Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-27

son, of Philadelphia, in relation to con.
tract, to the attention of the Secretary Of the
Navy, the head of the appropriate Depart,
ment, without expressing or ntimating anv
opinion whatever on the subject; and n
make the matter, if possible, still palmer
the Secretary had informed the COMMITTEE
that ''the President did not in anu mGAn,r
interfere IN this case, nor has he an ann OH.
er case Of contract since hare been ~ H..
Department." The absence of all proof II
sustain this attempt to degrade the Pres.
dent, whilst it manifests the venom Of tho
shaft aimed at him, has destroyed the yigor
of the bow.
To return after this depression. Should
the House by the institution of Cuyode com.
mittees, votes Of censure, and other devices
to harass the President, reduce him to sub.
servience to their will, and render him their
creature, then the well-balancnd Government
which our fathers framed will be annihila,ej
This conflict has already been commenced in
earnest by the House against the Executive
A bad precedent rarely if ever dies. Il
will, | fear, be pursued in time of my sue.
cessors, no matter what may be their poli,
cal character. Should secret committees be
appointed, with Unlimited authority, torance
over all the words and actions, and if posi-.
bic the very thoughts of the President, with
d view to discover something in his past life
preiudicial to his character, from parasites
and informers, this would be an ordeal which
scarcely any mere man since the fall, could
endure. 1t would be to subject him to a
reign of terror from which the stoutest and
purest heart might shrink have passed
triumphantly through this ordeal. Nv vim.
dication is complete. The committee have
reported no resolution looking 10 an impeacl-
ment against me; no resolution of ccnsurc:
not even resolution pointing out any abuses
in any of the Executive Departments Of the
Government to be corrected by legislation
This is the highest commentator which
could be bestowed on the heads of these De-
partments. The sovereign people of tho
States will, however, trust, save my sue
cessors, whoever they may be, from any such
ordeal. They are frank. bold, and honest
They detest delators and informcrs. there
fore, in the name and rs the representative
of this great people, and standing upon the
ramparts Of the Constitution which they
"have ordained and established" do solemn.
ly protest against these unprecedented and
unconstitutional proceedings.
There was still another committee raised
by the House on the 9th of March last ou
motion of Mr.. Hoard, to which | had not
the slightest objection. The resolution ere.
ating it was confined to specific charges
which J. have ever since been ready and
willing to meet. have at all times invited
and deied fair investigation upon constita.
tional principles. ! have received no notice
that this committee have ever proceeded to
the investigation.
Why should the House of Representa-.
tives desire TO encroaeh on me other De-
partments of the Government? Their right,
full powers are ample for every legitimate
purpose. They are the impeachng body
In their legislative capacity it is their most
wise and wholesome prerogative to institute
rigid examinations into the manner in
which all departments Of tie Government
are conducted, with Il view to reform abuses
to promote economy and to improve every
branch Of the administration. Should they
find reason TO believe, in The course Of their
examinations, that any grave offence had
been committed by the P:esdentor any officer
of the Government rendering it proper in
their judgment to resort 70 impeachment.
their course would be plain. They would
then transfer the question from their lcgIs
latve to their accusatory jurisdiction, and
take care that, in all the preliminary judi
cial proceedings preparatory to the vote Of
impeachment, the accused should enjoy the
benefit Of crOss-examining the witnesses, and
all the other safeguards with which the
Constitution surrounds every American CT
tizen.
If in legislative investigation it should
appear that the public interest required the
removal Of any officer of the Government,
no President has ever existed who after civ
ing him fair hearing would hesitate 10 aY-
ply the remedy.
This | take to be the ancient and well-es
tablshed practice. An adherence to ii will
best promote the harmony and the dignity
of the intercourse between the coordinate
branches of the Government, and render us
all more respectable, both in the eyes Of on"
own countrymen, and of foreign nations.
JAMES BUCHANAN.