Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-03-30


up. He was willing to afford an opportu-
nifty of testing the question b. moving to
lay the bill on the table.
Mr. Clark, of No., desired till Thursday
10 make n minority report.
Messrs. Vallandigham and Davis, of
Ind, made speeches indicating that they
should vote for the admission of Kansas.
Mr.. Burnett spoke to the opposite effect.
Further proceedings were interrupted by
the receipt Of the following communica-
ton from the President
To the House Of Representatives.:
After delay which has afforded me
ample time for reflection, and after much
and careful deliberation, | find myself
constrained by an imperious sense of duty
to coordinate branch of the Federal
Government, to protest against the first
TWO clauses of the first resolution adopted
| by the House of Representatives on the
9TH inst, and published in the CoMgresslon-
al Glojs ON the succeeding day. The
clauses are in the following words:
| Ist. ResOIred, That a committee of five
members be appointed by the Speaker for
the purpose Of investigating whether the
President of the U. s., or any officer of
the Government, has, by money, patronage
or other improper means, sought to intiu-
encc the passage of any law Appertaining
I'd Also, to inquire into and investigate
whether any officer, or officers of the Gov
| eminent has, by combination or otherwise,
prevented, or attempted to prevent or de-
feat, the execution of any law or laws
now upon the statute book; or whether the
President has failed or refused to compel
the execution of any law thereof.
confine myself exclusively to these
two branches OF the resolution, because
the portions of it which follow, relate to
alleged abuses in the post Office, navy
yards, public buildings end other public
buildings, in the United States. In such
cases enquiries are highly proper in them
selves and belong equally to the Senate
and House, as incident to their Legislative
duty and being necessary to enable them
to discover and provide appropriate lcgIS-
lntive remedies for any abuses which may
be ascertaincd. Although the terms of
the latter portion of the resolutions arc
extremely vague and general, my sole pur-
pose in advcrtiug to them ut present, Is to
make the broad line of disticti0n between
the accusatory and remedial clauses of
these resolutions. The House of Repre-
sentatiYes possesses no power under the
Constitution, over the first or accuSatory
position OF the resolution, except as an
impeaching body; whilst over the last, in
common with the Senate, their authority
as n legislative body is fully aud cheer
fully admitted. 1t is solely III reference to
the first or impea ching power that pro-
pose to make few observations. Except
in this single case the Constitution has in
vested the House of Representatives with
no power, no jurisdiction, no supreme
power over the President. In all other
respects he is quite as independent OF
them as they are of him. AS cO-Ordi-
e ~, bn iS ltni r
equal, indeed he is the only direct repre-
sentative on earth of the people of all and
each of the sovereign States; to them and
to them alone is he responsible, whilst
acting within the sphere of his COnstitu-
tiouml duty and not i'll any manner TO the
House of Representatives,. The people have
thought proper to invest him with the most
honorable, responsible and dignitied Office
in the world and the individual, however
unworthy, now holding this exalted posi-
ton. will take care so far as in his power
lies. that their rights and prerOgatives
shall never he violated in his person, but
shall pass to his successor unimpnired hy
the adoption of q dangerous precedent
he will defend them to the last extremity
against any unconstitutional attempt come
from what quarter it may. to abrldgc the
Constitutional rights of tic executive and
render him subservient to amy human
power except Themselves.
The peoplc have conferred on the Ex-
ecutiYe n large measure of legislative dis
cretion. No bill can become law with
out his approval as representing the PEG
plc of the L. S., unless it shall pass after
his veto rs majority Of two-thirds OF
both Houses. In his legislative capacity
he might in common with the Senate and
House, institute enquiry to ascertain any
facts which are to influence his judgment
in approving or vctoiug any bill. This
participating in the performance of legis-
iatiye duties between coordinate branches
of the Government, ought to inspire the
conduct of all of them in their relations
towards the Executive with mutual for
bearance and respect. AT least, each has
right 10 demand justice of the other.
The cause of complaint is that tue cop5
stitutlonal rights and immunities OF the
executive have been violated in the person
of the President. The trial Of an impeach-
ment of the President before the Senate
on charges preferred and presented against
him by the House of Representatives
would be an imposing spectacle for tue
world In the result not only his removal
| from the Presidential Office would be in-
volved, but what is of infinitely greater
Importance to himself, bis character, both
| in tho eyes of the present and OF the tu-
ture generations, might possibly be. The
disgrace cast upon him wonld, in some de-
gree, be reflected upon the American peo-
Pile who elected him. hence the precautions
adopted bY the Constitution TO secure a
fair trial On such a trial it declares that
the Chief Justice shall preside.
| This was doubtless because the trainers
| of the CONSTITUTION believed it to be pos
sible that the Vice President might he BIZ
ased by the fact that in case of the reno
val of the President from Office the same