Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-27

nesses. Even with the best intentions. they
are 80 Influenced by prejudice and disap-
pointment that they almost inevitably dis
color truth They swear to their own ver-
sion of private conversations with the Presi-
dent, without the possibility of contradic-
ton. His lips are sealed, and he is left at
their mercy. He cannot as coordinate
branch of the Government appear before
committee Of investigation TO contradict the
oaths of such witnesses. The coward knows
that he can employ insulting language
against the President with mpunity, and
every false or prejudiced witness can at
tempt to swear away his character before
such committee, without the fear of contra
diction.
Thus for months, whilst doing my best at
one end OF the avenue to perform my high
and responsible duties to the country, has
there been a committee of the House of Rep
resentatives in session at the other end of the
avenue, spreading a drag-net without the
shadow of authority from the House, over
the whole Union. to catch any disappointed
man willing to malign my character-and
all this in secret conclave The Lions
mouth at Venice, into which secret denun
Citations were dropped, is an apt illustration
of the Covode committee. The Star Cham
her, tyrannical and odlous as it was, never
proceeded in such manner. For centuries
there has been nothing like it in any civiliz-
ed country, except the revolutionary tribunal
of France in the days of Rohespierre.
Now, ! undertake TO state and to prove
that, should the proceedings of the COM
mittee be sanctioned by the House, and be-
come precedent for future times, the bal
ance Of the Constitution will be entirely up
set, and there will no longer remain the
three coordinate and independent branches
of the Goyernment-legislati executive,
and judicial The worst fears of the patri-
OTIS and statesmen vino framed the Cunstitu-
ton in regard to the usurpation of the
Legislative on the executive and judicial
branches will then be realized. In the lam
guage of Mr.. Madison, speaking on this
very subject, in the 18th number of the
FedcraliSt:
I'm Representative Republic, where the Ex-
ecutve magstracy is carefully limited, both in the
extent aud duration OF lis power, and where the
legislative power is exercised by an assembly
which is inspired by supposed influence over the
people, with an intrepid confidence in its own
strength, which is sufficiently numerous to tell all
the passions which actuatc Il multitude, yet not so
numerous to be incapable of pursuing the OBJ
jects of its passions by means which reason pre-
scrbcs it is against the cnterprising ambition OF
this department that the people ought to indulge
ali their jealousy AMI exhaust all their precau-
tons
And in the expressive and pointed lam
guage Of Mr. Jefferson, when speaking of the
tendency of the legislative branch of Gov
ernmeur to uSurp the rights Of the weaker
branchcs
The concentrating these in the same hands is
precisely the definition OF despotc government
It will he alienation that these powers will be
exercised by plurality Of hands. and not by
agile one. One hundred and seventy three des
pots would surely be oppressive one. Let
those who doubt turn their eyes on the republic of
Venice. A. little will it avail US that they are
chosen by ourselves. An elective despOtism was
not the government fought for, but one
which should not only be founded free prnci-
pies, but in which the powers Of Government
should be 50 divided and balanced among several
bodies Of maga;racy aS that no one could tran
sccnd their legal limits without being elfectually
checked and controlled by the others"
Should the proceedings of the Covode
committee become Il precedent, both the let
ter and spirit Of the Constitution will be
violated. One OF the three massive columns
on which the whole superstructure rests
will he broken down. Instead of the Execu
tive being coordinate, it will become 4
subordinate branch of the Government. The
Presidential office will be dragged into the
dust The House Of Representatives will
then have rendered the Executive almost
necessarily subservient to its wishes, instead
of being independent How is it possible
that two powers in the State can be co-ordl-
maze and independent Of each other, if the
one claims and exercises the power to re-
prove and 10 cenSure all the official acts and
all tie private conversations of the other
and this upon er parie testimony before Il
secret inquiSitorial committee: in short. to
assume general censorship over the other?
The idea is as absurd in public as it would
be in private life. Should the President at
tempt to assert and maintain his own indie
penlence, future Coyode committees may dra-
COON him into submission by collecting the
hosts Of disappointed otfice-h hunters, removed
officers and those who desire to live upon
tie public treasury, which must follow in
the wake Of every Administration, and they
in secret corclave will swear away his repu-
tation.
Under such circumstances he must be
very bold man should he not surrender at
discretion, and consent to exercise his au-
thori;y according to the will of those invest
ed with this terrific power. The sovereign
people OF the several States have elected him
to the highest and most honorable Office in
the world. He is their only direct repre-
sentative in the Government. BY their Con-
stitut;on they have made him commandment
chief of their army and navy. lie represents
them in their intercourse with foreign nations.
Clothed with their dignity and authority, he
occupies proud position before all nations,
civilized and savage. With the consent of
the Senate he appoints all the important Of
iicnrs Of the Government. lie exercises the
veto mower, and TO that extent controls the
Legislation Of Congress. For the performance
of these high duties, he is responsible to the
people Of the several States, and not in any
degree to the House of Representatives.
Shall he surrender these high powers con-
terred upon him as the representative of the
American people, for their benefit to the
House, to be exercised under their over
shadowing influence and control? Shall he
alone Of all the citizens Of the United States
be denied fair trial? Shall he alone not be
Uniformed Of the nature and cause of the ac-
cuSaton' against him. Shall he alone not
''be confronted with the Witnesses against