The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-04
Wednesday, April 4, 1880.
The Presidents Message to the
House.

dent BuchsnBn cent to the House OF Rep.
reeentatives Cd Thursday last, and in which
he protests against Mr.. Covode's Investiga.
ting Committee, end denies the power of the
House 10 make inquiries which may result
in unfavorable representations OF the official
conduct of the Executive. The President
takes the ground, and very sensbly too, we
think, that II his character, scts, and official
conduct are to be examined by the House,
the only course is TO do it through the me-
dunn Of the Judiciary Committee, and by O
proceeding of the nature of the impe chment.
He thinks the Legislature is encroaching
upon the executive branch OF the govern
ment. He solemnly asseverates in the pre-
eence OF God and his country, that his hands
have never been soiled by contact with Leg.
islative and Executive corruption. He fears
no investigation, and courts the fullest pub
lici;y Of his acts, end that they shall bt
properly made. But, with q view of pre-
venting the establishment Of precedent, by
means of which every future chief magis
,rste might be deerbded ard insulted before
the people of the country, by an unscrupu-
lous Opposition, he has thought proper te
send this message to the House.
The message created on intense excite
ment and a lively debate in the House
The Opposition ecouted the ground that the
President should plead jurisdiction, like ,
criminal at the bar, and seek TO avoid inquiry
by technical pretexts. The doctrines which
are asserted in the letter are somewhat ex,
traordinary. Mr.. Covode asserted that thu
committee was raised 10 investigate alIega-
tions made by the President himself, az t,
the use of money in elections, aluding
probably, to his Duquense letter. The De-
mocratic eide of the House asserted tn.
doctrine that the executive was co. o.ordnats
branch Of the government, above the House
and responsible to the people who elect tht
President, for its official acts.
The game of the Opposition cen easily be
seen. 1t has always been part OF the plan o.
operations Of the Opposition, when a Pres
idential election approaches, to attack, To-
suit, and, il possible, degrade Democratic
President, that they may make politics
capital, and that part Of their programme
they are thus early attempting to carry out
Mr.. Buchanan has been misrepresented anc
defomed that the party to which he belongs
may be injured in the eyes of the people,
The desire to control the Presidential cleo
ton, which will follow shortly after the ud-
journment OF Congress, is go pressing upon
Ihe Opposition than no effort will be spared
to debauch the public mind against the De-
mocratic party or any OF its members. Bu,
the manly stand taken by the President, will
cause their arrows to fall short of the in
tended mark:
To the House Of Representative, -
After a delay, which has efforded me
ample time for reflection, and after much
and careful deliberatioD, find myself con.
stroined, by on imperative sense of duty, as
q coordinate branch OF the Federal Gov.
eminent, TO protest against the first two
clauses Of the first resolution adopted by the
House Of Representatives on the 5th inst.
and published in the Congressional Globe
on the succeeding day. The clauses are in
the following words:
let. Resolved, That a Committee of five
members be appointed by the Speaker for
hn of
President of the United States, or anv off
Ger Of the government has, by money, pa,
ronage or other improper means, sought t
influence the pr ssage Of any law appertuin
ing to the rights of any State or Territory
and I'd, also to inquire into and investigate
whether any officer or officers OF the govern.
ment has, BY combination or otherwise, pre.
vented or attempted to.prevent or defeat the
execution of any law or laws now upon the
statute book, and whether the President has
failed or refused TO compel the execution o
any law thereof.
confne myself exclusively 10 these two
branches OF the resolution, because the Dor
tioDs of it which follow relate to ALLEGED
abuses in the Post Office, Navy Yards, Pub.
lie Buildings and other Public Works OF the
United States.
The House Of Representatives possesses
no power under the Constitution over the
first or accusatory portion Of the resolution
except as an impeaching duty, whilst owe,
the last, in common with the Senate, thei,
authority as Legislative body, is fully enc
cheeriully admitted. Except in this eingl,
case the Constitution has invested the Hous,
Of Representatives with no power, no juris
diction, no supremacy whatever, over tn
President.
In ell other respects he is quite as iDde
pendent of them as they are of him. As,
coordinate branch OF the Government be i
their equal. Indeed he is the only direc
representative on earth OF the people of al
end each Of the sovereign States. 10 then
and to them alone is he responsible Wills
acting within the sphere Of bis constitution
al duty, and not in aDy manner to the Houst
OF Representatives.
The people have thought proper to inves
him with the most honorable, responsible
and digni6ed office in the world, and the in.
divitusI, however unworthy, now holding
this exalted position, will take care, so fai
az in him Lies, that their rights and preroe q
tives shall never be violated in his person
bnt shall pass 10 his successors uDimpairet
BY the adoption CT dangerous precedent.
He will defend them TO the last extre mity
against any unconstitutional attempt, come
from what quarter it may, to abridge the
constitutional right OF the Executive, and
render him subservient to any human power
except themselves. The people have not
confined the President to exercise the exec.
ntivs duties. They have also conferred 90
lin large measure Of legislative discretion.
No bill can become law without bis sp.
provsl, a. representing the people of the