Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-04-27

nuIti1k me OInclal character OF any or many
| officers Government If it shall be found,
10 exerulng the command of these resolutions,
that the President is open to a direct charge of
high crimes or misdeanors, it viii but prove
the wiadom of the proceeding. Then, and not
till then may the party sought to be implicated
demaEd the full hearing secured to him BY the
Constitution. And yet be is subject TO the law
OF thf citizen hereafter, possibly, be may in-
woke iila law of the Officer.
The PRESIDENT esieems il ga violation of the
principles of universal justice.n that the mem
Der moving the resolution should have been ap-
pointod one of the Committee provided for by
1t. IF ten years of service, in this body, of
which le reminds US, not to speak of his sena-
torisl career, ought to have enabled him TO re-
call tohind the precedents of Congress in such
eases.
Thls3H new and startling objection, con-
demni4g as it does, in terms Of severe reproach,
practice 10 legislation co-extensive with our
nationh existence. Certainly it has been the
practice to appoint the mover of special in-
quiry sherman Of the committee raised. Mr..
CushiRg, in his Laac and Prac1sce, says: "On
the occasion OF the appointment to prepare ar
ticles of impeachment against Lord Melville,
whlcnaad been ordered on the motion of Mr.
Whithfead, that gentleman was first appointed
one Of The committee raised" A reason for
this course is, doubtless, to be found 10 tho pre-
sumptIQn that the person proposing examination
has gf1aads to believe 1t important, aud is, on
that account the best qualified to conduct the
proceedings.
The President likewise disapproves, in terms
OF seyanty, of the phraseology and scope of
the resolution. His expression IS: sit is as
vagueAad general as the English language af-
fords Hords in which TO make it," Ifitbe true,
as before urged, that there is a general right to
inquire into the conduct of private citizens aud
publieafioers, which may and may not look to
accusasion and trial, then the remark sinks to
eaviL Under such circumstances, It is not
necessary to appriso the individual upon whom
the inquiry bears of either the subject or the
object of inquiry. The first opportunity for
him 70 require notice is in the lega. proceeding
which Is to end in his acqui,tal or eondemna-
ton. hat Houl6 be thought Of rule Of Law
f1hg even prosecutor 30 denu ffiss yiia,a4 $50
and frame his indictment, without preliminary
proceedings or opportunity to inform himself as
to Its true character? A bare suspicion would
scarcely be regarded as defensive prudence.
Aud In the case OF an officer controlling mil
lions OF patronage, and an Influence penetrating
every city, town and hamlet of vast country,
1t would be unsafe to assume that informers
and witnesses would volunteer against him, es-
pecally as favorites and beUefeiares would be
the most likely TO possess the knowledge needed
In the ascertaiument of truth. For Congress
to reach the conclusion to which the President
would lead them, would be to practically settle
fNr hat
executive officers bad the immunity Of perfect
irresponSihility.
lndlstiGetness and uncertainty must necessa-
rily precede research Ii it were otherwise,
all Investigations would be rende, ed useless
As far as bounds may be set for investigation,
the resolution in question will compare favora-
bly, with that introduced into The Senate by Mr..
Mason, Dec. 5, 1859, bearing upon the inva-
sion of Harper's Ferry. This will be readily
admitted by comparison of the two. The
following is the resolution aeferred to, passed
by the Senate Dec. IA, 1859, under which the
mover was appointed Chairman of the Commit
tee contemplated by ii, and testimony Is now
being taken
RssolUed, That a Committee be appointed to in
quire into the fact attending the late invasion and
seizure of the Armory and Arsenal of the United
Oh'NN ~ 'AotpOA III Ot 81" b1i4V VI
armed men, and report
Whether the same was attended by armed resist
aDce to the authorities and public force of United
StateS and by the murder of any of the citizens OF
Virginia, or any troops sent there TO protect the
public property;
Whether such invasion and seizure was made
under color of any organization intended to sub
vert the Government of any of the States OF the
Union; what was the character and extent OF such
organization, aud whether any citizens of the UNI
ted States not present implicated therein, or
accessory thereto, by contributions of money,
arms, munitions or otherwise;
What was the character and extent OF the Mill
tary equipment in the hands or under the control
of said armed band, and where, and how, and
when the same was obtained and transported to the
place so invaded.
That the Committee report whether any and
what legislation may in their opinion be necessa-
ry the part of the United States for the future
preservation of the peace of the country, or for
the safety of the public property, and that said
Committee have power to send for persons and pa
pers
Could there we'll be more limitless field
for experiment. 1t covers every foot OF the
country, if not the earth, and lays open every
act and motive of every citizen of the United
States TO analysis, comment and exposure.-
It is not deemed necessary to extend remark,
as it is sufficient for the argument to PROFOUND
the question: Where is TO be found the doc
trine of Jurisprudence, or justice, or proprie-
ty, which subjects the every day life Of every
merchant, farmer, artisan, and iaborer to such
test, aud protects their servant, the Presi-
dent, from it7
President jackson, IN his message Of April
q, 1884, to the Senate, explanatory of his
protest of the 18th of April of the same year,
says:
ssNor do claim the right in any manner TO sn-
peryse or interfere with the persons ntrusted with
such property or treasure, (the public money and
property of the United States,) unless be be an
officer whose appointment is, under the Constitu-