be
involved, bat, what is Of infinitely greater
Importance to himself bis character, both iu
the eyes Of the present and future generations,
might possibly be furnished. The Disgrace
cast upon him would in some degree be reflected
upon the character OF the American people
who v'ccted him. Hence the precautions
adopted by the Constitution to secure q fair
trial. On saeh trial it declares that the Chief
Justice shall preside This was doubtless
because the runners Of the Constitution
believed it to be possible that the Vice Presi.
dent might be biased by the fact that in the !
case Of the removal vi The President from Office
the same si'an devolve upon the Vice President
The preliminary proceedings in the House
In case Of charges which may involve impeacll-|
meut have been we'll and wisely settled by long
practice, aud upon principles of equal Justice,
both to The accused aud to the people. The
precedent established in the case of JudQe|
Peck, OF Missouri; in 1881, after a careful
review Of all the former prscedents, will, n
venture 70 predict, stand the test of time In
that case, Luke Edward Lawless, the accuser,
presented q petition TO the House, in which he
Get forth infinitely and specifically bis causes
Of complaint. He prayed that " the conduct
md proceedings in this behalf OF the said Judge
Peck may be inquired into BY your honorable
body, and such decision made thereof rs to
your wisdom and justice shall seem proper"
This petition was referred the judiciary
Committee. Such has ever been deemed the
appropriate committee to make similar inves-
tigation. LISA standing committee supposed
to be appointed without reference to any spe-
cial case; 'ahd ~ all times is presumed to be
composed Of the most eminent lawyers in the
House from different portions of the Union,
whose acquaintance with judicial proceedings
: aud whose habits OF investigation qualify them,
peculiarly for the task. No tribunal, from
their position aud character, could in thel
nature of, things be more impartial. i
In the case Of Judge Peck, the witnesses
were selected by the committee itself, with q
view to, ascertaip the truth Of the charges.
They we're cross examined Ivy him, and every.
thing was conducted in such q manner rs to
sford him 10 reasonable cause for com plant
In view Of this precedent, and. what is oil
far greater importance, in view of the Consti-
tuition aud the principles of eternal Justice. IN