Year: 1860

the witnesses whichhe may produce be-
fore himself fos sustain his OWE accusa-
lions against me and perhaps. even this
poorsboon may be denied to- the President.


And what is the mature of the investi-
cation which his resolution proposes to
instituted 1t is as vague and general as
the English language affords words IN
which to make it. The committee is to in
quire, not into ang specific charge or char
ges, but whether the President has, by
ssmoney, patronage, or other Improper
means, sought to Influence" not the ae-a
ton OF any individual member Of Congress
T but ssthe action" of tile entire BODY .soff Of
{ Congress itself ssor any Committee fs7s res
Of. The President might have had some
gl1mmering OF the nature Of the offence to
be investigated had his accuser pointed to
the act or acts of Congress which he sought
to pass or to defeat by the employment of
'money, patronage or other improper
means" But the accusation is bounded
by no such limits. 1t extends to the whole
circle of legislation; to interference "for
or against the passage of any law apper-
| tanning to the rights of some State or Ter
ritory Z" And what law does not apper-
tain to the rights Of some State or Terrific
ry! And what law or laws has the Pres





silly 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 duties, without the specifca-
ton of any particular act, do not believe
there would have been a single vote in
that body in favor Of the inquiry


Since the. time Of the Star Chamber and
of general warrants there has been no such
proceeding in England.


+ The House of Representatives, the high
infpreaching power of the country, with
out consenting TO hear word of explana-
ton, have endorsed this accusation against
the President, and made 1t their own act
They even refused to permit a member to
inquire Of the Presidents accuser what
were the specific charges againt him.
Thus in this preliminary accusation Of
Nsnigh crimes and misdemeanors" against
CO ordinate branch of the Government
under the inpeaching power, the House
refused to hear single suggestion even in
regard to the correct mods of proceeding;
but, without mcment's delay, passed the,
atee,.sa terp nas1,ll - e.. she
| of the previous question.
In the institution OF prosecution for any
offence against the lnost humble citizen
and | clam for myself no greater rights
than he ,enjoys-the Constitution of the
United States and ct the several States re-
quire that lie shall be informed in the We
ry beginning, of the nature and cause OF
the accusation against him, in order to en-
able him to prepare for his defence There
are other principles which [ might enum-
crate, not less sacred, presenting an i'm
penetrable shield to protect every citizen
falsely charged with criminal offence.
These have been violated in the prosecu-
ton instituted by the House OF Represen-
tatives against the Executive branch of
the Government. Shall the President
alone be deprived of the protection OF
these great principles which prevail i'll
every land where a ray OF liberty pene-
trates the gloom of despotism Shall the
Executive alone be deprived Of rights
which all his fellow citizens enjoy? The
whole proceeding against HIM justites the
fears Of those wise and great men who,
before the Constitution was adopted by
the States, apprehended that the tendency
OF the government was to the aggrandize-
ment of the Legislative at the expense of
the Executive and Judicial Departments


[ again l.eclare, emphat:c cally, that [
make this protest for no reason personal
to myself; and do it with perfect respect
for the House of Representatives, in which
l had the honor OF serving as a member
for five successive terms have klived
long in this goodly land, and have enjoy
ed all the offices and honors which my
country could bestow. Amid all the po-
litical storms through which [ have pass
ed, the present is the first attempt which
has ever been made, to my knowledge, to
assail my persona! or official integrity
and this as the time is approaching when
l shall voluntarily retire from the service
of my country. feel proudly conscious
that there is no public act of my life which
will not bear the strictest scrutiny. [ de-
fy all investigation. Nothing but the ba-
sest perjury can sully my good name. [
do not fear even this because [ cherish
an humble confidence that the gracious
Being who has hitherto defended and pro-
tected me against the shafts Of falsehood
and malice will hot desert me now, when
[ have become sold and grey headed"
can declare before God and my country
that no human being with an exception
scarcely worthy Of notice. has at any Pc
riod of my life dared to approach with
corrupt or dishonorable proposition; and
until recent developments, it had never
entered into my imagination chat any per-
son, even in the storm of exaspelated po-
litical excitement, would charge me, in |
the most remote degree, with having made |
such proposition to any human being /