Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-04-06
GungrrssionaI.



The House passed the ARM, Appropriation bill
The committee reported bill in favor OF the settlement
of the claims Of the soldiers o the revolutionary army
with their widows, childron, sc.
Mr. Royce from Committee on Foreign Affairs report
Mr Grow reported back the bin for the admission Of
Kansas, when test question, Mr. Crawford moved to
lay il on the table.
Mr. CLARK Of Missouri desired until Tuesday to make
Mr. Vaiiandiqham and Mr. Davis Of Indiana made
speeches indicating that they should vote for the adms-
sion Of Kansas.
Mr. Garnott spoke TO the opposite effect.
Further proceedings interrupted by the receipt Of
the following communication from the President
THE rREsipENrs MESSAGE.
10 me House Of Representatives.
Atcr delay which has afforded me ample time Tor re-
Election. and after much and careful deiberaton, find
myself constrained by impcrous of duty
ordinate branch OF the Federal Government 20 protest
against the first clauses Of the first resolution adopt
ed by the House of Representatives on the 9th inst and
published in the CONGREGATIONAL Globe the succeeding
day. These cau-cs are iu the following words
Rcf0'red That a committee Of five persons bo APP
pointed By the Speaker for the purposchrst of invest
eating whether the President OF the United States any
officer Of the government has by money patronage,
any other improper meaus sought 10 influence the pas
sage Of any law appcrtaung TO the rights Of any state
Territory and, second, also 70 inquire into aud nvcsu-
gate whether any officer officers OF the government
hlve by combination or Otherwise prevented or defeat
Cd attempted 90 prevent defeat the execution Or
any law laws upon the Statute book and whcth-
the President has failed refused to compel the exc
cuton Of any law thereof"
condne myself exclusively to these two branches Of
Che rcsnlrtop bccauso the portions Of IL which follow re-
late 60 tho alleged abuses 10 the post office, navy yards
public buildings, aud other public works " the United
States. tn such cascs, inquiries are highly propcr TO
themselves and belong equally TO the senate and House.
as incident 20 their legislative duties AMI being necessary
enable them discover and provide appropriate icgs
aty remedies for any abuse which may be ascerianed
Although the terms of the latter portion OF the resolu
ton extremely vague and general yet my sole puf
pose In advcung 20 them az present is 20 make e broad
line OF distinction between the aceusatory and the
The House of Representatives possess power under
the Constitution ovcr the first or accusa'o portion OF
the resolution, except As impctching body, whilst over
the last ia with the Senate thcir authority
Legislative body is fully and checrfuT admitted. is
solely reference ~ the FIRST impelchng power that
propose 90 make few observations
Except u this single case, the Constitution has invest
ed the House Of Representatives with no power, no jur,
dctiuu, supremacy whatever over the President In
all other respects hc is quite independent OF them
they u HIM As coordinate branch Of the govern
mont he is th,r equal Indeed he Is the only rcprcse-
tsyc Of the people ofa and each Of the sovereign States
To them and % them alone is he responsible. whilst act
iug within the sphere Of his constitutional duty and not
in any manner 10 the House Of Representatives. The
people have Thought proper 100 invest MN WIN thc mos
honorable responsible and dgnided office in the world
aud the ind ,idua however unworthy now holding his
exalted position will take care so FAR as in him Hes tat
their rights and prerogatves shall never be violated in
bis person. but shall pass his successors unmptcd By
thc adoption OF dangerous precedent. lie will defend
them 90 the last extremity against any Unconstitutional
attempt ftom what quarter it may. to abridge the
constitutional rights Of the Executive aud render him
The people have confined the President % the eNcr
else Of executive duues-they have also conferred upon
him large measure nf Legislative discretion. NO bill
can become law without ms approval, as repTesenuns
Che people Of the United States unless shall pass af cr
bis veto by majority Of twoturds OF both houses In
Dis lcsisve capacity he might n common with the SEN
and the House institute inquiry TO ascertain amy facts
which ough; 90 influence his Judgment in approving
returning any hL This participation in the performance
OF legislative duties between coordinate branches Of The
government ought 90 inspire the conduct Of al OF them
n their relations towards each other with mutual orboar
oil % t. .aH. Na rNrH % aud
I justice OF the other.
The cause Of complaint is that the constitutional rights
and immunitcs " the Executive have been violated n
the person Of The President The trial OF an impeaoh-
Of the President before the Senate charges here
preferred and prosecuted against him by the House Of
Representatives, would be an imposing spectacle before
the world In the result ony his removal from the
Presidential office would be involved but what is inf
uitcy greater importance himself bis character both
iu thc eyes Of the present and future generations, might
possibly be tarnished. The disgrace cast upon him
would u degree be reflected upon the character Of
the American people who elected him. Hence the pre-
cautions adopted by the Constitution to secure fair ri-
a. On such TRIAL IL declares that the Chief Justice
shall preside This was doubtless hccausc the trainers
0f The Constitution believed 10 10 be possible that the
Vice President might Doe biased By the fact that in rase
Of the removal Of the President from office, the same
shall dcyol,c upon the Vice President The prcmina-
ry proceedings in the House in tho case nj charges
which may involve impeachment, have been well and
wisely settled by long practice upon principles ot equal
codcnt established in the case Of Judge Peek Of Missouri
Boz 1881 after careful review of all the former precc-
predict,
ln that case Luke Edward Lawcs the arcnse present.
c petition 20 the House, in which he set forth minute
Dis and specifically his cause ri complaint DE prayed that
c conduct and proceedings in this behalf " the SAID
Judge Peck may be- imputed into by your honorable
body and such decision made thereon 90 your wisdom
and justice shall seem proper This petition was refer
rod 90 the Judiciary Committee Such has long been
deemed the appropriate Committee % makc similar
Investigation. ltisa standing committee supposed to
be appointed without reference any special and
at al times presumed 20 be oomposed Of the most emf
ncn lawyers u the House. from different portions ofthc
Union, whose acquaintance with judicial proceedings
and whose habits OF investigation qualify them pcrn1r
Us Tor the task Ia the ease uf Judge Peck, the witness
as selected by the Committee itself With view
90 ascertain the truth OF the charge they
Gnned by him. and everything conducted in such a
manner, as to afford him no reasonable cause Of COM
plant
Importance, ia view Of the Constitution and the princi
pies Of eternal Justice in what manner has the President
" the Onhcd States been treated by the House Of Repre-
.entatiVes Mt John Covodc, Representative Fl nm
Pennsylvania, Is the aceuser Of the President Instead
of following the wise prcccdcuts OF former times, and es
nrciay that n the Gaze Of Judge Peck, and referring
tho accusation 20 the Committee the Judiciary, The
House have made my accussr one Of my judges. To
make the accuscr the Judge is violation of the pruc
pies of universal Justice and Is condemned by the prac
&c Of all civilized nations. Every freeman mus, revolt
al such spectacle am % appear before Mr. Covode
either personally by substitute % tho
Witnesses which he may produce before himself TO sns
his accusations against me, and perhaps even
this poor boon may be denied TO the President
Aud that is the nature Of the Investigations which hi
resolution proposes to instituted IL il as vague ant
general the English language afford, words ia which
make it, The committee is 90 inquire, not into any
specific charge chargea but whether the President has
7 hy money, patronage or any other improper means
sought 20 influence, not the action OF any individual
member members Of Congress, but the action Of h
entire body Of Congress itself or any committee thereof
The President might have had some glmmcdngs Of The
nature Of the odcnse 10 he investigated had his accuse
pointed the OF Congress which he sought 10 pur
sue 90 defeat by the employment Of money patronage %
other improper means but the accusation is bounded b.
such limits II extends 20 the whole circle Of legisa
tom TO interference for against the passage Of am
law anperliung 10 the rights Of any state NJ Ierror
and what law dues not appcrtain 10 the rights OF som
State fcrrtpryand what Law or laws has the Prcsi
dent failed 20 execute These might EASILY have beer
pointed out had any such existed. Had Mr.. IAwles
akd inquiry 20 be made by the House whether Judg
Peck iu general terms had not violated his Judicial duties
without any particular act do not believe there coul
have been sing vote in that body In favor OF the inqui
ny, Since the time Of the Star Chamber and ofgcncra
warrants there has been such proceedings In England
The House of Representatives the high impcachni
power olths county without oonscntiug TO hear wor
Of explanation have endorsed this accusation again,
the President and made Il their own act They even
fuse TO permit member TO inquire Of the Presidents ac
cuser what the specific charges against him Thus
In this preliminary accusation NJ high crimes and misde
meannrs, against ordinate branch Of the government
under the impcaching power the House refused 10 hea
single suggestion even in regard 20 The correct mode
proceeding, but without moments delay passed accuse
tory resolutions, under the pressure Of the previous
question.
In the institution Of prosecution for any offence
against the most humble citizen, land claim for mysel
no greater rights than he enOys) the Constitution OF IN
United States and NJ the several States uircs that Ia
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