The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-26

sdrn,n,e,rston Of the Prssdcnt; ba. a |
COMMITTEES or sbis House, considering the change re-
fsrred to il ~ members Of Congress acting Officially, We
have no such right power jurisdiction The hxeen-
OF the consderats departments Of this gov
eminent Invested with csrtsin defined constitutional
powers and prerogsves which the Legislature has
control with constitutional exercise Of which
the Legislative Department has right to interfere
Tho original OF all execut and legisi power
ia the ssme-the people; the warrant and measure OF
those powers the ssme-the constitution In his con-
sttutonal and legislative sphere in tho exercise and
conduct OF hn department. the President is - free TO
acs and az independent the Congress- While acting
within the bounds prescribed for by the constitution,
he 10 no more accountable responsible to Congress /
than Congress to him. Congress bias authority
70 censure and condemn ham than he and
condemn Congress. His discretion exercised within the
bounds OF the constitution, subject 10 the |
arimadveion or reproof OF Congress than the
Etitunons and discretionary acts OF Congress TO his
Neither Congress nor the President has any powers
authority derived from and found in the constitu-
ton. The only question with reference 20 which the
committee authorized 10 inquire was, whether the
charges against the President true and constitute
an offence or offences subjectng him TO impeachment.
Certainly II this not the only question referred 10 the
committee il s the only which the committee ~
such Investigate The political purpose Of The acts
Of President has not for moment engaged the
attention Of the committee. We most certainly have
other motive Interest than 10 serve our country
and DO duty in the matter referred 10 us. We
have mover once, in the taking OF testimony
or tho examination OF Witnesses, supposed that
any question other than the i'm parchment 4
properly before The impeachment OF the Presi.
dent the chief ocer OF this great republic the bare in
Quy with view ascertain whether he had misted
any offence for which he ought or might be put
upon trial before the most august tribunal Of tho world
impressed from the beginning With most solemn ave-
We endsavorsd in the investigation TO exclude from our
minds every question Of politics. and as far a.
possible TO be unnnuenced Wy party bias We were Ad
monshed that In the nation. tho people, In
the person OF thor executive head were on trial before
the world, and that personal animosty and party
politics should be infsxbly and scrupulousy forgotten
and ignored For any cause to have shrunk from
full and careful investigation OF the great
question Of impeachment cowardics. To have
pursued in the spirit Of party, to have degraded into
investigation Of political policy with reference
70 partisan success would have been and dis
graced the nstion itself by scandalzing the nations
constitutional head We repeat therefore, that the in
vsstgaton OF she committee was far We took part
in h with tho sole view to ascertain whether the Prssi
dent under the charge preferred against him, guilty
Of any improbable offence Not only but with the
belief that II the only question We were authorized
expected 70 inquire into. Not witness was called or
examined with any view TO proving case for merely
csnsurng condemng the political action OF the Presi-
dent. Ne suggestion was made or intmsion given by
the majority OF the committee until the resolution OF
/ cersure offered that there was any purpose
| OF considering COMMITTEES any but the
question OF impeachment; nor was there then as We
understood H. any purpose Of reporting such resolutions
| In the House for is Official action. We think, there
fore that warranted in saying that, although
much testimony irrelevant, illegal and experimental
was taken-much that had bearing upon the question
Of impeachment and much more that was not testimony
IN any case or for any purpcsc-none was taken
with any view except the impeachment; hence We in
that II tho COMMITTEES had tho right Of Jurisdiction,
which We deny, inquire The political discretionary
power of the President with view TO condemnation
II has not in any legitimate and proper manner in
| vestirated or attempted 70 consider that subject
| We do not mpugn the personal motives OF any mem
c6urss While on the committee pleasant and the
courtesy with which have been treated uniform and
feelings toward every member; but candor and
OF duty compel 10 declare that md no warrant
iect with which The committee Vas charged censurs
and condemn the President except 10 the peiudce and
can sst no asfsnss from Us upon party grounds or
upcn any ether than those which spring from Official
ss cso sss ss s y. :.ss
nor 10 sscessary INST ~ Should ssres With HIM. or
called upon 70 review ali The great mass Of testimony
taken BY the committee to show that his censure and
Il condemnation warranted ",
il has been and unchslsnged as was 10 that regard
we do not however believe the unbiased, the unpreju
diced mind win be able in the tsstmons TO discover any
just or reasonable for condsmning mpugnng
the motives by which he was actuatsd. Indeed differ
ing with him opinion AZ we have As 70 me policy and
that be has left undone We feel compelled TO de-
clare that the proofs before us will not warrant .
| charge thai he in any instance controlled
! by motives other than pure and patriotic
His greatest offence apprehend. will be found to be
that he has been able 10 follow those who elected
him to bis Office their mad assault upon and departure
the constitutional government Of the fathers of the
republic and that, standing where most OF MS party
proeesea stand when they elevated him TO his present
exalted position, he has dared 10 differ With Tue majority
OF Congress upon great and vital questions He has be
lieved 10 the continuing and binding obligations OF the
constuuonthc constitution tia, tie suppression OF
the rebellion against the Union the preservation OF
the Gn,on and comprising itsnd that when
the rcbcllion was put down tho stses we're al and
Of the United states Planning himself firmly and i'm
moya6y upon this position he has incurred the fierce
and malignant haired and opposition Of those who
claim BY virtue Of the alleged conquest OF the territory
aud the sbiugaon OF the people OF The stey rebcious
stutoD and they shall live and the liberties
they shall be permitted to enjoy. In this difference
between CONGRESS and 'bc President and the desire OF
each for the adoption by the country Of thor respective
views is we suspect 10 be found not ops The cause for
the movement to impeacb the President bat OF hrs
censure and condemnation out Of u have grown the
embttered feelings and violent hatred OF the Pres
ident by his former friends. Tho majority Of
Congress and OF the committee have cntertansd \
ana been prepared 70 declare At ali limos IN |
Congress and out OF IT, even more strongly than Is sx
domination. This opniop not formed upon any /
testimony before the COMMITTEES any facts
elected by it's investigation II political opinion
growing cut or . differences OF views upon political
questions II the opinion with which the majority
OF the committee entered upon The investigation u L
vas witch inspired and stimulated all IL inquiries
and examinations But notwithstanding ihsss pre-
existing opinions and prejudces the minority OF tho
COZ nittee coapeiled End after the fullest
consideration and protract~d elaboration thai the
President offence for which under
laws ne can OF ought 10 be impescaed sod Hence none
insist, sntscting HIN 70 The ocai jurisdiction 81
the committee 81 the H@asS--
-. ensure and copdeunAon Of the President either
III lie haiSsity 81 Inc minority "a without our insdic
ton not jlssisd by the facts nnbscomng depart
meni The government toward tns other, and cscu
hated u bring reproach upon The cnmee the HOuke