Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-04-07
Message of the PRESIDENT.
To the House of Representatives

pie time for reflection, and after much and |
careful dclibcration, L find myself constrain-
cd by an imporious sense of duty as a CO.
ordinate branch of the Federal Government
to protest against the first two clauses of
the first resolution, adopted by the House
of Representatives on the 5th instant, and
published in the (ongreSs,onal Globe on
the succeeding day, These clauses are in
the following words:
Resolved, That committe of five men,
bers be appointed by the Speaker, for the
purpose First, of investigating whether
the President of the United States, or any
other officer of the Government, has, by
money patronage, or other improper means
sought to influence the action of Congress,
or any committee thereof, for or against
the passage of any law appertaining to the
rights of any State or Territory and Sec
ond, also to investigate whether any officer
or officers of the Government have, by
combination or otherwise, prevented or dc
f, ated, or attempted to prevent or defeat,
the execution of any law or laws now up
on the statute book, and whether the Pres
ident has failed or refused to compel the
execution of any law thereof
l ccnfne myself exclusively to these two
branches of the resolution, because the
portions of it which follow relate to alleged
abuses in the post offices, navy yards, pub
lie buildings, and other public works
of the United States. In such cases
inquiries are highly proper in them
selves, and belong equally to the Senate
and House, as incident to their Legislative
duties, and being necessary to enable them
to discover and provide appropriate lcgis-
lativc remedies for any abuses which may
be ascertained. Although the terms of the
latter portion of the resolution are ex-
tremely vague and general, yet my sole
purpose in adverting to them at present is
to mark the broad line of distinction be
tween the accusatory and the remedial clau.
scs of this resolution. The House of Rep
resentatives possesses no power under the
Constitution over the first or accusatory
portion of the resolution, except as an i'm
pcaching body, whilst over the last, in
as a legislative body is fully and cheerful
ly admitted.
1t is solely in reference to the first or
, impeaching power that | propose to make
, few observations.
Except in this single case the Constitu-
ton has invested the House of Representa-
tivcs with no power, no jurisdiction, no SUI
, prcmacy whatever over the President
In all other respects he is quite as indepen-
6 dent of them as they are of him. As CO.
, ordinate branch of the Government he is
!, their equal. Indeed, he is the only direct
= representative on earth of the people of all
! and each of the sovereign States. 10 tn ell
=. and them alone, is he responsible, whilst
acting within the sphere of his constitution
!. al duty, and not in any manner to the
), House of Representatives. The people
. have thought proper to invest him with the
:, most honorable, responsible, and dignifet
: Office i'll the world; and the individual how
=, ever unworthy, now holding this exalted
/ po it!on, will take care, SO far as in hin
: lies, that their rights and prerogatives shal
-. never be violated in his person, but shal
i pass to his successors unimpaired by TIN
y adoption OF dangerous precedent. IL
:, will defend them to the last extremit
against any unconstitutional attempt, com
from what quarter it may, to abridge tn
constitutional rights of the Executive, an
render him subseryicnt to any human pow
or except themselves. The people have nc
confined the President to the,xorcise
executive duties.
They have also conferred upon him, i
large measure, legislative discretion =
No bill can become n law without his ar
Proyal as representing the people of til
United States, unless it shall pass after Ii
veto by majority of two thirds of bot
Houses. In this Legislative capacity h
might, in common with the Senate an
House of Representatives institute an ii
qulry to ascertain any facts which ougl
to influence his judgmentin approving c
vetoing any bill. This participation in tt
performance of Legislative duties betwee
coordinate branches of the Governmen
ought to inspire the conduct of all of the
III their relations towards each other wit
IS, mutual forbearance and respect. At lea
n. each has right to demand Justice fro
i, the other. The cause of complaint is th
~ the constitutional rights and immunities
d. the Executive have been violated in ii
he person of the President. The trial of a
impeachment of the President before IL
Senate, on charges preferred and prosec
5s; ted against him by the House of Represe
go o. tatives, would be an imposing spectacle
'a the world. In the result not only his IT
~ moval from the Presidential office woul
o.. be involved, but what is ofinfnitcly grea
oo oo er Importance to himself, his charactc
30 30 both in the eyes of the present and of f
80 80 ture generations might possibly be tarnis
20 cd The disgrace cast upon him would
oe oe some degree be reflected upon the chara
20 20 ter of the American people who elect,
o. him.. Hence the precautions adopted
81 the Constitution to secure fair trial
to = such trial, it declares that the Chief Ju
10 10 ticc shall preside. This was doubtless
40 cause the trainers of the Constitution
o oa lieved it to be possible that the Vice Pre-
90 90 ident might be biased by the fact that
20 20 case of removal of the President fro
30 office tlp soma shall dovolro on Al, W;