The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-04-04

AN NHS e's7e W uo6r AeCht Tue WltneoStS Neic
selected by the Committee itself, with view
TO ascertain the truth Of charges They were
cros<-exaTained by him, and everything was
eondUcted in such manner as to afford him
no reasonable cause for complaint.
In view Of this precedent, and what is Of lar
g:ea,er importance, in view ofthe constitution
and the principles OF feternal justice, in what
manner has the President OF the Uuited States
been treated by the House of Representatives.
Mr.. John Covode, Representative from Penn
sylyania, is an aceuser ofthe President. In
stead of following the wise precedents oformer
times, and especially that in the case Of Judge
Peck, and referring the accusation to the COM
mittee on the Judiciary, the House has made
my accuser the Judge is a violation Of the prin.
cples Of universal justice, and is condemned by
the practice of all civilized nations. Every Free
man must revolt at such spectacle. am to
appear before Mr. Covode, either personally or
/ by substitute, to cross examine the witnesses
which he produces before himself to sustain his
own accusations against me, and perhaps even
! this poor boon NAV be denied to the President
And what is the nature Of the investigation
which his resolution proposes to institute? 1t
is as vague and general as the English language
affords wsrds with which to make it,
The Committee is to inquire, not into any
specific charges, but whether the President
has by money, patronage, or other improper
means, sought to influence, not the action OF
any individual member or members Of Congress,
but the action of the entire body Of Congress it.
SELF or any Committee thereof. The President
might have had some glimmering of the nature
Of the offense to be investigated had his ac-
cuser pointed to the act or acts OF Congress
which he sought to pass or defeat by the en-
ployment of money, patronage or other impro
per means: but the accusation is bounded by
no such limits.
1t extends to the whole circle OF legislation
to interference for or against the passage ofany
law appertaining to the rights Of any State OF
Territory, and what Jaw does not appertain tc
the rights of some State or Territory, and what
law or laws has the President failed to execute
These might easily have been pointed out had
anv such existed. Had MI. Iawless asked an
inquiry to be made by the House, whether
Judge Peck, in general terms, had not violated
his judicial duty, without specifying any partic-
ular act, do not believe there would have beer
single vote in that body in favor of the in.
| curry. Since the time OF the star chamber
and Of general warrants, there has leen nc
such proceedings in England
The House Of Representative, the high i'm
peaching power of the country, without con.
4 sening to hear word ofexplanation, haye en-
b dorsed this accusation against the President
and made it their own act. They even refust
S to permit member to inquire Of the Pres
e idenrs accuser, what were the specific charge
: against him, thus in this preliminary accusation
y Of high crimes and misdemcanors against a co
'f ordinate branch of the government, under tn
n impeaching power of the Heuse refused to hea
g a single suggestion even in regard to the corret
y mode OF proceeding, but without moments dt
;- Law passed accusatory resolutions under the pres
ofa prosecution for any offense against the mo-
e umble citizen, and claim for myself no grea
or rights than he enjoys, the Constitution of II
s tTni, ed States and Of the several States requ
s that h, shall be informed in the very begnnir
4 Of the ma ture and cause of the accusation again
him in oro er to enable him to prepare for h
l defence. There are other principles which
: might enunerA te not lass sacred, presenting a
impenctrable shi, 'ldto protect evry citizen fals
" charged with criminal offence. These ha,
been olated in th.' prosecution instituted
the House OF Reprosnt stives against the execl
tive branch OF the Cove rnment
Shall the President alo ne be deprived OF tt
protection of these great pl lncipals which r'
OF liberty penetrates the gl,,om OF despotisn
Shall the Executive alone b. deprived of Il
rights which all his fellow citia ems enjoy? III
whole proceedings against him just the ea
s OF those wise and great men who, before IL
# Constitution was adopted by the States, ,appr
hended that the tendency OF the GoyernInel
,, was to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT the Legs' ative
the expense of the Exec utive and Judicis'l d.
S partments. / again declare, emphatically, th'
I make this protest for no reason personal
the House of Representatives, in which ha
the honor of serving for five successive term
t I have lived long in this goodly land, and hay
n enioyed all the offices and honor which m
| country could bestow. Amid all the politics
6 storms through which bave passed, the pre-:
. ent is the first attempt which has ever bee
. made, TO my knowledge 10 assail my persona
j and official integrity, and this has been done
e the time is approaching when shal! volulntarl
retire from the service Of my country.
| feel personally conscious that there is no pull
lie act O. my life which will not beSr the stric
est scrutiny. l defy all investigation
: but the basest perjury can sully my good NAM
do not fear even this, because | cherish a
humble confidence that the gracious being VIII
has hitherto defended and protected me agaiRs
the shafts of falsehood and malice, will not des
S ert me now when / have become old and gra
ri head. can declare before God and my coun
try, that no human being, with an exceptio
scarcely worthy Of notice, has at any period Q
my lie dared TO approach me with corrupt o
T dishonorsble proposition, and until recen
, development, it had 90 entered into my i'm
agination that any person even IN storm OF eS
aSperated political excitement, wonld charge m
in most remote degree with having mad
) such proposition to any human being. ma
now, however, exclaim in the language OF con
plant employed by ay first and greatest pre-
decessor. that" have been abused in sue
exaggerated and indecent terms, as could seal
, cely be applied to Nero, to a notorious detau
tee or even to a common pick pocket"
j | do. therefore for the reason stated, and il
the name of the people Of the several States So
EMMY protest against these proceedings of tn
, House OF Representatives, because they are
violation of the rights ofa coordinate executiv