Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-05-11
THE PREsIDENTs pROTEsT.

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HYoH ~ non. J'Hn Hifiman, Ch1tr017 V
We C0m"'Hec 0H ne J"dic'dry' oH t6c Ircs-
"s"t rs fro'e" t H1rcb 2S, 1860,
The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom
was referred the Special Message of the Pres
dent of the United States 20 the House Of
Representatives, beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing report:
On the jth day Of March last, Hon. John
Covode, Representative in Congress from
the State of pcnnsyvana, submitted and the
House Of Representatives adopted, the iol-
lowing resolutions
"Reso're3, That Committee Of Eve mem
bers be appointed by the Speaker. for the
purpose of Investigating whether the Prcsi-
dent Of the United States, or any other Off
Ger oi the Government, has, by money, pat-
ronage, or other improper means sought 90
influence thc action of Congress or any Com-
miitcc thereof for or against the passage OF
any law aDpertaiujng 90 the rights of any
State or Territory: also, TO inquire into and
investigate whether any officer aud officers of
the Government have, by combination or oth-
crwisc, prevented and defeated, or attempted
to prevent or defeat, the execution OF any law
or laws now upon the statute books, and
whether The President has failed or refused
to compel the execution Of any law thereof:
that said Committee shall investigate aud in
quire into the abuses Of the Chicago and 9TH
or post offices. and at the Philadelphia and
other nayy yards. and into any abuses in con-
neciion with the public buildings and other
public works Of the United states.
"ind resoirod tutler. That as the Pfesi-
dent in his letter 20 tho Pittsburc centenary
celebration Of the 2jth of November. 1858.
speaks of the employment Of money to carry
elections, said committee shall inquire into
and ascertain ihc amount so used in Pcnnsyl-
vania. and any other State or States in what
districts it was expended. and by whom and
by whose authority it was done. and from
what source the money was derived. and to
report the names of the parties implicated /;
and that, for the purpose aforesaid, said COM
miitco shall have power TO send for persons
and papers, and report at any time
The Message comes as a protest against
this action OF the House. Tho President
complains that he has been "abuscd. and
that the constitutional rights and immunitics
of the Executive have been violated iu his
person. the material positions assumed in
the communication arc substantially embraced
In the following propositions
/. That the House of Representatives pos
scssos no power under the Constitution, cX-
ccpt as an impoachng body to accuse tho
President Of the United States, or any other
officer OF the Government.
,. That the FIRST Foclted resolution is an
accusation of high crimes and misdomeauors
against tho President, and that his accuser
has been constituted one of his Judges.
3. That the charge Is too vague and gem
eral
1. That there is danger, under such preo-
odent' OF an agsrandizemcnt of the legislative
at the expense OF the executive and Judicial
departments
In consideration OF the high source from
which the manifesto proceeds, the Committee
prefer TO eonhne themselves TO an cxam,na-
ton OF the postulates Of the paper however
obnoxious to criticism its general tone may
be ON the score of taste and temper. But
they cannot restrain an expression Of their
deep regret that an officer who prldes himself
upon the fact that 1.-THE people havo thought
proper to invest him with the most honorable,
responsible and dignifcd office in the world,
and who declares he feels proudly conscious
there is no act of my his life which will not
bear the strictcst scrutiny aud that he de-
ics "all Investigation should forget, amid
the surroundings Of office aud power and fiat
terry. that ho Is bat the servant Of that same
people and that he should shrink back in an
ger or terror from simple Inquiry into has
stewardship inns Is the hrst time under the
Republic that a Chlel Executive has LETT a
recorded admission that he has been made
ohivious OF the origin and ophemoral charac-
ter Of his position by the rcvelries of his en-
Joyment. To distinguish such conduct by
approbaiion would be to sanction kingly pre-
rosative' and to proclaim that rlghtuI rule
came "by the grace OF God and not from
the confidence of men. The nation' always
charitable in the Interpretation of acts and