The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-04-05
Letter from President Buchanan.
To the House of Representatives.

4
CATER a delay which has afforded
me ample time for reflection, and after
much careful deliberation, find my.
self constrained by an imperious sense
of duty, as a coordinate branch of the
Federal governments, to protest against
the first two clauses of the first resolu
ton adopted by the House of Repre-
sentatives on the 5th inst, and publish.
ed in the Congressional Globe on the
succeeding day. The clauses are in the
following words:
"' 1st. Rcsolued, That committee
of five members be appointed by the
Speaker for the purpose of investiga-
ting whether the President or any
officer of the government has, by mon
ey, patronage, or other improper means,
sought to influence the passage of any
law appertaining to the rights of any
State OF Territory.
CSC I'd. Also to enquire into and in
vestigate whether any officer or officers
of the government have, by combina-
ton or otherwise, prevented, or at
tempted to prevent or defeat the execu-
ton of any law or laws now upon the
statute book, and whether the Presi-
dent has failed or refused to compel
the execution of. any law thereon
81 confne myself exclusively TO
these two branches of the resolution,
because the portion of it which follows
relates to the alleged abuses in the
postoffices, navy yards, public build
ings and other public works of the
United States. In such cases, enqui-
ries are highly proper in themselves,
and belong equally to the Senate and
House as incident to their legislative
duties, and being necessary to enable
them to discover and provide appro-
pirate legislative remedies for any
abuses which may be ascertained.
Although the terms of the latter portion
of the resolution are extremely vague
and general, yet my sole purpose in ad-
verting to them at present is to make
the broad line of distinction between
the accusatory and remedial clauses of
the resolution. The House of Repre-
sentatives possess no power under the
constitution over the first or accusatory
portion of the resolution, except as an
impeaching body; whilst over the last,
in common with the Senate, their au-
thority as Legislative body is fully
and cheerfully admitted. 1t is solely
in reference to the first or impeaching
power that | propose to make few
observations. Except in this single
case, the Constitution has invested the
House of Representatives with no pow
er, no jurisdiction, no supremacy what
ever over the President In all other
respects he is quite Independent of
them, as they are of him. AS co-or-
dinate branch of the government, he
is their equal; indeed, he is the only
direct representative on earth of the
people of all and each of the Sovereign
States. To them and them alone, he
is responsible whilst acting within the
sphere of constitutional duty, and not
in any manner to the House of Repre-
sentatiyes. The people have thought
proper to invest him with the most
honorable, responsible, and dignifed
Office in the world, and the individual,
however unworthy, now holding this
exalted position will take care, so far as
in him lies, that their rights and pre-
negatives shall never be violated in his
person, but shall pass to his successor
unimpaired by the adoption of this
dangerous precedent. He will defend
them to the last extremity against any
unconstitutional attempt, come from
what quarter it may, to abridge the
constitutional rights of the Executive,
and render him subservient to any hui
man power except themselves. The
people have not confined the President
to executive duties; they have also
conferred on him large measure Of
legislative discretion. No bill can be-
come law without his approval, as
representing the people of the United
States, unless it shall pass after his We
to by a majority of two-thirds of both
Houses. In his legislative capacity
here there appears to be an omission
in the dispatch branches of the gov
eminent ought to inspire the conduct
vi I'LL VI tUclu III llCii IcldClOIlS JOWdTuS
each other with mutual forbearance
and respect. At least each has a right
to demand justice of the other. The
cause Of complaint is, that he, in his
constitutional capacity, might, in COM
mon with the Senate and House, insti-
tute inquiries to ascertaiB any facts
which are to influence his Judgment in
approving or vetoing any bill, thus par
ticipating in the performance Of legis:-
lative duties. The coordinate rights
and immunities of the Executive have
been violated in the person of the
President. The trial of an impeach-
ment of the President before the Sen.
ate, on charges preferred and prosecu-
ted against him by the House Of Rep
resentatives, would be an imposing
spectacle for the world. In the result,
not only his removal from the Presi-
Dental office would be involved, but
what is Of infinitely greater Importance
to himself. his character, both in the
eyes of the present and future genera
tons, might possibly be furnished. The
disgrace cast upon him would in some
degree be reflected upon the character
of the American people who elected
him. Hence the precaution adopted
by the Constitution to secure fair
trial. On such trial it declares that
the Chief Justice shall preside. This
was doubtless because the trainers of