The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-04-06
SAINT PAUL, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1850
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESI-
DENT BUCHANAN.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESI-
DENT BUCHANAN.
The Constitutional Pferogatives OF the
Executive. &
LEGISLATIVE ENCRoAcHMENrs THEREON.
On Monday last, President BUCHANAN
sent the following message to the House Of
Representatives. It is an able document and
will be read with great interest :
"10 the House Of Representatives..
After q delay which has afforded me
ample time for reflection, and after much
and careful deliberation, I find myself con.
strained by an imperitive sense Of duty, as
coordinate branch of the Federal Govern.
ment, to protest against the FIRST two clauses
of the first resolution adopted by the House
of Representatives on the 5th inst, and
published in the Congressional Globe on the
succeeding day. The clauses are in the fol-
lowing words: &
.'lst. RESOLVED, That committee of five
members be appointed by the Speaker for the
purpose of investigating whether the President
of the United States or any officer Of the gov.
ernment has, by money, patronage, or other
improper means, sought to influence the pas.
sage Of any law appertaining to the rights OF
any State or Territory.
's2d. Also to inquire into and investigate
whether any officer or officers of the govern.
ment have, by combination or otherwise, pre-.
vented or attempted to prevent or defeat the
execution Of any law or laws now upon the
statute book, and whether the President has
foilod or rofnood tn n1no1 the oYAcntiOn 0f QnV
law thereon
confne myself exclusively to these two
branches of the resolution, because the por
tion of it which follows relates to alleged
abuses in the postof6ces, navy yards, public
buildings, and other public works in the
United States. In such cases inquiries are
highly proper in themselves, and belong
equally to the Senate and House as incident
to their legislative duties, and being neces-
sary to enable them to discover and provide
appropriate legislative remedies for any
abuses which may be ascertained. Although
the terms of the latter portion of the resolu-
tion are extremely vague and general, yet
my sole purpose in adverting to them at
present is to make the broad line Of distinc-
tion between the accusatory and remedial
clauses Of the reslution. The House of Rep
resentatives possesses no power under the
constitution over the first or accusatory por-
tion of the resolution, except as an impeach-
ing body whilst over the last, in common
with the Senate, their authority as a legis-
latiye body is fully and cheerfully admitted.
It is solely in reference to the first or impeach-
ing power that propose to make a few obser-
vations. Except in this single case the con-
stitution has invested the House Of Repre-
sentatives with no power, no Jurisdiction,
no supremacy whatever over the Presi-
dent. In all other respects, he is quite
Independent of them, as they are of him.
AS a coordinate branch of the government,
he is their equal indeed, he is the only
direct representative on earth of the people
of all and each of the sovereign States. To
them and them alone, is he responsible
whilst acting within the sphere Of his con.
stitutional duty, and not in any manner, to
the House Of Representatives. The people
have thought proper to invest him with the
most honorable, responsible, and dignifed
Office in the world, and the individual, how
ever unworthy, now holding this exalted
position, will take care, so far as in him lies,
| that their rights and prerogatives shall
never be violated in his person, but shall
pass to his successor unimpaired by the
adoption OF this dangerous precedent. He
will defend them to the last extremity
| against any unconstitutional attempt, come
from what quarter it may, to abridge the
constitutional rights of the Executive, and
render him subservient to any human power
| except themselves. The people have not
confined the President to executive duties !;
| they have also conferred on him large
measure of legislative discretion. No bill
can become law without his approval, as
representing the people of the United States,
unless it shall pass after his veto BY % q
jority oftwo thirds Of both honses In bis
legislative capacity - here there appears to
be an omission in the dispatch branches
of the government ought tosinspire the con.
duct of all of them in their relations towards
each other with mutual forbearance and
respect. At least each has right to de-
mand Justice Of the other. The cause Of
complaint il, that he, in bis constitutional
| capacity, might, in common with the Senate
and House, institute inquiries to ascertain
any facts which are to influence his i1dg-
! ment in approving or vetping any bill, thus
] participating 10, the performance otlegisla-
tive duties. The coordinate rights and
immunities Of the Executive have been vic.
lated in the person Of the President. The
trial of an impeachment Of the President
before the Senate, on charges preferred and
prosecuted against him by the House o.
Representatives, would be an imposing
spectacle for the world. In the result moi
only his removal from the presidential Office