The register., 1860-04-19
Special Message OF the President.

Special Message Of the President.
10 tie House Of Representatives: l, i, So. n
After delay which has afforded me annie
time for reflection, and after much and careful
deliberation, find myself constrained by an
ipperious sense Of duty, as coordinate branch
Of the Federal Government, to protest against
the first two clauses Of the first resolution aopt.
ed by the House Of Representatives, on the 5th
instant, and published in the Congressional
Globe on the succeeding day. These clauses
are in the following words: Il -rIsjt ia5,
-" Resolved That committee Of five members
be appointed by the Speaker, for the purpose
(6rst) Of investigating whether the President
q ne United States, or any other officer Of the
government, has, by money, patronage, or
other improper MEANS sought to influence the
actlon Of Congress, or any committee thereof,
for or against the passage of any law apper-
tanning to the rights Of any State or Territory :
land I'd y "also, to inquire into and investi-
gate whether any officer or officers of the Gov
ernment have, by combination or otherwise,
prevented or defeated, or attempted to prevent
or defeat, the execution Of any law or laws now
upon the Statute Book, and whether the Prcsi-
dent has failed Or refused to compel the execu-
tlon Of any law thereof" - ..',,.,4l
confne myself exclusively to these. two
branches Of the resolution; because the portions
Of it which follow relate to alleged abuses in
post-offices, navy-yards, public buildings and
other public works Of the United States. In
such cases Inquiries are highly proper in them
selves, aud belong equally to the Senate and
the House, as incident to their legislative du-
ties and being necessary to enable them to dis
cover and to provide the appropriate legsla-
tive remedies for any abuses which may be as
certained. Although the terms Of the latter
portion Of the resolution are extremely vague
and general, yet my sole purpose in adverting
to them at present is to mark the broad line of
distinction between the accusatory and the re-
medal clauses of this resolution. The House
Of Representatives possess no power under the
Constitution over the first or accusatory portion
of the resolution, except as an impeaching bo-
dy; whilst over the last, in common with the
Senate, their authority asa legislative body is
fully and cheerfully admitted. "'-
1t is solely in reference to the first or i'm
peaching power that I propose to make few
observations Except in this single case, the
Constitution has invested the House of Repre-
scntatives with no power, nojurisdiction, no
supremacy whatever over the President. In
oil other respects he is quite as independent of
them as they are Of him. As coordinate
branch Of the Government, be is their equal
hnS To- &ho 11y m
earth Of the people Of all and each Of the SOW
crcign States. To them, and to them alone, is
he responsible whilst acting within the sphere
of his constitutional duty; and not in any man
ncr to the House of Representatives. The pco-
pie have thought proper to invest him with the
most honorable, responsible, and dignifcd office
in the world; and the individual, however un-
worthy, now holding this exalted position, will
take care, SO far as in him lies, that their rights
md prcrogatives shall never be, violated in his
person; but shall pass to his successors unim-
paired by the adoption Of dangerous prece-
dent. He will defend them to the last cxtremi-
ty against any unconstitutional attempt, come
from what quarter it may, to abridge the con-
stitutional rights of the Executive, and render
him subservient to any human power except
themselves .J5
The people have not confined The President
to the exercise of executive duties. They have
also conferred upon him large measure OF le-
gislative discretion. No bill can become law
without his approval as representing the peo-
plc of the United States, unless it shall pass
after his veto by majority Of two-tlirds Of
both Houses. In his legislative capacity, he
might in common with the Senate and the
House, institute an inquiry to ascertain any
facts which ought to influence his Judgment in
approving Or vetoing any bill. 'F'l
This participation in the performance Of lc-
gislative duties between the coordinate bran
chcs of the Government ought to inspire the
conduct of all of them, in their relations to.
wards each other, with mutual forbearance and
respect. At least each has right to demand
Justice from the other. The cause of complaint
is that the constitutional rights and mmunities
of the Executive have been violated in the per,
son Of the President. .,-l..=
The trial Of an impeachment Of the President
before the Senate on charges preferred and pro
secuted against him by the House Of Represeh.
tatives would be an imposing spectacle for the
world. In the result not only his removal from
the Presidential office would be involved, but
what is of infinitely greater Importance to him
self, his character, both in the eyes Of the pres
ent and of future generations, might possibly
be furnished. The disgrace cast upon hin
would in some degree be reflected upon the
character Of the American people who elected
him. Hencethe precautions adopted by the
Constitution to secure fair trial. On such Q
trial it declares that I" The Chief Justice shall
preside" This was doubtless because the fra
lncrs of the Constitution believed it to.be pos
sible that the Vice President might be biasset
by the fact that, F." in case Of the removal of tht
President from oflice,' the same shall devolv,
on the Vice President
The preliminary proceedings in the House ii
the case of charges which may involve impcach
ment, have been we'll and wisely settled b,
long practice upon principles of equal justic
both to the accused and to the people. Th
precedent established in the case ofJudge Peck
of Missouri, in 1881, after careful review O
all former prccedcnts, will, venture to pre-