Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-04-05

wisdom and justice may seem proper.
This petitiou @ss FsfsSsd to De, Jsdicia-
ry Commitsee, 70 make a similar ihsesti-
CATION. Il is ! standing comnitlee, sup.
posed to be appointed withoat tsfereuce
to any specinl eanse, md At alI1imes i
presumed to be oompcsea Of sAA nsst en-
inent lawyers Of the House from different
portions Of the Fnion, whose acquaintance
| with judicial proceeding, and whose habits
! Of investigation qualify them peculiarly
for the task, No tribunal, fasm THAR DO
sition and character, could in the nature Of
things, be more impartial. In the case OF
4 judge Peck the witnesses were selected by
\ the committee i:self with q view to ascer-
tain the truth of the charges. Thsy were
cross examined BY him and everything was
conducted in such manner rs to. afford
him no reasonable cause for complaint. In
view of this precedent and what is Of far
greater importance, in. view Of the eonsti-
tuition and the principles of eternal Justice,
in what manner has the President, of the
IU. S. been treated by the House of Repre-
seniatires. .9''.sF .Laa ;iss;,iys ssd, q.
Mr.. John Covode, representative from
Pennsylvania, is an accuser of the Presi-
dent instead of following the wise prece-
dents of former times, and zescicially that
in the case of Judge Peck, asd referring the
accusation to the Committee on judiciary.
The House has made my aecuser one of
my Judges. To make the accuser the Judge
is violation of the principles of universal
justice, and is condemned by, the practice
of all civilized nations. Every freeman
must revolt at such spectacle. / am to
appear before Mr.. Covode either personal
IL or BY a substitute to cross examine the
witness which he may produce before him
self to sustain his own accusations against
me, and perhaps even this poor boon may
be denied to the President. And what is
the nature of the Investigation which his
resolution purposes to insinuate! 1t is as
vague and general as the English Ian
guage affords with which to make it. The
Committee is to inquire not into any spe-
cifc charges but whether the President
has by money patronage or other proper
means, sought 10 influence, not the action
of any individual member or membere of
Congress, but the action Of the entire body
Of Congres itself, or any Committee there
| Of. ai7 .-1. ''<
The President may have had some glim-
mering Of the nature of the offence to be
investigated, had his accusers pointed out
| the net or acts of Congress which he sought
to pass or defeat by the employment of
money, patronage or other improper means,
but the accusation is bounded by no such
limits. 1t extends to the whole circle of
legislation to interference for or against
the passage of any law appertaining to the
rights of any State or Territory and what
law does not appertain to the rights of
some State or Territory? and what law or
laws has the President failed to execute?
These might easily have been pointed out
| had any such existed. Had Mr.. Lawless
asked nm inquiry 10 be made by the House
whether Judge Peck in general terms had
not violated his judicial duty, without spe-
cifying any particular act, do not believe
there would have been single vote in
that body in favor of the enquiry. Since
the time of tho Star Chamber and of gen
eral warrants, there has been no such pro-
ceedings in England. The House of Rep
resentatives, the high impeaching power of
the country, without consenting to hear
word of explanation, have endorsed this nc
cusation against the President, and made
it their own act. -... .5--e
They even refuse to permit a member TO
enquire of The Presidents accuser what
were the spci6c charges against him. Thus
in this preliminary accusation Of high
crimes and misdemeanors against co-or-
dinate branch of the Government under
the impeaching power, if the House refuse
TO hear single suggestion even in regard
to the correct mode of proceeding, but
without moments delay pass nccusatory
resolutions under the pressure Of the pre-
yious question. In the Institution Of a
prosecution for any offence against the
most humble citizen, l claim for myself no
greater rights than he enjoys. The Con
stitutions of the q. s. and of the several
States require that he shall be informed at
the very beginning of the nature and cause
of the accusation against him, in order to
enable him to prepare for his defense. 49,,
There are other principles which / might
enumerate, not less sacred, presenting an
impenetrnble shield to protect every citizen
falsely charged with criminal offence
These have been violated in the prosecu-
ton Instituted by the House Of Represent
atiyes against the Executive branch of the
Government. .3 = - II
Shall the President alone be deprived of
the protection of these great principles
which prevail in every land where a ray of
liberty penetrates the gloom Of despotism.
Shall the Executive be deprived of the
rights which all his fellow citizens enjoy
The whole proceedings against him justify
the fears of those great and wise men who
before the constitution was adopted by the
States, apprehended that the tendency Of
the Government was towards the aggran-
disement Of tho Legislative at the expense
of the executive and judicial departments.
! again declare emphatically that I make |
this protest for, no reasons personal to my |
self, and I do with perfect respect for the |
House of Representatives which, I had the |
honor Of serving for FIVE successive terms.
| have lived long in this goodly land and |
have enjoyed all the offices and honors
which my country could bestow, and amid