The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-04-04

lnSteau Oh following the Wise preCeuehiS
mer times, and especially that in the case o
Judge Peck, and referring the accusation t
the Committee on Judiciary. The House ha
made my accuser one of my judges To max
the accuser the Judge is aSviolation OF tn
principles of universal justice, and is con
demned by the practice Of all civilized nations
EveryLfreeman must revolt at such a spectacle
1 am to appear before Mr.. Coyodc either FER
sonally or ty a substitute 10 cross examine th'
witness which he may produce before himself
Il Sustain his own accusations against me, anC
perhaps even this poor boon may be denied tc
the President. And what is the nature OF the
investigation which this resolution proposes to
institute? It is as vague and general as the
English language affords words with which to
make it. The, Committee is TO Inquire not. in.
t. any specific charges. but whether the Presi-
dent has b. Il O ey, patronage or other mpr'P-
or means. soi.ilt To influence. not the action
of any individual member ar memlbcrs Of Con
eress. but the acti; of the entire body of Con-
gress itself or any Gnrnthittee thereof. =
The President may have bad some glimmer-
'ino of the nature OF the "fense tn be investi-
gated. had hi. accuShrs pointed out the act or
acts of Congress which he sought TO pass or
de. eat by tt C employment of money, patronage
ar other improper means. but the accusation Is
bounded Icy n" such limits. Itextends to- the
u ~ II w
or against the passage of any law appertaining
to the rights of any State r Territory !; aud
what law docs not apuertain. to the rights of
some State ar Territory ? and what law or
laws has the President failed to execute p
These might easily have been pointed ont.
had any such ,xistcd Had Mr.. Lawiess ask
cal an inquiry to he made By the House wheth-
err Judge Peck in genera, terms had not viola
ted his judicial duty. without specifying any
I i, - IoI,o-o ,Ia,o ur,rll h.un
been a single vote in that body in favor of the
enquiry. Since the time. of the Star Chamb,r
and of general warrants. there has been no
such proceedings in England. The House Of
Representatives. the high impeaching power
Of the Country. without cois,nting to hear a
word of explanation, have endorsed this accu-
against the President, and made it their
own act. tt.~
They even refuse to permit a member to en-
1uire of the Presidents accuser what were the
specific chlrres against him. Thus in this
accusation of nigh crimes and MS /
lemean"rs against a coordinate branch Of the
Government nader the impeacliing power, !
The; II ouse refnSe to hear a single Suggestion.
wen in regard to the correct mode of proceed
M, but without a moments delay pass accusa-
DRY resolutions under the pressure of the pre-
rious, question. In the institution of II prose
,ution for any offense against the most humble
.itizen. l claim for myself 20 greater rights
han he enjoys The Constitution of the o..
!. and of the several States require that he
hall be inf rmed at; the very beginning Of the
nature and cause of the accusation against
i'm. in order to enable him to prepare for his
lefehse.
There are other principles which I might
not less sacred. presenting ain I'M
shield to Protect every citizen false
Y charged with ii criminal offence. These
ave been violated in the prosecution %institu-
ed by the House of Representatives agains'
he Exccut' We branch of the Government.
Shall the President alone he deprived Of the
of these great principles which pre-
all In every land whore Il ray of lib. rty pcne
rares the gloom of ~despotis II. Stall tle Elk
cutive he deprived of the rights which Il
IS fellow citizens enjoy? The whole proceed :
n2s against him justify the fears of those great
d wise men who, b. fore the constitution was
by the States. apprehended TINT the
rndehry OF the Government was towards rh,
REIMBURSEMENT Of the 1c9i, lativc at Tile ex
ensc o. the Ex~r eutive. ard Jud:cial depart
ncn-s. I a ain :cc are emlhatically that ]
lake this protest for no reasons personal 10
Iysrlf. and I do it with perfect resrect ioI
he House of Representatives in VIII oh | had
he honor Of serving for five successive terms
have lived Ion. in this g'"id!y land and have
moved all the Offices aHA honnrs which NV
,untry could bestpw. and amid all the. poiit .
;al storms through which I have Pass d, the
resent is the first attcmrt which has ever
zen made. to my knowledge, to a.sail my
ersonal and official integrity. and this has
done as the time is approaching when i {
n Ill voluntarily retire frnn the service of my {
II. el personally censcious til It there
n" public act If my life which will not hear /
he str.ctcst scrutiny. | defy all investigation.
Nothing but Ike basest perjury can suliy my
God nnmr. s q
I do not fear even this bccau.e 7 cherish an |
umble cnnf 'cnce that the Gracious Bel I
'ho ] as hitherto dc ended and protected me /
the shafts nf f,'sehnod anil malice will {
o: desert me now when | have become old )
nd grey headed. | can declare before God e
nd my country that no human being with an i
reception scarcely worthy of notice has at any
"iiod of my life dared to- approach me with ii
,rrurt or IA dishonorable proposition. And
mil recent developments it had never enter
d my i'm gination that any PERSON. even in a
torn of exasperatedo political excitement
-ouid charge me in IA most remote degree with
aving made such a proposition to any human
| may now. however. .exciaim, in the
.lnguage of complaint used by my first and
re fest predecessor that ! have been abused
l such exaggerated and indecent terms as
u!d scarcely he applied 70 a Nero, to y no.o-
''etaulter or even t" a common lickrock
+ l do therefore. for the reasons stated. and {
! the name of the rco, L. of the several STATES, r
Ole mnly protest against these :rnceedings of I
he IIn,ise Of REPRESENTATIVES, because they i
re- in vinlaton of the rights of a co ordinate n
branch o. the government. and sub a
ersive of its constitutional inlep' ndence; be- n
luse they are ca!culated to foster a band of =
'teresred parasites and infnrmers ever ready
'r their own advantage t" swe r before ex par
: commissioners tn pretended private converse
ons between the President and themselves
,ca2iblc fr IN their n t ire of being d spr we'd,
nus furnishing material for harrassing him I
e grading him in th,, eyes of the country. and
venthaily. should be be a weak or t;mid man,
him subservient t, improper infu-
nces. in order to avoid such prosecutions and
because they tend TO destroy that
armonious action for the common. good which :
light to be maintained.a and which | sincerely T.