Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-07-05

inc rao.net without the shadow of authority from the
Rouse over the whole Unon to catch any dlsappoln.e
man willing to malign my characterano all TINS IA
conclave The Lions mouth at Venice into whlch secre
Recommendations we're dropped apt illustration OF the
Covode committee. The Star Chamber, yrann1cal anu anu
odous as it was never proceeded in such manner OF
centuries there has been nothing like IN any clvzeo
country except the revolutionary tribunal Oh " n
Now undertake to state and prove that should the
proceedings of the committee be sanctioned by the House.
and become precedent future times the Daance Oh t
the three coordinate independent branches OF
worst of the patriots and who framed the
Constitution in regard to the usurpatlon OF tne Wv
the executive and judicial branches which VIII neh pe
allied In the language Mr. Madison. speaking on this
very subject in the 46th number of the Federalst
g In Representative Republic, where the EXECUTIVE
magistracy is carefully limited both the extent and dura
ton of its power, and where the Legislative power ID
6uence over the people with an intrepid confidence its
own strength which is sufficiently numerous to feel all inc
passions which actuate yet not SO b
which reason prescrbes 1t Is against the
ing ambition of this that the people 70 N
duge all their jealousy and exhaust all their
And the pressve and pointed language OF MI oene
son when speaking of the Of ee
The concentrating these in the same hands IS preGasey
ton that these win be exercised by plurality
hands, and not by single one One hundred ana seVeny
those who doubt it turn their eyes republic of Venice
little will avail US that they are chosen by
N
for but one which should only be founded on free pr
cpes which the powers OF Government should De SO
as that no one could transcend their legal limits without
being eectualy checked and controlled by the othes
Should the proceedings of the Covode committee become
precedent both the letter and spirit of the Constitution
will be violated. One of the three massive columns on
Instead of the Executive being co-oronae, II VIII Oe
come subordinate branch of the Government Inc Pres
dental office will be dragged into the t me o.
Representatives will then have rendered the EAecuye
necessarily subseryient to It's WISHES instead OF pe
independent How is it possible that two powers IN inc
State can be CO. ordinate independent of each other
the claims and exercises the power to reproVe anu TO
all the official acts and all the private
of the other-and upon pare testimony before Sc
inqusoria committee IN Short 10 ass me genera
censorship the other The idea is as absurd III public
would be in private te should te freslaeh leInpt
and maintain his Independence fuule CoVOde
committees may dragon him into submission by collecting
the hosts of disappointed office hunters removed CHEERS
those who desire live upon the public treasury which
follow the wake of every Administration, and they
secret cOnclave will swear away his reputation
Under such circumstances he must be very bold man
should he surrender discretion ard consent to eNer
his authority according to the will of those invested
with this terrific power The sovereign people of the several
States have elected him to the highest and most honorable
office in the world He is their only direct representative
Government by their Constitution they have made
him commander chief of their army and navy. He re-
presents them in their intercourse with orejgn nations
Clothed with their dignity authority he occupies proud
position before all nations civilized and savage With the
consent of the Senate he appoints all the mpOra1t officers
the Government. He exercises the veto power and to
that extent controls the legislation OF Congress- For the
performance of these high duties he IS Responsible to the
people Of the several Saes and not IN degree to the
House of Representatives.
Shall he surrender these high powers conferred upon him
the representative of the American people for their bene
tit the House, be exercised under their oVelshad0wg
influence and conro Shall he alone OF all the citizens Of
the United States be denied fair ria Shall he alone not
be informed OF the and cause OF the accusation
against him. Shall he alone not be confronted with tie
witnesses against him Shall the House OF Representa-
tves usupng the powers of the Senate proceed TO the
President through the agency of committee OF the
body where is Impossible he can make any defence and
then without aHorng him opportunity OF being heard,
pronounce judgment of censure against him. The very
same rule might be applied for the very same reason to ev
cry Judge OF every court of the United States From what
part OF the Constitution this terrible secret nquisitoria
power derived? No such express power exists. From
which of the enumerated powers it be nte red 1t
true the House cannot pronounce the formal Judgment
gans him Of remOva from office, but they by their
Judgment OF censure asperse his rePutaton ana thus TO
the extent OF their influence render the office contemplate
An example is at hand OF the reckless manner IN which this
power OF censure can be employed IN hlRh party tnes
The House. recent OCCASION have attempted to degrade
the President by adopting the resolution OF Mr. John sher
man. declaring that he IN conjunction with the secretary
OF the Navy by living and considering the party rea-
lions of bidders for contracts and the effect OF awarding
contracts upon pending elections, have example dan
gerous to the public safety and deserving the reproof OF
this House"
will scarcely be credited that the sole tretext for this
vote of the simple fact that dsposng Of the
daily receive had in the usual course of business refer
red letter from Col Patterson, of Phia elpha in relation
the head of the appropriate Department. without express
ing ntimang opinion whatever the subject; and
to make the matter if possible still palmer the Secretary
had Informed the committee that {" the President did not
any interfere His case, has he any other
absence of all proof to sustain this attempt to degrade the
President whilst it manifess the of the shaft aimed
at him, has destroyed the vigOr of the bow.
To alter this depression. Should the House by the
institution of Covode committees, of censure and
other devices to harass the President reduce him sub
servience to their will and render him their creature then
the well balanced Government which fathers framed
will be annilated. This conflict has already
menced IN earnest by the House against the Executive
bad precedent rarely dies. twill Hear, be pursued
time of my successors matter what may be their po
tca character Should secret committees be appointed
with unlimited authority to range all the words and
actions and if possible the very thoughts of the President
with view to discover something his past life preiu
dica to his character from parasites nformers this
would be ordeal which scarcely any
fall could endure 1t would be to subject him reign of
terror from which the puest heart mig shrink
have passed trumphanty through this ordeal My vndi
tion looking impeachment against me no resolution of
censure not resolution pointing any abuses in
by legislation This is the commendaon
which could be bestowed the heads Departments
The sovereign people OF the States will however trust
my whoever they may be- from an such
deal They frank bold and honest They detest delaors
sentative Of this great people and standing upon the ram
parts OF the Constitution which they have ordained and
established do soemny protest against these unprece
denied and unconstitutional proceedings.
There still another committee raised by House on
the 9th Of March last, on motion Of Mr. Hoard to which
have not the slightest objection The resolution creating it
was confined to specific charges which have ever since
been ready and willing to meet. have at all times invited
and dehed fair investigation upon constitutional principles
have received no notice that this committee have ever
proceeded to the investigation
croach on the other Departments of the Government
Their rghtfu ample for every legitimate purpose
They are the body In their legislative capacity
it is their most wise and wholesome prerogave to institute
rigid examinations into the which all departments
OF the Government conducted, with to reform
abuses to promote economy and improve every branch
of administration Should they find to believe in
the course of their examinations that Any grave offence had
been committed by the President any officer of the Gov
eminent rendering proper their judgment resort to
impeachment, their would be plain. They would
then transfer the question their legislative to their &C.
cuatory Jurisdiction, and take that in the prem
nary Judicial proceedings preparatory the of articles
OF impeachment the accused should enjoy the benefit of
xaminng the Witnesses and all the other safeguards
with which the Constitution surrounds every American cit
izen. "
lerislatiua