Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-30
Last Nights Report.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
OLD BUCK IN RAGE!
He Refuses 70 submit to the House Inyes-
tigating COMMITTEES, a Ia Hyatt
John Brown, Jr.
XXXIyth CONGREss--FIRsT SESSION.
WAsHNaroN, March 80.

bill
Mr. Fenton, from the Committee on Revolt
tionRry Claims, reported a bill providing T,
the settlement of the claims of officers an
soldiers of the Revolutionary army, and tn
widows and children Of those who died in Ii
service.
The consideration of the bill was postpone
for two weeks.
Mr.. Grow, from the Committee on Territories
reported back the bill for the sdmisson
Kansas into the Uuion He desired a vote {
be taken on it at an early day.
Mr. Crawford saw no necessity for length
discussion on it, He presumed the minds Q
gentlemen were made up. He was willing t
afford an opportunity Of testing the questio
by moving to lay the bill on the table.
Mr.. Royce, from tbs COMMITTEES on FOreigl
Affairs, reported the French Sp0liation bill.
Mr.. Clark, of No., desired till Thursdsy L
make a minority report.
MT. Vallandigham and Mr.. Davis Of Ind.
made speeches Indicating they should vote fol
the admission Of Kansas.
Mr. Garrett spoke to the opposite effect
Farther proceedings were interrupted by tn,
receipt Of the following communication from
the President -
| MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
To the House Of Representatives. -
After delay which has afforded me ample
time for reflection, and after much and careful
elaboration, find myself constrained by an
impeTious sense Of duty, as 4 co ordinate branch
Of the Federal government, TO protest against
the first two clauses Of the first resolution
adopted by the House of Representatives on the
9th inst aud published in the Congressional
Globe on the succeeding day. The clauses are
in the following words
let. ResOlved, That q committee Of five
members be appointed by the Speaker for the
purpose Of investigating whether the President
of the United States, or any officer Of the Gov
ernnent has, by money patronage, or other
improper means, sought TO influence the pas
sage Of any law appertsining TO the rights Of
any State or Territory; and second, also, t1
inquire into and investigate whether any Of
hcer or officers Of the Government has, by COM
bination or otherwise, prevented, or attempted
the prevent or defeat the execution OF any law
or laws now on the statute book and whether
the Pres't. has failed OF refused TO compel the
execution Of any law. confne myself
exclusively these two branches of the Tesolu-
ton because the portions Of il which follow re-
late TO alleged abuses in the post Office, navy
| yards, public buildings and other public works
Of the United States. In such cases inqni>
Fies ale highly proper in themselves, and be-
| long equally to Senate and House, es Incident
to their legislative duty, being necessary to en-
able them to discover and provide appropriate
| legislative remedies fol- any abuses which may
be ascertaiued Although theIterms of the lat
| ter portion Of the resolutions are extremely
vague and general, yet my sole purpose in ad-
Verting to them at present is 70 make the broad
line Of distinction between the accusatory and
the remedial clauses Of the resolutions The
House Of Representatives possess no power un-
der the Constitution, over the first OF accusa-
tory Of the resolution, except as an imPeaehme
duty, whilst over the Last, in common with the
Senate, their authority as a legislative hody is
fully admitted. 1t is solely in reference to the
first or impeaching power that l propose to
make few observations. Except in this single
case, the Constitution has invested the House
of RepresentVes with no power, no jurisdiction,
NJ supremacy whatever over the President. In
all other respects he is quite as Independent of
them as gthey are Of him; as Il Coordinate
branch Of the government, he is their equal -
Indeed he is the only direct representative Of
earth Of the people Of all and each of the soyeT-
eign States. To them and 10 them alone is be
responsible, whilst acting within the sphere Of
| his Constitutional duty, and not in any manner
to the House of Representatives The people
have thought proper to invest him with The
most honorable, responsible aud dignifed office
in the world, and the individual, however un-
worthy, now holding this exalted position, will
take care so far as in him lies that their rights
and pFercgatiyes shall never be violated in his
person, but shall pass to his successors unim-
paired by the adoption Of dangerous precedent.
He will defend them to the last extremity
against any unconstitutional attempt, come
from what quarter il may, to abridge the con
stitutional rights of the Executive and render
them subseIvient to any human power except
The people have not confined the President to
exercise the Executive duties. They have also
conferred on him large measure Of legislative
discretion. No bill can become law without
his approval as representing the people Of the
U. s., unless it shal pass after his veto, by
msjority of two-thiTds Of both Houses. In
his legislative capacity, he might, in common
with the Senate and House, institute inquiries
to ascertain any facts which are to influence his
! judgment in approving or vetoing any bill =
fhis participating in the performance OF legis
lative duties between coordinate branches OF
the Government, ought to inspire the conduct
Of all of them in their relations towards each
other, with mutual iorbearanee and respect
At least each has right to demand justice of
the other. The cause Of complaint is, that the
constitutional rights and immunities of the
Executive haYe been violated in the person Of
the President.
The trial ef an impeachment Of the Presi|
dent before the Senate, on charges preferred
and prosecuted against him by the House Of
Representatives, would be an imposing specta-
Gle for the world. In the result not only his
removal from The Presidential Office would be
involved but what is Of infinitely greater i'm
portance to himself his chars.teE, both in the
eyes of the present and Of the future genera
tions, might possibly be tarnishsd. The dis
grace Oast upon him would in some degree b,
reflected upon the character Of the American
people. Hence the precautions adopted by the
Constitution to secure fair trial. On such
trial it declares that the Chief Justic shall pre-
side. Tbis was doubtless because the trainers
Of the Constitution believed it to be PoFslble
that the Vice President might be bissed, BY tho
| fact that in case of the removal OF the Presi
dent from Office, the same shall deyolye upon
the Vice President.
The pFelimipary proceedings in the House
! IN case OF charges which may involve imPeach-
ment, hsye been well and wisely settled by long
practice upon principles Of equal justice both
| to the accused and to the people. The preee>
dent established in the case Of Judge Peek, Of
| Mo-, in 1881, after careful review of all the
former precedents, will, venture to predict,
stand the test Of time. In that case, Luke Eds
| ward LaWless, the accuser, presented petition
| 70 the House in which he set forth minutely
! and specifically his causes Of compliant He
prayed that the conduct and prOceedingsin this
| behalf of the said Judge Peck, u ay be inquired
into by your honorable body, and such decision
/ made thereof as TO your wisdom and justice
shall seem proper This petition was referred
/ 10 the Judiciary Committee, and such has ever
been deemed the appropriate committee to make
a similar Investigation. 1t is a standing COM
mi tee, supposed to be appointed without
reference to any special cause, and ct all times
is presumed to be composed OF the most emf
nent lawyers in the House from different
Dortions Of the Union, whose acquaintance with