Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-19
7HE COvODE INVESTIGATION.
The Report OF Blr. Taylor, OF the
judiciary Committee, on the Presi-
dents Protest.

Mr. TAYLOR presented the following views
of the minority:
The undersigned member of the Commit
tee on the Judiciary. TO whom was referred
the message of the President, in which he
protests against the action of the House ia
adopting the first two clauses OF certain PESO
buttons passed on the fifth day ofMarch last,
respectfully submits the following minority
report:
The resolutions adopted by the House on
the fifth day OF March were in the following
words:
Resolved. That committee of five members
be appointed by the Speaker for the purpose
of investigating whether the President of the
United States or any other officer of the gov
eminent, has by money, patronage. or any
other improper means, sought to influence
she action OF Congress, or any committee
thereof, for OF against the passage OF any
law appertaining to the rights OF any State
or Territory, also to inquire into and investi-
gate whether any officer or officers Of the
government have by combination or other
wise prevented or defeated or attempted to
prevent or defeat, the execution of any law
or laws now upon the statute book and
whether the President has failed or refused to
compel the execution of any law thereof; and
that said committee shall investigate and in
quire into the abuses at the Chicago or other
Post Offices and at the Philadelphia and
other navy yards, and into any abuses in
connection with the public buildings and
other public works of the United States.
Ind Resofrod further, That the Presi-
dent, in his letter to the Piitsburg Centena-
~ celebration of the 25th of November. 1858,
speaks of the employment Of money to coerce
elections. said committee shall inquire into
and ascertain the amount 80 used in Penn
rylvania and any other State or States; in
what district It was expended and by whom,
and by whose authority il was done, and
from what source the money was derived
and to report the names Of the parties impli-
Gated; and that. for the purpOse aforesaid.
ssid committed shall have power to send
for persons and papers, and to report at any
time.
This mersage relates only 10 the two first
clauses of the first resolution, which are re-
cited in it, and are as follows:
Resolved, That a committee Of Eve members
be appointed by the Speaker for the purpose.
frat. of investigating whether the President
of the United States. or any other officer of
the government. has, by money. patronage or
other improper means, sought to Influence
the action OF Congress, or any committee
thereof for or against the passage OF any
law appertaIning TO the rights of any State
or Territory; and second, also to inquire in
10 and investigate whether any officer or
officers OF the governments have, by combinl-
ton or otherwise, prevented or defeated or
attempted to prevent or defeat the execution
Of any law or laws now upon the statue
book. and whether the President has failed
or refused to compel the execution Of any
Law thereof.
The President takes no exception to The
remaining portions Of the fret resolution,
which relate 10 alleged abuses In postoifices.
navy yards. public buildings. and other
public works Of the United States, because,
he Gays, lin such cases iBquir e. are highly
proper In themselves. and belong equally
Go the Senate and the House, a. incident TO
their legislative duties. ""to enable them TO
provide the legislative remedies for any
abuses " bich may b." found to exist. Moth
ing whatever is said by him in this message
with respect to the rccond resolution. His
protest il made against the two FIRST clauses
Of the fret resolution. which are r. cited in il
and he expressly declares that he coRhnrs
himself Exclusively TO those two branches
OF the resolution
Thee two clauses are aeeussiory In their
nature; and regarding theta in that light, the
Pr<sident pa. seen NJ TO avail himself of his
coastitstioaal power OF commune sting wilh
the Hoase, 70 lay before il bis objections To
the proceedings instituted BY ths. House
against him and other officers OF the govern
ment by their adoption. la doing this the
President says, in substance, that the House
Of Representative pa>sess no power under
she constitution over the accu~agary portion
Of she resolution. except rs an ssnpesehing
body. With that exc -pt:oa, the President
asserts s-th@ constitution has Invested the
House Of Representative with no power. no
jurisdiction. no supremacy whatever, over The
Presidentn In all other respects. he eeailn-
ues, -he Is quite rs independent af them ss
they are Of himn Tue President afterwards
proceeds to notice the character Of the inxes-
tigation which the Resolution proposes 20 Ia
stitute, and having noticed the fact that IL is
directed 10 no specific charge or charges. bas
whether the President has, by money. pat
Foaage, or other improper means, sought 20
Influence" not the &C lon OF any individual
msnsb- or m'mi,ers of Coagrsns. hat '.lhe
sction,' OF the entire body .of Congress
Itseif. or -sny committee thereof" and that
Ihe Investigation Which lie rsrsiat.ca l,fsps-