Year: 1860

ever Iehdy own swear OeIOre
ex pare committees W pretended private conversations
between the President themselves, incapable, from
their nature OF being dpoved thus furnishing material
country and eventually sbouli he be q weak or tmid
man, rendering him subservent 10 improper influences in
order TO avoid such prosecutions and annoyances; be
cause they tend 70 destroy that harmonious action for the
common good which ought 70 be maintained, aud which
sincerely deere TO cherish, between the ordinate
ressted they would establish precedent dangerous and
embarrassing to all my SUCCESSORS whatever political
party they might be attached: JAMES BUCHANAN


WASHINGTON, March 2s, 1850.


Mr. SHERMAN, (rep.) of Ohio-Mr. Speaker, the Prcs
dent OF the United States has for the first tune in the his
tory OF the country taken issue with this House upon tn
That isbue is presented In the Communication Just read
am willing to give to that communication all the
sideration its ser ousness and importance demands am
willing that this House should resolve itself into Com
m,tee OF the Whole motion 10 consider whether or
u has the power 10 investigate into anything and
everything that may be done by any body from the resi
cent Of the United States cown 70 thu humbest individual
Because, fthH privilege which the President the United
States sets up is rae one, You must extend TO every
declares that the President OF the United Sates the Vice
President, and all evil officers shall be removed from
oce by Impeachment conviction Of treason OF bribery
and corruption and other high crimes and misdemeanors
Another clause of the constitution declares that this House
fha have the power Of impeachment BY theee two
matter that may AFFECT the conduct Of any public officer Of
the whether he be President of the United
States the young page who runs our little errands
"a
OF this House. But the President Of the United States says
that cannot make this inquiry except by impeachment
But how can We find aa impeschmenr How can we draw
nary exsminauon9 This preliminary examination
sary ascertain whether any officer Of the government
an s hsa be be
done than by taking testimony, by an examination,
by nqurpg whether the President or any other officer
Of the government he's violated bis public duty.
How else would the .rssident Of the United States have
US act in finding just impeachment tWould he have
Us proceed in 80 grave and important matter on mere
rumor-upon the mere rumors which float up and down


the street, or which find their way into the newspapers OF
the day Would he have found an impeachment upon


sS show


for ourselves When the President Of the United
States implicated in grave and serious transactions In tho
inquire inquire inso he truth 4 the charges We and them
true, then 10 duty 70 impeach him, and send the
cus,,on ,t 70 the Senate Without M such an inquiry we
the public conduct Of any member Of this House. Of
the Senate into the public conduct Of auybsdy and shall
leRes exempt the President Of theUnted States from in
qury into his public conduct What Is the distinction
Dim sad S 81 nav.
less 70 has every o1cer OF the government and no
cepon whatever made In favor Of the President Of the


rine which he has set up Ii that doctrine which has 60
verned in Europe for thousand yearsthe doctrine thas
The king can 40 no wrong That y The amount Of the
Charles the frat TO is bIOc-he doctrine that the King
could not be tried and executed But the people would
not believe and aOoe The doctrine that he was beyond
all law This was The doctrine, also which sent Louis
the Sixteenth Of France 70 the guiotne and this the
States. The worst doctrine, in my opinion announced
since the foundation q ne government.


Mr. Craig, dem efe C-Allow me moment,


Mr.. CRAIs-For Q moment


Mr.. SHkRNAy--Very well.


Mr.. CRAiG-The President does not deny the power Of
hn HnuGa m fnuB he
argument Of the gentleman falls 10 the ground The Pre-
sident admits that the House has right 70 impeach him
II exists, bat he denies that his should
be the Committee, and thould there makehe charges
to institute the necessary proceedings for sending the
matter 10 the Senate. There s NO charge specifically


made against the President ana J. therefore, cannot sit
quietly and permit the matter to 90 uncontradicted


Mr.. SHIRAAN-I must then have misunderstood the
tenor Of the conmanicaticn il he does not deny the
power Of the House 10 appoint committee Of nvestga


Mr. CovopE, (rep) Of Pa-He does not deny the power
that S b. aSs he q con.e or The the House HSs s' q
inquire but ne objecs TO his sccuser r Covode) being


Mr. sHKRxAN-I have already answered. What other
mode could adopt How else can we investigate and
decide whether not shall mpeach any officer Of the
government? do not speak Of the merits OF the
ton but how else can we know whether should i'm
peach not, except by investigation by committee
Of own number Here the position he places him
self In. He says must refer 1t to the standing Judi
ciary Committee Shall then, the President tell how
to proceedf We can refer IL to select committee
II CDOObe,
single member choose, and the President has no
right TO say We formed alcommittee Of five; Of all
political parties 10 inquire into the truth Of these aega
TORS They report to US, and when they report we
certain whether the allegations well founded or not
have already said more than intended TO say The
President Of the United States has entered h protest
should accept the challenge and inquire whether pos
sess this power OF investigation or not therefore
simply make this mobon-that this communication be
ferred TO the Judiciary Committee.


Mr. HARRIS, of Md have suggestion to make.


Mr. Bococx, dem Of Va irterrupting-I wish to say
the resolution should be taken up TOR consideration hal


right TO expect that the Speaker would have extended
to me the courtesy to allow me TO make the motion for
dspoeing Of the message do not say this In spirit
complaint TO the Speaker for know that the Speaker


not aware OF the rules Of the House no mem
Der of the House knows better than the gentleman from
Ohio that the member who brings forward proposition
is by courtesy entitled 70 make the motion for dsposng
of IT, intend to submit few observations hope n a
spirit Of camness, imparuaty and courtesy, and with
the dignity worthy Of the House and this grave occasion
Il important message that has been submitted 10


s one indeed calculated 70 excite attention and 70 create
discussion not only here but throughout the country.
Il is grave meesage-an able and momentous message
and hope that the members Of tho House Of Representa-
tyee will to It's consideration In spirit OF its i'm
portance Mr. Speaker, permit To say tha. this


luton submitted the other day by the member from
Pennsylvania, (sr Covode and when II was presented
found myself in awkward and embarrassing posi-
son, for Is always dsagreeabe 10 any man TO have to
vote against nvestgston-the more 60 because the
or constitutional grounds which lie At the bottom Of the
objections that may exist to such course rose to
speak that resolution when offered but the gentleman
from Pennsylvania at the time insisted the rules being
enforced which deny to any member the privilege OF
speaking at that stage. said hen however, that would
vote against the resolution, and would give my rea-
sons at another time. ! voted against that re-
solution for the very reasons shadowed forth in the
Presidents Message The gentleman fom Ohio (Sherman)
has, in my humble judgment, greatly mistaken the ground
on which the President has placed his protest The Pres
dent does object insututng inquiry against
him with view Of founding impeachment but he asks
that we should t.oat him would any other citizen,
even the humbest in the land Let ask the gentle
man from Ohio-let me ask any fair, impartial minded
man In the House, you designed TO found criminal ac
cusaton against the humbest member OF society, would
You allow . sneering and raking inquiry 10 be made
against him with view of finding an indictment against
him. Would yoQ allow chargeto be raked up against
man by askAI a1pess, "Do you know this gentleman
as any time . een guilty Of any wronga a Did you
ever know Of suc 70 be adopted In the whole
history Of cri ninal actonsS Do you do II in Oho
or in Pennsylvania ! ask gentlemen accustomed
10 be engaged In criminal prosecutions II you
allow questions TO be put whether witness knows
thing wrong in the character Of accused though
ho tha huu I ii