The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-15

DANIEL WEBSTER once said OF a series Of
resolutions which had boon adopted by
Wing state Convention: The resolutions
contain u0y Hlie meaning, and hey rere
od0ptcd on a set of men WhO understood btd
iWIe Of whdt meaning thcy do contdiR.'
o with all due respect to the House Of Rep
rescntatves OF the United States, we think
the same remark might justly be applied to
the resolutions adopted by the majority OF
that august body yesterday.
The resolutions introduced by Mr.. BUR-
CHARD, a Republican of Illinois. seem to I'M
dertake to say that one Congress cannot
undo the acts of preceding Congress.
Very well. On the last day Of tho last ses-
sion of the last Congress, March 3, 1877, the
House Of Representatives OF the United
States passed the following resolution:
"Res5i by me Hne, of Representatives of me Ca,st suits or
Amertor That the dat, of the House To declare aud
this House does hereby solcinny declare that stNrEt
TLpES Of the State OF New YORK received one hundred
and nnety.siX electoral votes Tor the ofhce Of
President OF the United States. all of which
votes cast and lists thereof signed. certified,
aud transmitted to the seat u Government, directed
10 the President the senate In conformity wih the
Consultation aud laws OF the United States 10y electors
legally eligible and qualified such nm elcctor each "
whom had been duly appointed AMI elected m manner
directed by the Legislature the State u which
he cast his vote nfure aid. AMI that sad SANrtL J
TmnrN having thus received the Of q majority Of
the electors appointed aforesaid he thereby duy
elected President Of the United States nj Amori.
for the term Of four wears commencing ON the
9Th day cf March A. ~ 1877 and this House further
declares that TnoHAs A. HESnNcEs having received the
same numler Of electoral votes for the Office OF Vice
President the United states that were cast Qr sANrrt
: TmptS Tor President Aforesaid, the said votes hav.
ing been east for him ls the persons who voted
the same Tilnrs Or President aotc.al. aud at the
same time AMI m the manner It the opinion OF
this House that the said 4 llfNnKftKs tile
STATE OF Indiana was dug elected Wee Ere ,idcnt of the
United states tor the term OF fur wears commencing on
TIE 4th day ut March, A 1877
II wa understand the position taken by
Mr.. BURcHARD. it would follow that the
present Congress cannot abatc one jot or
little the force Of that resolution.
Mr.. BuRcHARD's declaration that nei-
Their House has jurisdiction to revise the
action of the Congress that put HAYES in
cannot mean that the House OF Reprcscn-
tatlves has not authority to mpeach
Mr.. HAYES, because the sole power of inn
parchment Is vested 10y the plain letter Of
the Constitution in the House OF Representa-
tives. The House cannot divest itself Of
that power Every member has taken an
oath To support the Constitution, and would
periure himself by di-claming the power
vested in him 10y that instrument.
II the resolution means that impeach-
ineRt for good cause would bo revo-
lutionary, then 1t is resolution that
tho enforcement Of the Constitution
would be revolut!o.aTy. Probably
r"1ihor Mr.. - ~ NAM himself nor any one
who voted for his resolutions can tell ex-
sctly what they do mean
As to the Democratic dirt-eaters who
made the majority report from the Judlci-
nry Committee, hey rottd 10 m,u,-eroyy
orc g hlm-for the resolution We have
quoted above on the third day Of March
1877