Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-05-11

OF thr latter rs open TO inquiry ana chafgc,
that Of the former is not less so. The Pres
ident afiirms. with seeming seriousness, in
comparing himself with the House of Repre-
scntatiyos, that "as coordinate branch Of
the Government he is their equal"
This is denied in emphatic terms. lie is
coordinate but not equal lie is coordinate
for be "holds the same rank but he is not
co-equal. for his immunlies and powers arc
less. The members Of the House may claim
a privilege whether right or wrong, which
ho cannot, aud the executive, or law exccut-
ing power must always be inferior to tho leg
islatiyo or law making power. The lattor is
omnipotcnt within the limits Of the Constitu-
tion; the former is subject not ONLY TO the
Constitution, but to the determination Of the
latter also. TO repeat the point, the Presi-
dent is not, in any respect, superior TO the
citizen, merely because he is bound TO dis
charge more numerous duties and be is not
co-cqual with that branch of government
which helps Co impose and define those du-
tics, The fact that he holds a limited veto
over the legislation Of Congress cannot affect
the sounduess of the views here briefly pre-
sontcd. His claim to Legislative capacity
in other words 90 possess legislative power,
will scarcely be conceded in view of article /,
section /, of the Constitution, declaring that
/ |"All legislative powers herein (thcrein) grant
cd shall be vested in Congress of the Unit
ed States, 'riiat shall consist of Senate and
H7ue of ReprsaaGpes'
Tho President, it will be observed through
out his Message, assumes that the resolution
TO which he makes reference charges him with
the commission of high crimes and misde-
mcanors. This was necessary to the argu-
only the House has the power of impcach-
ment. The gravamcn Of his complaint is that
the accusations are Of such nature as, If true.
would subject him to an impeachment, and
that the House has proceeded to pass upon
them, or is moving 20 pass upon them.
thrc ugh a form of proceedings not authorized
by the Constitution. Herein lies the falacy,
and that which, unexpected, might operate as
the deception OF the plea. II this were, in
truth, q charge against the President, calling
for the form of trial prescribed by the Consu-
tuition, then Che determination of this House
might possibly De open Co onimadversion.-
Unfortunately for the attempted defence of
that officer, there is no charge made of any
offence calling for trial of any kind 1t is a
mere inquiry that is proposed. The lam
guage of the resolution may be cited as the
best proof The Committee raised is ''lor the
purpose ol investigating whether the prosi-
dent OF the United States, or any other Off
Ger OF the Government. has. bv money. pat
ronage, or other improper means, soaght to
influence the action of Copgross ora,v Com
mittee thereof" &c also .to iropiro and
investigate whether any officer and officers of
the Government have Inv combination mr. 9th.
erwise, prevented and defeated or attempted
ia ,ro,.rt and Iec,,t Jo o,,o,,;..,, ~ ,
law or laws 4 and .yho,bor tbe prcsi.
don't has r,;lcd mr. refused IN comnoI ,bc cvc.
ct,iop of aov laws N,c If ma cririn,l;t,,
4 ,llo,r.d L.,, n, tbo r,,t-,r,. ~, ir,a,,;,,,5
,ior or iro,,ir,. ,l,,o T.. ,,onoscJ o,.o.s,,,,
r,,, m, ,stoJ Min rnlin., c.rco and o,,,t.,.
sis what b,s tho Uonsc to 10 ,y;.t tbo Io,v
of impcachmont, Tho resolutions do not
contomnlsto a ipd,,uont and ,borcc,rc tboro
can he mn formal fri,l unJoy tbcr Rnt od-
init charge. proper for an im,,aobment wore
made would tho IIonsc. be hound Fl, snbpit
the matter to any particular committee and
allow the criminal n cross-examin,tion ns tho
President seems to supnosc2 Bv nomc,ns !
Tho Constitution nroscrib,s ro rnlos f,r b,
House. hut it is left ncrrectlv free IN aJontits
own. II NAV r,r.r tho cbargos to n st,nJin,
committoa ,r a scloct committee mr. il NAV
proceed without the intervention of either
1t may allow cross-examination. or DENY il as
10 its members may seem most nroner at the
time The precedent set in the case of JnJoa
Peck. upon which great stress is laid cannot
take away the fun discretion allowed bv the
Constitution. nor make the law either shorter
or narrower than it is written. In such A
case each House of Representatives will de-
termine for itself its mode of procedure. with
out suggestions from "co-ordinato." and
RELY upon the highest law as its charter
There is no Judge presiding over the repre-
sentativcs Of the sovereign people of the SOW
crcigu States to teach and inculcato legal pro-
prieties When they shall permit even the
President to do so, then there will be law
superior to the Constitution and discretion
locked in chains,
The resolution Of the Senate Of the 2sth Of
March. 1884. upon which the President seem
ingly had his eve in the preparation of his
protest, presents a case very different from
the present one. That BODY resolved as fol-
lows:
"That the President. in the late executive
proceedings in relation to the public revenue.
has assumed upon himself authority and pow
er not conferred by the Constitution and laws.
but in dorogation of both"
Tho co,,,,l,;,ts nod L,. Dro,;Jont TL