Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-06-28

in that Government. where the opinions of
the peopts are not supposed to have as much
weight as IN chr own, whenever even the
policy of the Cabinet. much less its official
integrity, is unfavorably passed upon by the
repres entatives of the people. a dissolution of
the Cabinet, and the formation of a new one,
is the Immediate result. The British Cabinet
officer is sensitively alive 10 the estimate in
which bis administration is held By the Com
mons. He makes no protest when they would
disapprove. Not so with onr Secretary of the
Navy. II that same spirit which gave birth
to the alien and sediticn laws of 1913, he
comes here with a protest pleading his pre-
rogative as branch of The executive depart
ment of the Government, and denying to us
any right TO disappTove his conlLct. And
with a freedom from nice scnsibilify, which
We might excuse ia an arraigned criminal in
one of the courts Of his District. but which
eonld hardly have besn expected in q Cabi-
net officer, he insists that this Congress cam
not base an expression OF opinion of his acts
upon proof taken during the last Congress.
Yes. sir, pleas in abatement, and statutes OF
limitation are now rcsorted to by the bead of
4 D. partment and his friends on this floor ::
and the question to whether he has acted
badly and wronged the country, is forbidden
10 be inquired into.
1t Is further intimated by the Secretary
that the finding of our committee Is based
upon eI parte proof. and that he has not had
full opportunity 10 defend himself. Were
this statement IrGe, then the Secretary has
been wrOnged. Bnt il is most erroneous. So
far from its being true, it is fact that he
was represented, and most ably, at the taking
of the proof 1t was all furnished him rs it
was taken, and full liberty given him to cross
examine, and to introduce his own Witnesses.
When the resolutions were referred 10 our
committee, at the opening of this session. L
addressed a letter 10 the Secretary. telling
him that the resolutions were before US for
consideration; that we would hear any sug-
gestiOn or receive any evidence he desired to
present that would throw any light on the
proprety OF adopting or rejecting the TeSolu
tions; but he did not answer Us. | then saw
him IN person, and in substance repeated
what had written, and assured him of our
disposition TO give him the fullest opportuni-
ty OF indicating himself. Although he COM
municated with on other subjects, it was
not until after | had made my report to the
House that this letter from the Secretary
made its appearance. and we were told that
we were transcending the limits of the law,
in attempting the adoption OF these resolu-
lions.
Now, sir, so far as 1 am individually con-
ccrned, care not whether these resolutions
are adopted or not; but want to see which
one of the Representatives of the people
upon the floor Is unwilling that Congress
shall hold to proper accountability the ex-
ecutive officers of this Government / hope
properly respect the Office of the President:
and of his Secretary; l hope so respect my
self as to be unwilling to do either Injustice;
but, when the one or the other overleaps the
bounds OF prOpriety, as well as the law and
undertakes to Indicate TO me how shall per-
form the Offices which 1 was sent here to dis
charge. tell him that it is not to him that
am responsible, but to my constitu and
if L decline TO be controlled by his instruc-
tions, he must pardon me.
In conclusion, Mr.. Speaker. desire to say
that, if it is decided by This vote that we can
not express our dsapprobation of the Secre-
tary; that, as he insists, all we can do is to
impeach, the time may shortly come when
such thing as an impeachment may be
heard of in the American Congress.