The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-04-06
SAINT PAUL, FRIDAY, APRIL g. 1860
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESI
DENT BUCHANAN.

DENT BUCHANAN.
The Constitutional PIerogaiives of the
Executive.
LEGISLATIVE ENCRoACHMENTs THEREON.
On Monday last, President BUCHANAN
sent the following message to the House of
Representatives. 1t is an able document and
will be read with great interest
:'7o the House Of Representatives..
After a delay which has afforded me
ample time for reflection, and after much
and careful elaboration, find myself con.
strained by an imperitive sense of duty, as
coordinate branch of the Federal Govern.
ment, to protest against the FIRST two clauses
of the first resolution adopted by the House
of Representatives on the 5th inst, and
published in the Congressional Globe on the
succeeding day. The clauses are in the fol-
lowing words:
"lst. RESOLVED, That a committee of five
members be appointed by the Speaker for the
purpose of investigating whether the President
of the United States or any officer of the gov
eminent has, by money, patronage, or other
improper means, sought to influence the pas.
sage of any law appertaining to the rights of
any State or Territory.
"2d. Also to inquire into and investigate
whether any officer or officers of the govern
ment have, by combination or otherwise, pre-.
vented or attempted to prevent or defeat the
execution of any law or laws now upon the
statute book, and whether the President has
failed or refused to compel the execution Of any
law thereon
con6ne myself exclusively to these two
branches of the resolution, because the por
tion of it which follows relates to alleged
abuses in the postof6ces, navy yards, public
buildings, and other public works in the
United States. In such cases inquiries are
highly proper in themselves, and belong
equally to the Senate and House as incident
to their legislative duties, and being neces-
sary to enable them to discover and provide
appropriate legislative remedies for any
abuses which may be ascertained. Although
the terms of the latter portion of the resolu-
ton are extremely vague and general, yet
my sole purpose in adverting to them at
present is to make the broad line of distinc-
ton between the accusatory and remedial
clauses of the resolution. The House of Rep
resentatives possesses no power under the
constitution over the first or accusatory por-
tion of the resolution, except as an impeach-
ing body; whilst over the last, in common
lative body is fully and cheerfully admitted
1t is solely in reference to the first or impeach
ing power that propose to make few obser-
vations. Except in this single case the con-
stltution has invested the House of Repre-
sentatives with no power, no jurisdiction,
no supremacy whatever over the Presi-
dent. In all other respects, he is quite
independent of them, as they are of him.
AS coordinate 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. To
them, and them alone, is he responsible
whilst acting within the sphere of his con-
stitutional 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 dignifed
Office in the world, and the individual, how
ever unworthy, now holding this exalted
position, will take care, so far as in him lies
that their rights and prerogatives shall
never be violated in his person, but shall
pass to his successor unimpaired by the
adoption OF this dangerous precedent. He
will defend them to the last extremity
against any unconstitutional attempt, come
from what quarter it may, to abridge the
constitutional rights of the Executive, and
render him subservient to any human power
except themselves. The people have not
confined the President to executive duties
they have also conferred on him a large
measure of legislative discretion. No bill
can become a law without his approval, as
representing the people of the United States,
unless it shall pass after his veto by m a.
jority of two thirds of both houses. In his
legislative capacity - There there appears to
be an omission in the dispatch branches
of the government ought to inspire the con-
duct of all of them in their relations towards
each other with mutual forbearance and
respect. AT least each has right to de-
mand justice of the other. The cause Of
complaint is, that he, in his constitutional
capacity, might, in common with the Senate
and House, institute inquiries to ascertain
any facts which are to influence bis judg-
ment in approving or vetoiDg any bill, thus
participating in the performance of legisla-
tive duties. The coordinate rights and
immunities of the Executive have been vio-
lated in the person of the President. The
trial of an impeachment of the President
before the Senate, on charges preferred and
prosecuted against him by the House of
Representatives, would be an imposing
spectacle for the world. In the result not
only his removal from the presidential Office
would be involved, but what is Of infinitely
greater Importance to himself, his character,
both in the eyes of the present and of future
generations, might be furnished. The dis
grace cast upon him would in some degree
be reflected upon the character Of the Amer:
lean people who elected him. Hence the