The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-04-04
Message from the President OF the
United States.


ffessage from the President OF the
United States. =
On last Thursday, the President Of the Upi
ed States sent the following bomb she'll ip tie
orn Of a message to Congress-
81 To TIE llousE OF REPREszSTAT,yEs:--A
ser delay wIisch has Afforded me ample time
sor reflection, and after much careful delibera.
aidn, find myself constrained by an iinrerious
.sense ofdnty, asaco-ordir4fe branch Of the fed
efaI government, to protest against the first
twe clauses Of the first resolution adopted by
the House of.epressntatives, on the 9th inst.
sana published in the Congressional Globe on the
erceeiins day, Tie clauses are in the follow
3 Ing words:
81 First. Reslcel, That a committee of 5 mem.
Z Iers be appointed by the Speaker for the pur
pose ofinrestigating whether the President Oi
s Che United States, or any officer ofthe govern
I; ment, has, by money. patronage or other impro
per means sought to influence tho passage o
y any law appertaining to the rights OF any State
" or Territory; and
Il Setond-Also to inquire into and investigate
/. whether any officer or officers of the Govern.
s ment b. combination or otherwise, prevented
or attempted to prevent or defeat the execution
N Of any law or laws now upon the statute book
d or whether the President has failed or refused
4 TO compel the execution of any law thereof"
y | ronfine myself exclusively to these two
q branches of the resolution, because the portions
Il OF it which follow relate to alleged abuses il
the post office, navy yards, public buildings, ant
i othe public works Of the United States. Il
i such eases inquiries are highly proper in them
selves, and belong equally to the Senate ant
House, as incident to their legislative duty, and
d being necessary to enable them to discover and
s provide appropriate legislative remedies for any
h abuses which may be ascertained. Although
h the terms of the latter portion of the resolu
e ton are extremely vague and general, my sole
Il purpose in adverting to them at present, is tc
Il make the broad line OF distinction between the
" aceusatory and remedial clauses ofthis resolu
# ton. The House of Representatives possess
Ii no powernnder the Constitution ever the first
as ian inpeaching body, whilst over the last, il
y common with the Senate, their authority as
y legislative body is fully and cheernlly admit
ted II is solely in reference to the first an
iupeachius power that propose to make
" few observations.
~ Except m this single case, the Constitute
has invested the House of Representatives wit
1 no power, nojurisdiction, no superiority what
ever over the President. In all other respec,
Il he is quite as independent of them as they al
OF him. As CO. ordinate branch ofthe govern
ments he is their equal; indeed, he is the onl
81 direct representative on earth Of the people
all and each OF the sovereign States; to thet
and them alone is he responsible, whilst act ir
within the sphere of his constitutional dut
II and not in any manner to the House OF Repie
II eptaslves The people lave thought prop.
to invest him with the most honorable, respon
slble and dignifed Office in the world, and tn
" individual, however unworthy now holdin
81 this exalted position will take care, so far q
# IN him lies, that their rights and prerogative
shall never be violated in his person, but sha
& p1Ss to his successors unimpaired by the adou
III ton OF dangerous precedent. He will de fen
them to the last extremity, against any uncon
4 stitutional attempt, come from quarter it NAV
toabridge the Constitutional rights of the Ex
ecu'ivc, and render him subservent to any hu
inan power except themselves.
The people have not confined the Presiden
to exercise the executive duties; they have al
4 co conferred upon him large measure OF leg
iSatiye discretion. No bill can become lav
without his approval, as representing the pee
pie Of the United States, unless it shall pas
after his veto by majority of two thirds
OF both Houses In this legislative capacity
N ne might, IN common with the Senate AM
n House, institute inquiry to ascertain any fact
Il which are to influence his judgment in approx
ing or vetoins any bill, thus participating i
y ,he performance Of legislative duties. The du
Y tics ofco-ordinate branches of the government
4 ought to inspire the conduct of all OF them,
n their relations towards each other, with mutua
i iorbearance and respect. At least each ha
D the right to demand justice Of the other. Th
n cause OF complaint is, that the constitution;
II rights and immunites of the executive hav
Il been violated in the person Of the President.
II The trial Of an impeachment of the Presider
y before the Senate on charges prefsred and pros
Y ecuted against him by the House Of Represen
\ tatives would be an imposing spectacle for tn,
Z world. Net enly his removal from the Pres
i DENTAL office would be involved, but what
4 Of infinitely greater importance to. himself hi
character both in the eyes OF the present and q
the future generations, might possibly be tarn
ished. The disgrace cast upon him would il
4 some degree be reflected upon the character G
\ the American people, who elected him-Henc
the precautions adopted by the Constitution t.
sectire fair trisi-on such trial it declare
that the Chief Justice shall preside. Thi
was doubtless because the trainers of the Con
stitution believed 1t to be possible that the Vic
President night be biased by the fact, that il
case ef the removal the President from offic
the same shall deyolve upon the Vice Presirlen
The preliminary proceedings in the Hous
in case Of charges which may involve impeach
meat, have been well and wisely settled BY lon
practice, upon principles Of equal justice both t.
the accused and to the people. The preceden
established in the case ofJudge Peck, OF Mis-
souri, in 1881, after a careful review Of all tn
former presidents will, | venture to predict
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