Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-03-30
LATRsT By ,YRLNeRAPH.
xxxvi,h ooNeREss-FrRsT SESSION.
WAsnrraroN. Mafth 29.

-.,. .t,. WASHINGTON, March 80.
SENATE.--Mr. Clay, from the Committee
on Commerce, reported adversely on the pc
tition for the erection ofa certain pier in Del
aware Bay.
He also reported a bill to provide for the
introduction of II. j. Rogerss code Of Marine
Signals. -...5 ..r .l...ae. .--aH... -nI
ment of Congress, from the goth Of April TO
the 2lst of May, was taken up
Mr.. Anthony moved an amendment that
the two Houses adjourn sine die on the 18th
of June. ... Hf
Mr. Clingman opposed the recess, and of
| fered an amendment for an adjournment sine
die on the first Of June. Mr.. Green advoca-
| ted his resolution. IL was well known that
during the session no business would be
transacted, and an adjournment would be
made every three days. .'.l sg.i's g.
1t would add nothing to the expenses of
the Government. Il.-H. ... -. j. B..
Messes Benjamin and Gwin opposed the
| proposed adjournment. -a.I-
The amendments were Withdrawn and the
resolution voted down. Yeas II, nays 20.
The bill supplementary to the act TO au-
! thorize protection to the citizens of the
United States who may discover deposits of
guano, was taken up, amended and passed.
Mr., Gwin gave notice that on this day
week he would call up the Pacific Railroad
Bill. He had lost all hope of any thing
| being done in the other House. ..t !
On motion of Mr.. Davis the bill to pre-
vent desertons and to facilitate enlistments
in the army of the United States was taken
up and passed. ...-f ...t ......l
On motion Of Mr.. Grimes joint resolution
removing certain restrictions upon grant of
five sections Of land, was taken up and
passed.
The Army Appropriation Bill was received
from the House, passed second reading, and
was referred to the Committee on Finance.
The Senate then went into Executive ses-
sion and adjourned.
H0USE.-The House passed the Army
Appropriation Bill.
Mr.. Fenton from the Committee on Revo-
lutionary Claims, reported bill providing
for the settlement of claims of officers and
soldiers of the Revolutionary Army, and
widows and children of those who died in
the service. t.
Mr. Royce, from the Committee on For
Bih.
The consideration of the bill was postponed
for two weeks. .....
Mr.. Grow, from the Committee on Terrific
ries, reported back the bill for the admission
OF Kansas. He desired vote to be taken or
it at an early day.
|, Mr.. Crawford saw no necessity for {
lengthy discussion on it. He presumed thu
minds Of gentlemen were made up. He wa
willing to afford an opportunity of testing
the question by moving to lay the bill on th,
table. I
Mr.. Clark, of NO., desired till Thursday t,
make minority report
Messrs. Vallandigham and Davis, of Ind.
made speeches, indicating that they shOulC
: vote for the admission of Kansas.
Mr. Rurnntf rnnlfa IN iha Onnnaitn affapt
Further proceedings were Interrupted b,
the receipt of the following communication
} from the President: rr'..
s To the House of Representatives.:
After delay which has afforded me am
pie time for reflection, and after much an
: careful deliberation | find myself constraine
c by an imperious sense of duty as o CO
= ordinate branch of the Federal Government
: to protest against the first two clauses of tn
= first resolution adopted by the House of Rep
resentatives on the 5th inst, and publishedi il
the Congressional Globe on the succeeding
: day. The clauses are in the following words
i "First-Resoiued, That committee of fv
members be appointed by the Speaker 70
the purpose of investigating whether th
President of the United States, or any off
Ger of the Government has, by money, pat
. rorage or other improper MEANS sought t
3 influence the passage Of any law appertain
i ing to the rights of any State or Territory
, and, second, also'to inquire into and inves
: tigate whether any officer or officers of tn
: Government has, by combination or Other
IS defeat the execution of any law or laws noV
!, upon the statute book or whether the Pre-:
- ident has failed or refused to compel th
execution of any law thereof"
J, confine myself exclusively to these tw
branches of the resolution, because the POI
: tions of it which follow relate to allege
y abuses in the Postoffice, Navy-yards, Pr5li
Buildings, and other Public Works of tn
i' United States. r.,.' f
d In such cases, inquiries are highly prope
!. in themselves, and belong equally to tn
:, Senate and House, as incident to their legii
:; lative duty, and being necessary to enabl
them to discover and provide appropriat
legislative remedies for any abuses whic
q may be ascertained Although the terms
:. the latter portion of the resolution are eJ
tremely vague and general, yet my sole pul
/ pose in adverting to them. at present, is I
d make the broad line of distinction betwee
5; the accusatory and remedial clauses of th
resolution. t.. .ie. .a"- t--i Dc
The House of Representatives possesses n
power under the Constitution over the frs
= or accusatory position of the resolution, eS
:. cept as an impeaching body; while over tn
i last, in common with the Senate, their au
;, thority as legislative body is fully an
IS cheerfully admitted. 1t is solely in refer
:, ence to the first, or impeaching power, tha
k propose TO make few observations.
e Except in this single case, the Constitutio
e has invested the House of Representative
k with no power, no jurisdiction, no supremit
}, whatever, over the President. In all othe
J. respects he is quite us independent of theI
g as they are of him. r q. 2'lua @
AS coordinate branch of the Cover
: ment he is their equal-indeedh he is the onl
I direct representative on earth of the peopl
j of all and each of the sovereign States, I
t them and them alone is he responsible Will
: acting within the sphere of his constitutions
4 duty, and not in any manner to the House
I, Representatives. The people have though
: proper to invest him withthemost honorable
e responsible, and dignified Office in the worl,
4 and the individual, however unworthy, mo-
S holding this exalted position, will take car
c so far as in him lies, that their rights an
t prerogatives shall never be violated in h
person, but shall pass to his successor unin
paired by the adoption of a dangerous prec,
/. dent. He will defend them to the last el
t tremity against any unconstitutional attemp
: come from what quarter 1t may to abride
d the constitutional rights of the Executive an
render him subservient to any human powt
e except themselves. .ral .a'. ,G. ie ~ .i-
!, The people have not confined the PresideI
r to exercise the Executive duties; they haN
d also conferred on him q large measure
e legislative discretion. No bill can become
a law without his approval, as representing Il
;, people of the United States unless it sha
I Il ~. 4 L. -.