The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-04-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

We ask the atte ntion CT our readers to the
abIe, manly and statesman-like message OF
Presiden, BUCHANAN, published elsewhere IN
this issue We ask for il fair and impartial
consideration at the hands of all who may pe-
ruse it. a grave and important question has
called it forlh-a question on the settlement
orwhich may depend the future dignity and
respecteblli,y, not only Of the Presidential Of
fee, but Of our government and nation. Il is
simply this: Shall our highest Executive Of
fcer, no matter how worthy and venerable, no
matter how honest and upright be may BE-, no
matter how close at heart be may have the IN
terests OF his county, be made The unprotected
target of malignant and vlndictlve pariisanS
and disappointed spoilsmenl Who doubts that
Il Mr.. BUCHANAN mad not the nerve aud
strength Of mind SO peculiarly bis own, that
ike his lamented predecessors, Harrison and
TAYLOR, he would have long since succumbed
beneath the onerous duties of his Office, made
tenfold more srduous by the harassing and re-
vengeful opposition of personal and political
toes1 Who doubts that the peace and tram
guilty OF the nation would have been entirely
undisiurbed, If false issues could not have been
raised against the President and if the office
.eekrng blood-hounds of thesOpposition, had
been checked in their attempts 10 hunt him
down f-True, the official acts Of The President
should be amenable to the stejst s7S III 5fce,
should be subject 10 the most searching Inyesti-
gation-and SO it is. But what we protest a.
ganst, and what every impartial mind will at
once concede to be wrong, is the unbridled IL
eense given to the enemies OF the President, po-
Iihcal and personal, in making vague and ge-
neral charges against him, and after having be-
come his accuserS, 10 be also constituted his
ridges, and that, too, with no evidence before
them except the inuendoes and er parte state
ments Of witnesses expressly hunted or bought
up for the occasion. Is such mode OF proce-
dure consistent with lustice7 Is such the trial
the laws give TO freemen No! The veriest
criminal would not receive such treatment al
our hands. Even John Brown was allowed TO
make the best defence he could. That notori-
ous ielon had the right tc ask that the charges
against him be made specific and plain-he had
time granted him for preparing his case-he
had skilIlul and learned counsel assigned him
he had the privilege OF challenging jurors
10 short he stepped before the tribunal that
found bin guilty Of murder and treason, paoo-
piled in all the rights and immuoities Of that
pride and glory OF our law, the trial by Jury.
But how is it when JOHN CovoDE, the reckless
and unscrupulous partisan, arra,gns JAMES b.
SHANAa at the bar of Black Republican Con-
grrss1 Why, .ToHN CovoDE, the accuser, is
Iikewise JOAN CovoDE, the judge, john CovoDE,
the prosecuting attorney, and JOHN CovoDE,
the prompter OF the witnesses. In court like
Ibis, the accused has no right 10 ask that The
charges against him be made specific and Ger
lain be has no righ, 10 offer any rebutting ev-
sdPnce he has no right to "cbalenge Jurors"
or select counsel. Indeed, it is not intended
that he should have any such rights, for The OBJ
ject Of such tribunal is simply to convict, and
convict il will aud must, from i.s very nature.
Now, then, how IN the name Of all that is just, !,
can any credit be attached to any report mad.
BY Mr.. Covode's Committee With Only one
side ofthe case which they are investigating,
before them, how can they do thr Presideu,
iusticel 1t is impossible! II John Covode
has not enough to do 10 settle his own account
with the devil, and fhe must be the con science
keeper OF the President, let him bring his i'm
parchment before the Committee on the Judi
eIary, and le, OiG Buck have at least as fair a
trial as Joha Brown. Fiat justitia, ruat CO.
lum
G~The election held in New Hampshire
.nrna ,;rna s;nra r.snI,od in ,ba .,no... of a.