Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-20

u.
the institutions contained in it be true, it is
clearly the duty of the House to impeacb;
and If any member of The House believes
them to be true, it is bis duty-his sworn
duty-to move an Impeachment; and If he
fail to do so he is guilty Of a palpable dere-
LECTION Of duty. 1t cannot be that repre-
sentative discharges his full duty when be
believes an officer of the Government to be
guilty of treason, bribery, or other high
crimes and misdemeauors, without taking
proper steps to have such officer punished as
the Constitution provides: and if, ON the
other band, such resolution be presented to
the House 10y member who believes Its
Institutions to be untrue, such member justly
merits he indignant scorn of a honest public
for such fragrant betrayal OF public trust
This res oiUtion cannot contemplate legis-
lation. Its friends make no such claim for
it, while the resolution itself forbids any
such idea. What legislation could likely be
enacted upon such report as this committee
could make? Suppose it should report the
charges to be untrue; what law would there
by become necessary? None. Suppose,
| however. that the committee should find that
| an attempt had beeL made by the President
with money, to bride the members of Con-
gress; what law should Congress then pass?
| No additional legislation would be required.
| for in that case the Constitution furnished
| the most ample remedy, impeachment, and
| Congress would not have the constitutional
power TO change it. The Constitution pro-
vides how aud for what offences the President
| of the United States, may lie impeached, and
| Congress could not add 10 the offences, or
| change the mode % trial or the character
| and extent of punishment.
1t is a mistake to say that the inyestiga-
ton in the 34lh Congress which resulted in
| the expulsion OF some of its members WAS
| Instituted without a distinct specific charge
| having been first made. By reference 10 the
| DIT, ceedings on that occasion it will be seen
| that while the resolution was pending, and
before any ,ote had upon it. Mr.. Paine, a
Representative from the State of North Caro-
! lima, rose in his place and said:
| II say now distinctly upon this floor that
| thcre'is not an entire want of.truth in the al
legations contained In that al ticle; that dis
| tinct proposition has been made by member
| of this House. and in regard TO the Minnesota
i land bill, that s 500 would be GUARANTEED to
| member for his vote for that bill, and when
| the committee is raised, and am called upon,
| will give my evidence before that commit
tee'
Mr.. Paine made positive and distinct
charge, upon his own responsibility. and upon
the charge thus made the resolution was vo-
| ted and the Committee ordered. Ii the same
| course had been pursued in the present Gaze.
| it would have been unOhjectionable. Ii the
! resolut on had made specific charges instead
of vague insinuations, and the mover had said
to the House that he even believed they were
true, there would have been no opposition to
ii.
There is however, but little analogy be-
tween an Impeachment of an officer by the
| House and proceeding by the House for the
punishment of one of its own members. 1t is
true the party accused has right in either
case 10 specific charges and proper orpOr-
tunity for his defence. The House can pun
Use its members for disorderly behavior. and
in the case of an offending member it has the
sole power. 1t makes the charge, conducts
the trial. pronOunces the judgment. and in
hcts the punishment. 1t has no such author
ity in an impeachment. In the case of an
impeachment il investigates the charges, finds
the impeachment, aud sends its articles TO
the Senate, whore the case is tried.
The undersigned asks attention to the fol-
lowing additional extract from the debate in
the House on the Presidents message:
''What does the President of the United
States gravely ask us to do in the message
which has just been read? That this high ju-
dcial body shall fluid an impeachment upon
mere rumOr. SiaH noe. upon the mere TuEnOrs
soiiich circulating IN the newspapers and upon
the streets. find ip,ptGctment7 The very neces-
sity Of the case implies that we have right
to investigate all charges made in the public
prints and elsewhere. Ii it is alleged that
the President has been seriously and improp-
erly connected with certain transactions, We
have a right in this House to inquire into the
probable truth of these things. If we find
that they are probably true. then it is Our
duty to prefer articles of impeachment against
the President at the bar of the SenaIe."-A.
Sherman, of Ohio.
1t is quite difficult to believe that an I'M
biased mind can assent to the propositions
contained in the above extract. The under
signed had supposed and yet believes it to
be beneath the dignity of grave legislative
body, or singh judicial body.' to act, or at
tempt to act, upon the mere rumOrs which
are circulating i'll the new Spapers and upon
the street," No case of Impeachment has
ever been instituted upon mere newspaper or
street runaor, or scandal; and the undersigned is
not aware that such an attempt has ever
been made. unless the present be such one.
But if n House of Representatives should
ever be 80 blinded by partisan feeling o
lose sight oil its own proper dignity aud self
respect, aud institute an impeachment upon
mare Street TLHl0rs such rnmOrs should be 30
shaped in the resolution proposing the inn
parchment as to make positive charge up
ON which the officer implicated could be
| tried, and, if guilty. punished. The under
signed Intends to say that If a rumOr, how
ever vague aud responsible is to be digni-
fled by the notice of the House of Rppresen ta-
tives. the officer accused has right tn de-
mand the Judgment IF the proper tribunal.
Mr.. Covode's second resolution is az fol-
lows:
"And Resolued further, That rs the Presi-
dent, in his letter to the Pittsburg CenteDa-
~ celebration of the 18th OF November. 1858,
speaks of the employment OF money to cUeTce
elections. said committee shall inquire into
and ascertain the amount so used in Penn
sylyania and any other State or States; in
what district il was expended and by whom,
and by whore authority il was done. and
from what source the money was derived
and TO report the names of the parties impli-
Gated; and that, for the purpose aforesaid.
said committed shall have power to send
for persons and papers, aud to report AT any
time
1t will require but brief examina lion to
enable the House to understand its object
IL cannot mean an impeachment. for ii
makes no charge. The House can only i'm
peach csUl officers Of The Ulaod States. aud they
do not seem TO come within the purview OF
the resolution. This being true, il is but
reasonable 10 conclude that il has some otitT
ol9ecf.
IL is even more absurd TO suppose that this
resolution looks TO legislation. What legs-
iationg Suppose money has been used In
elections Iriitia the States. Can Congress by
law. prevent IL? Can Congress pass a law
to puaish as "a crime even the corrupt use OF
money in elections within the States? Such
position will hardly find an ad, o a'e IN
the House. To prevent such use OF money
i matter OF Safe jurisdiction, aud must be
suppressed by Site laws, aud not by Con-
| gres-iOual action
Che House. then, finds itself Ia this eondi-
i tioa: IL has ordered "a committee o, investi
| CATION ndcr the press oil the previous ques
! tioD. No member was allowed Ia debate CT
| 10 propose nm amendment TO the rtsolut on
and in that extraordinary and unusual mode
| for such resolutions il was passed without ex-
| PLANTATION.