Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-04-11

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|'',.I HA3AEIW
this poor boon may be denied to the President.
/ And what is the nature Of the investigation
which his resolution proposes to instigate? I'll
IS as vague and general rs the English language
can odosd words with which 10 make It. The
committee 10 to inquire, not into any specific
charges, but whether the President has, BY
money, patronage, Or other improper means,
sought to fnduence, not tho action Of any ind1i.
viducl member or members Of Congress, out
tho action Of the entire body Of Congress itself
or any committee thereof.
The President might have had some gliu,-
mering OF the nature Of the ofense to be fOves-
tigated. had his accuser pointed to the act or
acts OF Congress which he sought to pass or
defeat by the employment Of money, patronage
or other improper means. but tho accusation
is bounded BY no such limits 1trextends to
the whole circle Of legislative interference for
or against the passage Of any law appcrtaining
to the rights Of any State or Territory. Aud
what law or laws has the President failed to
execute? These might easily have been
pointed out had any such existed.
Had Mr. LaMlrss asked an inquiry to be
made by the House, whether Judge Peck in
general terms had not violated his judicial
duty, without specifying any particular act, l
10 notlbeIi:vc there would have been a single
vote in that body in favor Of the inquiry.
Since the time Of The Star Chamber and OF
Jail Warrants, there have been no such pro-
|ceedings in England. The House of Repre-
scnt"tises, the high i'npeachiny power Of the
country, without conscrting to hear word OF
explanation, have endorsed this accusation
against the President, aud made it :heir own
act They even refuse 10 permit member to
inquire Of the Presidents accuscr what were
the specific charges against him, aud thus, in
this preliminary accusa.ionsof high crime and
nsdemeanors against q coordinate branch Of
the government, under the impca:hing power
Of tic House, refused to hear a single :stlyces-
ton even in regard to the correct mode of
proceeding, but without q moments DELAY.
passed accusation resolutions under the pres
sure OF the previous question. In the institu-
ton OF prosecution for any offence apains,
the most humble citizen - and I claim for
myself no greater rights than be enjoys-,le
Constitution Of the Uuited States a.;a c: e. inc
several States require that he shall be informed
i'll the very beginning, Of the nature aud
cause OF the accusation against him, in order
to enable him to prepare for his defence.
There are other principals which l might
cnumerate not less sacred: presenting an i'm
pcnetrable shield to protect every citizen
| falsely charged will, criminal offence. These
have been violated in the prosecution ins,itu.
ted ny the House of Representatives against
the Executive branch of the Government
Shall the President alone be deprived Of the
protection Of these great principles which pre-
vail in every land where u ray Of liberty pene.
tratcs the gloom OF despotism? Shall the
Executive alone be deprived of the rights
which all his fellow-citizens enjoy? The whole
proceeding against him justiics the fears Of
those wise and great men, who before the
Constitution was adopted by the States, ap-
pretended that the tendency of the Govern
ncnt was to the aggrandizement of the Legis-
Iatlvc at the expenses Of the Executive and
Judicial Departments.
l again declare emphatically tina, make
this protest tor no reason personal to myself.
and DO it with perfect respect for the House
OF Representatives., in which had the honor
of serving for five successive terms. l have
lived long in this go0dly land, anL have en-
joyed al! the Offices and honors which INV
country coald bestow. Amid all the political
storms through which I have passed, the pres
ent is the first attempt which has ever been
made, to my knowledge, to assail my personal
and official integrity, and this has been done
IS tue time approaches when shall voluntari-
" retire from the services Of my country
feel personally conscious that there is no
lsilhIlc nj {i(tA " hiok, a..
strlctest scrutiny. defy all Investigation
Nothing but tue bascst perjury can sully my
good name. do not fear even this, because
cherish an humble confidence that the oro.
cious Being who has hitherto defended and
protected me against the shafts of falsehood
and malice, will not desert me now when n
lave become old and gray headed. Can de-
clare before God and MY country that no
human being, with exception scarcely worthy
OF notice, has at any period Of my life dared
to approach me with corrupt or dishonor-
able proposition, and until recent develop
men's it had never entered into my i,nagiua-
ton that any person, even in storm Of ex-
,asperuted political excitement, would charge
me in a remote degree with having made such
proposition to any being. may now how
ever exclaim, in the language Of complaint
employed by my first and greatest predecessor,
that have been abused in such exaggerated
aud indecent terms as would scarcely be ap-
Piled to a negro, to notorious defaul,er, or
even to common pickpocket." '.&
l do, therefore. for tho reasons stated, and
in the name Of the people of the scveralI
States, solemnly protest against these pro-
cecdings Of the House Of Representatives. be-
cause they are in violation Of the rights Of a
coordinate executive branch of the Govern.
ment, and subvcrsive Of its constitutional in
dependence; because they are calculated to
foster band Of interested parasites and infor-
mers ever ready for their own advantages to-
swear before er Parse committees, to pre-
tended private conversations between the
President. themselves incapable from their
nature Of being disapproved, thus furnishin 9
material for harassing him, degrading him in
the eyes Of the country, aud eventually should
he be a weak or timd man. rendered him sub.
scrvient to improper influences in order to |
avoid such prosecutions and annoyance; be.
cause they tend to destroy that harmonious
action for the common good which ought to
be maintained and which sincerely desire to
cherish, between the coordinate branches of
the Government; aud finally because il uure-
sisted, they would establish precedent dan.
gerous and embarrassing to all my SUCCESSORS
to whatever political party they might be