Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-10
LATEST NEWS.
By TFLEGRA PH
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
TmIRTY-sIxTH CONGRESS.
1T q
SENATE.

tually to suppress the slave trade.
Mr.. DAVIS resolutions were taken up, and
Mr.. Chestnut made Il speech in their favor.
The resolutions were then laid aside and Mr..
Hunters motion to take up the Indian appro-
priation bill was lOst-yeas a, nays "A. The
House homestead bill was then taken up--26
against D.
HOUSE.
JOHN CoCHRANE introduced bill TO pre-
vent the vessels of any government, inclusive
OF those under subventiOns with any such gov
vernment, from carrying ought save bullion
anu specie, and neither passengers, letters, nor
freight, Tor hire, under penalty OF seizure.
MIR. CovoDE from the committee, presented
resolution asking for the arrest OF Augustus
Schell.
Mr.. WINsLow made minority report main
tanning that there is no authority to inquire
into private contributions of any person, un-
less 1t Is first determined that the purpose was
corrupt.
Mr.. HICKMAN raised the point of order
that Mr.. WinsloW's course was irregular un
der parliamentary law. The Speaker decided
that Mr. Covode was entitled to the floor, and
an appeal by Mr. Winsow was tabled, l25
against 50.
Mr. CovoDE said, he wanted list in Mr.
b Schells possession, because it contained the
names OF government officers, and not because
it was signed by private individuals.
Mr. MORSE offered resolution, which, after
amendment was adopted, calling for all intJr-
nation concerning the slave trade, with the
instructions to naval officers and the opinion Of
the president whether further legation is
necessary.
The House proceeded to a consideration of
the report from the Covode investigating
committee.
After call of the roll, during which there
tb,
mitted, on motion of Mr.. Stevens, l05 against
80.
Mr.. HICKMAN, from the committee on the
judiciary made a report on the presidents pro-
test, retuting the positions Of the latter. The
judiciary committee say, among other things,
that they cannot refrain from an expression of
their deep regret that an officer, who prldeS
himself upon the fact that the people have
thought proper to invest him with the most
honorable, responsible, and dignifed Office in
the world, and who declares that he feels
proudly conscious that there is no public act of
his life which will not bear the strictest scruti
ny, and that he defes all investigation, should
forget, amid the surroundings Of place. and
power, and iattery, that he is but the servant
of that same people, and that he should shrink
back in anger or terror from simple inquiry
into his stewardship. This is the first time
under the republic that chief magistrate has
made oblivious of the origin and ephemeral
character of his position by the revelry of
its enjoyment. To distinguish such conduct
by appreciation, would be to sanction the king
ly prerogative, and to proclaim that righttul
rule comes by the grace Of God, not from the
confidence of men. The nation, always chart
table in the interpretations Of motives, is
not prepared to overlook such a delinquency.
The committee take the ground that the pres
A.,
a privilege nor an immunity beyond the hum
blest citizen, and is less favored in this respect
than senators and representatives i'll Congress
Unfortunately, they say, for the attempted de-
Tense Of that officer, there is no charge made
of any grade Of otiense calling for trial Of any
kind. Ii is mere inquiry that is proposed
Mr. Covode's resolutions do not contemplate
Judgment and therefore there can be no
formal trial under them. So numerous are
the proofs that the wise and great men OF our
earlier history entertained torebodings of the
very opposite character to those which the
president ascribes to them, that it is difficult
to resist a disposition to attribute insincerity
to the president to accomplish the purposes
of his protest. The world is but a great bat
tie field for power and if universal history
teaches any lesson it is this,-that power is
always stealing from the many to the few,
that the executive heads of nations absorb
popular rights, and that all revulsionS are on
the part OF the people They establish thrones
but to regain that which has been wrested
from them by the throne The citizens of the
United States have reason to fear that which
every other nation has suffered. The commit
tee entertaining the views herein expressed,
recommended the adoption OF the following res
Oution =
Resolved, That the House dissents from
the doctrines OF the special message of the
president that the extent OF power cOntempa-
ted in the adoption OF the resolution of inquiry
of March 9th, 1850 is necessary to the proper
discharge OF the constitutional duties devolved
on Congress, that judicial determinations, the
opinions of former presidents, and uniform
usage, sanction its exercise, and that to aban
don it would leave the executive department
of the government without supervision or re
sponsibility; and would be likely to lead to a
concentration of power in the hands of the
president dangerous to the rights OF a free Deo
pie"
Mr.. HoUsToN said that Mr.. Taylor and
himself were the minority of the judiciary
committee, but, for want of time, they had
not been able to get together and agree upon
joint report. Each OF them, however, had
prepared separate report, both agreeing on
general principles and sustaining the presi-
dents special message. Mr.. HouSton's views
were had. The trainers of the Constitution
sought to conine each department OF the gov
ernment within proper limits, SO that one
might not encroach upon the other, and thus
disturb the equilibrium. Therefore the House
of Representatives should confine its election
to the limitation and requirements OF the Con-
stitution. 1t was alike due to justice and the
character of our government at home and
abroad that it should not be perverted to the
oppression of individuals, or mere party adj
vantages, by investigation into the vague and
slanderous imputati0ns founded on street
rumors and newspaper articles. There is a
possibility that these things may have already
done much to lessen the confidence OF the
country in the legislative, as well as other de-
; partments of government While Congress
Should maintain its own dignity, it should not
make assaults on individuals i'll public and pri-
waite life. The president may be impeached
The House have sole power of impeachment
and the Senate has power to try it, There is
no other mode by which the House can inflict
punishment, except by impeachment. He
could be impeached for abuses under the con-
stitution, but could not be punished for dis
orderly conduct, as could member Of the
House This body has repeatedly decided
that the censufe of disapprobatlon is punish
ment. 10 arraign high officer on vague and
indefinite charges, is revolving outrage, ana
will not be countenanced, even by vindictve
partizans. Ii the resolutions did not look to
impeachment, what was their object? If they
contained specific charges instead of vague in
situations, inquiry would be proper and no
objections would have been introduced. If as
has been charged, money was used Tor corrupt
purposes, in any state, the state Itself would
redress the wrong. 1t was not in the power
of the House to do so-nor could it delegate
its authority to any other body. There could,
in this investigation, be intended nothing but u