The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-04-19
The Presidents Protest.

1t is not in the spirit of partisanship or "a
foritism that we would express our sympathy
with the President in Ills solemn protest against
the insult offered to bis person and office by the
resolution of Mr.. Covode, proposing to pry out
and discover whether he is guilty of certain in
famous crimes. Congress has abandoned al
most entirely the functions of legislation since
the rise Of the sectional faction, and has devoted
itself to the business Of electioneering. The
Black Republican members have given them.
selves up exclusively to this occupation. In
the House their speeches are political haran-
CUES, and out Of it they are book agents fol
Helpers work and other mischievous and trca.
sonablc productions. The resolution which has
drawn from the President this appeal not only
bears on its face the evidence of malignant
party spite, but it is clearly irregular and in
formal. It's object is the formation of, we will
not say Congressional Star Chamber, before
which the President is to be arraigned like q
malefactor and baited like buck at bay, but
rather of "smelling" committee, after the
fashion of that one presided over by the infa
nous Hiss, which should enjoy the privilege O
insulting without danger, and insinuating accu.
sations without the hope Of proving them. We
do not desire to shield the President if be has
done wrong; but there is legal mode by which
he and every other offender is to be made amen.
able to the law. The same rules of Justice
which shield the humblest citizen protect the
highest magistrate. Neither the dignity Of biz
office, nor the power it invests him with, raises
him above the arraigning voice Of the law, no,
on the other hand do they expose him to unau
thorized charges and arbitrary and unwarranted
proceedings.
| AT the celebration of the centennial anniver.
sary Of the founding ofPittsburg, the President
sent letter in which he took occasion to warn
his fellow-citizens Of the baneful and dishonor.
able practice of using money in elections. II
was timely and patriotic warning; it was die
tated by the same love of country which led
his first and greatest predecessor to raise his
monition against the influence of sectionalism.
The Black Republicans in and out Of Congress,
conscious of their guilt, retortcd by urging Mr..
Covode, one Of their leaders, to introduce his
resolutions to revenge themselves upon the
President. This same Mr.. Covode, who had
abused most grossly his franking privilege by
turning what was intended as personal pri.
vilege into q partisan engine, is q fit creature
for such an Infamous act.
Once before branch of the Legislative power
assailed the dignity, honor and independence
of the Chief Executive of the Union. The &C.
cursed influence of partisan passion and preju-
dice prompted that as we'll as this second lille
gal invasion Of the rights of the Executive
The Senate then pronounced judgment ofcon-
demnation against Andrew Jackson without the
necessary foundation of an impeachment. He,
too, protested against that illegal and uncon-
stitutonal invasion Of the dignity of his office.
That protest was sustained by the verdict Of
the American people. Now the House of Re-
representatives., instead of impeaching the Pres-
dent, "without probable cause, supported by
oath or affirmation" which is in all cases me-
cessary as the basis Of such proceeding, pass
resolution involving the gratuitous insult of in
snuating the high crimes of bribery, and ne
glect or refusal to execute the laws. What was
left for the President but to follow the same
course as that adopted by his illustrious prede-
ccssor, protest against the injustice of this ar
raignmcnt and appeal to the people, to poster-
ty, and that "Gracious Being" who never de-
serts the patriotic and virtuous man in his
needy. \. Ne,rs.