The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-04-10
,iary the House have made my accuser one of my


the principles of universal Justice, and is condemn
ed by the practice of all civilized nations Every
freeman must revolt at such spectacle / am to
appear before Mr. Covode either personally or by
a substitute, to cross examine the witnesses which
he may produce before himself to sustain his own
accusations against me; and perhaps even this poor
boon may be denied to the President.
! And what is the nature of the investigation
which his resolutions propose to institute! 1t is
vague and general as the English language affords
words in which to make it. The committee is to
enquire, not into any specific charge or charges
but whether the President has, by money, patron
age, or other improper means, sought to influence
not the action any individual member or members
of Congress, but 1.-the action of the entire body
''of Congress" ITSELF cor any committee thereof y
The President might have had some gllmmerne
of the nature of the offence to be investigated had
his accuser pointed to the act or acts OF Congress
which he sought to pass or to defeat by the employ
ment Of "money, patronage, or other improper
means" But the accusation is bounded by no
such limits 1t extends to the whole circle of leg
islaon; to interference "for against the passage
of any law appertainng to the rights Of any State
or Territory" And what law does not appertain
to the rights of some State or Territory? And
what law or laws has the President failed to exc
cute? These might easily have been pointed out
had any such existed
| Had Mr. Lawless asked an inquiry to be made
by the House whether Judge Peck in general
TERMS had not violated his judicial duties, without
the specification of any particular act do not be-
lieve there would have been single vote in that
| body in favor of the inquiry
Since the time of the Star Chamber and of
general warrants there has been such proceeding
/ in England.
| The House of Representatives the high impeach-
ing power of the country, without consentlng to
hear word of explanation, have endorsed this
accusation against the President and made it their
own act. They even refused to permit member
to inquire of the Presidents accuser what the
specific charges against him. Thus, in this
preliminary accusation Of high crime and mis-
demeanors' against coordinate branch of the
Government, under the impeaching power, the
House refused to hear single suggestion even In
regard to the correct mode of proceeding; but,
without moments delay, passed the aeeusatory
resolutions under the pressure OF the previous
question.
In the institution of prosecution for any
offence against the most humble citizen-and
claim for myself no than he njoys-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 order to enable him to
prepare for his defence. There other principles,
which [ might enumerate, not less sacred, pre-
senting an impenetrable shield to protect every
citizen falsely charged with criminal offence.
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 protection
of these great principles which prevail in every
land where ray of liberty penetrates the gloom
of depotism? Shall the Executive alone be de-
prived of rights which all his fellow-ctizens eujoy!
The whole proceeding against him justities the
fears of those wise and great men who, before the
Constitution was adopted by the States, appre-
hended that the tendency of the Government was
to the aggrandizement of the Legislative at the
expense ofthe Executive and judicial Departments.
| again declare, emphatically, that make this
protest tJr no reason personal to myself and do it
with perfect respect for the House of Representa-
tves, In. which [ had the honor of serving as a
member for five successive terms. L have lived
long in this goodly land and have enjoyed all the
offices and honors which my country could bestow.
Amid all the political storms through which have
passed. the present is the first attempt which has
ever been made to my knowledge, to assail my
personal 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 public act Of my life
which will not bear the strictest scrutiny l defy
all investigation Nothing but the basest perjury
su!iy my good name. [ do not fear even this;
because | cherish an humble confidence that the
gracious Being who has hitherto defended and
protected me against the shafts of falsehood and
malice will not desert me now, when have become
"old and grey-headcd." | can DECLARE before
God and my country that no human being with
exception scarcely worthy of notice. has at any
period of my life dared to approach me with
co:rupto dshonorable proposition; and until recent
developments, it had never entered into my inn
aginatlon that any person, even in the storm of
exasperaed political excitement, would charge me,
in the most remote degree, with having made such
proposition to any human being. | may now,
however, excaim, in the language of complaint
employed by my first and greatest predecessor,
that have been abused Gin such exaggerated and
indecent terms could scarcely be applied to a
Nero, to a notorious defaulter, or even to a common
pickpocket."
l do therefore, for the reasons stated, and in the
name of the people of the several States solemnly
protest against these proceedings of the House of
Representatives; because they are in violation of
the rights Of the coordinate Executive branch of
the Government and subversve of its constitutional
independence; because they calculated to foster
band ofinterested parasites and informers, ever
ready for their own advantage, to swear before
esp0rte committees to pretended private CONVEX
satons between the President and themselves,
incapable, from their nature of being dsproved;
thus furnishing material for harrassng him,
degrading him in the eyes of the country, and
eventually, should he be a weak or timid man.
rendering him subservient to improper influences,
in order to avoid such prosecutions and annoyances
because they tend to DESTROY that harmonious