Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-06-20
- nallImer. CanrenIIon.


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1850.
The Baitiaaors Convention.
We transfer to our telegraphie column the synOp-
sis Of Mondays proceedings Of the Democratic Ma
sional Convention telegraphed 60 the Louisville
papers This dispatch is somewhat confused and
leaves US in doubt as to what was done The Louis
vile Courier regards the vote on CHuBcH's amend
ment Of some significance.
According to our dispatches, nothing had been
done yesterday up to the adjournment for the even
ing session
As everything in the way Of news and rumors
from Baltimore is sought after and read with avid
ity We give, in our telegraph column, the special
dispatch to the Cincinnati Commercial which the
reader can receive at his own estimate.
special dispatch to the Cincinnati GazsHe dated
saturday evening, says: AHARRE, of Tennessee, is
tie DoUaLAs candidate for Vice President The
DorGIAs men think that by this trade they have Sc
cured the vote Of Tennessee on a decisive ballot"
We do not know who may he the choice Of the DoUG-
Las men for Vie President but Sc far as any trade
is concerned, we feel warranted in saying there Is
not one word Of truth in the rumor.
We had hoped to receive something last night
which would afford some indication as to what the
Convention viii probably do, but we are without
that indication and must wait for the mail TO advise
us So far as Nashville is concerned, the telegraph
has got to be decidedly slow coach"
The naval Expenditures investigation
Letter from the Secretary of tie Navy,
On the 18th inst, the Secretary of the Navy com
municated the following letter to the Hon. ROBERT
HATToy, chairman of the Committee on Naval Ex-
pendtres, to which was referred the minority res
olutions Of the SHERMAN Investigating committee of
the last Congress
Navy DEPARTMENT, June II, 1860.
SRI have had the honor to receive from you, as
Chairman Of the Committee on Expenditures in the
Navy Department. q copy Of certain resolutions in
troduced into the House on the 18th Of March last
in relation TO expenditures of money in that Depart
ment with suggestion that the committee viii be
pleased TO receive a communication from ne.
have nothing to say on the subject referred to in
those resolutions beyond what l have already said
in an official communication which addressed to a
former committee more than year ago, but de-
sire to say few words in regard to the proceeding
originated in the present Congress.
The Hon. John Sherman, member Of the House Of
Representative from Ohio, introduced resolution
at the last session Of Congress authorizing an inves-
tigation of certain naval expenditures therein re-
ferred TO- Under this resolution the committee was
appointed of which Mr.. Sherman was Chairman,
ton members. The investigation was prosecuted
by Mr. Sherman upon eI pdTte evidence. A great
number Of witnesses were examined, and report
made filling volume Of near twelve hundred pages.
When the examination was concluded, Mr.. Sherman
presented his resolutions to the committee and they
were rejected and the report and resolutions Of an
opposite character adopted, indicating the Presi-
dent Of the United States from every imputaton,
and declaring that nothing had been disclosed which
could affect the personal official integrity Of the
Secretary Of the Navy.
Thus fooled and defeated by his own committee,
who has seen heard the witnesses brought forward
by him. Mr. Sherman has now introduced into the
prasnt Houselthe aelfsame resolutions which had been
thus rejected has procured them to be referredto the
Committee on Naval Expenditures, Of which, though
Chairman Of the Committee Of Ways and Means,
he was found TO be a member, and now, without
proposing any further testimony he seeks, through
the instrumentaity of the present Committee, which
has neither seen nor heard witness on the subject
to obtain from the House Of Representatives vote
of censure upon the President Of the United States
and upon the Secretary of the Navy for the manner
in which they have exercised their official discretion
in the performance of their official duties. IL must
be obvious to every one, upon the mere inspection
of these resolutions that it was not the object OF
the author Of them, in introducing them into the
present House Of Representatives to institute an IN
VestigaOn into the state of the Department Tor puT
poses of legislative reform nor it his object to
institute an inquiry TO aid the House in any way in
the exercise of Its legislative functions He has not
sought to invest the committee with the power to
send for persons or papers. He has not proposed
to call witnesses to prosecute an investigation into
facts. He has not taken the first step to shed any
light upon the subjects referred TO in these resO
buttons 1t Is equally obvious that 1t was not the
object of the author of them that the House should
exercise its Constitutional power Of impeachment
They show upon their face that intention Of pur
pose exists to 60 to the Senate, as high court Of
Impeachment, with any presentment Of delinquency
On the contrary, from every act done, and from
\ l.. I. 1IHurH~
" that the proceeding in the present Congress has
no reference whatever 70 any proposed exercise o.
the power of Impeachment or Of legislation, but i
designed solely ami exclusively for the purpose o.
INJECTING vote Of censure upon the Presdento OF the
United States and the Secretary Of the Navy for the
exercise of that official discretion which the consu
tuition and laws have conferred upon them and made
il their duty 70 exercise.
Unless we assume that the whole object Of the
proceeding is mere partisanship under the cloak OF
official forms, and sheltered by official irrespOnsi
biity there is no other possible purpose or Object
ofths unprecedented proceeding than that TO which
alluded Is it a legitimate or constitutional pro
ceeding? The powers Of this government are vest
ed IN three distinct and independent departments
the legislative, executive and judicial The leglsla-
tive power is vested in Congress, the executive IN
the President and the Judicial IN the Supreme Court
and such inferior courts as Congress IRON time &C
time RAY establish. Each department is indepen
dent of the Others except in certain cases, specn
Cially defined by the constitution The legislative
department is divided into two branches, the Senate
and House Of Representatives, the concurrence OF
both being necessary 70 make law and each Is there
fore an absolute check upon the other, and the
President being required 70 participate in iegisla-
ton and at times 10 interpOse his veto Is check
upon both The executive power is checked by the
constitutional provision requiring the advice and
consent Of the Senate in cases of treaties and appoint
ments The executive and judicial departments are
subjected 70 the power conferred on the House of
Representatives 20 present and on the Senate to try
all cases Of impeachment Of officers in those depart
ments-
With these limited exceptions, the three great de-
partmcnts Of the government absolutely indie
pendent Of each other, and this independence was
designed by the trainers CT the constitution, from
extreme Jealousy Of power to guard against its con-
centraton IN one department by the resistance of
the others. The Senate cen only exercise the legs-
lative power, and that portion Of the executive and
judicial power thus conferred upon it. The House
Of Representatives only exercise the legislative
power, and che power Of presentment before the
Senate as high Court of Impeachment thus confer
red upon it. Each may institute an inquiry or in
vestgaton to aid 1t in the exercise of these powers
ana each may protect is own sttngs elect and dis
miss its own officers, and try, condemn, censure and
expel It's own members Thus far they have power
to GO and when they proceed one step further than
to exercise the plain powers thus conferred upon
them by the constitution, they violate that sacred
charter which'the are bound by the highest Of OBJ
legations TO support.
III AlluculA 10 HtlcNt NLAt tN AAAofSA Vi tllSSe
resolutions can entertain the remotest expectation
that the House of Representatives will usurp the
special Judicial power which is exclusively confer
red upon the Senate, will attempt to arraign at Its
own bar, and 20 try and condemn, any executive or
judicial officer OF this government or 70 intilct a
vote of censure OF any other punishment upon any
such officer without trial and without an OppOr-
tunitv 10 be confronted by his aCcuser and by the
witnesses against him, and TO be heard in his own
defence Il is beyond the utmost strctch of human
charity or creduity TO suppose that the author OF
these resolutions or any one who has directed the
least attention to the distribution of the powers OF
this government, can for moment entertain the be
lief that the House Of Representatives has any
mower to infict punishment of the most trivial
kind end least Of all, the grave punishment Of vote
of rebuke and censure, upon the President Of the
limited States the heads OF departments, the Judge
Of the supreme Court or Of any interior court OF
upon any officer whatever belonging TO the executive
or judicial departments, for assumed official mis-
doiny or the wrong exercise Of official discretion
These officers are, many Of them, entrusted with
great powers, and often with large discretion
~ av according 4 their