The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-08-01

and consent to exercise his authority accordln
| to the will of those invested with this terrIbl
power. The sovereign people of the severa
States have elected him to the highest and mos
/ honorable office in the world. He is their on
J ly direct representative in the Government
By their Constitution they have made him com
mander -in-chef of their army and navy, H
represents them in their intercourse with for
eign nations. Clothed with their dignity ant
authority he occupies proud position beor
all nation, civilized and savage. With the con
sent Of the Senate he appoints all the impor
, tant officers of the Government. lie exercise
the veto power, and to that extent Controls th
legislation of Congress. For the performance
of these high duties he is responsible to tn,
people Of the several States and not in any de
gree to the House of Representatives.
Shall he surrender these high powers confer
red upon him as the representative of the A
rncricah people for their benefit, to the House
to be exercised under their overshadowing in
Huence and control? Shall he alone of all the
citizens of the United States be denied fail
trial? Shall he alone not be Uniformed Of the
nature and cause Of the accusation" against him
Shall he alone not "be confronted with the wit
nesSes" against him? Shall the House of Rep.
resentatives, usurping the powers Of the Senate
proceed to try the President, through the agcn.
cy Of secret committee Of the body where il
is impossible he can make any defence, and
then, without affording him an opportunity o
being heard, pronounce a Judgment of censure
against him? The very same rule might be
applied for the very same reason to every judge
Of every court of the United States. From
what part OF the United States. From what
part Of the Constitution is this terrible inqusi
toriaI power derived? No such express power
exists. From which of the enumerated pow.
ers can it be inferred? 1t is true, the Hotse
cannot pronounce the formal judgment against
him of removal from office but they can, by
their judgment of censure, asperse his reputa-
ton and thus, to the extent of their influence
render the Office contemplate. An example is
at hand of the reckless manner in which this
power of censure can be employed in high par
ty times. The House, on recent otcasi n,
have attempted to degrade the President by
adopting the resolution of Mr. John Sherman,
declaring that he, in conjunction with the Sec
retary of the Navy, "by receiving and consider
ing the party relations OF bidders for contracts,
and the effect Of awarding contracts upon pend
ing elections, have set an EXAMPLE dangerous to
the public safety, and deserving the reproof Of
this House."
It will scarcely be credited thut the sole pre-
text for this vote Of censure was the simple fact
that in dlsposing OF the numerous letters Of ev-
cry imaginable character which daily receive,
| had, in the usual course Of business, referred
a letter from Colonel Patterson. of Philadelphia,
in relation to contract to the attention OF the
Secretary ofthe Navy, the head ofthe appropr
ate Depa :tment, without expressing or intima-
ting any opinion whatever on the subject; and
to make the matter, ifpossible, still palmer, the
Secretary had informed the committee that
the President did not in any manner tntegJeye
in this case nor has he in any other case of
contract since haze been in the Department"
The absence OF all proof to sustain this attempt
to degrade the President, whilst it manifests the
venom Of the shaft aimed at him, has destroyed
the vigor Of the bow. To return after this d-
gresson. Should the House, by the institution
of the Coyode committees, votes Of cehsure.
and other devices to harass the President re-
duce him to subserviance to their will, and rem
der him their creature, then the we'll balanced
Government which our fathers framed will be
annihlated This conflict has already com
menced in earnest by the House against the Ex-
ecutive. A bad precedent rarely if ever dies.
1t WILL fear, be persued in the time of my she
cessors, no matter what may be their political
character. Should secret committees be appoint
ed with unlimited authority to range over all
the words and actions and if possible the verv
thoughts Of the Pres dent with view 10 dis
cover something in his past life prejudcial to
his character parasites and informers this
would be an ordeal which scarcely anv mere
man since the fall could endure. 1t would be
to subject him to reign of terror from which
the stoutest and purest heart might shrink.
have passed triuInphantly through this ordeal
NV vind alton is complete. The committee
have reported no resolution locking to an i'm
parchment against me; no resolution ofcensure;
not even resolution pointing out any abuses
in any Of the Executive Departments of the
Governments to be corrected by legislation
this is the highest commendation which could
be bestowed on the heads Of the Departments
The sovereign people of the ,Statas will how
ever trust, save my successors, whoever they
may be, from any such ordeal. They are frank
hold and honest They detest delators and in
formers. therefore, in the name and as the
representative ofthis great people, and Standing
upon the ramparts ofthe Constitution which
'have ordained and established" do soIeinnlv
protest against these unprecedented and uncon
sttutional edings. .f.l Il, e,.f r.s
There was still another committee raised by
the House on the 9th OF March last on motion
of Mr.. Hoard, to which had not the slightest
objection. The resolution creating it was con
fined to specific charges which I have ever
since been able and willing to meet. I have at
all times invited and defied fair investigation
upon constitutional principles. | have re-
ceiyed no notice that this committe have ever
proceeded to the investigation,
Why should the House. Of Representatives
d sire 70 epcroach on the other Departments Of
the Government? Their rightul powers are