The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-04-18

In the institution Of a prosecution for
any offense against the most humble citi-
zen-and l claim for myself no greater
RICH 8 than he enioys-the Constitution Of
the United States and Of the several
States require that he shall be informed,
in the very beginning. of the nature and
cause Of the accusation against him, in or
der to enable him to prepare for his de
Tense. There are other principles, which
/ might enumerate, not less sacred, pre-
senting an impenetrable shield to protect
every citizen falsely charged with a crimi-
nal ofense. These have been violated in
the prosecution instituted by the House
| of Representatives against the Executive
branch of the Government. Shall the
President alone be deprived of the pro
lection Of these great principles which
prevail in every land where ray OF hoer-
ty penetrates the gloom OF despotism =
Shall the Executive alone be deprived OF
rights which all his fellOw-citEens ENJOY Z
The whole proceeding against MN Just'
fies the fears Of those wise and great men
who, before the Constitution was a, opted
by the States, aPprehended that the ten
dency Of the Government was to the ag-
grandizement Of the Legislative at the eX-
pense of the Executive and judicial De
partments. d,
/ again declare. emphatically, that |
make this protest for no reason personal
to myself: and ! do it with perfect respect
for the Ilousebf Representatives, IN when
had the honor Of serving as member
| for FIVE successive terms. have lived
long in this goodly land, aRd have enjoy
ed all the offices and honors which my
country could bestow. Amid all the po-
litical storms through which / have pass
ed. the present is the first attempt which
has ever been made, to my knowledge, to
assail my personal or official integrity ;
and this as the time is approaching when
] shall voluntarily retire from the service
OF my country. ! feel proudly conscious
that there Is no public act Of my lie
which will not bear the strictest scrutiny.
! defy all investigation. Nothing but the
hasest perjury can sully my good name.
do not fear even this because ] cherish
an humble confidence that the gracious
Being who has hitherto defended and pro-
tected me against the shafts Of falsehood
and malice will not desert me now, wherr
/ have become ''old and grey-headed." /
can declare before tiod and my country
that no human heing with an exception
scarcely worthy of notice. has At any ne
period Of my lilo dared to approach me
with corrupt or dishonorable PROPOSE
ton and. until recent developments. it
had never entered into my imagination
that any person. even in the storm OF ex-
asperated political -xcitel It. would
charge me, IN the most icno.e degree.
with having made such a proposition to
any human being. ] may now, however,
exclaim, in the language of complaint en-
plOyed by my first and greatest predeces-
sor. that have been abused ''in such cx-
aggerated and indecent terms as could
scarcely be applied to a Nero. to a notori-
Gus deiaulter, or even to common pick
pocket
] do, therefore, for the reasons stated,
and in the name of the people Of the sef-
eral States, SOlemnly protest against these
proceedings of the House of Representa-
tives; because they are in violation of the
rights Of the coordinate Executive branch
OF the Government and subversiye of its
constitutionalindepen because they
are calculated to foster a band Of interest
/ ed parasites and informers. ever ready. for
/ their own advantage, to swear befpfe CT
| parts committees to pretended private con-
vefsations between the President and
/ themselves, incapable. from their nature,
\ of being disproved; thus furni hing ma
/ terial for harassing him, degrading him in
/ the eyes Of the country, and ey entually,
/ should he be a weak or a timid man, rem
I dering him subservient TO improper inhu.
/ ences. in order to avoid such prosecutions
and annoyances; because they tend Ia
/ destroy that harmonious action for the
common good, which ought to be main.
tanned and which ! sincerely desire ia
I cherish, between coordinate branches OF
the Government and finally, because, il
unresis,ed they would establish prcce.
dent dangerous and embarrassing to all
my successors, TO vhrteyer political party
they might be attached.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
Washington, 2sth March, ls6O