Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-04-02

| judicial proceedings and whose habits
of investigation qualify them peculiarly
for the task. No tilbuna', from Their
position and character, could, ia the ns-
ture of things, be more impartial.
ln the case Of Judge Peck, the wit
ncsses were selected by the Committee
itscf with view TO ascertain the truth
Of the charges. They were cross ex
ahmed by him, and everything " as con
Quoted IN such manner as to afford
him no reasonable cause for complaint.
In view Of this precedent, and wha,
is Of far greater importance, In view OF
the Constitution and the principles OF
eternal Justice, in what manner has the
President of the United States been
treated by the house Of Representa-
lives Mr. John Covodc, Represent
alive from Pennsy lvana, is an accuser o.
the President. Instead of following
the wise plecedents Of former times, and
especially that in the case Of Judge
Peek, and referring the accusation to
the Committee on the Judiciary, the
House has made my accuser one OF my
Judges. To make the accuser the
Judge, is a violation of the principles OF
universal justice, and is condemned by
the practice Of all civilized nations.
Every freeman must revolt at snch n
spectacle. | am to appear personally
or by substitute, to cross-eXamlnc 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 inves
tigation which his resolution proposes to
insttutel 1t is as vague and general
as the English language affords words
with which TO make it. The commit
&C is to inquire, Mt into any specific
charges, but whether the President has,
by money, patronage or other improper
means, sought to influence, not the &C
ton Of any individual member or mem
bers Of Congress, but the actoE of the
entire body Of Congress itself or any
committee thereof.
The President might have had some
glimmering Of the nature Of the offence
TO be Investigated, bad his accuscr
pointed to the act or acts OF Congress
which he sought to pass or defeat by
the employment of money, patronage or
other improper means, but the accnsa-
ton is bounded by no such limits. 1t
extends to the whole circle of legislative
interference for or against the passage of
any law appertainlng to the rights of
any State or Territory. And what law
} does net 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 duty, without specifying
any particular act, / do not believe
5 there would have been a single vote in
that body in favor of the inquiry.
Since the time of the Star Chamber
and of Jail Warrants, there has been no
such proceedings in England. The
House Of Representatives, the high i'm
peaching power of the country, without
consenting to hear a word of explana-
, ton, have endorsed this accusation
| against the President, and made it their
own act. They even refuse to permit a
member to inquire of the President
accuser what where the specific charges
against him, and thus, in this preliminary
accusation of high crimes and inside
, meanors against coordinate branch OF
} the Government, under the impeachlng
power of the House, refused to hear a
single suggestion even in regard to the
correct mode Of proceeding, but with
out moments delay, passed accusation
resolutions under the pressure Of the
previous question. In the institution Of
a prosecution for any offence against
, the most humble citizen-and claim
for myself no greater rights than he en-
: joys-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 defense.
There are other principles which
might enumerate not less sacred, pre-.
senting an impenetrablc shield to pro-
tect every citizen falsely charged with a
criminal offence. These have been VIC
lated in the prosecution instituted by
the House of Representatives against
the Executive branch of the Government.
, Shall the President alone be deprived Of
f the protection of these great principles
, which prevail in every land where a ray
of liberty penetrates the gloom Of des-
, potism ? Shall the Executive alone be
deprived of the rights which all his fell
low-citizens enjoy! The whole proceed
} ings against him justfes the fears o
those wise aud great men, who, before
, the Constitution was adopted by the
t States, apprehended that the tendency
. OF the Government was to the aggrand-
, izemcnt Of the Legislative at the expense
Of the Executive and Judicial Depart
ments.
} ! again declare emphatically that
: make this protest for no reason personal
| to myself and do it with perfect res
/ pect for the House of Representative, in
. which / had the honor of serving fol
4 FIVE successive terms. | have lived long
: in this goodIy land, and have enjoyed al
: the offices and honors which my country
, could bestow. Amid all the political
e storms through which have passed, the
G present is the first attempt which ha.