Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-02

vote in that body in favor of the inquiry
Since the time of the star chamber and of
general warrants there has been no such
proceedings in England. The House of Rep
resentatiyes. the high impeaching power of
the country. without consenting to bear
word of explanation, have endorsed this ac-
cusation against the President. and made il
their own act.
They even refused to permit member. to
inquire of the Presidents aceuser what were
the specific charges against bin. Thus in
this preliminary accusation of high crimes
and misdemeanors against CO ordinate
branch of the Government, under the i'm
pescbing power, the House refused to hear
single suggestion, even in regard to the cor
rect mode of proceeding, but without mo-,
ment's delay. passed accusatory resolutions
under the pressure of the previous QUESTION.
In the Institution of a prosecution for an
offense against the most humble citizen, (and
/ claim for myself no great rights than be en-
Joys. )-tbe Constitution of the United States,
and of the several States, requires that he
shall be Informed, in the very beginning. of
the nature and cause of the accusation against
him, 10 prepare for his defense. There are
other principles which l might enumerate,
not less sacred, presenting an impenetrable
| shield to protect every citizen falsely charg-
ed with criminal offense. Thess have
| been violated in the prosecution instituted
| by the House of Representatives against the
| Executive branch of the Government. Shall
the President alone be deprived of the pro-
/ lection of these great principles, which pre-
vail in every land where ray of liberty
| penefrates! Shall She Executive alone be
! deprived OF the rights which all his fellow
/ citizens enjoy? La tEGtJ A
| The whole proceeding against him justi6es
the fears of those wise and great men who,
before the Constitution was adopied by the
States, unprecedented that the tendency of the
| Government was to the aggrandizement of
thesegislative to the expense of the execu
! tive and judicial departments.
again declare, emphatieally, that make
this protest for no reason personal to myself,
aud do il with perfect respect for the House
OF Representatives, in which had the honor
OF serving for i've succ ssiye firms.
have lived long in this goOdly land, and
have enjoyed ali the offices aud bonors which
my co9niry could best0w. Amid all the pO-
lIticsl storms through which have passed,
The present is the first attempt which has ever
been made, to my knowledge. to assail my
personal and official integrity, and this has
been done a. the time is approaching when
shall voluntarily retire from the service of
my country. l feel personally conscious that
there is no public act of my life which will
not bear the strictest scrutiny. i defy all in
vestigation. Nothing but the basest perjury
can sully my good name. i do not fear even
this, because / cherish an humble confidence
| that the Gracious Being who has hitherto de-
| Tended and protected me against the shafts
| of falsehood and malice, will not desert me
! now, when have become old and greyhead-
! ed.
| can declare before God and my country.
| that human being. with an exception
scarcely worthy of notice. has at any period
OF my life dared TO approach me with corrupt
| or dishonorable propositions; and until re-
| cent developments, il had never entered into
my imagination that any person, even in a
storm of exasperated political excitement,
| would charge me in most remote degree
with having made such proposition TO any
| human being.
| l may now, however. exclaim in the Ian
| guage of complaint employed by my first and
| greatest predecessor, that II have been
abused in such exaggerated and indecent
1 terms as could scarcely be applied TO Nero,
! to notorious defaulter, or even to a COM
mon pickpocket." / do, therefore, for the
reasons stated and in the name of the people
of the several States, solemnly protest against
| these proceedings of the House of RepTesen :
| atives, because they aFe in violation of the
| rights of coordinate executive branch of the
| Government and subversive of its constitu-
| tional independence; because they are calcu-
| lated to foster a band of interested parasites
1 and informers, ever ready for their own ad-
| vantage to swear before &c Parte commuters
| to pretended private conversations between
the President and themselves. incapable from
! their nature of being disproved, thus fur
nishing material for harrassipg him. degra-
| ding him in the eyes OF the country, and
eventually, should he be weak or timid
man, rendering him subservient to improper
| Influences in order to avoid such prosecutions
and annoyance; because they tend To destroy
| that harmonious action fnr The common pnOd
which ought to be maintained and which
sincerely desire To cherish between the Co
ordinate branches of the Government, and
| finally, because if unresisied they would e.
tablish precedent dangerous aud embar-
RAISING to all my successors, to whatever
political party they might be attached.
(Sigued) JAMES BUCHANAN.