New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-10

mentl II covers every foot of the county, net soc
earth, and lave open every act and motive OF every
citizen OF the United States 10 anay commS ana
exposure. II is BOT deemed necessary TO extend re.
mark, 1t liz Sufficient for the argument TO PROFOUND
the question: Whera is 10 be found the doctrine Of
Juispruoepe or justice or propriety, which subjects
the every day life OF every mercoant, farmer, sr'isan
end aborer TO such test and protects their servant
the President, from it
Article section Of the Constitution declares the
Executive power shall be vested in the President OF
the United States Of America. There is but one ex-
ecutve head fountain and but executive respon-
ebility, there is bot legislative head aud one
Legislative responsibility. The President admits the
pIopIiey of inquiry by the Senate the House into
the conduct Ct his subordnates but denies thai his
liability is as great theirs. The accepted teachings
OF The executive, judicial, and legislative branches OF
the Government, aIe opposite of this.
President Jacksop, IL bis message OF April FL 1854,
to the Sci ate explanatory of bis protest OF the
year Gays: "Nor do l clam the night IN any manner
ito supervise interfere with the persons ntrusted
with such property or treasure The public money
and property of the United Sates) unless he be an
Ofcer whose appointment is, under the Constitution
and Laws, devolved upon the President aone or in
conjunction with the Senate and for wkose conduct
" he Is cOnStitats0noay responsible"
President Polk, of whose cabinet Mr.. Buchanan was
member, during the lat session of the 29h Congress
used this ianguaee "lf the House OF Representa-
tves the grand inquest of the nation, should at
any time have reason to believe that there
" had been malyefsaton In office by an in
proper Gse application Of the pubhc money
"byd public officer, aud should mink proper institute
" an inquiry into the matter, all the archives and
papers OF tie Executive Department public and
"privaie would be subject TO the inspection and
frOl Of Committee Of thar body" DC. The rulings
of the Supreme Court have been in the same
dire .tion. In the cases Of Wilcox va. jackson,
and Williams vs United States, it was decided that
the law devolviDg particular duties upon tbs
President by name, was fulfilled by the discharge
OF theee duties by his subordinates, the ground
that these subordinates were instruments through
whom he acted and spoke 1t can certainly not be
necessary to Ianscrbe what appears throughout the
Journals of Congress that each Heuse has continually
claimed and exercised the necessary power of inspect
ing, nquiring into, ana supervising the different Exc
outive Departments and ope atlons OF the Govern
ment If 1t be tue that the close and intimate connec
ton insisted upon exists between the President and
Others appointed by him, and exercising Executive
trusts the reason is not manifest why the management
of the chou no; be made as plain and patent as
the other. The most rational and plausible conclusion
at least would be that the retentious enets Of the
protest have been outy weakened II lot destroy
by the force o. Its admissions
The necessity for the full and unrestricted exercise
of the power question is oyerfulng as to present
its surrender.
|. With d view Of impeachment.
2. For the purpose OF legislation.
3. To protect the privileges of Congress.
The Cobstiiutionality the legality aud the author
lied expedency Of the inquiry proposed by the resod-
lions being is believed amply vindlcated, no qnes-
ton remains in respectto it, except such as might adj
dress itself to the discretion of the House. Ii, by the
procee digs to remedy mischief, greater mischief
would be likely to follow, then welregulated pro-
dence would indicate s abandonment The President
in his protest suggests such daDger and rests his re-
distance upon it. 1t is thus expressed Inc whole
proceeding against him jnsties the fears OF those
wise and great men who, before the Constitution
+" was adopted by the Safes, apprehended that the
tendency Of the Government 10 the agg' andZe-
ment OF Jbe Legislative at the expense OF tue Execu-
tive and judicial Departments" If, indeed, fears
of legislative ACKNOWLEDGEMENT should aver have exist
ed, the of those fears IS LETT IN great
obscurity. The history Of the Constitution,
through all the stages OF lta iormation, NS
adoption by the several States and the conspicuous
differences between the great political parties az tue
time would seem to deny the existence OF any such
apprehension. The strong sentiment OF the Demo
cratic party through its whole struggle with the Fed
eralsts unit the election of Jefferson was directly
the reverse of the Presidents statement IN the Con
venon which formed the Constitution Jealousy OF the
executive branch of the proposed government was 90
great even as the kindred ealousy against the prob
able encroachments of the Federal Government upon
the independence and sovereignty OF the separate
States In that BODY, it was even proposed tha,
the Executive should be removable by the
Legislature without impeachment or conviction OF
high crimes and misdemeanors. AS further maniies-
taton of feeling Il was proposed that the Extca-
tive should be plural Madison and Randolph urgently
supported IL as measure OF protection against the
aeaiessions of tie Chief Magistrate upon the rights
he coordinate branches of the Government. Mr.
Rano oph, (Governor of Virginia, and Attorney-Gen-
eral under Washmgtonl speaking upon this subject,
said: The situation Of this country ID pecularj the
| neonle are taught aversion 10 Monarchy; all the
" Constitutions are opposed 10 II: why cannot three
execute The inelgbility OF the Executive after
one term was also insisted upon AZ necessity 10 pre-
vent uiurpaiion Jefferson declared his wish to be
that the President should be elected for seven years.
and be Leligi bic aferward. Mr.. Randolph also made
use Of this remarkable expression: The Executives
NAV appoint men devoted to them, and even bride
the Lepslature." Hamilton, after the adoption OF
the article of the Constitution relating TO the EXecu
tNe addressing Gov Lewis used still more striking
EXPIRE ssion: " You nor i, my TREND may hVe 10 see
| the day, but most assuredly 1t VIII come, when
"eyery vital interest of the Stae will be
| sc who viii be next President 50 numerous
are the proofs that the wise and great men OF our
earlier history entertained orbodDgs OF the very op-
nose character TO those which the President ascIibes
10 them that it is difficult to resist disposition to at
tribute ireincerily to the President to accomplish the
purposes of his profess, The suspicion on the part OF
inc eople has Become great that they are continual
ly reducing executive power. In many OF the States
the Governor has become bat mere Chief OF Police.
This IL moi however to be attributed 10 Legislative
or Judicial agency, but to the fact that Chief Execu-
lives 20 use patronage as TO produce tendency
TO Capitalization OF power dangerous TO the liberties
| ofthe pet pe The wCIld ia but great ttleield
for poweT and II universal history teaches any lesson,
il ia this d" That power is always stealing from the
many to the few" that Executive heads OF nations
absorb popu ar rights; and that all revolutions are on
the rar OF the people not TO establish thrones but to
rtgain that hch mas been wTested from them by the
thione The cilizsn OF the United States has reason
| TO fear that which every other Daion has suffered
sxThe Committee entertaining the views herein ex-
pressed recommend the adoption OF the following Ies-
OutiOn: .,- e.. -
Rored That the House di,'enss from TIE doctrines Of the
dseb %, 1861 that the extent. Of power contemplated
| in the ado Dtion OF The resolutions OF inquiry o
duties deyOyed upon Congress- tina. judicial de-