Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-03
Corruption i'm High Plaees--Impeacb.
ment of the President-.MT. Buch.
anan,s Protest.

anan's Protest.
The special message which we Published
yesterday. relates to one of the gravert and
most serious questions which concern the peo
pie of the United States The proceeding
TO which il refers contemplate grave official
delinquencies- and as interpreted by Mr. BU
CHANAs. lock to bis impeachment 1t is the
first occasion, we believe. in the history Of
the Government, when the Chief Executive
has so conducted himself in Office as to seem
to demand the exercise Of the impeaching
power of the House of Representatives,; and
Is sufficient to excite the regret and solicitude
OF the entire American people. Nor are The
contents OF the message such as to remove
that regret or abate, but rather to increase,
the solicitude with which it must be regarded
by ali rejecting and patriotic citizons- Taken
in connection with the events of few years
past, and the numerous charges OF corruption
in the administration of our Federal affairs,
which have been frequently made by men OF
all parties occupying positions favorable to
correct knowledge ON the subject, the tenor
of the message rather confirms the truth OF
these allegations Its tone and matter not
only fail to remove the suspicious which have
gathered as cloud around the present adj
Ininistratit n, but to our mind convey strong
positive impressions of guilt.
Iu order to fair and proper understand
ing of the matter, we here print the resolu-
tons in full, against which the protest is
made. They were offered in the House on the
5th of March. by Mr. CovODE, OF Pennsylva-
mia, and are as follows:
.Re,olred That acommittee If Eve members be
APPOINTED By the Speaker for the purpose Of invest
rating Eh Their the President Of the United States,
any other officer Of the Government, has, by money
patronage, other improper means, sought To inhu-
ence the action Of Congress, or any committee there
Of for or az tie passage OF any law appertaning
to the rights Of any tate Territory; also to in
ouiTe into and investigate whether any officer off,
GERS Of the Cover meat baye, by combination or 9th
erwise prevented defeated, or attempted tn pre-
vent or defeat the execution OF any law or laws
upon the boz and whether the President has
falle or ed TO compel the execution Of any law
thereof; and that committee shall investigate and
inaure into the abuses the Chicago or other post
afices the Phladel phia and other yards,
and into any abuses IN connection with the pubic
buildings and other public works Of the United States.
And Resorcd ftg TIER, That, the President in his
letter the PittsbUTg Centenary celebration OF the
25th Move mber, 1858, speaks of the employment of
money T. cserCe elections said committee shall in
oure into and ascertain the amount used In Penn
tricis expended, and by whom, and By whose
authority done, and from what source the my
psy derived AID 10 report the names Of Ihe par
tes imPcated; aDd that for the purpose aforesaid
sad C. mnittee shall Lave power send for persons
ard papers, and 10 report at any time.
Without undertaking to say upon what
particular facts these resolutions were based.
or to state all the charges which have been
laid at the door of Mr.. BUCHANAN, the sub
Joined extract from a speech delivered in the
House by Mr. ADRIAN on the 18th of Deem
ber published in the Gio6e, and extensively
republished in various newspapers through
out the country, will go far to justify, at
least portion of the first resolution:
a.Nr buchanan his Administration, and the whole
country kI ow that am incapable OF being puIchas-
ed or Of beng sweTved one iotA from those priEci-
pses which hold most Gear and sacred, ana whfch
hold be m1st intimately connected with the best
interests Of tie country During the LscomptOn
tToversy,I WIS approached IN such a manner as
shows corruption the part OF the Administration.
II Ihsd only given support to the LecomptCn pol
cy Wa. Insured that could secure foreign ap-
l-osn,IIrnt Tor one AMI dear A lead
ing member Of the louise at that time came to me,
whispering ear ''sr il IS all settled IN the Cab
sneIf' .WhaI IL all setIlcd.i' .aWhy, that who
ss you by tue dearest ties OF blood, Is Ia
receive the appointment" Ny reply was: send
word to the Administration to max: the appoint
msnI, and intend to resist II to the last IN Its ifa
mOus attempt u force Constitution on the people
'Of Kansas against Ihei, wili.' did resist i, and
be-aH-e resisted Il was charged with being Black
Republican, AbOliIlonIst, aud no Democrat"
OF this grave charge Mr.. BUCHANAN could
not have been ignorant. The second resolu-
tion pu:poris TO have been founded in part
on public statement made aud reprobated
by the President himself. These, with many
other facts, indicate that there is good ground
for an enquiry, and if the President is really
conscious of innocence. SO far Fl om seeking
TO shun, he should be the first to demand, an
Investigation in some appropriate form-that
bis honesty might be indicated, his charac-
ter relieved from injurious suspicion, his
name rescued from foul aspersions, and his
nc users overwhelmed with shame and con-
fusion and what is OF equally as great mo-
ment, the people satisfied that their rights
and liberties are in the hands of faithful,
vigilaat aud vlrtuous Chief Magistrate.
But instead of this Mr.. BUCHANAN sees pro-
per to protest against the adoption of these
resolutions, so far as they are accusatory and
look to his impeachment. He appeals to the
dignity and pr,rogatives Of the Presidential
Office, as shield against the propos ed inves-
tigation of his official conduct. Aud wha,
are these prerogatives? Certainly not such
as TO allow the Chief Executive officer of the
Government, with impunity, to offer brides to
the Representatives of the people to influence
their action, to eorruptly bestow his patron
age 10 prevent the unbiased expression of the
popular will. or to interfere In the primary
elections of the people in any shape or form.
II the prerogatives Of the President have this
extent, the public liberty rests indeed on an
insecure foundation. It's effect would be
,carceIy less than to make him a tempoFary
despo., endowed with that fanciful virtue as
crfbed to the rulers of monarchies, that ''the
King can do no wrong" One OF the most
marked and distinctive features OF cur repub-
lican. constitutional form of government Is
the sovereignty OF the people, aud their right
at all times to scrutinize the official acts Of
their servants and agents. This right is es-
pecially reserved in tee Federal Constitution.
in the clause relating TO impeacbments. The
tenure of the Senate being not directly from
the people, the power Of impeachment was
expressly denied to thai tody shd Teposed
solely In the House Of Representative, the
members of which hold their position imme-
disteiy from the people, and, being account
able TO them at short intervals. are supposed
always to reflect the true will Of the people.
1t Is, therefore. through that medinm, the in.-
mediate and direct representatives OF the
whole people, tha: the solemn charges involv-
ing impeachment, are required TO come be-
fore the High Court Of Impeaehments. 1t il
the ealy mode provided in our system by
which the people are enabled to Investigate
the oflicial conduct o; those into whose