Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-02
aailg a'irgiaiau.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.
His Indignant Protest.

Representatives Thursday by President Buc-
hanan:
ToruE llousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
After delay which has afforded me ample
time Tor reflection, and after much and careful
deiihcration, find myself constrained by nn i'm
perous sense Of duty, MS n co-ordinntc branch Of
the federal government, 10 protest against tho
first resolution adopted 10y The House oi Repre-.
scntatiycs on the 9th inst. and published in the
Congressional Globe on the succeeding day
These clauses are in thr following words; IRE
solved thata committee oi hro members lie mp
pointed bv the Speaker, for the purpose lGrst of
investigating whether the President OF the Uni
ted States. or any other "thccr of the government,
has, hy money, patronage, or other improper
means. sought to influence the action Of Congress-
or any committee thereof, lor or against the pass
agc OF nnv law appcrtaining 10 the rights OF my
State or Territory (and I'd, "also to innnire IN.
toanl investigate whether any officer or oihecrs Of
the government have, by combination or other
wise, prevent or defeat. the execution Of any law
or laws NOW upon tho statute book. aud whether
the President has failed "r refused to compel the
execution OF any law thereof
| rontne mysclf exclusively to these two branch
cs of The resolution; because the portions # it
which follow relate To alleged abuses IN poNtui
navy-ynrd- public buildings nnl other public
works Of the tinted States. In such cases in,lni.
lies nrr highly proper III Themselves, AMI belong
equally to the Senate and the House, rs intdent
t. their legislative duties, and beng necessary TO
onailc them To discover aud provide the nppr'.
pirate legislative remedies for any abuses which
may be asrertaiuea. Although the terms oi the
resolution are extremely Vague and general, yet
my sole purpose in al crtiug To them NJ present
is to mark the broad line of distinction between
the nccusutory aud the remedial clauses u this
resolution Tic House ot Representative, possess
no power under the constitution over the frs, or
nccusatory nortiou of the resolution, except as an
impcnchius body; whilst over the last, IN common
with the Senate, their authority As legislative
body is fully aud chccrlally admitted.
Ii j. solely in reference 10 tl,e first ur impcnth.
ing power that propose 20 make few obscryn.
tion~. Except in tins single case. the cunstilu-
ton has invested the House of Representatives
with no power, nn jurisdiction, NJ supremacy
whatever oyer III" President. In all o'hcr reI-
poets lac is quite n independent ol them ~ they
are of him. As "A co.ordinatc branch ol the gov
ernmcnt, he is their equal. Indeed, he is the on.
" direct representative on earth of tn, people Of
all and each of the sovereign States. 10 them,
and to them alone, is he responsible whilst acting
within the sphere Of his constitutional duty; and
not in any manner to the House of Representa-
tivc,. The people have thought proper TO invest
him with the most honorable, responsible, and
dsnGcd Office in the world; and the individual
however unworthy. now holding this exnltcd po-
siton, WILL tax" care, 80 Tara IN llIm Ilcs, that
their rights and plcrogntves shall never be VIOLA
ted in his person; but shall pnss to his
unmpaircd by tl" adoption Of n dangerous pre-
cclent lie will defend them to the Inst cxtrcml-
ty against any unconstitutional attempt, come
lum what quarter I, may, t. abrldgo thu conSti-
turional rights of The Executive, and render him
suh>erylcnt to any human power except thrm.
selves,
The nodllc have not coniinci the President t.
the exercise of executive duties. They have also
conferred upon him large measure oi legislative
discretion. No bill can hreomen law without
his approval aS representing tho rcoPlG Of the
United States, un,css it shnli Iass after his veto
l'y majority OF wo-thrds Of both houses. In
Lis legislative capacity, lie might III common with
the ,Srhatc and House institute IN inquiry to as
certain any facts which ought To influence his
judgment approving or yct,nE nnv bill.
This participation in the performance Of lcgis.
lAlive duties bet%ccn the coordinate branches Of
the government oughtt1 inspire the conduct Of
all Of them, in their relations towards each other,
with mutual frbenrance and respect. At least
each has n right 10 demand justice from the other.
The cause Of complaint is ihat thc constitutional
rights md in'munites Of the Executive have been
violated in the person OF the President.
The trial Of AN mpeachn,c Of the President
before the Senate ON charge. preferred and prose.
cucl against him hy the House of Representa-
tivcs, would be an imposing spectacle for the
world. Ia the result not only his removal from
tho .prc>rcntiNl uih.e would be involved. but
what is If nintcl greater Importance 10 himself
bis character both in the eyes of the present and
o. future generations, might possibly be tarnish-
cl. The disgrace cast upon him would, in solre
degree, BE- reflected upon the character OF the
American people who elected him. Hence the
precautions adopted by the Constitution to
cure n fair trial, On such trial it declares that
'the Chief Justice shall preside" This was
doubtless hecau>e the trainers If the Constitution
believed it to bc possiblc that the Vice-prcsident
might be biased by the fact that "in case Of the
removal of the President from Office. the same
shall deyove on the Vice-Presidcnt."
The preliminary prDpnpiiuus the Iousp in