Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-04-06

llaht u lew uUSSTNdtiuues
Except in this single case, the Con-
has invested the House Of Rep
with no power, no jurisdic-
ton, no supremacy whatever over the
President In all other respects he is
quite as independent Of them as they are
of him. As coordinate branch Of the |
government, be is their equal. Indeed
he is the only representative OF the peo-
pie of all and each of the sovereign States.
To them, and to them alone, is he res
ponsible, whilst acting within the sphere
of his constitutional duty, and not in any
manner to the House of Representatives
The people have thought proper to in
vest him with the most honorable, re-
sponsible and dignifed Office in the
world; and the individual, however I'M
worthy, now holding this exalted position
will take care, SO far as in him lies, that
their rights and prerogatives shall never
be violated in his person, but shall pass
to his successors unimpaired by the adop-
ton Of a dangerous precedent. He will
defend them to the last extremity 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. The people
have not confined the President to the
exercise of executive duties-they have
also conferred upon him large measure
Of legislative discretion. No bill can be-
come law without his approval, as rep
resenting the people of the United States,
unless it shall pass after his veto by
majority of two-thirds of both houses.
In his legislative capacity he might, in
common with the Senate and the House,
institute inquiry to ascertain any facts
which ought to influence his judgment in
approving or returning any bill. This
participation in the performance of legis-
lative duties between co-ordidate branches
of the government, ought to inspire the
conduct of all of them in their relations
towards each other with. mutual forbear-
ance and respect. At least, each has a
right to demand justice of the other.
The cause of complaint is that the con.
stitutional rights and immunities of the
Executive have been violated in the per.
son of the President. The trial of an
Impeachment of the President before the
Senate, on charges here preferred anC
+ prosecuted against him by the House o
Representatives, would be an imposing
! spectacle for the world. In the resul
not only his removal from the President
E ial Office would be involved, but what il
t of infinitely greater Importance to him
f self, his character, both in the eyes o
the present and future generations, nigh
. possibly be furnished. The disgrace cas-
upon him would, in some degree. be re
! fected upon the character of the Ameri
can people who elected him. Hence tn,
precautions adopted by the Constitution
to secure a fair trial. On such trial
declares that the Chief Justice shall pre-
{ side. This was doubtless because tn
I trainers of the Constitution believed it t
II be possible that the Vice President Nigh
, be biased by the fact that in case of th
removal of the President from office, tn
same shall devolve upon the Vice Pres
dent. The preliminary proceedings i
" the House in case Of changes which ma
involve impeachment, have been well an
wisely settled by long practice upon prir
ciples of equal justice both TO the accuse
{ and to the people. The precedent e.
'r tablshed in the case of Judge Peck
z Missouri, in 1881, after a careful revie
u of all the former precedents, WILL l vel
'' ture to predict. stand the test of time
D. In that case Luke Edward Lawless, ii
ie accuser, presented a petition to the Hous
It in which he set forth infinitely and sp
u officially his cause of complaint |
Il prayed that the conduct and proceeding
&c in this behalf of the said Judge Pee
oi may be inquired into by your honorab
u body, and such decision made thereon
u to your wisdom and justice shall see
be proper. This petition was referred
81 the Judiciary Committee. Such b
ne long been deemed the appropriate cor
mittee to make similar investigation
Sc 1t is standing committee, supposed
sc be appointed without reference to al
to special case, and at all times is presum
Wy TO be composed Of the most eminent la
lie yers in the House, from different pc
ch tions of the Union, whose acquaintan
n with Judicial proceedings, and who
tie habits of investigating, qualify the
We peculiarly for the task, In the case