Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-04-27
II epOrt of Hon. John Hickman on
the Presidents Protest

Judiciary, made the following report on the
| Presidents protest:
The Committee on the Judiciary, TO ,chom pqs
referred the SPECIAL Message of tie PreSt-
dent Of The United States 10 the House OF
! Representatives., beg isqUe to submit the fol-
| iouctng report
On the 9th day of March last, Johu CO.
vode, Representative 10 Congress, from the
| State of Pennsylvania, submitted, and the
House of Representatives adopted, the follow
! ing resolutions:
solVsd, That q committee of five members be
appointed by the Speaker, for the purpose OF in
| vestigating whether the President Of The United
States any other officer of the Government has
| by money, patronage, other improper means
sought TO influence the action OF Congress, or any
! Committee thereof, for against the passage of
any law appeftaining to the rights of any State or
Territory; also, to inquire into and investigate
whether any officer or officers of tie Government
! have, by combination or otherwise prevented or
defeated or attempted to prevent or defeat the ex-
ecution of any law or laws now upon the statute
books, and whether the President has failed or re-
| fused to compel the execution of any law thereof
that said Committee shall investigate and innuire
into the abuses at the Chicago and other Posi- Of
| fees, and at the Philadelphia and other NAVY
ards, and INTO any abuses in connection with the
| public buildings and other public works of the
| United States; and
! Resolved, That the President. in his letter TO
the Pittsburg Centenary Celebration of the 25th Of
! November, 1858, speaks of the employment of
money TO carry elections, said Committee sba
| inquire into and ascertain the amount so used in
Pennsylvania, and any other State or States. in
( What districts it was expended, and by whom and
whose authority 1t was done and fiom what sour ce
the money was derived, and to report the names Of
the parties implicated, and that for the purpose
/ aforesaid, the Committee shall have power TO send
| for persons and papers, aud report at any time
! The message counsels protest against the
! action of this House. The President con-
| plains that be has been "abused - and that
! the constitutional rights and inmunities of
| the Executive have been violated in bis per-
son. The material positions assumed in the
communications are substantially embraced in
! the following propositions:
/ l. That the House of Representatives nos
! sesses no power under the Constitution, except
as an impeacaing body, to accuse the Presi-
| dent of the United States OF any other officer
! Of the Government.
| 2. Ti1ststhe frseA recited resolution IL al.
accusation of high crimes and misdemeanors
| against the President, and that his acouser has
been constituted one of his judges.
/ 3. That the charge is too vague and gene
! raj.
! 4. That there is danger under such pre-
cedent ol en aggrandizement of the Legisla-
! tive, at the expense of the Executive and Ju-
dcial departments.
Iu consideration Of the high source from
which the manifesto proceeds, the Committee
/ prefer to contiue themselves to an examination
of the postulates of the paper, however OBJ
noxious to criticism its general tone may be on
/ the score of taste and temper. But they can
not restrain an expression Of their deep regret
that an officer who prides bimself upon the
fact that "the people have thought proper to
invest bim with the most honorable, responsi-
bic aud diguifed Office ia the world,'' and who
declares be E'feels proudly conscious that there
Is no public act of his (my) life which will not
/ bear the closest scrutiny" and that he defes
call investigations" should forget, amid the
surroundings OF the place, and power, aud
f4ttery; that he is but the servant of the same
/ people, and that he should not shrink back in
1 terror or anger from simple inquiry into his
/ stewardship. This is the first time, under the
/ Republic, that Chief Executive has left
I recorded admission that he has been made OBJ
! livious of the origin and ephemeral character
| OF his position by the revelres of Its enioy-
ment. To distinguish such conduct BY apprc-
! baton would be to sanction kiugly preroga-
tive, and to proclaim that rightful rule came
''by the grace of God, aud not from the con-
fdence of men. The nation, always charisa-
bic in the Interpretation of acts and motives,
is not prepared to overlook such delin-
quency.
/ The President Of the United States. under
! the Constitution, possesses neither privilege
nor immunity beTond the humblest citizen,
aud is less favored in this respect than Sena-
/ tors and Representatives in Congress. Arti-
Gle L, section 6, reads ssThey tine Senator's
and Representatives, shall, in all cases, except
treason, felouy aud breach Of the peace, be
| privileged from arrest during their attendance
| at the sessions OF their respective Houses.
and in going to and returning from the same"
No such exemption Is made in behalf of the
Executive or any other officer of the Govern
ment The conduct of the President is al
ways subject to the constitutional supervision
and judgment of Congress-: whilst he, on the
contrary, has no such power over either branch
OF that body. He is left, under the law, with
Out shield or protection Of any kind, except
such as is borne by all. lie is as amenable
Tor all his acts after Inauguration as before
lie can make no plea which is denied to any
other citizen, and is subject 10 the same seru-
tiny, trial and punishment, with the proceed
ings, hazards aud penalties of impeachment
superadded. The President and citizen stand
upon equality of rights The distinction be-
tween tbem arises from an inequality of du-
| ties. Whenever the conduct of the latter is
open to inquiry and charge, that Of the form.
er is not less so.
| The Presidents afirms, with seeming ser-
business, in comparing himself with the House
| of Representatives, that, ssas coordinate
| branch OF the Government, he is their equal"
/ This is denied Ia emphatic terms He is ticoh