The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-30

FtDhfyI grand JuTNs ac As Witnes3
but again that you cannot before Grand Jury of
Pennsylvania, before any tribunal in any civilized
country call witness and require OF him say whether
he knows OF any wrong done by particular individual
apart from that Of which he stands accused You must
direct the witnesses attention TO the wrong
planned Of TO specific and well defined charge, before
you force winners testify. What sir, would be the
condition OF things il 1t was not so2 II you allowed
Grand Jures to out and ndict any man IN the country
they had dislike to- to inquire of this person aud that
they thanced 10 know anything wrong done by another
why, sir, If this allowed who would be safeY Under
such state Of things would have security Tor our
property for safety reputation honor, or our
lives Then, why not extend TO the President OF the
the humblest citizen in the land9 II the gentleman (Mr
Imchanan) was even opposed to ME in politics, yet
| would still remember that he was the President
OF the United States, invested by the majority Of tn
people with the dignity Of the first oce not only OF this
land but OF the worlthe representative OF the nation
before the whole worldI should at least II not hi,
own sake, yet for the sake Of nstce the dignity OF
the country and for the honor OF the country extend to
him the measure OF justice and Of fair play that
would extend To any other-the humblest ndvidua 81 In
the land What the President objects the
eaton; the gentleman from Ohio does him injustice
tnere II ID the sweeping allegations brought against
him Is that the geptlemsn from Pennsylvania askei
far committee to inquire whether he the Presden has
been guilty OF using corrupt 70 have bill passed
through this house. II TO tho vague nded ite
cusatoDs brought against him thas he oojecs for that
member himself not sblcto say that he has good rea
son to believe that there any GROUND for the
| charge.
Great confusion existed arnoog members the repub
lcan side, and Mr. Barksdale called the Speaker to
Of the gentleman who addressing the house
Mr.. Bococx resumed-Under these circumstances the
name Of the people he representcd-n the OF the
people by whose voice he had been elevated and chosen
70 the rst oice IN their gt.n their name he was JUS
upon him, TO preserve these rights intact and to
der them, at the proper time, into the hands of his
got the floor in tme TO the message be laid
on the table and printed and thus TO leave members op
pose ee 70 take any course they might think proper
Mr.. wAamyRs, lrep) Of Me.-Does the gentleman
move 10 lay the matter on the table9
Mr.. BOCoK--No; merely referred 10 what might
have done.
Mr.. wAsuBuRN-I hope the gentleman will not make
Mr.. BoooCK-wait little.
Mr.. CovoDE-H the gentleman proposes 70 make such
this matter which the gentleman not to ully under
dersand. In the meantime / submit this resolution.
Mr. Covops~i i deny' % s Mt M spssser, that made any
charge against the President II was the President him
self Who made the charge in his centennial letter the
people of Pttsburg, wherein he said that money had
been improperly used In carrying the late elections
Pennsylvania and all did was atep forward TO inquire
who was that used this lmoney and what precise
The noise that vas still kept up BY republican members
tsrruped Mr. Covode and the Speaker again called on
members on that side 70 come 70 order.
MT. cIAIkE, dem Of Mo-, asked that Mr.. COvode's
Mr. Grow, (rep) Of Pa. raing-Tns is question Of
very great importance. for pertains to the rights and
All such questions this must be important and ought 70
be considered calmly and deliberately, with Q view Of
settling the constitutional rights Of each department tho
government. Your committee has power TO mpeach
the President Of the United States That OF our
powers This House can only present ground Of i'm
parchment 10 the Senatc whose duty "a 70 try whether
there sufficient for the impeachment Of the Presi
dent But TO investigate whether any and what influence
ina ,bs 1sea % .ny no y
Of the representatives OF the people But Of course,
penalty follows our action that far. We n1ict punish
TNa kAu,x A{~e
Suppose, In this case your committee should
tain that the President of the United States had
discharge Of his duties supposng only that such was the
case, for make assertion. Your committee would
smpy ascertain the facts Of the case, and report the
to the House, and leave 10 the House TO impeach
the President But then, this carries penalty; you
pfct no punishment That is the difference between
impeachment OF federal officers and inquiry Of the
House to any influence appertaning TO the egisAton
Of the House improperly used BY any one, have
anpcs Of similar prooesdiugs nstatused ag.nss ss
bers Of former Congress- Then VIII be said that the
House cannot exercise the rights with respect the
executive officers Of the government that
towards our other czensY The President OF the United
States stands higher than any other freeman of the
country He 10 liable to the same course Of procedure,
and liable to the same punshment In OF dereiction
OF duty any other citizen
Mr.. wnnEY (dem.) of DEL, would ask the gentleman
duct of the President Of the United States without any
specific charge being preferred against himG
eanr Vehemeny That what the Pesdep, otecs eas
to- cloud aughter) The President complains that the
same courtesy was not extended to him that would ord
nariy be extended to common pick pocket Continued
laugher That is the objection and the gentlemen who
have discussed the subject lose sight altogether Of this
fact.
Mr. CovopEI will call for the reading of the resolution
and then explain my position.
The resolution wac then read, as follows:
Of 81 AYE %sssra be Ted
he Tr Ua Of s 4s
as s Of sS
0o q
and whether any officer or officers Of the govern
On @
hereof That said committee shah nyeaiisss and n.nIre
With the public buildings and other public works Of
aser 1ha. as the President in bis letter to the
s :ss ss.s s
T.
s .s Of 5 e:s; ss and
send for persons and papers and to report 1t any me
Mr.. covopE-You will discover that there definite
charge laid against the President, but the President
nos nos 1ssn Rnown, %aS and % oonsdereG % my duty duty
to call for investigation, and to ascertain who s that
has been guilty Of these offences Mr. Speaker we have
taken testimony this matter which goes to prove that
the President Of the United States himself privy the
IN wrnS tka the President was himself lender of
money for the express purpose Of influencing the eec
tons in Pennsylvania and that he handed over letter TO
the Secretary OF the Navy for that purpose Ny object
ascertain how and for what purposes this money
was used. The President himself having made the
charge but proper 70 investigate IT, and find out
who were the guilty parties. have been engaged that
business and to show that no advantage intended
TO be taken Of the President the committee agreed to
send him the testimony. daughter from democratic
benches) 1t was agreed that should have q printed
copy Of the testimony 10 what reply he would have
to against IL, and what rebutting evidence he could
produce. (ronica laughter from democratic benchee
Mr.. BRABsoS-Mr Speaker, as Is impossible that the
House understand the subject unless they had the
whole matter printed, move that the whole subject be
postponed I'LL this day week.
Mr. CoyopE-we have II in evidence
OF the Committee Covode has right to divulge upon
the floor Of the House, any pare statement Of test
mopy.
Mr. CovopE1 charge that have the best reason TO be-
eve that the President of the United States himself
consulted with reference 70 the Of and az