Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-04-07

"'o. Ae 10 ao vague anu SeHolai eo .ho English language affords words in which to make 1t. The committee Is to inquire, not into any specific charge or charges, but whether the President has, by any ''money, patronage, or other improper means, sought to lnfuence," not the action of any lndl- vldual member or members of Congress, but :" the action" of the entire body '' of Congress" itself, tor any committee there of The President might have had some glimmering of the nature of offence to be investigated had his accuser pointed to the act or acts of Congress which he sought to pass or t2 defeat by the employment Of " money, patronage, or other improper means" But the accusation is bounded by no such limits. It extends to the whole circle of legislation; to inference |" for or against the passage of any law appertaln- ng to the rights of any State or Territory And what law does not appertaln to tic rights of some State or Territory? And what law of laws has the President failed to execute? These might easily have been pointed out had any such existed.
 Had Mr. Lawless asked an inquiry to be made by the House whether Judge Peck, in general terms, had not violated his judi cial duties, without the specification Of any particular act, 1 do not believe there would have been single vote in that body in la vor of the inquiry.
 Since the time of the Star Chamber and of general warrants there has been no such proceeding in England
 The House of Representatives, the high impeaching power of the country, without consenting to hear word of explanation, have indorsed this accusation against the President, and made it their own act They even refused to permit amember to inquire of the Presidents accuser what were the specific charges against him. Thus ln this preliminary accusation of "high crimes and misdemeanors" against coordinate branch of the government, under the impeachlng power, the House refused to hear single suggestion even in regard to the correct mode of proceeding; but, without mo- ment's delay, passed the accusatory resolu- tions under the pressure of the previous question.
 In the institution of prosecution for any offence against the most humble citizen and 1 claim for myself no greater rights than he enjoys-the constitution of the United States and of the several States re- qulre that he shall be informed, in the very beginning, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, in order to enable him to prepare for his defence Their are other principles, which 1 might enumerate, not less sacred presenting an impenetrable shield to protect every citizen falsely charg- cd with q criminal offence. These 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 protection of these great principles which prevail in every land where a ray of liberty penetrates the gloom of depotism? Shall the Executive alone be deprived of rights which all his fellow citizens enjoy? The whole proceeding against him jutifeS the fears of thee wise and great men who, before the constitution was adopted by the States, apprehended that the tendency of the government was to the aggrandizement of the legislative at the expense of the exc cutive and judlcial departments.
 I' 1 again declare, emphatically, that l make this protest for no reason personal to myself; and 1 do it with perfect respect for the House of Representatives, in which l had the honor of serving as member for five successive terms. l have lived long in this goodly land, and have enjoyed all the offices and honors which my country could bestow. Amid all the political storms through which l have passed, the present is the first attempt which has ever been made, to my knowledge, to assil my personal or official integrity; and this as the time is approaching when l shall volun- tarily retire from the service of my country. feel proudly conscious that there is no pub lie act of my life which will not bear the strictest scrutiny. l defy all investigation. Nothing but the basest perjury can sully my good name. l do not fear even this; because l cherish an humble confidence that the gracious Being who has hitherto defend- ed and protected me against the shafts of falsehood and malice will not desert me now, when l have become " old and grey headed" l can declare before God and my country that no human being (with an ex- ception scarcely worthy of notice) has at any period of Thy life dared to approach me with corrupt or dishonorable proposition; and, until recent developments, 1t had never entered into my imagination that any per son, even in the storm of eXasperated po- litical excitement, would charge me, in the most remote degree, with having made such aproposition to any human being. 1 may now, however. exclaim, in the language of complaint employed by my first and great est predecessor, that 1 have been abused "n such exaggerated and indecent terms as could scarcely be applied to Nero, to a notorious deiaulter, or even to common picpocket.'
 and in the name of the people of the several States, solemnly protest against these pro- ceedngs of the House of Representatives; because they are in solation of the rights of the co ordinate executive branch of the go- verment and subversive of.its constitution al independence because they are calculat- ed to foster band of interested para ,ites and informers, ever ready, for their own advantage, to swear beor co parte commit tees to pretended private convefsatons be- tween the President and themselves, incapa bic, from thelr nature, ot beng dlsproved; thus furnishing material for harassing him, degrading him in the eyes of the country, and eventually sleuld he be a weak or a timid 1mans tehdering him subservient to improper Influences, in order to avoid such 1p5erseutions and annoyances; because ! ,they tend to destroy that harmonious ae- tion for the common good, which ought to be maintained and which 1 sincerely desire to cherish, between coordinate branches of the government; and finally, because, if un- resisted, they would establish precedent dangerous and embarrassing 10 all my suc- cessors, to whatever political party they might be attached.
 JAMES BUCHANAN.
 Washington, 28th March, 1860.
 MONTICELLO, March 29th, 1860.
 WHEREAS, The crisis have arrived and