Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1860-04-13
MEssAGEFRoM TIE RESIDENT.

We publish below the Message of Pres
ident Buc lanan, sent to the house OF hep
resentativcs i'll reply to the factious, bitter
unscrupulous, and unjust charges prefer
red against him by the Black Republicans
of that body. Comment on such docn-
ment is unnecessary. 1t speaks for Itself.
1t is worthy Of the patriotic and gallant
old man who has gisen nearly all his days
to his country, and who stands now the
bal sras,lT against the onward prog g
ress of treason and fanaticism. The peo-
pie sustained JACKSON, and the people will
sustain BUCHANAN:
70 tie House Of Representatives.:
After a delay which has afforded me
ample time for reflection, and after much
and careful deliberation. | find myself
constrained by an inperious sense Of duty
as cU-Ordimate branch Of the Federal
Government, to protect against the first
resolution adopted by the House of Rep
resentatives, on the 9th instant, and pub
lished in the Congressional Globe on the
succeeding day. These clauses are the
following words -
''Resolved that a committee Of five
members be appointed by the Speaker,
for the purpose (iirsD OF investigating
whether the President of the United States
or any other officer OF the Government
has, by money patronage, or other lmprop
er means, sought to influence the action of
Congress, or any committee thereof, for
Or against the passage CT any law apper-
tory: (and 2nd,) "Also, ,to inquire into
in -hot Of
fcers OF the Government have, by COM
bination or otherwise, prevented or de-
feated, or attempted to prevent or defeat
the execution OF any law or laws now up
on the statute book, and whether the
President has failed or refused to compel
the executioniof any law thereof"
L contine myself exclusively to these
two branches of the resolution; because
the portions Of it which follow relate to
alleged abuses il post offices, navy-yards
public buildings, aud other public works
of the United States. In such cases in
quiries are highly proper in themselves,
and belong equally to the Senate and
House, as incident to their Legislative du-
ties, and being necessary to enable them
to discover and provide the appropriate
legislative remedies for any abuses which
may be ascertained. Although the terms
OF the latter portion OF the resolution are
extremely vague and general, yet my sole
purpose in acverting to them at present is
to mark the broad line of distinction be-
tween the accusatory and the remedial
clauses of this resolution. The House of
Representatives possesses no power under
the Constitution over the first or accusato-
ry portion of the resolution, except as an
impeaching body; whilst over the slast, in
common with the Senate, their authori-
ty as a Legislative body is fully and cheer
fully admitted.
1t is solely in reference to the first
or impeaching power that ! propose to
make few observations. Except in this
single case, the Constitution has invested
the House of Representatives with no
power, no jurisdiction, no supremacy
whatever over the president. In all 9th
er respects he is quite as independent of
them as they are of him. AS co-ordi-
nate branch Of the Government, he is their |