The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1860-04-25
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


by the President ofthe United States to
the House Of Representatives
70 Tie House Of Representatives.:
After q delay witch has afforded me
ample time for rejection, and after much
aud careful DELEGATION, / find myself
constrained by an iuperious sense,of duty
as coordinate brunch of the Federal
Government, to prdest against the first
two clauses Of the first resolution adopted
bp the House Of Representatives onthe j
9Th inst, and pnhl1hed in the Congress.
SIGNAL Globe on hcsucceeding day.
The clauses are i'd the following words:
First, Resolved, That Committee Of
Eve members be appointed by the Speaker
for the purpose Of Investigating whether!
tile President Of the United States, or any
officer Of the Govenlment, has, by money,
patronage or otter improper means,
sought to influence the passage OF any
law appertaining tdthe rights Df any State
or Territory, aud
Second, Also 70 inquire into and in
yestigate whether any officer or officers
Of the Governmenthas, by combination or
otherwise, prevented or attempted to pre-
vent orriefeat thelexecution Of any Law
Hor laws, now upd the statute book, or
whether the President has failed or re-
| fused to compel tle execution Of any law
/ thered."
/ Iconfne myself exclusively to these
two branches ofithe resolution, because
the portions ofIit| which follow, relate to
4 alleged abuses ii the Ppstoffice, Navy
Yards, Public Buildings, and other Public
Works of the Dnited States.
In such CASES inquiries are highly pro-
per in themselves, and belonk equally to
the Senate andHouse, as incident to their
legislative duy, and being necessary to
enable them dscover aud provide appro-
priate legislatEe remedies for any abuses
~ Z
which may acertained. Although the
terms Of the liter portion of the resolu'
ton are extrspely vague and general, YET
!, my sule purple IN ladyertlpg to them al
nresent i to uake the broad line of dis
!; tiuctionhetwsn the accasatory and re-
medal clauscYof this resolution.
The House d Representatives possess
NJ, no,ver ntier the Constitution, 0vel
the first. or acusatory position the res
olntiot, excen Az an impeachlng body
e wiilstover tle hst. IN common with the
Senate, tbeisauthority as a Legislative
body i, fully adcheerfully admitted /
is solely in reference to the first, on i'm
peasha.g power that ! prpr.'se to make
a few btserva.ieas. Except int'is singh
case, lie Constitution has invested tn
s. Houseo. REPRESENTATIVES with no power
no .iurEsdir,iuh d, supremacy whateve
!, over lie President II all other respects
he is Quite as dependent Of them as tue;
are ,ofhim. Al % coordinate branch 9
the GeFerameb he is theirieqnal; indeed
lie is tie only direct representative o
earth Il the psplesof all and each Of ID
sovereign Stas.
= To hem an9 them alone 10 he respons
:. BILE, whilst acbg witt in the sphere Of b
coustintionaliuty, and not in any MAJ
per tolhe Houe Of Representatives. u
oeopld have teught proper TO iaves. BIZ
with lie most honorable, responsible en-
:. iigniifd oaisfn the world, and the ind d
viduaI hovaer unworthy, now ho'd'l'
!. this elalted kition, will take care g 4 I
Is il Jim liss hat shsiE ishis and r